Page 106 of Born in Fire

“I don’t want you going to Craven Towers,” I blurt out. “Not after what I saw.”

His hand finds mine across the console. “I’m not that easy to capture, Juno. And now we’re warned.”

But the dread in my stomach doesn’t ease.

Caleb’s building rises before us—another high-rise, though less imposing than Craven Towers. Dorian parks in a reserved space, then escorts me through a private entrance where security recognizes him immediately.

The elevator requires a keycard and code. As we ascend, Dorian squeezes my hand. “Caleb may not be thrilled I brought you. Just… stay close to me.”

The doors open directly into an apartment—minimalist, elegant, and cold. Caleb stands in the entrance, impeccably dressed despite the late hour.

“You brought her,” Caleb says, disapproval evident. “This is clan business, Dorian.”

“She stays with me,” Dorian replies, his tone brooking no argument.

“I go where he goes,” I say firmly, stepping up beside him.

Caleb studies me for a moment. “Fine. We don’t have time to argue about this right now, considering what Elena just discovered.”

He turns and walks into a living area, where Elena is seated on a vast leather couch, paperwork spread out on a glass coffee table in front of her. She looks up and smiles as Dorian and Caleb walk into the room.

I walk in behind them, and that’s when it happens.

The room lights up as if a solar flare just sparked to life. Bright, blinding. The three of them freeze, shielding their eyes from the light that is radiating from a pedestal near the center of the room. I don’t do the same. Instead, I walk in, drawn to the source of the light like a moth. It’s a crystal larger than my fist, and it’s glowing. Even from across the room, I can feel its energy—ancient, powerful, alive.

“Ohhh…” I breathe out.

“Juno, wait!” Dorian says sharply.

“What is she doing? Get her the fuck away from it,” Caleb barks out.

But I’m not listening. My heart is pounding, even though I’ve stopped breathing. And the light seems to be pulsing in time with my racing heartbeat.

“Hello,” I whisper as I reach it, extending my hand. In the windows beyond, I catch a reflection of Caleb and Dorian frozen behind me. Elena has risen but doesn’t come closer.

“Make her stop!” Caleb yells at Dorian. “If she touches it—”

My fingers caress the smooth surface, which is cool despite the brilliance of the light that’s shining from it.

“Hello,” I whisper again, tears springing to my eyes for reasons I can’t understand. A tingle extends up my arm, traveling over my skin and through my veins. I feel a rush of power that leaves me shaking.

“Juno… beloved,”a voice swirls in my head, resonating like a chorus of whispers. It wraps around me, a welcoming flame that sends soothing tendrils through me.“Juno,”it repeats.“Welcome… daughter.”

And that’s when my knees give in, and I drop to the floor.

Chapter 33

Dorian

Caleb is still yelling, and I’m flooded with panic as I watch Juno touch the radiant Stone. It’s not meant for humans. Its power could evaporate her as quickly as one of those pulsing flares lit up the room. But I can’t stop her. Can’t get to her to pull her away. It’s like my legs won’t receive the message from my brain to leap forward.

“Juno, no!” I scream as I watch her collapse. Her eyes drop shut, and the light from the Stone blinks out as rapidly as it started. I lurch forward so suddenly that I almost land on my goddamn face.

“What the fuck?” Caleb shouts. He’s beside me as I reach her and drop to my knees, gathering her against me. She’s soft and pliant, her eyes still shut.

“Oh God, Juno!” My voice is urgent, frantic.

Please! Please don’t let it happen again!

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