Desire Untamed (Feral Warriors #1)(43)

But Vhyper was still a stranger to her. Her acceptance of him under those trying circumstances was questionable. Even doubtful. And she must accept him.

Lyon's eyes were shuttered, his jaw tight as he squeezed her shoulders and released her. "Let's get started again. Sit down, Kara. We're going to try something a little different."

Kara wanted to argue. He was asking too much. At every turn he demanded she accept the strange ways of this world and forsake everything, she'd ever known. Forsake everything she was for a role that meant next to nothing to her. A role she'd give anything to give to someone else.

But at lunch she'd begun to accept that while the role might not mean anything to her, it meant everything to them. And she was stuck with it, whether she liked it or not.

Her teeth worried her lower lip as it occurred to her she was railing against the fates for giving her no choice. Yet those very fates had delivered her to a mansion where she was expected to live in comfort, do no work that she was aware of, and be paired with a man who would supposedly be the love of her life. Oh, and by the way, the fates had tossed in a body that never aged and healed, as it always had, miraculously fast.

All over the world, men and women, alike, were living the lives forced on them by birth and circumstance. Many of them were miserable lives, filled with hardship, abuse, and disease.

She wanted life on her terms. But that was spoiled, when so many depended on her for their power. And possibly even their lives. It was time she got over herself and concentrated on getting herself ascended. Then, maybe, she'd be in a better position to assess what kind of control she'd be able to steal in her life.

"Okay, I'm through sulking." Kara followed Lyon back to the center of the rock. "What now?"

He glanced at her, a look in his eyes that might have been relief. Or approval. "I want you to pull the power as before, but this time visualize it turning to flame in your hands."

"Why flame?"

"Because you're going to try to call fire this time. Fire is the physical form of your power."

Every time she thought she'd accepted this stuff, it turned more freaky on her.

"You're not talking about real fire, are you?"

Lyon motioned her to sit, then sat in front of her, crossing his legs as she did hers.

"The mystic fire I want you to pull looks real, but contains no heat. It won't burn you."

A thought occurred to her. "Will it hurt other people? Can I use it as a form of self-defense?" Maybe if she had some real way to protect herself, she wouldn't have to feel so afraid.

Lyon's brow quirked up, his mouth softening into a promise of a smile. "Are you seeking a way to defend yourself against me, little Radiant?"

"I was thinking more of finding a way to protect myself."

"I won't let anything harm you, Kara."

She frowned at him. "You're not with me a hundred percent of the time. You can't make promises like that." She hooked her arms around her knees.

"Humor me, Lyon. I'd feel better if I thought I had a way to protect myself."

Lyon shrugged. "Once ascended, some Radiants are able to throw fire. Real fire," he told her. "I've only seen it happen once, but I know some can do it. From what I've seen so far, I wouldn't be surprised if you were able to develop that kind of strength."

"But what about now? Can I do anything before I ascend?"

"I don't suppose you've studied karate?" It sounded like a joke, but there was no humor in his expression.

She made a face at him, then released a long-suffering sigh. "Show me how to pull the fire, Lyon. I want to know how."

He nodded once. "We'll start the same way as before, with your hands on the rock. When you feel the jolt of power this time, try to stay with it. Let it come. It could take a hundred tries before you can capture it, but it's critical you do."

Kara shrugged. "My calendar's free." She placed her hands on the rock between them, palms down, closed her eyes, and lifted her face to the wind.

She felt the rock warm beneath her palms. Be the vacuum, she thought, and pulled hard, willing it into her body. The power shot up her arms like before, and she yelped and jerked her hands back. But it hadn't hurt this time. Did he really expect her to hold on to this?

"Once you're able to hold that surge of power, I'll help you take it to the next level."

Kara licked her lips and nodded, placing her hands back on the rock, feeling a razor-sharp sense of anticipation. Holding her breath, she pulled.

Again the power caught her. Again she jerked back, this time with a laugh. She looked up to find Lyon watching her intently, a smile hovering at the edges of his mouth. If only they could stay out here like this. Sealed away from the rest of the world. Alone.

A sharp longing pierced her breastbone, and she closed her eyes against his too-perceptive gaze.

Power. Draw the power. This time she would catch it, no matter what.

The stone began to rumble beneath her, but she ignored it. She was the vacuum. The chosen one. The Earth would give up her energy to Kara alone.

The power leaped. She gasped as it raced up her arms and dove into her body, but she held on this time. It was too much. Too strong. She felt like she'd taken a bolt of lightning inside that was ripping her innards apart. Her jaw clenched, her mouth compressing with pain. But she held on.