It seeps from my skin, but in small tendrils, not the devastating blast of dark energy with which I obliterated the soul in the Forbidden Lands. At the same time, it feels just as powerful.
It also feels ready and sustainable, as if I can maintain this state without draining myself. In fact, the tendrils are barely noticeable unless I’m really looking, and as I glance down the length of my body, it seems as if a thin protective layer of energy is now tracing over me.
“Keep holding it; keep it together,” Roman tells me. “Don’t let the strength overwhelm you.”
I have no idea how he knows exactly what I’m feeling as I fight my instincts to either suck the power back inside or push it all the way out as I’ve done before when I needed a large burst of energy. This middle ground of holding it against my skin is something I’ve never done and it’s going to take a lot of getting used to.
And get used to it I do, with Roman giving me one half-hour break in the next four hours.
“You’re a tyrant.” I groan, flopping onto the ground in front of my wolves and Ingrid, who have been patiently watching me all morning.
Roman’s lips twitch and his eyes are bright, but he doesn’t smile. “And yet, you’re already pulling the combined energy across your skin without thought.”
I’m startled to realize he’s right. Even sprawled out and wrecked, the energy of my demon and wolf hovers across my skin, and I sense that I could snap out with wolfordemon energy in an instant. Maybe even both together.
I’m also surprised to find that my demon sight triggers without effort as soon as I think about it, easily allowing me to see the energy streams around me that I was missing before. Like the drip of the poison on the flowering thorny bramble nearby and the multitude of creatures prowling within the distant wilds—creatures that must know better than to come near Roman, my wolves, and… me.
Roman takes a seat next to me, his long legs stretching out, the muscles visible when the material on his sweats strains across them. His boots are worn and rough, but they suit the outdoorsy vibe he’s rocking.
Silence descends over the area, all of us taking a moment to either recover—me—or breathe in nature—everyone else.
Then Roman’s shadow looms over me, casting me into darkness as he leans toward me and blocks out the sunlight.
“We’re not done yet,” he says. “You need to move to the next step and truly embrace your nightmare energy.”
I stare up at him. My satisfaction at having conquered some level of control over my power is stifled as I wait for him to elaborate.
“You need to test your strength on another demon.”
I arch an eyebrow at him, half-joking as I ask, “Are you offering to be my target practice?”
He inclines his head. “You won’t be ready to return to Zilron until you can beat me.”
My energy hovers across my skin, and it spikes when he speaks. With that spike, my adrenaline surges and I momentarily lose control of the energy completely, letting it spill out in a dark mass of power.
Rising to my feet, I drag my energy under control.
“I’m not sure I’ll ever be that strong,” I say, a truth I’m not afraid to utter.
Roman’s lips part, as if he’s surprised at my admission, but I shrug and continue. “You’re not exactly my first choice when it comes to a demon opponent.”
His expression hardens. “Your father is my equal. It’s why I respect him.”
My eyes widen at this news, but Roman plows on.
“You need to be as strong as he is or you won’t survive.” His voice deepens as he narrows the gap between us, his green eyes shadowed and darkening. “I won’t let you go back to be killed, Nova.”
His declaration sends a sharp pang through my heart.
I’m tired and I have no doubt I’ll never beat him—not today, at least. But he’s right. I won’t survive unless I have complete control of my power and can use it against the strongest demons.
If that means taking him on, then that’s what I have to do.
“Okay, then,” I say. “Let’s begin.”
CHAPTERTWENTY-THREE
Roman and I face off against each other, and even though I’m about to test a nightmarish, scary-ass power on him, Roman is relaxed.
