The Tempting Touch Of Fire (Elemental Awakening, Book 1) (14 page)

And a single drop of my blood hit the ground. It sizzled in the intense inferno, but enough of it seeped in for the Earth to hear my desperate plea.

Take him deep, keep him safe, hold him for me
.

The ground rolled and a thunderous sound rang out on the air. Trees hurled against each other, the crack of branches deafening, the screech of bark against bark painful to my ears. They were not happy. My forest of trees was in pain, but the pain of burning was nothing to the pain they could feel through that single drop of my blood. My pain.

Fire licked up my legs, skin peeled painfully from my flesh. I'd stopped breathing some time ago. The vines, trying to get me out of the flames, had taken me higher, as high as the top of the trees that still stood, could allow. But the smoke and heat still found me, even if the actual flames couldn't quite reach that far.

I heard a deep rumbling sound that shook the trees and vines that held me, and then I knew the ground had opened up below.

Nico screamed, then corrected himself with a litany of swear words in Greek. The trees nearest the hole toppled over, falling against each other and fuelling the blaze, making the flames lick higher, creating more and more smoke. Slowly I was carried away from the centre of that inferno and lowered to the ground where I could escape. But my legs wouldn't hold me. I collapsed to the soil at my feet, sending more of my blood into the Earth, begging it to take Nico deep and do what was needed to save the rest of the forest from his Fire.

Within minutes those trees that burned were swallowed along with Nico, until all that was left was a large circle of charred ground. A few burnt branches and stumps here and there. But nothing else.

I sucked in the first clean breath of air I'd managed for over ten minutes and hacked up a lungful of dark muck. Disgusting. And then, with nothing else to distract me or stop me, I cried. It was the type of sobbing that took every ounce of your body's strength. It came from deep inside, somewhere no one should have to go. It was dark and lonely and ached something fierce with guilt and sadness and, I admit, regret.

Was I so proud that I would risk my trees to prove a point? Was I that weak I couldn't just turn the other cheek? My sob racked my entire frame, my tears washed the soil beneath my face. My fists gripped the dirt, trying to hold on to something, to stop myself from floating away into the darkness that encroached.

It was hands on my shoulders shaking me gently that reached me first, not his voice or kind words. I lifted my head from the dirt, my hair knotted with mud and leaves and twigs, my face streaked with ash.

"Aktor?" I choked out on a sob.

"Come, Miss Eden. Let's get you inside before the master returns."

"I want to stay here with my plants," I insisted.

Aktor shook his head, his face understanding but firm. "If he sees what his cousin did, he will... well, let's just not chance it."

I stumbled to my feet with the old butler's help. He was stronger than he looked, he practically took my full weight with an arm around my waist. I noticed my legs, although pink and shiny, as though new skin had appeared, were no longer burnt or blistered. I let a little hysterical laugh out at the sight of my immortality. I had healed from Theo's blisters at my neck before, from the King's knife at my throat. But this was the first time it truly registered.

"He won't be able to breathe down there," I said aloud, unsure if Aktor could keep up with my wandering mind.

"He'll survive, unless you instructed the Earth to behead him." He said it so casually, as though it was such a simple thing.

"Of course not!" I exclaimed. "I asked it to keep him safe."

"And I would expect nothing less, Cassandra," Aktor remarked, as we climbed the steps into the house.

"What have I done?" I asked beseechingly.

"What you had to do, dear," Aktor replied kindly, leading me into my room. A bath had been drawn, clean clothes waiting beside it.

"Did you do this?" I asked. My mind seemed to be disjointed, I couldn't complete a train of thought before jumping to another.

"When I saw the trees begin to collapse in on themselves and get swallowed in the hole, I knew you were almost through." He'd been watching and waiting for me to get it out of my system.

"What must you think of me?" I said softly, realising it was similar words to those Theo had used once.

