The Tempting Touch Of Fire (Elemental Awakening, Book 1)

by Claire, Nicola

  "She is mine," Theo reminded Nico, then slipped out of his side of the car.

  "Touchy isn't he?" Nico said, offering me his hand and lightening the moment with his witty remark.

  I took the offered palm and slipped mine inside. His fingers wrapped around my smaller hand. It felt... like nothing. One hand in another. How could Theo's touch bring out such delicious sensations and Nico's do nothing to me at all?

  Theo gently pushed Nico aside and offered me his arm instead. My lips quirked up. If I didn't know any better, I'd say Theo was rather protective of me and he saw Nico as a threat. Nico caught my eye and winked. He'd not missed the possessive action either.

  "What should we expect in there?" Theo asked under his breath, his eyes taking in the curious gazes of those people still standing outside the venue. It was a restaurant. One of those fancy, big ones, that could be used for private functions. A sign off to the side of the double doors read, Welcome, Peters Corporation. Enjoy your night.

  "Curiosity, mainly," Nico whispered back. "But be warned, Leon and Mikkos are here." Theo sighed. "They've been asking pointed questions. They suspect your Cassandra is an agent. Having just returned from Athens, I can understand why."

  Theo turned narrowed eyes on his cousin.

  "And you? What do you suspect?" he asked darkly. I was thinking if Nico had any sense he'd say exactly what Theo wanted to hear.

  "Theo, I know you. You would not risk Pyrkagia." I wasn't sure how to feel about that statement. Was it a good thing that Theo still wanted me here, when his loyalty to his race was so staunch? For some reason the logic that said that was a good thing, wasn't in me. The young, innocent woman inside wanted a declaration of love above all else.

  I wasn't ever going to get it. Even if Theo had deeper feelings for me. He was prepared to let me go in four weeks time. Pyrkagia held his heart, not me.

  Theo nodded to his cousin and turned his face to me. He smiled. I could see the mask of an actor slipping into place. In there, we would be on a stage. In there, I would be on show. Just what did they want to see? I smiled back, hoping my acting skills were going to be as good as Theo's.

  We started heading toward the entrance but didn't make it inside. From out of nowhere, people approached. Some blatantly staring at me. Their gaze taking in my attire, how Theo held my arm in his, and my eyes to see if they were green. And then confusion crossed their faces briefly when they registered my dark blonde hair, not brunette. I could see the question flash on their faces. One after the other. But like Theo, they seemed to put my difference to a Gi's normal appearance down to hair dye.

  It was obvious when they came to that conclusion, because the mask of inquisitiveness was replaced with wariness instead. The next time their eyes assessed me, from head to toe, the looks were calculating and guarded.

  I didn't think the story of being a refugee seeking asylum in Pyrkagia was going to cut it. They'd all assumed, like Theo, that I was a spy. Why else would I hide my appearance? Until they were told, or my eyes flashed green - or a plant did something untoward in my presence - they would think me human. The hair colour was an obvious ploy to throw them off the scent.

  I understood then, that Theo had only been acting as any Pyrkagia would. Threatened by my duplicity. But I wasn't deceitful and I had no way of making them understand that.

  Instead I held my head high, looked them in the eye and dared them to challenge me.

  Where on earth had this courage come from? It's not as though I couldn't hold a conversation with my customers or people on the street before. My reticence had always been when interacting in a social setting with the opposite sex. But despite that distinction, I was not what I would call brave. But somewhere along the line, somewhere between falling in that pit of dirt and being buried for two days, to here; facing off against these opinionated people, I'd found a spine. I straightened it. And faced the growing circumspection from the crowd.

  Theo shook hands, spoke easily with a few more talkative of those to approach, and slowly pushed us forward until we entered the restaurant itself. Inside were so many more dark haired, tanned skinned, hazel eyed Peters. The Peters Corporation enjoyed nepotism, it seemed. I worked on breathing steadily, on smiling when those in the room approached and on ignoring the obvious whispers circulating the room.

