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  “There,” Azrael finally said.

  I exhaled and opened my eyes. Black tar-like goo covered his hand and dripped off the edge of the blade.

  “Is that the venom?” I asked, horrified by the shadowy colour.

  Azrael nodded and dropped the dagger into the water. “‘Tis all going to come out. I promise.” He held a sweltering rag to the first incision on my arm.

  My breath caught and I leaned my head against the cave wall. “Azrael, did you make all six cuts?” I kept my voice indifferent. I didn’t want to sound like I was complaining, but I didn’t want to do that again.

  “I only made three cuts on the top of your arm. Once I clean them, I will start on the other three.”

  I swallowed. Sweat glistened on my face and hot tears threatened to spill out my eyes. It was only half over. I looked away, gripped Azrael’s hand, and clenched my teeth. Steam rose from my arm as the heat cleansed the wounds. It was a painful heat, nothing like Azrael’s elemental touch.

  “You are so courageous,” Azrael encouraged.

  My eyes watered. I took in a short breath and pretended it didn’t hurt as much as it did. I struggled to keep from jerking my arm away from him.

  Azrael finally pulled the cloth from the lesion. I expected to see blood, but instead more black venom soaked the cloth.

  I pulled a disgusted face.

  “There’s more venom than I thought.” Azrael took another hot rag from the bucket and put it into my arm.

  The intense agony seemed to burn every nerve in my body. I had to do something to distract myself from the torture. I tried to start a conversation and blurted the first thing that came to my mind. “Why doesn’t your skin shimmer in the sunlight like mine does?”

  Azrael’s lips twitched as he repressed a smile. I hoped I hadn’t offended him by the question. “I’m a man,” he answered. Heat penetrated deep into my flesh, cleansing muscle and tissue. Azrael continued, “Only the women of our kind carry the Lifelight.”

  “Lifelight?” I asked through clenched teeth. Azrael pulled the rag from my arm. Red blood finally tinted the cloth in a small patch.

  “The Lifelight means you can have children.”

  “Oh,” I replied and swallowed an awkward lump in my throat.

  “The Shadow Legion can’t see it and neither can humans, not unless they get really close to you in the sunlight.” He paused and concentrated on planting another scorching rag into my arm. I held my breath.

  Azrael continued, “Neviahan men are the ones who can see the Lifelight most prominently.” His lips turned up in one corner before his smile broadened. “‘Tis an attractive lure for a potential mate.”

  Sudden heat rose to my face, from more than just the treatment. That would explain the men’s reaction to me earlier. Steam billowed out of my arm and dewed like hot rain on the cave walls. Azrael didn’t seem embarrassed as he concentrated on cleaning the wound.

  I studied his face. Aside from being almost god-like in strength and masculine beauty, he looked like any other normal human. If I looked as human as Azrael did, no wonder people kept forgetting I was not from Earth, but from the Kingdom of Neviah. Our human bodies were the perfect disguise for our souls. I smiled to myself, forgetting about the pain. I would never be alone again. Not only did I find others like me, but another Neviahan Watcher with the same power I had. “I’ve been waiting a long time to meet someone like you.”

  Azrael let out a low chuckle. “Not nearly as long as I’ve been waiting to see you.”

  His sincere, genuine tone made me smile. Azrael removed the hot rag from my wound. “We need to heat the water again before we do the other side.” He gave me a canteen of water to drink from and took the bucket outside.

  I sipped on the cold liquid until Azrael returned with the reheated water.

  “Can you use your fire and burn out the venom?” I asked. I didn’t want to have to go through that pain all over again.

  Azrael shook his head. “‘Tis too dangerous.”

  “You’re not going to hurt me.” I was sure of that. I craved to feel his fire again.

  “‘Tis not that.” Azrael gave me an attractive half smile. “I’m worried you might hurt me.”

  I was confused. Why would I hurt him?

  Azrael continued, “And you might kill every living thing within a hundred leagues of this place. My fire can never touch your blood.”

  I held my wounded arm close to my body, horrified by the destruction of which he claimed I was capable.

