The spirit forced her to stop and hold out her arms. Somewhere inside, Rosalind screamed, trying to regain control. The scent of burning flesh filled the air, and in the next instant, searing pain ripped her apart. Flames blazed from her limbs, and she loosed an agonized scream.

It must have been only a few moments before a pair of masculine arms surrounded her again, cooling the flames.

In the next instant, Caine slipped the iron ring on her finger, and Rosalind let out a long, shuddering breath. Her body trembled. She’d only been on fire for a few moments, but the ghost of her torment still whispered through her nerve-endings, reverberating in her skull.

“Fire,” she whispered.

“I’m sorry.” His voice was so quiet she hardly heard him.

Her breath rasped, and he held her from behind, his skin smooth over muscled arms.

Exhausted, she melted into him. “She called you Richard.”

“I never knew my spirit’s name before,” said Caine. “But as soon as she said it, I recognized it.”

“You said the name Cleo.”

He took a deep breath. “Richard knew her. There was some connection between them. I’m guessing they were lovers.”

“She was starting to chant a spell. What did it mean? Why did you stop her?”

His arms loosened. “An aphrodisiac,” he said, his voice husky. “If she’d finished it, I wouldn’t have been able to control what happened next.”

“She has a one track mind.”

“Can you blame her? It’s probably been hundreds of years since she inhabited a human body. She obviously wants to make the most of it.”

She stepped out of his arms, turning to look at him. “That was a total disaster. She wanted me to burn. She was vengeful, and I had no control over her. I don’t think I’ve ever failed at anything so shockingly. I’d rather fight the Brotherhood with weapons.”

“That won’t work.”

“This won’t work.” Her nerves were frayed, the memory of pain still whispering through her. “I can’t control her. She’s too powerful.”

“It was only your second try. Aurora was right. You need to rest and eat. You won’t be able to gain control of anything when your body is falling apart.”

She dug her palms into her eyes, trying not to think of what might be happening to the captive incubus. “We need another plan.”

Chapter 24

By the time they reached Caine’s house, the rising sun stained the sky a pale coral, streaked with steel. Caine opened his front door into a quiet house.

In his living room, someone had drawn the curtains closed, and only a faint glow filtered in through the edges, dimly lighting the living room and kitchen.

In the darkness, Rosalind could just make out that Aurora had fallen asleep on the sofa, while Tammi dozed in an armchair, wrapped up in a blanket.

Caine trod quietly into the kitchen, motioning to one of the chairs that stood by the marble island. “Have a seat. I’m going to make you some food.”