Page 160 of Visions & Shadows

“Stay away from my charge,” Raighne growls, sounding so aggressive it makes goosebumps erupt over my skin.

I feel Raighne’s hands and warmth, but it doesn’t do anything to lessen the pain in my chest.

I want to tell him I’m fine, but I can’t move.

“Alchera?”

“I’m here,”I gasp.

“Look at me,”he orders.

“I can’t.”I try to move again but still find myself frozen in place with the heavy pain paralyzing my heart.

“I can’t take the pain from you,”Raighne says, his tone drenched in fear.

“The pain isn’t real. At least not yet. I think my next chosen one is going to shoot me.”

Raighne scoops me into his arms and brushes his palm over my cheek.“It won’t happen. Not with me by your side.”

It takes a few more seconds, and then the paralyzing pain eases enough for me to suck in a desperate breath of air.

I force my eyes open and stare at Raighne’s worried face.

“Is she okay?” Ares asks, concerned for my well-being tightening his words.

I don’t think I’ll ever get used to Ares sounding normal and not like the monster I came face-to-face with in that shack.

Raighne’s head snaps to Ares. “You better disappear from my sight before I end you.”

Ares hesitates for a moment, then shimmers away.

Raighne turns his attention back to me when I move into a sitting position.

“Riccardo,” I say. “The next chosen one is in Nepal, Italy. Near Mount Vesuvius. I think it’s the volcano I saw erupting in the first visions I had.”

“Just take a moment to catch your breath.” Raighne lets out a sigh as he presses a kiss to my forehead. “I dropped the coffee. Come with me so I can make you another cup.”

“We need to wake the others,” I argue. “We don’t have time for coffee.”

He gives me a stern look. “We have five minutes for you to eat and drink something.”

Knowing I won’t win, I just shake my head as I follow Raighne back into the house.

My eyes drift over his broad shoulders and muscled back, the fabric of the black T-shirt stretched tightly over his torso.

“You look good from behind.”

“Don’t try to distract me,” he grumbles as we walk into the small kitchen. “What happened with Ares?”

“Nothing,” I mumble.

While Raighne makes me a slice of toast, I prepare two cups of coffee, avoiding making eye contact with him.

“You’re lying to me,” Raighne says, not sounding happy at all.

“Nothing happened,” I mutter. “He said he’s sorry, and when I began to walk away, I had the vision.”

Once I’m done making the coffee, I push a mug closer to Raighne before sipping on my own.

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