He studied her for a second, then inclined his head. “As long as you promise not to shove me on my ass again. I might not get up next time.”
A startled huff burst free. “It wasn’t intentional. This is all just so overwhelming.”
“I know.” He drew her to her feet. “It’ll be okay. I promise.”
Too aware of him so close—of his naked torso, his warmth—and still reeling from the impossible truth he’d revealed, Ash stepped back. “You were saying?”
His brow furrowed. “At first, I wasn’t sure. Some humans possess psychic abilities.” He dragged his fingers through his hair. “But after what happened with you tasering the she-dragon, and with the rain you called down when you were upset, you fit the description of a Storm Summoner.”
He moved to the treeline and braced a shoulder against a massive trunk, folding his arms. “The only way through this is to understand and learn how to use and control your abilities. We already know your emotions are a trigger. But you must be able to summon lightning or a storm regardless of your emotional state.”
“I don’t command storms. Christ!” She stomped past him, kicking pebbles out of her way. “This only started recently, after I was so hurt…”
And betrayed by someone I trusted.Ash bit her lip, slowing as memories surged. She’d thrown her ring at Paul when hefollowed her out from the disastrous dinner. She’d yelled at him in her pain, and the rain had started at that moment, pouring only over them.
“And when you’re scared,” Race added softly. “Those villagers…that didn’t end so well, did it?”
“I guess not.” She blew out a shaky breath and spun back to him. “Then I suppose lightning happens when I get mad.”
“Exactly.” He straightened from the trunk and strolled closer, the hard lines of his face softening. “Once you’re stronger, you’ll tap into it even more.”
“No! I don’t want any more. All of this is already messing with my head.” She clenched her prickling fingers.
“I’ll help you.Ash—” His grip clamped around her arm.
The shift in him was instant. Cold. Deadly.
He shoved her toward the cave’s entrance and planted himself between her and the opening. “Run deep into the cave and hide. Now.”
“But—”
“Now,” he growled. His shoulders tensed, peril radiating off him like barbs. “Something’s out there, and it doesn’t smell right. I must take care of it. I don’t want you in its sight.”
Oh, shit.
Ash spun and sprinted, bolting past the firepit, the flames guttering in her wake, then deeper into the darkened tunnel. She crouched in the shadows, her chest heaving, ears straining.
No clash, no roar. Just a silence so heavy it pressed down on her as she waited.
And waited.
No sign of Race.
Every instinct screamed at her to find him. What if he was hurt? About to creep back into the cave, the air shifted, and her skin prickled.
Something—or someone—was inside the cave. Moving carefully.
Race?
But he wouldn’t use stealth just to enter the cave, which meant he was no longer out front.
Her pulse spiked, shrieking in her ears. A rank stench hit her nose, making her eyes water. A wild animal?
Panic roared through her. She bolted deeper into the tunnel. Footsteps sped up behind her.
Hands grabbed her coat, ripping it clean off her shoulders, as she tore through the dark tunnel?—
“You can’t run from me,” a rough voice snarled.
