Page 23 of Shrine of Fire

I wandered the halls, not sure what to do with myself. As I ran my hands over the smooth black walls, I tried to let my mind drift. In a few hours, we would return to the Royal Palace, and I would be thrust into the heart of court politics whether I liked it or not.

I found myself heading back to the altar room. Once we sealed Hella Mora away, I would bond the Shrine, and I wanted to absorb more of the atmosphere of that space.

When I entered the room, though, I saw Kalahar standing in the center, leaning over the thick stab of the altar, staring at the anastasis box like it was a mystery of the universe.

Maybe it was. Shrines didn’t exist when Kalahar walked the realms.

“Were things really so terrible that the spirit realm had to be sealed for good?” He ventured a scant glance at me before returning to his study of the box. He was leaning stiffly, and it had to hurt to remain standing.

“I wasn’t there, but from what I hear, yes.” I leaned against the altar myself, looking at the murals along the walls. “Cities destroyed with an influx of magic. Spirit making bargains with omegas.”

“Yes, it was quite…chaotic. We spirits had always talked over theories on how to balance the fluctuation between the realms, without coming to any definite solution. The imbalance was no better for the spirits than it was for the humans. Whole domains disappeared once mortals stopped frequenting certain cities, or in other cases, our places dried up when a new palace was built.”

“I hope this is better.” I sighed. “Letting magic flow back and forth.”

“You have two spirit omegas and a shaman, from what I understand.” I felt the weight of Kalahar’s gaze on me, but I couldn’t turn to look at him.

Zara was right. He was gorgeous. The heat from his body called to mine. Standing near him was like standing next to a giant bonfire. It was like I had never been warm a day in my life before meeting him.

The sensation made my breath come in short gasps and desire race around my body, and I tried my hardest not to reveal how I reacted to him.

“Mortals used to summon spirits using similar altars.” He stroked his fingers along the smooth black stone and his voice dropped lower. “A form of controlled summoning.”

I finally broke down and looked at him, to see that he was staring right at me. His eyes were molten lava, making frissons of electricity race through me.

No, I told myself. He’s not for you.

I swallowed hard. “Why would mortals summon spirits?”

He gave me a soft smile. “For aid. For help with things they could not do themselves.”

“And in return?” My voice sounded too breathy as my mind was captured at the thought of laying down and offering myself to him, flame calling to flame.

“In return, mortal passions added to the magic of the spirit realm.” Kalahar brushed his fingertips over the anastasis box, turning his attention to it again. “Mortals and spirits are drawn to each other, like to like, or as opposites attracting. It is why I was so easily pulled out of the spirit realm into a Shrine dedicated to the resurrection fire magic of a volcano.”

“That makes sense.” I kept my tone light. “Are you happy to come with us?”

“If you are alright with it.” Kalahar glanced at me. “Your emotional wounds run deep. I will not add to that.”

I sucked in a breath and let it out slowly. “Nothing will make it better but time. But thank you for the concern.”

He kept looking at me. “If you’re sure…”

“Yes.” I nodded, pushing my emotions away. They tumbled over me like crashing waves.

Desire and hunger warred with the cold apathy left in the wake of Hella Mora pulling the worse moments of my life out of me, like poison in an infected wound. “It would be very good to have you, to help guide us over what might be useful.”

Kalahar gave me one last look. “Very well. I will do my best to assist you and your pack.”

“They’re not mine,” I said, with a pang of regret. “Not really. I lost my pack and…”

Kalahar nodded like I was making sense instead of rambling, and somehow, it felt like he understood exactly what I was failing so miserably to say.

“I see. If I can be of any help during our journey, please let me know. In the meantime, I will follow your lead.”

Something told me he was talking about more than just navigating the new mortal world.

Iwas a fraud.

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