"My dear, you have done nothing worse than any other adolescent
Athanatos
. Would it make you feel better if I told you Theodoros burnt his father's castle to the ground and
Nicodromos char-grilled an entire heard of sheep once? Neither had intended to, they were just flexing their muscles."

A small exhausted giggle escaped my lips.

"I dare say Nicodromos was well aware you needed to get this out of your system," the old man said softly at the door on his way out. "If I were you, I'd keep him there for an hour, no more. Just a suggestion." And then he left, leaving me feeling strangely at home in this world, despite the aches and scrapes and guilt and annoying burnt flesh smell.

I was a three day old
Athanatos
and I'd just thrown my first tantrum. And the butler hadn't batted an eyelash.

Theo arrived home before the hour was up. I was downstairs in the parlour, looking out the window at the forest, trying to find enough courage to go rescue Nico and ask the trees for my forgiveness. I wasn't sure what would be harder to face. Nico or the plants.

Theo walked into the room, looking just the same as he did when I last saw him. Immaculately dressed in a dinner suit, face impassive and body tense. I turned my head slightly to look at him, but didn't move from my perch on the window seat.

After everything that had happened since I returned to his house, the events of the evening prior to leaving that venue seemed tame. I didn't say a word, just held his steady gaze with one of my own.

"What happened in the garden?" he asked, voice low and even.

"Apparently I was flexing my muscles." I turned back to stare at the trees through the glass.

Theo let out a huff of breath. "Was it fun?" My lips tipped up at the edges, but there was no humour in my response.

"I wouldn't call it fun, probably more along the lines of educational."

"Was the lesson for yourself or someone else?" I could feel him walking closer. Actually feel the heat roll off him toward me. I stretched my head on my neck uncomfortably. I think I'd had enough Fire for one night.

"Please don't do that," I whispered. The heat receded immediately.

"You looked pensive, I was trying to get you to relax."

"For a thousands year old man you seem to be woefully unaware of how women think," I pointed out.

"Really?" he asked, from just behind my shoulder. "Why don't you enlighten me."

I turned to look at him, I had to tip my head right back.

"Nico and I had a disagreement," I said, not explaining my statement further. Theo's eyes lifted from mine to look out the window at the forest.

"I see," he said, ominously. "And where is my cousin now?"

"Several metres beneath the Earth." I held my breath and waited for his reaction.

He seemed to be in deep thought. A muscle in his jaw twitched. I watched it closely, as though it would be the indicator of when his temper was about to erupt.

"Is he alive?" he asked eventually, still not looking at me.

"Of course."

"And did he harm you?" Theo asked, his face finally tipping down to look at mine.

"Nothing I couldn't recover from within half an hour."

His hand came up and he let his fingers run down my cheek. "You were angry at me," he pointed out. "And took it out on Nico." I don't think he was impressed.

"Oh, I assure you, Nico deserved my wrath too."

His eyebrow quirked. "Really? And what did Nico do that was so treacherous?"

"Spoke the truth."

Theo stared at me for a very long time, then surprised me by saying abruptly, "He saw your eyes." I nodded slowly. "I don't want anyone else but me to see that green. Do you understand,
Oraia
?" I nodded, slower still. "How long will you leave him there?"

And I think that was the most surprising revelation of all. Theo had just demanded I not flash green eyes at anyone but him. A very imperious command. But he wasn't going to tell me to release his cousin, he was leaving that decision up to me.

"I was about to retrieve him when you arrived," I admitted. "You distracted me."

His face softened, it was incredible to watch. All of a sudden tension eased from his frame at those words; a small glimpse inside of me. I was thinking Theo believed I wouldn't be distracted by him ever again. I got the impression he thought tonight had caused irreparable harm. I wasn't over it, not by a long shot. But Nico had been telling me the truth, and I needed to accept that. I was a passing interest in Theo's life, but then so was Isadora. Although she was a little more recurring than I would be. Still, after taking my anger out on Nico and seeing the incredible force of
Pyrkagia
Stoicheio,
I realised more than ever that there were worse things to fear than losing my heart to this man.

