Valteri held her close, his heart thumping heavily. “Do you know his limitations?”
She ran her hand down his ribs, drawing small circles in a tender caress that seared him. Her breath fell across his chest, raising chills. “When he’s in human form, his powers are limited. He can only beguile and tempt. ’Tis his demon’s form that’s so dangerous. Then he can infiltrate the mind or possess a body.”
Again foreboding seized him. “Infiltrate the mind?”
“Aye. He can manipulate memories, or steal them as he did with me. He’s also a master of dreams, using them to weaken his victim’s resolve.”
Valteri fell quiet as he remembered the nightmares he’d had. Could Belial have been the cause of them?
I should have kicked his ass in those.…
“What of Thorn and Shadow? What are their powers?”
Ariel paused as she considered them. “Thorn, I’m not so sure about. Like you, he’s a powerful warrior, but beyond that, he doesn’t let anyone know what his full range of powers are. No doubt, he fears anyone knowing his limitations.”
“And Shadow?”
“His are insidious.”
“How so?”
She lifted her hand up to show her shadow. “It looks so harmless, doesn’t?”
“Aye.”
“It’s not.” She locked gazes with Valteri. “Our shadows know our sins. They are the keepers of the darkest part of our souls. It’s where we relegate the things we’re not supposed to think. The us we’re not supposed to be.”
He scowled at her words. “How do you mean?”
“Shadow can walk among their world. Where our deepest darkest parts live a life of their own. He can find out anyone’s secret. Learn all about someone and spy on anyone. It’s why they call him the prince of Shadows and his mother, the queen of all shadows. She has the same powers.”
“That’s terrifying.”
“Aye, but the most terrifying is that they can separate us from our shadows and use them against us.”
He gaped at her disclosure. “I’m still not quite sure what you mean.”
“You spoke of your twin, but we all have one from the moment we’reborn.” Again, she lifted her hand and waved at the shadow on the wall. “Think of it like a good twin and a bad one. Shadow can release the bad twin and allow it to become a separate being from us.”
“Why?”
“Because our darkness can defeat anyone. It can overcome us and force us to do things we’d never do otherwise. Shadow’s world is truly the most terrifying. He grew up among the darkest, scariest parts of everyone.”
“Then how can you trust him?”
“He’s never done me harm.” She smiled at Valteri. “In many ways, he reminds me of you.”
He scoffed. “And Belial?”
Ariel clenched her teeth. “His powers are weak compared to theirs. But the one thing I’m certain of, he wants my soul more than he’s ever wanted anything. There’s no telling what he’ll do to secure it.”
“Then he’d best beware.”
“How so?”
“I would do anything to protect it.” Valteri touched her cheek. “I won’t see you harmed. I don’t care how strong he thinks he is, I assure you, he’s no match for me.”
Horror swam in her gaze. “And that, milord, is my worst fear. You going after him.”
