“What are you playing at, Hellion?” Ronen snarled, suspicious.
We flew for a moment, and I pretended I was gathering my breath to speak. Although it wasn’t completely faked.
I didn’t have time to make up an excuse; I didn’t even have one on hand. Instead, I used all my focus and my father’s training to imagine the hallucination Alexei suggested and burrowed deep into my power.
We landed.
“I’m proving I’m as scary as you.” Then I shouted, “Now, Oliver!”
We touched Ronen at the same time, and I dove into his mind.
Ronen’s barriers were a fortress of solidified darkness. They had no cracks, holes, or weaknesses at all. I knew force wouldn’t get methrough—not unless I was mentally and physically stronger than him. Which meant I had to try the way my father taught me.
I visualized warmth and safety, making my mental presence appear as nonthreatening as it could. If I wasn’t a threat, there was a chance I could slip through. I softly touched his walls with my mental hand. At first, nothing happened. Then a shadow broke off from the wall and sank into me.
That never happened with my father. Did I screw up?
Nervous, I pressed harder and fell through to the heart of his mind.
It shouldn’t have been that easy. But I didn’t have time to question it. I needed to perform the next step of our plan.
RONEN
“I’m proving I’m as scary as you,” she said, touching my face.
I couldn’t see her, but I could feel every inch of her. My shadows wrapped around her body. Her warmth penetrated my uniform, just as her winterberry scent struck my nose. Overloaded by her addictive smell and intoxicating heat, it was difficult to concentrate on anything else.
“Now, Oliver!” she shouted.
I knew this was coming—I’d heard Oliver give away part of their plan—and yet he still managed to touch my back.
I collapsed, dropping the Hellion, and fell into my fear.
“Hey!You were all over me, no need to hit me,” Alexei complained—the flirting bastard.
Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to tell them to restrict their power if all they were going to do was flirt and waste time. But if Lucifer wouldn’t, then I would wherever I could. She’d never forgive herself if she killed her father or mother. Their lives were more important than Lucille practicing her powers every day. She could learn this way, slowly and with limitations. If she knew the truth, she’d agree, if not outright quit. At least this way, she’d receive some training.
“Wasn’t me.” She sighed. Her heat signature pressed closer to his.
“Beautiful, has anyone ever told you that you smell divine?”
Seven Hells, I wished Alexei would shut up—or at least lower his voice so I didn’t have to hear him from here. I’d put enough space between us to give them an advantage. But they sure weren’t taking it.
My shadows rippled, signaling a slight movement. But I couldn’t pinpoint which one of them moved or the direction of their movements; their heat signatures were too close together.
“Lucille.”
I frowned at Alexei’s tone.
“What would you do if I kissed you right now?” He wasn’t flirting. He wasn’t joking. He was serious.
I waited for her to laugh or deny him.
She whispered something back that I couldn’t make out. She had to have said no to him.
My shadows rippled again. I gritted my teeth, so close to dropping my power. But what if this was part of their plan?
Alexei knew me too well. He had to be taunting me to try to prove his suspicions right.
