"Maybe, but it is elemental at its core, Claire. I can taste the fire in it. It calls to me. Fire and metal. I can feel cold, hard ore. The tang of it, almost like copper but not quite, coats the back of my mouth. Wood is present, too. It's otherworldly fire, metal that I can't place, and foreign wood. They're—"

"Elements of Eudae."

"Yes, maybe."

She opened her eyes. Adam's mouth was only a breath's width from hers. He'd been staring at her as he worked, his eyes unfocused. Now they focused. His fingers ceased the gentle massage at her nape for several heartbeats, then resumed.

Claire thought for a moment that Adam would close the short space between their lips and kiss her. They held a heated moment between them before Adam released her, the magickal tendril of his power yanking from her with a palpable snap. She let out the breath she'd been holding.

Adam turned away, his shoulders hunched, a slight tremble going through him. "How much do you know about demon magick? Educate me."

She forced her mind into first gear with effort. She cleared her throat and, with it, tried to clear the lazy fog that Adam had settled over her mind and body. "I can't do what you just did. I've never touched any daaeman magick with my power, but it seems natural there would be elemental magick in daaeman magick."

"Why do you say that?"

She swallowed hard and organized her thoughts. "Our magick was born of theirs, so the elements must be present in their power."

"Yes." He turned to her. His face was once again that mask she was familiar with, but shadows moved through his eyes. "I bet you can touch another witch's power, Claire. Witch, being the operative word. It's a skill only some have, and with your abilities I bet you have it. Want to try? You never had the opportunity on Eudae. Here you do."

She took a step toward him, intrigued by the possibility. "Can I try on you?"

A cocky grin split the serious expression on his face, but something unsure moved through his gaze. It was gone in a moment and he walked to her. "That was the general idea."

She touched the center of his chest, the seat of his magick. "How do I start?"

"Close your eyes."

She allowed her eyelids to drift down. His hand closed over hers, broad, strong, and warm. It made her jump.

"Shhh, it's all right, Claire." His voice was the barest whisper and she could too easily imagine him using it in bed with her, limbs and sheets entangled. She licked her suddenly dry lips.

"Now, draw a thread of your power," he instructed. "However you do that, from one element or a couple. Parse out just a little and send it into me."