  "What have you here, Theo?" a man, slightly older than Theo, asked as he approached. Of course, I had no hope of guessing his age. I stifled the almost-sob that wanted to escape on the reminder of what these creatures were. I couldn't, as yet, categorise myself in with them. It was hard enough to think of immortality being a reality, there was no way I'd except that I was now a member of that exclusive club.

  The man had a stunningly gorgeous woman on his arm. She wore the typical Pyrkagia traits, but she carried herself in a regal fashion. I wondered if she was a princess to Theo's prince.

  "Damon, Sophia," Theo replied, shaking the man's hand and leaning in to kiss the cheek of the woman's. "How have you been?"

  "Nothing of note to report, but you, on the other hand, are the talk of century." That phrase had so much more literal meaning now. "Who is this delightful Gi?" he asked, reaching forward and clasping my hand. He lifted it slowly to his lips to kiss my knuckles, his eyes on mine. I was thinking to see if he could make them turn green.

  Heat. Fire. A burn so deep that it threatened to set my blood alight, ran through my body. Goosebumps rose up my arm. His now gold-flecked eyes shifted from my face to the hand he held, noting the physical response to his Stoicheio. The woman watched on with mild curiosity. Her partner's behaviour was not a surprise, he'd already warned her. She knew he was testing my control.

  "Tell me," I said, cocking my head to the side to hide the frantic beating of my pulse at the base of my neck. My words were slightly breathy. "If it is considered an attack for me to use my Stoicheio, what am I to make of this?"

  The man, Damon, stood upright and released my hand as though it was something foul.

  "If you choose to entertain such a creature, Theo, do not be alarmed if your position is challenged. Many here believe you have lost your mind with this enterprise. The Rigas has refused to pass comment, letting the masses decide your fate. You would risk all you have worked for with this impertinent Gi?"

  I expected Theo to defend me, but he didn't.

  "The dare is to tame her, Damon. The prize is defiling one of their most treasured possessions." I told myself it was an act. I knew in my mind, that is was an act. But I couldn't stop my heart from plummeting. I caught myself before a reaction could show.

  It was an act.

  It was an act.

  No, repetition didn't work.

  The man returned his now hazel eyes to my face.

  "She is royal?"

  "She has not confirmed it, but her control of her Stoicheio would lead me to believe such."

  Why would he say that? Surely it would cause more speculation, increase the chance of danger for me. What would making them believe I am royal do? I couldn't fathom it. It made no sense. Theo made no sense at all.

  "Well, then. I shall await with eager anticipation your success."

  "As do I," Theo said with a bow, moving us past the couple.

  I didn't get a chance to whisper a query or to figure that last interaction out in my head. We were assailed by another equally judgemental couple. This time Theo didn't repeat I was Gi royalty, he just blatantly said I was worth every moment of discomfort, as my performance was unparalleled.

  Oh sweet agony. It was an act. It had to be. But with another and then another disparaging comment, I felt the weight of all Aktor's millennia on my shoulders and in my heart. I'd known that I would need to be strong to endure this evening, I just hadn't realised that I wasn't strong enough. I'd tried. I'd held my head up high, I'd made that pointed comment to Damon, but as the evening progressed, and one after another, after another, after another of Theo's equals brought out more and more snide remarks, fuelling Theo's heart shattering
responses, I was drowned.

  I took my last breath in and felt only crushing water in my lungs.

  My eyes blurred with the need to shed a tear, or turn green, I'm not sure. To not be able to fight back, when countless Pyrkagia tried to push my buttons with their Stoicheio, was sheer hell. I wasn't sure if I could forgive Theo for putting me through this. Was it really necessary to bring me so low? Is this what he meant by breaking me, moulding me into compliance? I was agreeable, shattered but standing beside him without any fire in my belly at all.

  This was a cruel world. And I did not like it.

  "Theo," someone called and I didn't bother to lift my head from its angle, staring blindly at the floor. "Theo!" the woman shouted out again. A breath of air escaped through my noise forcefully. Even when numb I was capable of differentiating a female's voice from a male's.

  "Isadora? When did you get back?" Theo sounded happy. I lifted my head.

  My eyes rose in time to see a woman lean in and kiss Theo on the lips. His arm left mine and he gripped her shoulders, returning the kiss briefly.

