Page 107 of Born in Fire

“What the fuck did she do to it?” he yells.

I shoot him a look of pure rage. “Do toit?” I shake my head. “What the fuck did it do toher?”

The Stone lies dormant, back to its original iridescent hues of red and gold.

“Oh shit! Is she okay?” Elena has joined us, hovering behind me.

“Juno,” I choke out, stroking hair from her face, caressing her cheek. “Juno, please.”

Don’t take her away. Please don’t take her away again.

Her eyes flutter open again, and I sag with relief. “Oh, thank God!” I exhale. “Thank you, God!” I lean forward and press my lips to her forehead.

“Dorian,” she breathes the word out.

“Are you hurt?” I ask urgently. “Are you in pain?” I glance down at her. There doesn’t seem to be any sign of injury.

Juno is blinking, looking around at us in confusion. Her eyes are that otherworldly silver-blue that they’d changed to when she came back… except now, they seem almost translucent. Light seems to shimmer within them.

She looks back at me and shakes her head, then licks her lips.

“It knows me,” she whispers.

“What is she talking about?” Caleb snaps. “Why the hell did you touch it, dammit?”

“I… had to.” She seems bemused. “It called me.”

“That’s bullshit! You—”

“Leave her the fuck alone!” I snarl, gathering her closer. “She could have been killed!”

“Why worry? She’d probably just come back again.” He reaches a hand to her.

“Fuck! Off!” I shield her with my body. Her fingers have curled into my shirt, but she’s not clinging to me. It’s as if she’s trying to steady me.

“I’m fine, Dorian.” Her voice is stronger. She moves to sit up, but I’m not ready to let her go just yet.

“Jesus, hon, you scared the crap out of us,” Elena says, sinking to her haunches beside us. She puts her hand on Juno’s shoulder.

“Don’t touch her,” I bark, feeling my teeth sharpening.

Juno straightens. “It’s okay. I’m okay,” she says firmly. “It didn’t hurt me.”

“That’s just great.” Caleb is bristling. “Makes it easier to get your hands on it for the Syndicate, no doubt.”

“Don’t be an ass, Caleb,” I snap at him. “Why would the Syndicate send a human to take the Stone?”

“Well, she clearly isn’t human, is she?” he retorts, scowling at her.

“But what is she, then?” asks Elena.

“Mine,” I growl, narrowing my eyes on her. “She’s mine. That’s all that matters.”

“Get a grip, Dorian. You can’t spend your entire goddamn life thinking with your dick.”

The sound that comes up from my chest is pure beast.

This time, when Juno’s hand rests on my chest, it’s definitely to steady me.

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