Chapter 17 · Sparkbound - Chapter 17: The Name Behind the Fire

"Get away from him!" I slammed both hands into Draven's chest, but the black fire had already wrapped around his shoulders.

It did not burn like normal flame. It crawled over his coat in thin, oily ribbons, swallowing the blue light from the vault walls. Draven hit one knee, his tethered wrist scraping hard against the stone.

"Wren," he gritted out.

"Don't talk. Move."

"That is my line."

The fire snapped toward my face.

Draven caught me around the waist and hauled me backward. His body hit mine, solid and hot through two layers of clothes. The black flame struck the floor where my boots had been and punched a smoking hole through the stone.

"You call that moving?" I shoved against his arm. "You dragged me right into it."

"You were standing in front of it."

"Because it was coming for you!"

"It came for the bond."

Another wave cracked across the vault. Draven turned, taking the hit across his back.

The sound he made was low and rough. Not a shout. Worse.