He smiles. Pride and affection glint warmth into oil-black eyes. “You cannot harm me with the Flame, my love. I am your prince and your master. You belong to me.”

I’m pretty sure he’s right that I can’t harm him. Hurting Alexei would be like tearing my own flesh. Instead, I let the Flame swallow my whole body. Liquid fire flows down to my legs and over my shoulders, covering my chest and face, dancing into the air around me. Instant clarity hits my mind. The seductive pull of Alexei’s presence falls away. The ground ripples around my feet, and the air dances at the corner of my eye. I hear the notes of a distant melody.

“Beautiful,” Alexei says, slipping his hands back into his pockets as though enjoying a show.

The sound of stones skittering against rock interrupts the angry words about to leave my mouth. A cavern-deep growl echoes over the valley, vibrating the rock face.

The prince’s mouth curves, eyes flashing with satisfied glee. “Ahh. The Lycan has finally found us.”

Chapter 25

25

The engulfing Flame evaporates as my heart leaps in my chest. Flanagan’s here.

Though what rises over the cliff doesn’t look like Flanagan—the stoic, tender, dominant arsehole I’ve come to respect. He’s the same colossus of muscle with wild blond hair and eyes the color of diamond fire, but instead of a handsome face, this towering goliath wears a horror movie visage.

Crazy sharp fangs extend from an elongated jaw. Ears rise at the side of his head like black tufted horns. Foot-long claws fall at his sides from distorted fingers covered by dark fur. And those startling eyes now shine with cold, feral power.

The Guardian-issue suede trousers still cling to his lower half, but the hard leather vest is gone, revealing muscles that roll and ripple over an underlying force, as if encasing a creature clambering for escape.

Ice streaks down my spine, hairs prickling across my neck. Instinct hammers my body. Monster. Run. But when my eyes meet his, I find a desperate affection burning in the silver—worry and longing battle with white-hot fury. My heart gives a thump.

“Release him, Alexei.” Flanagan’s voice thunders past my ears, the cavernous growl extending each word.

“Wolfy seems a tad perturbed,” Alexei says to me. “Maybe you should step away.” He indicates the cliff wall.

I pause, caught between protecting my prince from the monster and making sure Alexei doesn’t harm Flanagan.

“Go, my love,” Alexei urges. “Stay well back.”

I reluctantly retreat to the wall side of the rock shelf. I’ve got enough smarts to know getting between these two will only end in pain, but it kills me to stand by while they go at each other.