  Azrael pulled the dagger from the boiling water and reached for my arm. “‘Tis alright,” he said. “I’m not going to light your blood on fire.”

  I was still hesitant, but held out my arm to him.

  “How much do you know about the prophecy of the Lady of Neviah?” he asked.

  I gritted my teeth and tried to murmur past the pain of the knife slicing through my flesh. “I am she.” Or at least that’s what I had been told by Woldor, the Neviahan Historian. The pain seemed to suffocate me until my lungs burned for air. My fingernails scraped against the cave floor. I tightened the muscles in my legs to keep from writhing.

  Azrael set the knife down and took a hot rag from the bucket. “You are the Great Kingdom of Neviah’s secret weapon.”

  I exhaled and tried to make light of his exaggerated admiration. “I make a lousy secret weapon.”

  Azrael chuckled and pulled the cloth covered in black stains from my arm. “No, you just haven’t unlocked your full powers yet.”

  “What do you mean?” I asked before he shoved another scorching rag into my arm. I winced and bit down on my lip.

  “My natural power is not to control fire,” he explained. “I had to learn from the high druids how to use fire so I could help you in battle.”

  “You are going to help me in battle?” I was sure Azrael didn’t understand a word I said through my clenched teeth.

  “You have the power of Starfire. ‘Tis all the elements of creation combined—fire, water, wind, earth, blood, life, and death. If Erebus stole Starfire, he could conquer Earth in a matter of days.”

  I clenched my fists. Azrael pulled the black-spotted cloth from my arm. I wiped the perspiration from my face with my fingertips

  “Starfire has extra protection. Now hold still, we’re almost done.” I gritted my teeth and Azrael dug the rag into my arm to scrape out the last of the venom. “Not only can your fire mend your flesh to protect your blood from Erebus, but you only carry one half of the Starfire power,” he explained. “There is another Neviahan with the power of Starfire. Unless Erebus combines both their blood, he can’t use Starfire—no one can.”

  I gripped my leg to keep myself from ripping my wounded arm away from Azrael. “Is that why I’ve only created ordinary fire so far?”

  Azrael nodded. “You need to combine your power with your ‘key’ to create Starfire – the secret weapon.”

  “Key?” I asked and squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block out the pain.

  “Yes. You are the fuel, and the key is the igniter to start the inferno inside you.” Azrael pulled the rag from my arm. “There.”

  I opened my eyes and noted the blood-stained cloth.

  Azrael smiled and looked satisfied. “We got all the venom out.”

  I laid my head against the wall, letting out a long sigh.

  “Do you have enough energy to close up the wounds?” Azrael asked. His eyes glistened with hope behind the mask he wore.

  I weakly clenched my fist, but couldn’t summon the strength to create my healing fire. “No.” I lay limp with exhaustion and dropped onto the quilts. Perspiration dampened my clothes, but I could feel my temperature returning to normal.

  Azrael tied a linen bandage around my arm. “You should get some rest.” After making sure I was comfortable, he stood and headed for the cave’s entrance.

  “Azrael,” I murmured. “Who is the key that will ignite Starfire?”

  His lips turned up in a smile. His eyes glis
tened with delight as he bowed. “I am your key, Lady Aura.”

  Chapter Seven

  Starfire

  I awoke in the dim cave. I didn’t know how long I had slept after the treatment. My mind raced with a hundred emotions of excitement, but also doubt and suspicion. I brushed my hair back. I had been living in the human world for too long. Now I was suffering from culture shock after meeting my own kind.

  I couldn’t get my mind off what Azrael said about the power of Starfire. How could all the elements of creation exist inside me, a weak mortal? What if Azrael really was the key to unlocking my deep, repressed powers? That question frightened me more than my deadly gift. What did being my “key” mean?

  I rolled over and patted the tiger sleeping next to me. Baby still had his eyes closed, but a low rumbling sound, almost like a purr, vibrated in his chest. I ran my fingers through his fur and kissed the big kitty on the nose. At least I hadn’t out slept the cat.