  "Why didn't you tell me your were home?" Theo asked.

  She laughed in answer, obviously pleased to see him. When she pulled back her eyes ran over his face, chest, then she leaned back further and let her gaze take all of him in. Gold flashed across her hazel eyes.

  The numbness receded.

  "I've only just landed. Came straight here to see everyone. Tell me, what's been happening while I've been gone?"

  Theo glanced at me. What was that look on his face? Regret?

  "First you," he said, returning his attention to the woman, who on closer inspection, was utterly gorgeous. Of course she was.

  "I'll be giving my update to the council tomorrow. I gather you'll be attending?" she said, her eyes having never left him yet. I wasn't sure if she knew I was even there.

  "Ah," Theo said. "I'm taking a break from politics right now."

  She frowned delicately. "Why? You're the Rigas' right hand man. You need to be there for this brief. Things are progressing much faster than we predicted."

  "Tell me," he said, sounding entirely too caught up in the conversation now.

  "Not here," she replied, "and besides, I can't divulge anything until the Rigas is made aware. Even to you, my love."

  And if I had any belief I'd survive this evening, it just shattered beyond repair.

  "Well," Theo said with a smile that I knew was false bravado at its best. It seemed I'd gotten to know Theo in a short amount of time too. I searched to see if the woman could pick up what I had seen in that smile. She hadn't, her eyes were now on me.

  She interrupted Theo by asking, "Who is your plaything?" Ouch.

  "Isadora, this is Cassandra," Theo said, a little awkwardly I thought.

  "You didn't tell me you were entertaining a human while I was gone." Isadora didn't sound awkward, she sounded hurt. She also hadn't heard the rumours.

  My eyes flicked to Theo's, his were on Isadora’s face. He looked a little sad.

  "Dora," he said, voice soft and barely audible. His nickname for her so intimate. I didn't need any Stoicheio to make my face heat. Her gaze shifted back. A smile as false as the one Theo had worn graced her lovely lips.

  "It's all right, darling. I understand. I was gone for such a long term, this time. When you have had your fill, you know where to find me."

  I blinked in shock. No way in hell could I be so forgiving of someone, who was obviously very close to me, cheating. Not that Theo was cheating on her with me. Well, he kind of was, but not entirely, not all the way. We'd only kissed. And I was living in his house. And he had been ostracised by his father, the King, for four weeks in order to have me. Nothing really.

  Right.

  "What is your name, child?" Isadora, Dora, said, a brave countenance on her face. She'd obviously not heard Theo's introduction, I decided to stick with his name for me, he seemed to want everyone to call me that.

  "Cassandra," I said, surprised to note compassion in my voice for the woman.

  She blinked slowly. "You know some of our world, if Theodoros has brought you here this evening."

  I nodded.

  "Isadora," Theo tried to interrupt, but she held a delicate hand up to stall him. I noticed it shook slightly.

  "Enjoy him while he enjoys you," she advised, "but do not think he can give you more than his body."

  Oh, now this was awkward.

  "Dora!" Theo persisted, this time in a tone that made her head jerk up. "Cassandra is Gi."

  Holy freak out. Gold glowed fiercely from her eyes, I was so sure she'd blind me. She turned her shocked face towards me, and I felt the heat of her Fire, before I saw it. Theo suddenly stepped between us and took the blast of her righteous anger instead of me. He staggered slightly, but didn't retaliate. I could see smoke wafting off the shoulders of his suit jacket. His fists were clenched at his sides, but I couldn't see his face, or hers. He was too tall and broad in the shoulders for me to see past. And I admit, I was making myself as small as possible right then. All eyes had turned to us. No one spoke a murmured sound throughout the room.

  "What have you done?" Isadora whispered harshly. "What the hell have you done, Theo?"

  I expected him to come back with some cutting remark about how good I was in bed, or how much he enjoyed the idea of bringing a Gi to their knees, or any of the number of other responses he'd had on his lips tonight. But he didn't. He said nothing. As though speaking an untruth would harm this woman more. She meant something to him. And I felt myself retreat a little further inside myself at that knowledge.

