Chapter 25

Her teeth worried her lower lip as it occurred to her she was railing against the fates for giving her no choice. Yet those very fates had delivered her to a mansion where she was expected to live in comfort, do no work that she was aware of, and be paired with a man who would supposedly be the love of her life. Oh, and by the way, the fates had tossed in a body that never aged and healed, as it always had, miraculously fast.

All over the world, men and women, alike, were living the lives forced on them by birth and circumstance. Many of them were miserable lives, filled with hardship, abuse, and disease.

She wanted life on her terms. But that was spoiled, when so many depended on her for their power. And possibly even their lives. It was time she got over herself and concentrated on getting herself ascended. Then, maybe, she'd be in a better position to assess what kind of control she'd be able to steal in her life.

"Okay, I'm through sulking." Kara followed Lyon back to the center of the rock. "What now?"

He glanced at her, a look in his eyes that might have been relief. Or approval. "I want you to pull the power as before, but this time visualize it turning to flame in your hands."

"Why flame?"

"Because you're going to try to call fire this time. Fire is the physical form of your power."

Every time she thought she'd accepted this stuff, it turned more freaky on her.

"You're not talking about real fire, are you?"

Lyon motioned her to sit, then sat in front of her, crossing his legs as she did hers.

"The mystic fire I want you to pull looks real, but contains no heat. It won't burn you."

A thought occurred to her. "Will it hurt other people? Can I use it as a form of self-defense?" Maybe if she had some real way to protect herself, she wouldn't have to feel so afraid.

Lyon's brow quirked up, his mouth softening into a promise of a smile. "Are you seeking a way to defend yourself against me, little Radiant?"

"I was thinking more of finding a way to protect myself."

"I won't let anything harm you, Kara."

She frowned at him. "You're not with me a hundred percent of the time. You can't make promises like that." She hooked her arms around her knees.

"Humor me, Lyon. I'd feel better if I thought I had a way to protect myself."

Lyon shrugged. "Once ascended, some Radiants are able to throw fire. Real fire," he told her. "I've only seen it happen once, but I know some can do it. From what I've seen so far, I wouldn't be surprised if you were able to develop that kind of strength."

"But what about now? Can I do anything before I ascend?"

"I don't suppose you've studied karate?" It sounded like a joke, but there was no humor in his expression.

She made a face at him, then released a long-suffering sigh. "Show me how to pull the fire, Lyon. I want to know how."

He nodded once. "We'll start the same way as before, with your hands on the rock. When you feel the jolt of power this time, try to stay with it. Let it come. It could take a hundred tries before you can capture it, but it's critical you do."

Kara shrugged. "My calendar's free." She placed her hands on the rock between them, palms down, closed her eyes, and lifted her face to the wind.

She felt the rock warm beneath her palms. Be the vacuum, she thought, and pulled hard, willing it into her body. The power shot up her arms like before, and she yelped and jerked her hands back. But it hadn't hurt this time. Did he really expect her to hold on to this?

"Once you're able to hold that surge of power, I'll help you take it to the next level."

Kara licked her lips and nodded, placing her hands back on the rock, feeling a razor-sharp sense of anticipation. Holding her breath, she pulled.

Again the power caught her. Again she jerked back, this time with a laugh. She looked up to find Lyon watching her intently, a smile hovering at the edges of his mouth. If only they could stay out here like this. Sealed away from the rest of the world. Alone.

A sharp longing pierced her breastbone, and she closed her eyes against his too-perceptive gaze.

Power. Draw the power. This time she would catch it, no matter what.

The stone began to rumble beneath her, but she ignored it. She was the vacuum. The chosen one. The Earth would give up her energy to Kara alone.

The power leaped. She gasped as it raced up her arms and dove into her body, but she held on this time. It was too much. Too strong. She felt like she'd taken a bolt of lightning inside that was ripping her innards apart. Her jaw clenched, her mouth compressing with pain. But she held on.

Slowly, the pain dimmed, as if the bolt of lightning had quieted and no longer tried to escape. She could feel it inside, highly charged, but warm. Exciting. And she was finally able to breathe again.

A smile tilted her mouth even as her eyes remained closed. "I caught it, Lyon," she said, pleased with herself. "What do I do with it?"

"I'm going to cover your hands, little one. Don't move. Hold the power."

But the moment his hands slid over the backs of hers, pure lust shot into her, as if the natural attraction they shared had found a powerful conduit. Her body came roaring to life, her breasts suddenly full and heavy, her skin tingling as if Lyon's fingers were touching her everywhere. Between her legs, she felt a series of small contractions and a rush of dampness as her body opened and readied itself for his penetration.

"Lyon." She opened her eyes and found his eyes closed, his head thrown back in an expression that was part pain, part ecstasy.

"Sweet goddess." His voice sounded as strained as hers had. "Don't lose the power, Kara. Hold it. Just… give me a minute."

"You feel it, too."

"Oh, yeah." He gave a strangled laugh. "Never expected that to happen."

His hands held on to hers, the power flowing between them. The desire raging. When his head tilted down, and his eyes opened, she gasped all over again at the blazing need in his eyes.

"Lyon."

His hands gripped hers harder.

"Kara, concentrate. Hold the power." He groaned. "I suddenly understand why it's traditional for the Radiant's mate to be the one doing this."

Kara's breaths came in tight, shallow pulls as desire swirled around them and through them.

Lyon clenched his jaw. "We need to continue."

"How?"

"Grip it, Kara. I'm going to lift your hands, but I want you to keep hold of the fire. The real fire."

She gave a strangled laugh. "Okay." It wasn't like that other fire, the one that was melting her from the inside out, was going away anytime soon. Not as long as Lyon was with her. Because, while the Earth's energy had definitely shot her desire for him into orbit, it had been there from the start. And, she was afraid, always would be.

With a shaky breath, she closed her eyes and forced herself to concentrate on the power flowing through their joint hands. Lyon turned hers until they formed a bowl.

"Keep the power in your hands, Kara. Focus."

"It's still there?"

"Yes."

"You're helping." She could feel him, now, pulling at the power, too.

He held on to her, cupping his hand beneath hers, as the desire between them slowly descended from the stratosphere, and she could breathe again.

"All right, Kara. Now I want you to visualize the flame. Imagine it erupting in the middle of the bowl of your hands. A simple, cool flame that can't hurt you."

She did as he directed, and within seconds, to her amazement, their hands began to vibrate.

"Something's happening," she gasped.

"That's it!"

Kara's eyes snapped open, her jaw dropping as she gaped at the tiny blue heatless flame they held between them. A second later, it flickered out.

"I lost it," Kara looked up at Lyon with disappointment, but saw none in his own expression. He was watching her with a heat and intensity that had her libido leaping a second time.

"That was an excellent start."

"It was?"

He nodded slowly, his gaze dropping to heir mouth.

The moment stretched, the heat of his gaze tingling along the surface of her lips until she could almost feel him. She wanted him to kiss her. Wanted the pressure and strength of his mouth on hers, his tongue sliding between her lips.

She wanted until she was shaking with it.

But he didn't move. He sat there as if carved in granite, need vibrating off him in waves.

"Lyon," she said softly, and reached for his hand.

But her movement broke him out of his trance and he shot to his feet and moved away.

* * *