Page 174 of The Iron Flower

“Do you think enough of the military would be willing to turn against him?” I’m barely able to take a breath.

“No,” he says with terrible finality.

We hold each other’s gaze in sudden, grim understanding.

“My brothers have been taken into military custody,” I tell him.

“I know.”

“I need you to get them out.”

He nods, fire roaring through his lines.

“And I don’t want a guard,” I doggedly press. “My aunt’s assigned them to me. I want you to permanently dismiss them.”

He nods again.

“What are they going to do with Jarod and Diana?”

“I don’t know.” His jaw ticks. “Vogel’s leaving this evening to fly to the Vu Trin base near the Eastern Pass. He’s going to hammer out an agreement with Vang Troi.”

I tense my brow in question.

“The woman who rode in on the dragon,” Lukas clarifies. “She commands all of the Vu Trin forces. In any case, I’m to accompany them.”

We both grow quiet, the darkness pressing in around us.

“Was it the Black Witch, Lukas? Has Fallon’s power quickened to such a devastating level?”

Lukas shakes his head. “No. This was something else. Something worse.” He eyes me darkly. “But soon, Fallon will be a weapon Vogel can deploy, as well.”

I cast about, my mind a storm, searching for solid purchase.

“Fast to me, Elloren,” he says.

His tone is so brutally insistent, I’m launched into a deeper turmoil. “Why, Lukas? So you can draw on my power?”

His scalding gaze only intensifies. “In part. Yes.” He takes my wand hand into his, and I let him. His green eyes locked on to me, he turns my hand over and slides his palm firmly against mine. A shiver races across my skin, and I’ve a sense of his branches twining into my hand, fanning out over my earth lines in a heady rush.

I swallow, my heartbeat deepening. Lukas grasps my hand more firmly, and I tremble as a rush of dark flame skids along the branches and all through my lines.

“When we kissed at the Yule Dance,” he tells me, “my fire lines were strengthened for a good week. My earth lines for a full month.”

I struggle to think clearly as his overwhelming heat arcs through my body.

He leans in close. “If I can access your power when we kiss,” he says, “then I imagine the fasting link would allow me to draw even more.” The motion of his fire slows to a seductive caress, stroking down my lines. “Let me pull on your power, Elloren,” he murmurs. “You can’t access it. But I can.”

Alarm overtakes me, abruptly severing his feverish spell. I wrench my hand away from Lukas and step back, breathing heavily as I massage my fingers. An echo of his dark power pulses through me as I force myself back to coherent thought. I look up at him, defiance suddenly blazing through me.

“Break with Vogel completely.” I glare up at him with stiff challenge. “Give me your word that you will fight to overthrow him. No matter the odds.”

Lukas’s face becomes a storm, his whole body tensed as a silent argument rages between us. Thunder booms overhead, neither one of us relenting.

“I want to lie to you, Elloren,” he frustratedly lashes out. “I’d give anything to be able to lie to you right now.”

A caustic anger rises, and I look him over with blistering scorn. “Those Level Five stripes arewastedon you. If I had access to my power, I’d fight Vogel. Witheverythingin me.”

Lukas’s fire gives off a violent spasm of heat, and he stalks close. “You’re making a choice that will endhorrifically.”

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