Amara’s whole body trembled. She was certain this had to be an illusion, a dream. She tentatively reached toward the flames, feeling the palpable heat, and tried to speak with the boldness she needed to shield her fear.

“You . . .” she began, her voice hoarse. “You are the fire Kindred.”

“I am.”

Amara felt like her entire world had shifted. “You can speak,” she managed to say.

“I assure you, I can do much more than that. Tell me, little empress, what is it that you want?”

It took her another moment to gather herself together and try to take hold of the situation. “I want to find Lucia Damora,” she told the face in the flames.

“Because you believe she can release the magic in the crystal you currently possess. And with that magic you will be more powerful than you already are.”

“Yes.” Her breath caught in her throat. “Is that magic—the magic of the water Kindred—is it like you? Conscious, knowing, thinking . . . ?”

“Yes. Does that frighten you?” There was the distinct sound of amusement in the deep voice.

She straightened her shoulders. “I’m not afraid. I possess the water Kindred, which means that the magic within it—”

“Belongs to you,” Kyan finished.

She waited, barely breathing now, until he spoke again.

“I can help you, little empress, attain everything you’ve ever desired. But first, you must help me.”

“How?”

“The very sorceress you named destroyed my physical form believing she could destroy me as well. But fire cannot be destroyed. However, I can only remain in this world as a mere whisper of my true form. With your help I will be fully restored to my previous strength, and then I will give you more than you’ve ever dreamed possible.”

He paused, as if to let what he’d said sink in.

What he spoke of was straight out of Kraeshian legend, a magical creature beyond this world who promises to grant one’s wishes.

A heady mix of fear and curiosity consumed her. The thought that she’d been in possession of a crystal orb that had an entity like this within it all this time boggled her mind. Elemental magic . . . but with its own consciousness. Incredible, she thought.

Still, there were doubts rising within her. “You make great promises, but you show me nothing tangible.”

The fire blazed higher, and she jumped back. “There are others I can go to, others who would agree to whatever I ask for without hesitation. Yet I chose you because I can clearly see that you are greater than all of them combined. You have taken your power with strength and intelligence beyond that of any man who’s ever existed. You are better, stronger, smarter than your enemies and more deserving of greatness than the sorceress.”

Amara’s cheeks flushed. His words felt like a healing balm for her bruised hope for the future. “Tell me more. Tell me how to release the magical being within the water Kindred to help me solidify my reign as empress.”

He didn’t speak again for a moment, and she searched the flames for his face. It flickered in and out of view as the fire burned. It seemed that the fire god could appear and reappear at will. “Blood and magic. That is what you need—what we both need. The blood of the sorceress and the magic of a powerful witch. When the pieces are in place, I will be restored to my former glory, and you, little empress, will become infinitely powerful.”

A shiver of pleasure coursed down her spine as she stared into the flames. “What do I need to do?”

“The correct question is: Where do you need to go?”

She drew in a breath and nodded. “Where?”

The flames shifted, the shades of reds and oranges, whites and blues growing brighter and more vibrant as they did.

“Paelsia.”

CHAPTER 10

LUCIA

THE SANCTUARY

Lucia learned that the tower where Timotheus resided was called the Crystal Palace. At one time it had housed all six original elders. Now he was the only one left.

“It must be lonely,” Lucia mused, half to herself. “Being here all by yourself with the burden of all of these secrets.”

“It is,” he replied, but when Lucia looked up to meet his gaze, he had already glanced away.

“I want to see Melenia’s chambers.”

“Why?”

“Because . . .” She thought about how to rationalize the need to see where her enemy, the woman who had plotted her death since before Lucia had even been born, had spent her existence. “I just need to see it.”

She thought he’d argue, but instead he nodded. “Very well. Follow me.”

Timotheus led her to a long corridor with doors that opened on their own as they approached and shut softly behind them as they continued down the hall. Lucia traced the white walls with her fingertips. She could feel Timotheus’s eyes on her as they walked.

“You have questions, many questions,” he said.

“A lifetime of them,” she agreed.

“I can’t tell you everything, Lucia. While it’s true that you’ve reached out a hand in friendship today—”

“You still don’t trust me,” she cut him off. “I know.”

“It’s not that. Not entirely, anyway. So many secrets have died with the other elders, and now that I’m the only one remaining, these secrets are one of the few weapons I have left to protect myself.”

“I understand,” she told him. “I really do.”