37
Hua
Heat.
That was the first thing Hua felt as the fire encroached upon her when she opened her eyes. The battle raged on around her, but a ring of fire protected her and one other from any who’d do them harm.
She blew out a breath as a shiver traveled up her spine. She thought she’d lost, that she’d finally faded from the Nagi’s mind when she gave over that final control.
“Nagi!” someone yelled, but the clash of daos and the popping of the fire drowned out the rest of his words.
Flames licked her arm, and a searing pain traveled along her skin. Her eyes widened, and she sat up, pulling her arm in. The flames burned her. The pain was real.
“Nagi!” The other person trapped in the ring of flames scrambled toward her, and she met the emperor’s panicked gaze. He tore off the robe cov
