Page 41 of Hidden Kingdoms

My heart rate picked up speed as I struggled with the turn my magik had taken, and it tugged me backwards towards the door. But I wouldn’t run from him; I would stand my ground.

“Take me home.” The words came through gritted teeth as my fingers vibrated with the energy rushing through them. I knew he could sense it in the same way I could sense the magik he had begun pushing to his own fingertips, ready to take me on.

“Who are you?” he demanded, heat radiating from his body.

We were going round in fucking circles, and frustration had sparks escaping my fingertips to dance along the edges of my hands. I hadn’t meant to, but I couldn’t seem to keep a hold on them, and his eyes lit at the challenge as small flickers of flame twisted across his hands, eager to leap further up his arms.

“You don’t get to take me from my bed in the middle of the night then demand answersfrom me.” The sparks were growing stronger; the power fizzing through my veins felt good, felt right.

I didn’t know if I could stop their progress. I didn’t know if I wanted to.

The Prince snarled at my refusal, heat spiking the room in a sudden flash before it fell away and another tug in my chest urged me to leave, but I was going nowhere.

I guess he isn’t used to not getting his own way.

Flames danced higher up his arms, my own magik responding at the slightest push. It was almost euphoric as it filled me, and I had to fight back a smile.

“You will tell me who you are. What you know!” Anger was etched into every line of his pretty face as orange tongues licked their way up his neck, dissolving into his skin before pushing back out again. The way they consumed his form reminding me sickeningly of how my family had burned in my dreams.

What do I know? Fucking nothing, mate, that’s what.

For a third time, I felt the distinct tug in my chest urging me towards the door and for the third time, I ignored it, insteadwilling magik to pour from me. Losing my tentative grip as an invisible force streamed from every part of my body, growing bigger until I knew it had formed a shield around me, enclosing me within.

I could feel as it buffeted against my skin, slamming into the invisible force that kept it contained.

Too much. I’d pulled too much. I didn’t know how to rein it in and more worryingly, part of me didn’t want to. Heart pounding in my chest, the rush of magik scraped against my nerves setting them alight in a way so obscene I had to squeeze my thighs together to ward off the growing ache between them.

The Prince responded with his own swell of magik, the heat growing unbearable as beads of sweat rolled down my back when the door behind me banged open. The wood shrieked in protest, but I didn’t flinch, not taking my eyes from the threat in front of me.

The man who had taken me from my home, my family, and who was now demanding I providehimwith answers.

18

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

ELODIE

“Bas!” A low voice growled and the heat that had enclosed the room, along with every flame in it, disappeared with a loud whoosh as we were plunged into darkness. The sconces along the walls flickered back into life a second later. A brief wave of calm sweep across my skin, though it didn’t do much to dent the anger consuming me.

Magik continued to flow from me, an iridescent barrier that whipped through the air, crackling dangerously. Strands of white floated around me as I shook with the effort of holding it in place as every part of me begged to release it. To thrust it outward, obliterating everything in its path.

It was becoming painfully out of control, only the barrier I had somehow created stopping it from destroying all I asked it to.

And fuck, I wanted to smash it into the Prince’s stupid face.

“What are you fucking doing?” Kaius rounded on the Prince, who only glared before turning back to me, handsome features twisted in fury.

“Getting answers.”

“Doesn’t look like it’s quite working!” Kaius bit back before turning to me.

“Elodie.” My stomach clenched at the soft sound of my name on his lips, and I focused my attention on him and the dark hair that fell loose past his shoulders. “You have to pull it back.”

“I can’t,” I whispered, keeping my eyes locked on his, exhilarated yet still afraid of the power raging around me. “I don’t know how.”

His eyes widened at my confession and cautiously he reached out his hand, but scared I would hurt him, I flinched away from the contact as my body began to vibrate.

“It’s ok, Goldie, I’ll help you.” The calmness he exuded slipped over me like silk and my power shifted slightly at his words. “Do you trust me?”

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