  I made my way to the cave entrance. The sun slowly dropped below the distant hills and painted the sky with the bold colours of a rainbow sunset.

  “What’re we going to do with her?” Orion asked.

  The three men sat by the campfire. I could tell by their solemn expressions, I’d obviously walked in on a serious conversation. I stepped back into the cave and peered around the stone entrance.

  Azrael shook his head. “We need to finish our mission and take her to the sanctuary. She’ll be safe there.”

  “Maybe we should use her as bait,” Korban suggested. “We can demolish another pack of Blood Hunters.” He shoved his freshly sharpened blades into the scabbards on his back.

  “She’s not bait,” Azrael scolded. “She’s a lady, and the Lady of Neviah at that. Once she has rested, we need to finish our mission and make sure she’s safe.”

  “She won’t like it,” Orion said in a teasing tone. “What if she puts up a fight?”

  Korban laughed wildly. “She doesn’t have a choice. Aura will come with us to the sanctuary one way or another.”

  “Are you suggesting we kidnap her?” Azrael asked, his tone now playful.

  “If we must,” Korban answered in a very business-like manner.

  Orion crossed his arms over his burly chest. “She’ll hate us for doing it.”

  Azrael shook his head and flashed a mischievous half smile. “She’ll be thanking us later.”

  I had heard enough. I cleared my throat loud enough for them to hear. The three men jumped to their feet. Crimson guilt flooded each of their faces at my sudden appearance.

  I walked toward them casually, as if I hadn’t heard a word they said.

  “Aura.” Azrael kept his tone soft and passive, almost repentant. He offered me a seat next to him. “How are you feeling?”

  The men waited chivalrously until I sat before they did. “Better.” I folded my hands in my lap and didn’t say another word. I reveled in the tension my silence caused as they tried to guess if I had heard their conversation. When I was done torturing them with my calm hush, I motioned toward my arm. “Thank you, Azrael. I know it wasn’t easy for you.”

  Azrael gave me a soft smile.

  I unraveled the bandage around my arm and assessed the wound. Hopefully, I had enough energy now to summon my elemental fire to heal myself. Korban eyed the wolf bite and leaned forward with morbid fascination. Orion’s face went a shade whiter.

  I balled my hand into a fist, letting the hot energy flow through me. My fingertips sizzled and glowed orange with heat before fire sprang to life and enveloped my arm. Azrael leaned away from me as the fire danced across my skin like oil on water. Muscle and tissue intertwined and reconnected until the cuts grew shallow and then closed. I released the flame and lowered my healed arm.

  “Brilliant!” Korban cheered. “Can you heal other people?”

  A teasing smile forced its way across my face. I arched one eyebrow and asked, “If you are ever wounded, do you want me to throw a ball of fire onto you and see what happens?”

  Korban twisted his face into a grimace. Orion and Azrael laughed.

  The sky darkened from lavender to indigo as the sun dipped further below the hills. Since I had slept all day, I doubt I would get any sleep tonight, especially after hearing their intentions to kidnap me. I debated whether I should escape after they fell asleep.

  “Aura,” Azrael started casually.

  I jumped at the mention of my name. Korban eyed me. I was sure my involuntary reaction triggered his suspicion of my escape planning. I turned away from Korban and confidently met Azrael’s gaze as I looked past the black mask over his brilliant eyes.

  “Baby found something that we want to talk with you about,” Azrael said.

  “What is it?” I asked, wondering why Azrael sounded so concerned.

  Azrael held up the bottle of poison Lucas gave me before I left London. “Do you know what this is?”

  “Of course,” I said nonchalantly. “It’s poison. I was supposed to be an assassin after all.”

  Orion, who was usually silent when I was around, sputtered before forming his heavily accented words. “What imbecile told you that ‘tis poison?”

  “Lucas did.” I narrowed my eyes at his insult. “He’s the captain of the guard and my fiancé,” I defended.

  Azrael’s teeth snapped together like I had hit him in the groin.

  “That’s not poison,” Korban said, his eyes wide with intensity. “‘Tis Shadow venom.”

