He grimaces. “The Faeland forest is like a conscious entity—troublesome and mischievous. Men have died searching for a way to leave. The Goddess’s blessing gives me some influence, but I am not beyond its impish pranks.” He huffs, shaking his head, and we both grin.

It’s good to see him smile, but it plucks at the heaviness in my chest.

“Look, I—I wasn’t much help. I’m sorry, I tried but…” An image of pleading blue eyes lances my chest.

He frowns. “Mason told me the Guardians were all but finished until you came. And the Anlu’kyr retreated as soon as you climbed to the roof.”

He did? I assumed he’d be the one shooting a bolt up my arse. “Yeah, they left then, but only because the slippery shits already had what they wanted. I tried to follow but…” Ended up in a whacky dream.

He reaches to draw me closer, but I stiffen, and he drops his hand again. “Michael, the Anlu’kyr would have taken every student, young soldiers too, and left every other dead. The only reason they didn’t is that their fear of you was greater than their desire for Channelers.”

I glance up from studying the floor, desperately wanting his words to be true. “I don’t know, Flanagan. Radomir—”

Flanagan sneers. “Radomir.” He says the name with a hiss. “Alexei’s right hand. He’s a royal and strong. He still ran from you.”

I shake my head, unable to accept that the vampire was afraid of me. He didn’t show a scrap of fear. I’m still sure the Anlu’kyr left because their reason for attacking Blackriver was done.

Flanagan’s expression darkens. “Did he say something to you?”

I sigh. “Just the usual. Come home. You’re one of us. Blah fucking blah.” I glance up, and he catches my nervous swallow.

He cups my head and pulls me to him, ignoring my rigid response. His eyes gleam with a fierce light. “You are not his.”

I don’t need him to say the name. I know who he means. His words punch the fear sitting like an alien presence in my gut. “My own blood’s a prison. I can’t… I’ll never get away from them. From him. Ever. One click of that bastard’s fingers and I turn into a monster.”

Flanagan’s not letting me go, so I give in and grasp his shirt at the sides, suppressing the desire to grind closer. I’m not experiencing even a hint of a Haze, yet I still feel the intense charge between us.

“We’ll find a way to free you from his Call,” he says. “I promise.”