Enflame (Insight #6)(10)

“Souls are not voids unless they are cut from the same cloth.”

“You’re trying to say that I’m darkness?”

Raising one brow, he said, “No, you are.”

“I fight darkness.”

“Don’t we all?” That phrase brought a sardonic grin to the corner of his lips.

“Stop toying with me. Leave.”

He let his fingertips fall from his lip and crossed his arms, pulling back his broad shoulders.

“How old is your soul?”

“Old.”

“Yet you’re not immortal,” he mused.

“No one ever really dies.”

He smirked. “Wise words. But some are foolish enough to erase their mind and start again for nothing more than kicks and giggles.”

“Natural order. We die, we begin again.”

“Natural order.” He grinned as he spoke those words. “I know you. I don’t know how I know you, but I do. You and I are one and the same. What I don’t know is why Skylynn gave you my ashes, what game she’s playing.”

“What’s with the ashes? You have them. Move on.”

“I don’t have all of them. You see, Skylynn is too prideful to ask for help, so she manipulates me for her gain.”

“Like I said, I don’t know her. I can’t feel you, so I don’t know if you’re telling me the truth. I have bigger issues. I want you to leave. Don’t make me ask again.”

“Is that a dare? Do you want to feel me again?” I stepped back, which caused a seductive laugh to echo within him. “I’ll take that as a no.” He glanced at the hallway. “For God’s sake, back off the ice, mate.” A second later, the icy walls in the hallway returned to normal. “Who is she? Why are you guarding her?” he asked no one.

But he must have heard something because a sense of recognition washed over his face. Before he could say another word, the room began to shake. The candles fell over and plants hit the floor. Chairs flipped backwards.

He took me in his arms and turned me to face the room that was falling apart.

“All right, mate, calm down,” he said with an ease that was beyond terrifying.

“Who are you talking to?” I said through clenched teeth, trying to break away, but his body, which was pressed firmly against my back, was as solid as iron, a wall that I could not find the power to move.

“He claims he was your mate, though I don’t believe him.”

My heart began to beat violently. All I could think about was Landen. Had something happened to him? What was this boy saying?

Lightning brought the room to a white haze for a second, then the thunder that followed caused the room to shake viciously.

“Enough,” the boy holding me said firmly. “She can’t see you or hear you.”

“Who are you talking to?” I yelled.

“Someone who wants your attention,” he mumbled.

“I get that. Who?”

“Trying to figure that out.” He held me tighter. “Clear out, leave him here with us,” he said to the room.

“I can’t see anyone.”

“That’s an issue.” He leaned down, then against my neck he whispered, “Willow...is that your name?”

A sensation twice as strong as the one before eased down my spine. “Tell me yours, and I’ll tell you mine.” I meant for that to sound sarcastic, but I was almost sure the gasp in my breath lent the wrong impression to my tone.

He raised his head ever so slightly so his lips were just below my ear. “Phoenix.”

“Let me go,” I whispered, staring at the room before us. The ice was gone, but I felt a lashing of energy coming in our direction. I wanted out of this house.

His grip on me tightened. “We have a deal. Confirm your name.”

“Willow Haywood.”

“The town you grew up in.”

“I’m not telling you that.”

“All right then.” He let his arms fall from around me, then stepped in front of me. “She doesn’t know you. Move on.” His words were aimed at the empty room. When he spoke them, the couch turned over and a brush of energy rushed passed me. I felt the icy hands on me, but before I could react, Phoenix pulled me to him again. “Tell me, Willow. Should I let him devour your energy, or manage this?”

“Who is ‘him’?”

“I’m not telling you that. You’re going to have to find a different way to tell me you know him. He can read your energy, your thoughts. He could be mocking anyone, and you, my dear, might as well be a five-course meal with wine.”

“What does he want?”

“Your energy.”

“I can replace that.”

“Poorly.” He glanced over me. “I believe you have a leak in this vessel.”

“What?” I pushed away from him in disgust, only to get a demeaning laugh from him.

“Good God, woman, are you deaf and blind? Lord knows you’re not mute. You’re leaking everywhere. You breathe, and the sky moves.”

“Not my fault.” I turned crimson with anger and embarrassment.

“Really? Well, let me be blunt.” He leaned forward to look me in the eye. “You own the energy. It’s your fault. I’ve seen drunks that have more control than you.”