Page 56 of Kiss of Fire

“No, no, not that,” she said quickly. “He just got off on seeing me helpless. He was a creep. Anyway, he’s probably traumatised for life after seeing you. Maybe he’s locked up somewhere in a strait-jacket. Now,thatwould be perfect.”

“We have to find your power. Then no-one would be able to terrorise you again.”

She put down the grape she’d been about to eat.

“Have you thought about the fact that I mayneverfind my powers?”

“No,” he said dismissively. “Your fae side cannot be suppressed.”

“I’m not sure that’s how genes work.”

“Try.”

“I don’t know how.”

“Stand up,” he said impatiently. She got to her feet and he moved round to stand behind her. “When I summon my shadows, it starts here, in my head.” She felt his fingers press lightly against her temples. “But I feel it here, in my stomach.”

His other hand pressed flat against her belly. She inhaled sharply.

“I can’t…”

“Do not think about it. Simply envisage what you want. Your flames live inside you. You just need to let them out.”

He was so close she could feel the heat from his body. If she just leaned back a little, she would be touching him. His hand on her stomach was spreading tendrils of warmth that reached downwards.

She flashed on the memory of waking up after the jotnar hunt. How he’d touched her.

“I think I need to do this on my own,” she said quickly, pulling herself out of his grasp. “No distractions. I’ll spend all day tomorrow practicing. Promise.”

He looked as if he was about to say something, then stopped. He narrowed his eyes, staring intently into the garden. She followed his gaze, but couldn’t see anything.

“What...?” she began, but he gestured her to silence. He stood taut, his body tense, shadows beginning to form a blade in his hand. Then abruptly he relaxed.

“I know you are there, Tala. Come out.”

Puzzled, Raya peered around the garden. It looked empty. Then she blinked and in that moment a figure appeared.

She was the most beautiful woman Raya had ever seen. Honey blonde hair fell in a silk curtain to her waist. She was dressed in black and moved with a feline grace that immediately left Raya feeling like an ungainly giant.

She could have been a princess straight from a fairy tale, except for the coldness of her ice-blue eyes. And the fact that she was armed to the teeth. Curved daggers gleamed at each hip.

“My Lord.”

She bowed her head. Shade regarded her stonily.

“Enough with the fake formality. You should not sneak up on me, Tala. One day I might mistake you for the enemy.”

“It’s good practice for me, boss. If I can sneak up on an Ifrit as powerful as you, then I can sneak up on anybody.”

“Fair point. Raya, this is Tala. She occasionally does some work for me. Tala, this is Lady Raya of the Vulcani.”

The cold eyes flitted to Raya.

“We have met.”

Raya jolted in surprise.

“No, I don’t think so.”

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