Aidan jerked his head and saw a tall, handsome man in all-black attire, with shining blonde hair around a pale face. “How could she do this to you?” The man tapped his fingers against his chin. “Then again, I’m not quite sure what she ever saw in you in the first place.”
Aidan’s hands heated and his lips curled into a snarl. “Who are you?”
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Kai look around in confusion. “What are you talking about?”
He motioned to the man bearing a sinister smile next to him. “How did you even get in here?” Aidan asked the stranger, forcing heat into his words.
“There’s no one—oh,” Kai’s eyes widened. “Aidan, it’s him. Itmustbe him. The man from the ship.” She shot up, a storm brewing in her eyes as pools of water formed in her hands.
Aidan sized the man up. So, this was the bastard who was causing so many problems. He didn’t look all that dangerous.
Flames instantly ignited in his palms. He raised his hand to the man, eager to burn the cocky grin from his face.
“Stop,” the man commanded as he met Aidan’s eyes.
Instantly, Aidan froze. He didn’t understand what was happening—he was locked in place, the dark god’s gaze penetrating his soul and dousing the fire that lived there. It was like plunging into the depths of the sea, the weight of his sins and regrets clawing at him, dragging him under, filling his lungs.
Drowning him.
But the strange man’s words pulled him back.
“You don’t want to hurt me,” he said smoothly. “I understand you, Aidan. All you want is to show her how much you love her, yes? And she’s turned you away.” The man tutted, shaking his head. “I think that makes you angry.” His eyes flashed, and all Aidan saw was red.
Hewasangry. At this world, at the other elementals, at the lost prophecy, at himself. And at Kai. How could she lead him on like this? How could she forget about centuries of loving him? How could she insist on seeing the worst, on assuming he hadn’t changed, on refusing to forgive?
Aidan turned back to Kai, seething. His flames worked their way from his hands up his arms, engulfing him in his rage.
She backed up slowly. “Aidan, whatever he’s saying to you, don’t listen. Do you remember what he did to me on the ship? It’s not real. You have to fight it!”
He grabbed the glass of wine on the table and threw it against the wall behind her head with a roar. The red liquid dripped down the wood like fresh blood.
“Please, Aidan, it’s me!” she cried, clutching her chest.
But he barely heard her. He couldn’t remember why he was so angry, or even his own name. All that existed was the velveteen voice of the man in his ear, stoking his temper.
“Are you simply going to let her walk away from you?”
No, he wouldn’t. Aidan lunged for her, his fire already knowing what he wanted to do. It encompassed her tall body, drowning out the scream of surprise from her mouth.
Then the flames lowered, submerged in a tidal wave of water. The woman across from him was no longer scared; instead, she looked determined. Like a storm cloud on the horizon, making its way toward him, ready to wash him out. She was so beautiful…
“You can do better than that,” the man hissed. Darkness enveloped Aidan again as he formed a ball of fire in his hand and shot it directly at her. She batted it away with a rush of cold water, letting it cascade and build at her feet, lapping at her ankles.
Fine. If he couldn’t defeat her with his fire, he’d have to use brute strength.
He launched himself at her, fighting through the torrent of water she shot at him. He growled as they rolled onto the floor until she was beneath him, her blonde hair spread across the ground like rays of sunshine. She thrashed against his hold, and he looked into her dazzling blue eyes, filled with both fright and fierce resolve.
They looked so familiar. He glimpsed a flash of the same jewel-toned eyes against a starry sky. Tan skin, wide smile, soft hands.
He blinked, and his vision clouded with red as the other man’s voice filled his mind.
“She never loved you. Look at how she used you in that cave. There, that’s it,” the stranger said as Aidan glared at the woman under him. He closed his hands around her throat and bared his teeth. Anger burned a hole through his very being, purring at the violence coursing through him and the feel of her pounding pulse at his fingers. Now,thiswas familiar. This rage, this boiling frenzy that craved control. It was so easy.
“Aidan—” she gasped, clawing at his hands. “Please—”
The door to the room burst open. Thick vines wrapped up his arms and legs, making him drop to the side. He shouted curses at the golden-skinned female who flew into the room with destruction in her eyes as the ground quaked beneath her feet.
“Till we meet again.” The dark god’s words echoed in the air as he disappeared from Aidan’s side.
