Page 9 of Secrets of the Eternal Flame

When his arms relaxed around me, I drew back to look at him. ‘Okay?’ I asked. He nodded, though his eyes were still sad. ‘Sorry,’ I murmured.

‘Don’t be. It’s good to remember our parents but sometimes it hits harder than others.’ He half-smiled. ‘Thank you for telling me.’

I nodded, but suddenly found myself mute. I was so broken that I yearned for an even deeper comfort, one I’d been holding back from. I needed to remind myself that despite Mum and Dad being gone, I was still alive.

Fraser was so close, his scent and warmth all around me. I looked into his ice-blue eyes that had turned almost silver-grey in the darkness of the cavern, felt his breath on my lips, and I wanted to feel something other than sadness and grief.

I tilted my head back and pressed my lips to his. His mouth opened willingly under mine and his tongue slid into my mouth, conquering it utterly. A soft moan escaped me and he pulled me closer.

The world narrowed to the press of his lips and the taste of him, wild and electric like the promise of a rough sea. My hands found his shoulders and I clung to him as though I might drift if I let go. When we finally drew apart both our chests were heaving.

‘We’re not alone,’ he reminded me gently.

His words were like a bucket of icy water being poured over my head. I looked around; Maddie and Adele had retreated to give us space, and the priestess was showing my friend the Flame. Even at a distance I could see that Maddie was looking brighter than she had in weeks.

I turned back to Fraser. ‘What doesmo chridhemean? You’ve said it a few times.’

‘It’s Gaelic,’ he said finally.

‘But what does itmean?’ I pressed.

He studied me, unsure whether to tell me or not. ‘My heart,’ he said finally.

My own heart lifted; it felt so full I thought it might burst out of my chest. I gave a shy smile. ‘I like it,’ I admitted.

‘Good.’ He squeezed my hand. ‘Let’s finish what we came here for.’

I squared my shoulders. He was right; I was here for answers and I wasn’t leaving without them.

Chapter Six

Maddie looked up at our approach and flashed me a cheeky grin. ‘Beatrix and Fraser, sitting in a tree…’

‘There was no tree,’ Fraser pointed out drily.

‘But therewaskissing.’ She winked.

‘Thank God,’ Fraser muttered, making her snicker. Then he looked more closely at the Eternal Flame and his jaw dropped. ‘Wow,’ he breathed. ‘That’s amazing.’

Like it heard his reverence, the Flames flickered higher in a kaleidoscope of colours. Itwasbeautiful – but I missed my own Flame. As I studied Adele’s, I could see the differences between them: this one had far more flashes of blues and greens whereas mine was more pink and purple.

Fraser turned to Adele. ‘Fraser Banks,’ he introduced himself. ‘Còmh-chàirdeselkie. Please excuse me for failing to introduce myself earlier.’ He gave a respectful bow.

‘Ceannard.’ Her tone was warm. ‘A pleasure to meet you.’

‘Thank you for helping Beatrix.’

‘It is myduty as Guardian of the Flame to help other Guardians.’

I interrupted the niceties. ‘I’m grateful for all you’ve told us,’ I started, ‘but is there any way to get my Flame back?’

‘In truth, I do not know,’ she said firmly. ‘What Idoknow is that the Flame never really dies. It will be there in the tiniest embers, but in all likelihood it will not appear again until it bonds with a soul it believes is deserving of its power.’

In the silence that followed, I heard her unspoken words: how could I retrieve the Flame’s power when I had left it? How could it want to bond with me when I had deserted it in its darkest hour?

My heart had been so full of Fraser’s affection, but now it plummeted. We had travelled all this way and we had a solution, but not one I knew how to put it in action.

‘How do I bond with it?’ I asked Adele. ‘What do I do? Is there a chant, a spell?’

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