His order whips my mind, the Call pulsing through my blood, but this time I know the feelings that come with it are a lie. The desire to be with a beloved, to go home, are only a seduction. Alexei doesn’t care about me; his feelings are a show. I’m just his one-man arsenal.

I ignite. Silver-white fire engulfs me, and lucid freedom washes through my head. I’m not his. I’m not anybody’s.

I’ve got to get back to Blackriver. He’s stealing the students, and it’s my fault. I weakened every soldier by calling their Flame, left them vulnerable, unable to defend all those young Channelers. If Alexei can fuck with my mind, what can he do to a teenager?

“No. No. Listen to me,” Alexei’s voice rises. “You risk your life if you go back.”

“I’m going.” How the hell I’ll get down from this cliff or make it through the Faelands in the deepening twilight, I have no idea. But I’m going. I step closer to the edge of the rock shelf.

Alexei changes tactic. Precious one. Come to me, my love.

His velvet voice strokes my mind, my groin. I feel the warmth, the desperate need to go to the one I love, but the Flame somehow cushions the effect. I can look at the urgency and decide not to respond.

“Not this time, Alexei.”

“Alyona,” he screams.

“Yes, Highness.” The vampire witch jumps with ease from her rock perch and lands a few yards away. She tugs her cowl low around her face, then raises both hands.

I feel an instant fiery itch throughout my body. A thousand hot ants crawl through my veins. My Flame cuts out. Fuckfuckfuck. I tug at my clothing and scramble to scratch every inch of my skin at once, but the itch goes bone-deep, and I almost tear flesh to get to the crawlies.

Alyona struts closer, pouty lips twisted by a sadistic smile, and the ants double.

I throw my hand out toward her. “Flame,” I scream. I don’t get to finish the call. The itch disappears as if never there, and I’m left on my knees, gasping.

Alyona backs away with narrowed eyes. “Don’t you dare.”

I give her a winner’s grin. The vampire witch is scared of a Whisperer. Another good thing to know. I jump up, light my Flame, and walk to the edge of the cliff.

“No. No!” Alexei, still pinned beneath his enemy, grips Flanagan’s arms and shakes him. “Gabriel, you must stop him. He cannot go back. They will hurt him. Kill him.”

Flanagan studies the vampire’s face. “What are you not telling me?”

The prince opens his mouth to speak but snaps his lips shut and growls in frustration.