Page 10 of Secrets of the Eternal Flame

She shook her head. ‘None of that. You must simply sit in front of it and offer it your soul. And you must make your offering with no qualification or hesitation. It took me many days in my Flame’s light before we bonded. Have faith – you are of the Guardian line and itwillcome back toyou.’

God, I hoped so, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that sliver of hope might be the thing that destroyed me.

‘Thank you,’ Fraser said warmly to Adele. ‘You’ve been a great help. If ever you find yourself in Cornwall, do come to Witchlight Cove.’

A smile touched her lips. ‘I’d like that. My mate would enjoy the seas there.’

Fraser nodded. ‘He would.’

‘How do you know that?’ I asked.

‘Her mate is a selkie.’ His tone was respectful.

‘I thought human–selkie pairs were rare?’

‘Oh, we are,’ Adele reassured me, her eyes sparkling. And that was when I realised what was familiar about her magic: she had the scent of the ocean about her, presumably through the mating bond that she had accepted.

Her eyes slid to Fraser’s bare feet. ‘Ross is always barefoot, too.’

I looked down. ‘When did you take off your shoes?’ I asked.

‘When I was waiting up top.’

Adele beamed at us. ‘I am so excited for your journey together. The Mother’s blessing on you both.’

Fraser bowed low. ‘Thank you – for everything.’

‘Your everything has just begun. Now, if you wouldn’t mind, Maddie and I need a little more time alone with the Flame.’

I blinked in surprise at her offer but it was obviously what Maddie needed. I wondered if Adele would let her work from it. ‘Of course.’ I looked at Eva. ‘Are you staying with Mads?’ I instinctively trusted Adele, but all the same I didn’t want to leave Maddie alone.

Eva barked and the sound reverberated in the cavern. Obviously enjoying the echoes that bounced around the cave, she did it again. I laughed. ‘You stay, but hush! They need to concentrate.’

Eva wagged her tail but didn’t make another sound. ‘How curious.’ Adele studied my retriever. ‘She is touched by magic.’

‘Yeah.’ I sighed. ‘She had an encounter with a powerful potion at an early age.’

‘It is more than that now.’ Adele’s eyes shone with the light of the Eternal Flame once again. ‘Magic is wrapped into her very being.’ Her eyes went back to normal. ‘She’s a very special dog.’

‘She always was,’ I smiled at Eva and told her, ‘Guard Mads. I’ll see you in a few minutes, Adele.’ I paused. ‘And thank you.’

‘You’re very welcome, Beatrix Banks.’

I flushed. ‘It’s Stonehaven.’

‘For now.’ Adele’s smile was entirely too knowing.

‘Actually,’ Fraser said, ‘I’d take her name if we got married. It would be much cooler.’

I gaped at him for a moment, then he took my hand and tugged us out of the cavern leaving Maddie to commune with the Eternal Flame.

Chapter Seven

The fresh air hit my lungs, and I found that I instantly missed the humid warmth of the cavern. I was about to stride into the daylight when Fraser stopped me. Before I could ask why, he touched his finger lightly to his lips to indicate silence and nodded towards Nour and Ezra. They were wrapped up in an embrace not too dissimilar from the one Fraser and I had been in moments before.

They had been tiptoeing around each other – and their clear mutual attraction and affection – for weeks, but being alone for the first time had clearly put the imps in the bushes.

I stepped closer to Fraser, intending to whisper, but he shook his head, tapped his ear and gestured to Ezra. He was right: with his werewolf hearing, Ez would hear and we’d interrupt their moment.

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