Scorched by Darkness by Alexandra Ivy

the small flame might help her escape.
    Sliding her shadow toward the glowing spark, Rya watched as it darted to the left. With grim determination she followed, turning when the flame turned and slowing when it slowed.
    It would be easy to wonder if she’d gone crazy and was destined to spend the rest of her immortal life chasing after an elusive flame.
    There were worse ways to spend eternity.
    But not many.
    Oddly, however, Rya had full faith that Torque had found a way to reach out and save her.
    Nearing the point of complete exhaustion, Rya grimly pushed forward, unprepared when the ice abruptly disappeared and she slid back into her body with an unexpected jolt.
    She made a sound of alarm even as strong arms tightened around her, silently reassuring her that she was safe.
    “Torque?” Rya opened her eyes to discover she was cradled in Torque’s lap as he leaned against the wall, his legs stretched across the icy floor.
    His face was oddly pale as he glared down at her, his eyes shimmering with sapphire fire.
    “Shit. No more,” he snapped. “Do you hear me?”
    She blinked in shock. She didn’t know what she’d expected, but it wasn’t his outraged anger.
    “I think everyone can hear you,” she muttered, trying to push herself out of his arms.
    She might be grateful that he’d rescued her, but he was still a jackass.
    Without warning he tightened his arms around her. At the same time he lowered his head to bury his face in her hair that had escaped from her braid.
    “Gods,” he whispered, tiny flames dancing over his skin. “I nearly didn’t find you.”
    Oh. He’d been worried about her. Her anger melted away. She didn’t even protest when he squeezed her so tight she could barely breathe.
    Instead she absently rubbed her hand over his chest in a soothing motion until the flames disappeared.
    “How did you create the spark?” she eventually asked.
    Slowly he lifted his head, studying her with a brooding gaze.
    “It’s childhood trick I discovered when I was still in the nursery,” he admitted, his fingers brushing through her hair as if savoring the softness of the strands. “I never thought it would have any value beyond distracting my enemies. Not until this moment.”
    Rya frowned. Something teased at the edge of her mind. Something that had to do with creatures who could use sparks…
    “Fire imp,” she breathed as she suddenly recalled a story her mother had told her.
    His brows drew together in a confused frown. “What?”
    “Your mother must have been a fire imp.”
    His frown deepened. “I’ve never heard of them.”
    “Not surprising,” she assured him, no longer trying to wriggle out of his arms. She was still too weak to stand, right? It had nothing at all to do with the delicious heat cloaked around her. Or the comforting sensation of his fingers combing through her hair. Nothing at all. “My mother has devoted her life to studying rare fey species,” she continued. “She’s spoken about the fire imps and their ability to create sparks that can travel great distances. They use them to communicate, to spy on other tribes, and even as weapons.”
    He hesitated, his expression unreadable. “I suppose it’s possible,” he at last conceded, his tone offhand.
    She frowned. Torque was stoic by nature, but she expected him to be a tiny bit excited by the thought he might discover something about his mother.
    It wasn’t until she noticed the clenched muscles of his jaw that she realized she’d touched a nerve.
    Idiot , she silently chastised herself. Torque was convinced his mother had walked away without a second thought for her child. Over the years he’d no doubt managed to convince himself he didn’t care who she was or why she’d left.
    Biting her lower lip, she was searching for some way to change the conversation to a less painful subject when she was struck by an astonishing suspicion.
    “Dear goddess, that’s it,” she impulsively muttered.
    He looked