Her thin lips twitch with a bashful smile. “The effect is temporary, but it will help while we’re moving.”

I cast a glance at the van’s four occupants.

Flanagan’s bulk looms to my right, Laasya to the left. I twist my head up to see the driver. The only visible part of her is a shiny black bob. I assume it’s the Asian woman I saw fighting in the alley.

The stocky man on the bench glowers at me when I check him out. A square-jawed, blue-eyed bruiser with a shaved head, and the same suede trousers and hard leather vest as Flanagan, but a darker brown. Same silver symbol on the shoulder too, only with two dots beneath instead of five. Some kind of soldier, maybe?

He must have every option of knife and sword on his person, as well as the folded crossbow hanging from his belt. Not sure what these people have against guns. Maybe the Flame makes them useless or something, but from the way this man holds himself, I get the impression he knows what to do with the steel he’s packing.

If I need to escape these people, I could overwhelm Laasya, but against Flanagan and Mr. Happy there, I don’t stand a chance.

My head flops back to the cushion. Whether these people are friend or enemy—and right now, the jury’s still out—I’m not getting away from them unless they want me to. But they won’t be locking me down without a fight.

When I look back up at Flanagan, he’s watching me, blond brows pulled close, his expression a mix of concern and curiosity. As our gazes meet, I’m struck again by his strange eyes. They’re not weird the way Alyona’s in the alley were, but they are unusual. They glint in the dim light like diamonds.

“Feel better?” he asks.

“Yeah. Thanks.”

He gestures to Mr. Happy with his spare hand. “This is Sergeant Mason. The driver is Captain Seonu. And you’ve met Laasya. We’re called Guardians: specialized Channelers who police the supernatural world. This particular team keeps Channelers away from Alyona and her kind. Laasya here is the team’s witch.”

Guardians? They sound like something from a Marvel movie. And who knew witches were a thing?

I give Laasya a smile but ignore the sergeant. “And what about the shadow guy?” I ask. He’s got to be one of their scouts. “Is he with you?”

“What shadow guy,” Mason asks, eyes narrowing.

Flanagan and Laasya share a look.

“No,” Flanagan says. “He’s not with us.”

“Is he one of them, then? Alyona’s crew?”

A dark expression crosses his face. “There’s no need to worry about him. You’re safe now.”

Yeah? I’m not a hundred percent sure on that. I push myself up, done with lying down. I need answers. Nobody tries to stop me, but Flanagan says, “You must stay calm, Michael. You’re still charged, and your Flame can upset the van’s electrics.” He leaves his huge hand on my thigh as though it belongs there. The tingle continues. In fact, I can now feel the same sensation where his arm presses against mine, even through my leather jacket. I ignore my persistent arousal.