“The Fae is a land of Flame,” he explains with his soft, hypnotic voice. “And follows a different set of laws. It can cause nausea in those not accustomed to its ways. Humans unable to Channel risk insanity if they stray inside its borders. Even Channelers risk a permanent Haze if not careful.” The prince slips his hand farther around to tug me closer and squeeze my waist. His body hums with power and warmth. “Our home, Dvamira Castle, rests in the in-between. Like Blackriver, the castle sits with a foot inside both worlds. You will love it there. One of its many gardens stretches far into the Faelands. A gift from the Fae Queen to her daughter.”

Her daughter, the Queen of the vampires. Alexei’s Fae mother. I explore his masculine but delicate features. I have no idea what fairies look like, but Alexei seems a balance between organic and ethereal. Between earth and sky. A scorching, undeniable presence yet otherworldly.

When I catch myself leaning closer to breathe in his rich scent, I yank my head away to scan the green horizon again. Deep relaxation has taken hold of my muscles, softening my shoulders, as if the stress of the last ten days is dropping away, seeping into the land to be returned as strength and warmth.

“What’s that?” I point to the white dome tucked into its distant valley. The building keeps blinking in the sunlight as though to catch my attention.

“Temple of the Flame. Protected by the Goddess herself. Its High Priestess, Elwyn, has been alive longer than me.” He examines me as he speaks, his gaze lingering on the curve of my neck. He roams my features with wonder, as if he can’t quite believe I’m real.

“Yeah, Flanagan told me you were ancient.” I’m trying for an insult, but I can’t tear my eyes from the delicate arch of his cheekbones. I study Alexei with the same bewildered awe with which he studies me. How can something so deadly be packaged in such smooth, porcelain-pale skin?

The light in Alexei’s black eyes glimmers. He leans closer. “And yet you think me beautiful.”

I snort, even though my eyes remain fixed to his full mouth. “That’s just a vampire trick. I bet you’re ugly as sin underneath that glamour.”

Alexei throws his head back with a delighted laugh. The tinkling, velvety sound curls through my groin and sucks my gaze to the line of his lithe neck. I want to bite along that arrogant jaw. Kiss those haughty lips. I want to do a lot more than kiss them. Damn it.

His smile curves with sultry invitation. “You may kiss me if you wish. There will soon be time for more.”

“Yeah. I’d rather kiss a piranha.”

One tiny line cracks the perfect spread of his brow. “A piranha? Hmm. Surely, a snake or monster would make the better insult?”