It was a harsh lesson. I felt bruised and battered and exhausted from it all. But I had my priorities right now. Learn everything I could about what I was, then find a way to live with it, preferably here in Auckland. I still had no intention of being bullied from my city, but I did understand the dangers better now. I understood the risks. And they did not revolve around my heart and Theo Peters.

"Would you like some company?" Theo asked. "I'd be interested to see how my cousin fared."

"Certainly," I replied, standing up and taking Theo's arm as though it was quite a natural thing to do.

We walked out of the parlour and down the front steps towards the forest. Theo's gold tinged eyes taking in the devastation as we came closer to the centre of the fight. A small frown appeared on his lips, a crease across his forehead. But he didn't say anything, he just took it all in.

"I might need blood for this," I warned Theo. He turned, releasing my arm and looked down at me.

"How did you know to use blood?" he asked carefully.

"The night I came here," I explained, "the vines pierced my skin. The moment my blood hit the soil the paving stones and gravel around your house erupted from beneath. I put two and two together. When I touch the Earth, it feels stronger. But when my blood touches the Earth, it is invincible."

A strange look crossed Theo's face. A mixture of wonder and surprise... and an aching sense of sadness.

"Cassandra," he said on a sigh, his eyes closed slowly as though in pain. But if there was an explanation for his sudden sorrow, he didn't divulge it.

When his eyelids lifted, I held his gaze for so long I think I got lost in there. It was worse than the look he has when he wishes I was born
Pyrkagia.
This one felt like he was letting me go.

I couldn't handle the level of loss I felt at that strange expression on Theo's face, so I turned, like a coward, and instead looked out over the blackened mark where my trees had died. There was no end to this roller-coaster of emotion. No depth deep enough that it couldn't reach. I felt like I had been flayed, stripped bare of all defences. And there was no amount of mental preparedness that could shield me now.

This was a sweet hell. I longed to stay here. I wanted out. Being close to Theo was like feeling alive. But I was beginning to wonder if he was poison to my heart and soul. Because how could I desire him so much and know it was so very, very wrong?

I think a tear escaped, because his finger gently brushed my cheek and left wetness behind. He moved around me until we were face to face. His hands came up and cupped my cheeks, tilted my head backwards, lifting my face to the stars, to his gaze.

"Time is but a fleeting thing,
Oraia
. It is over in the blink of an eye. One month to an
Athanatos
is nothing. But to our hearts it can mean eternity."

How was I meant to take that?

I said the first thing I could think of, that wouldn't show him how his softly spoken words had cleaved my heart. "Why did you leave me to go home with Nico?"

He took a deep breath in and let it slowly out. I felt the heat of it wash my face, my lips. They tingled, as though he'd kissed them.

"You will be mad," he said, and I just raised my eyebrows at him. Angrier than I had been? Impossible.

"You went after her," I concluded, before the stretch of silence was too long.

"Yes," he admitted softly. "But not for the reason you believe."

"She's an old friend, Theo. You can have feelings for her, I'd understand." I'd want to claw her eyes out, but I was trying to move past that visceral reaction now. Yeah, right. "Nico explained everything," I added, so he didn't feel he had to as well.

"I can see that," he replied, purposefully glancing around the destruction. "And I must say, I rather like this jealous side you've displayed." His eyes returned to mine, gold hinted in the corners.

I huffed a breath out. "This wasn't because I was jealous. This was because I was sick of not being able to defend myself and strike back. I asked Nico to a challenge, he accepted. And I kicked his arse."

Theo's lips tipped up into a glorious smile. "Oh, Cassandra. You do please."

I rolled my eyes at him.

"I had a suspicion," he said softly, wrapping his palm around the nape of my neck. His thumb started stroking tenderly under my hair. "That what Isadora had uncovered on her latest mission would involve you."