  This was good. This is was I needed to hear and see. Theo was never to be mine anyway, and pretending he was, being hurt when I had no right to be hurt, were luxuries not available to me.

  For some reason I felt stronger in the face of this insurmountable truth. It gave me the courage I had been lacking in order to face the rest of the next four weeks. I needed Theo for answers. No matter what, I could not need him, want him, for any more.

  This was good.

  "Isadora, let me explain," Theo finally said, his voice infinitely soft and caring.

  "No. I see now why you will not be attending the meeting tomorrow. We should not be conversing at all. I will not have you bring me down too, Theo. I have worked too hard for the position I hold."

  "Have we not been friends for millennia?" he said quietly. I pushed the evidence of his vast age aside for now. One calamity at time was enough to handle. "Have I not been a good friend in all of those long years?"

  "You have been a true friend," Isadora admitted, I think she had leaned forward and placed a hand on his chest. "So, this is why I speak freely. Get rid of her, before it's too late. For all of our sakes."

  "It already is," he whispered back. He had leaned forward, his hands clasping her shoulders again, and whispered those words in her ear. He jerked, when he said them. I was thinking because she did. A full body spasm against his chest.

  Her pain-filled response felt like a blow to my heart, because I knew it would hurt Theo.

  "Good-bye," she choked out, and then she extricated herself from his stiff arms and walked away, head held high, gold washing out before her.

  Theo stood still for so long, I thought he might have forgotten me. When he finally turned back to look down at me, he wore a mask. No emotion, whatsoever, graced his fine features. His eyes flicked over my shoulder and he nodded to someone I couldn't see. Then he turned on his heels and walked away. In the same direction that Isadora had.

  I wasn't sure if I should follow. Part of me wanted to comfort him so badly, the other part, the intelligent part, did not want to see him beg her to take him back. I stood immobile, breathing too quickly, in the centre of that horrid, horrid room. With so many accusing eyes on my body. So much prickly heat threatening to do me harm.

  I was about to turn around and run from the building when Nico appeared at my side.

  "Time for bed, Cinderella," he murmur
ed beside me. A little subdued from his earlier self. He offered me his arm, like Theo does, and said, "Your carriage awaits."

  So, he was to be my escort out of here and I was going home to Theo's house alone.

  Chapter 12

  And The Butler Hadn't Batted An Eyelash

  When I was a little girl I dreamed about being a princess. Who doesn't? My prince would be tall and handsome. He would be rich and carry himself well. He would fight for the weaker and for justice. And he would love me like no one had ever been loved before. It was a sweet childhood daydream.

  And it's not as though I thought I had found my prince in Theo. A prince, certainly, but not mine. But nowhere in that child's dream did I consider the prince would love someone else.

  The depth of my confusion astounded me.

  I barely heard a word Nico said on the drive back to Mountain Road. When the tyres crunched on the gravel driveway I woke as though from a hazy nightmare. And I knew I would never consider being a princess ever again. Hell, if I made it out of this mess alive, I was going to be ahead of the game.

  "Thank you," I murmured as I opened my door and climbed from the car. I didn't walk toward the steps of the house where Aktor was waiting. I rounded the bonnet of the car and headed towards the trees.

  I heard Nico's door close behind him and his footsteps cross the gravel in my wake. I stopped on the edge of the grass that led to my forest.

  When had I started calling it mine?

  "Do you want to know about them?" he asked from over my shoulder.

  I shook my head to say, no.

  "It might help," Nico offered.

  I turned slowly to face him, searching for the truth in his face. I sighed. He looked embarrassed for me. I was embarrassed enough on my own without knowing he felt it on my behalf too.

  I resumed walking toward the forest. It took the whispering of the trees to inform me that Nico had followed. He was either a very brave man to enter my domain, or utterly ignorant of what I could do here.

  I stopped in the small cave that I had spent time resting in that day. Where Theo had hung from the vines and incinerated them earlier. Where he had laid on the ground when I was so desperately needing to feed. Holding me. I thought I could get away from him here, obviously I was fooling myself.