Page 43 of Wild Fated

I gaped at her. I was supposed to teach her in thirty seconds something I’d never even fully understood myself?I’m trying something.If she was willing, I could be, too.

I huffed out a breath, then reached out and took her hands. "Close your eyes." She did as I asked. "Imagine the earth beneath you. Feel its pulse, its rhythm." Her eyelids flickered. "Breathe."

I waited, not sure if she was feeling anything other than her own blood pumping through her veins. I pretended she could."Good. Now, instead of fighting it, let it flow through you. Like a conduit."

She frowned. "A conduit?"

"Like a riverbed. The water flows through, but the riverbed doesn't try to control it. It guides it."

She nodded. "Okay, so I'm the riverbed."

"Yes. Now, focus on what you want to create. Fire. Heat. Let that intention guide the energy." Saying the words out loud made me nervous. It was one thing to admit I had the capability, another to admit what ran through my head. It sounded too mystical. Too . . . hippy-dippy. Even for those of us who knew magic existed.

Nothing happened.

Lana cursed. "This isn't working, Destin. I can't?—"

"Shh." I moved behind her, wrapping my hands over the front of her hips. "Don't force it. Let it flow." We didn’t have much time. The Stalker was at the house. It was sniffing its way to the front steps.

She gritted her teeth. "I feel it. But it's not flowing. It's just . . . stuck."

That’s when I closed my eyes. I ran my hand under the hem of her shirt, flattening it over her stomach. “Remember last night?”

“Mmm.” Her breathing quickened.

“You wanted to be in control, and then—” My eyes snapped open at a sudden whoosh. A tendril of flame licked up from the ground in front of us. It wasn't like any fire I'd ever seen. It was pure, white-hot, with hints of blue at the tips."Holy shit, Lana. That was fast."

“Yeah, well.” Lana exhaled, sinking into me for one more moment, then threw herself forward, carrying the flame with her.

Chapter

Nineteen

Lana

Ididn’t know how I conjured the fire, but I knew what it felt like. As soon as Destin had forced me out of my head, something hollowed out within me. Like I was an empty vessel. A conduit.

Let me help,my wolf growled.

Gladly.

In seconds I was on the Bone Stalker, slashing first with my dagger, then hurling the flame forward. The creature felt something—it knew I was there and recoiled from the heat. I felt a rush of triumph.

More. I followed Destin’s advice and opened myself up again, reaching with the dagger until there was an open, vibrant slash in the haze. I pushed the flames forward, and they surged, wrapping around the creature like serpents.

It screeched, its skeletal body writhing. The flames consumed it, and within moments, there were nothing but ash.

I released the energy, and the fire winked out, the sky slowly fading back to murk. My knees wobbled, and I swayed on my feet.

Destin's arms wrapped his solid around me, and I leaned into him, my breath coming in ragged gasps. When my thoughts settled, I looked up at him, my heart finally beginning to slow. "Thank you."

My gratitude felt long overdue. I wasn’t used to having help like this. Yes, I had my pack. I had Rowan and Jasper, my brother, Blake. They all had my back, but this . . . This felt different.

He shook his head. “I didn’t?—”

“Destin, spare me the humility. You were a badass on the steps and then you taught me how to light that bastard up. Thank you.”

The corner of Destin’s mouth curled. He wet his lips. “You’re welcome.”

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