"Oh?"

"Her reaction was too strong. I have had other women in the time I have known her," he pointed out and I crossed my arms over my chest to show how I felt about that little piece of information. He chuckled, leaned his face forward and rested his forehead against mine. "She is also a very calm person for a
Pyrkagia
, that's probably why I have entertained her for so long." I started frowning. His smile widened. "She has never reacted to any
Ekmetalleftis
like that before, regardless of branch. Her behaviour, despite the awkward situation, was out of character. So, I followed her and cornered her and demanded to know what was wrong."

"And?" I was holding my breath again.

"She wouldn't tell me. She is loyal to the
Rigas
and
Pyrkagia
. So, I went to my father."

The air I was holding rushed out and my heart began to hammer in my chest. His thumb swirled in amongst my hair at the back of my head, his other hand wrapped around my back, splayed flat on  the rise of my rear, and pulled me flush against him.

"Theo?" I breathed out.

"You were too far away," he explained.

Oh, OK.

"My father has consented for me to attend the council meeting tomorrow. At least we'll have an understanding then of where Isadora has been and why she reacted so bizarrely to a
Gi
being in
Pyrkagia
territory."

"Do you think she's been wherever the
Gi
are? Where are they, anyway?"

"The
Gi
territory is in Brazil. They moved to the Amazon when we separated branches. Prior to that we all lived in and around Athens. And yes, I suspect she has been spying there. She is our top agent. Similar to what my father believes you to be. Ironic, no?"

"I don't find it very amusing," I said, shoving against his chest. He just held me tighter, pulled me closer, and started to lay kisses down my face, across my jaw and around to my ear.

"I would rather you were an agent of the
Gi
than..." he bit his words off and moved away. A frustrated hand ran through his hair.

"What aren't you telling me?" I asked.

"Nothing, but I do find myself rambling when you distract me so. How about we bring Nico back to the land of the living?" He clapped his hands together enthusiastically.

I recrossed my arms over my chest and started tapping my foot.

"How about you finish your last sentence, and then I release your cousin."

He turned and stared at me, a small smattering of gold in his eyes. Then he shrugged.

"He deserves to stay there overnight, how about we just leave him and I ease that stiffness in your shoulders with a massage?" He stalked towards me and I took an uncertain step backwards, my arms coming undone and instead lifting up between us to ward him off. He looked immensely pleased with himself.

"That's unfair," I complained, taking another step back as he stalked closer. "You know I can't fight those sorts of battles."

"Oh, but Cassandra. Think of the joy we would both have while I teach you how."

"Theo, behave!" I instructed, but it came out breathless instead.

He shook his head at me. "No, no, that warning has done its dash. Time to switch it up a bit."

He was still stalking me, we'd practically done the circumference of the scorched mark. I lost my footing on a charred stump, and when I righted myself, my back was against bark. And Theo was pressed into my front. He looked incredibly wild and untamed and... beautiful.

"Now," he breathed across my lips, then ducked down and licked the bottom one. "First lesson." I was panting for breath now; excited and scared and out of my mind right then. "Never run from a predator, Cassandra. Stand your ground, call their bluff, if you must. The 'behave' worked on me once, because I wasn't expecting it. This time you'll have to dig deeper to make me stop."

What?

"Think," he instructed, his tongue swiping across my top lip and then his mouth suckled on the bottom.

Think? He wants me to think now?

"You can do it. Surprise me. Scare the predator off."

His hips rocked seductively against me, evidence of his arousal obvious as it pressed against my lower belly. I stifled a groan.

His face nestled into my neck next, I felt him inhale, taking the smell of me in. I wondered what he scented. I wondered if he liked it. Then his hand slipped under my T-shirt and stroked up my bare skin to just below the curve of my breast. And all thought was lost, replaced by a nonsensical whimper slipping out between my lips before I could stop it.