  I shook my head in confusion. It couldn’t be true.

  Azrael handed me the bottle. “‘Tis the same type of venom I pulled out of your arm. It attracts Shadow Lords and Blood Hunters to you.”

  I wrapped my fingers around the bottle. Why would Lucas have something like this? If he knew what it was, he would have never given it to me.

  “Do you know where your . . . fiancé . . . got it?” Azrael asked. His voice sounded strained.

  I shook my head. “I was just wondering the same thing myself.”

  “We need to get rid of it,” Orion broke in, “before another pack of Blood Hunters pick up the scent.”

  I shivered from more than just the cold as the sky quickly grew dark. My stomach turned and I dropped the bottle of venom back into Azrael’s waiting hand. He jumped to his feet then ran to the edge of our campsite near a small grove of trees. I couldn’t help but smile at his masculine, energetic stride. Everything about him radiated valor and heroism. A brilliant fantasy of fighting the Shadow Legion alongside him sprang to my mind. I didn’t know much about him, but I could tell he was someone I could count on in combat. He would be a great warrior to fight beside.

  Azrael set the venom on the ground and took a few steps back. Fire shot from his hands. Gold light reflected off the leaves and lacy branches of the forest. The glass bottle rang like a banshee cry before it shattered.

  Azrael looked back at me as if hoping for my approval. I smiled and nodded, even though I knew it would only feed his ego. It seemed that he and his cat had a lot in common.

  Azrael strode toward me and grasped the bucket of venom-soaked rags. “Come with me.” He held my hand and helped me to my feet. “I want you to see something.” He took me to a small clearing away from camp, pulled out a rag spotted with just a few drops of my blood, and laid it on the ground.

  He led me a few steps back before a stream of flames shot from his outstretched fingers. As soon as his elemental power touched my blood it erupted in a fire tsunami. The blast momentarily deafened my ears. My knees hit the ground. I covered my head with my hands. Azrael flung his cloak over me and stood as a buffer between me and the surge of energy flaming around us. Several nearby trees exploded. Splinters rained down on us like a thousand wooden daggers.

  I turned my head and met Azrael’s eyes, swirling with metallic shades of silver. “Was that Starfire?” I asked.

  Azrael glanced over his shoulder at the blaze then helped me to my feet. “Yes, that intense power came from just a few drops of your blood.”r />
  A deep crater smoldered with white embers. Several holes marked the ground where the fire burned both the trees and roots. I swallowed hard and tried to grasp the amazing display of power and its significance.

  Azrael stroked the top of my hand. White sparks skittered across my skin and lit our faces. His hot energy rushed through my arm where our hands joined. I couldn’t look away from his intense eyes behind the mask. I kept my breath steady, but my heart pounded with apprehension. “If I am the fuel and you are the igniter,” I said using his own analogy, “Should we stay away from each other?”

  Azrael shook his head. “There is nothing in the universe that can keep me away from you now.” His eyes filled with a passion that terrified me.

  I pulled away from his touch. “Azrael, you shouldn’t speak to me like that. I’m engaged.” I looked at the stars to distract myself from him, but it didn’t work. I could still feel him and his energy all around me. I pointed toward the camp and tried to sound indifferent. “Go back by the fire, and I will destroy the rest of the rags so you don’t make a crater the size of Loch Lomond when your power touches my blood.”

  Azrael laughed, sounding too pleased with himself as he walked away.

  I dumped the bucket of rags splattered in red blood and black venom to the ground. How could Azrael say that to me? I held out my hand and a stream of flames whirled from my fingers onto the rags. He knew I was engaged and his statement was obviously a romantic advance. The wet cloth sizzled then burned as it dried.

  I thought about running away and never seeing him again, but with Starfire, he and I could defeat the whole Shadow Legion. Erebus wouldn’t stand a chance against a power like ours.

  I closed my eyes and let the heat flow from my body in waves. I couldn’t run from Azrael. Despite my fears, we needed each other. I bit my lip. How would Lucas feel about him being around all the time, especially if Azrael was making advances?