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toes. He absolutely loved a good challenge.
    And Airiana Draco had just become a challenge he was intent on winning. 
    One way or the other.
     
    The delicate teacup clanked softly against the matching plate, the tiny sound ringing like a gong through the silence. Airiana withheld her cringe. She’d already shown too much.
    Emotion only got one killed.
    Or thoroughly fucked on a mouse shit floor in an abandoned silo. Almost.
    Where had her mind gone?
    She slipped a side-glance at Louk, who looked completely befuddled trying to handle the tiny tea cup in his large hands without breaking it. Cute. If he wasn’t the enemy.
    Why did she have to keep reminding herself of that? 
    “Because you are not enemies.” 
    Airiana’s head shot up, and she gaped at the man who sat across from them at the little table. “Of course we are,” she automatically insisted before comprehension set in. Her eyes narrowed. “A spirit power. I should have known. It’s bad manners to invade someone’s thoughts.”
    The man only smiled that little worldly grin that left one feeling like they’d missed out on the joke. Their abductor had the power to control the energy of the spirit, which gave him the ability to read minds and project thoughts. She carefully dropped her thoughts to blank him out. 
    “You can’t hide them from me,” the man said. “I’m far too old for you to evade or block. But, I only pry because the time is short. Misunderstandings and old wars cannot block your way. You two must bond before the day ends or all will be lost before it starts.”
    Louk choked on his tea. He coughed and set the cup down as he tried to clear his throat of the misguided liquid. Airiana understood how he felt.
    “Just like that?” Louk finally croaked out. “Wham bam thank you, ma’am, and it’s done? I doubt that’s going to happen.”
    “It almost happened on the cold, dirty floor of an old silo,” the man countered. “Why wouldn’t it happen again?”
    It was Airiana’s turn to choke. Louk had the decency to look away, and her cheeks flushed hot in embarrassment. 
    “That was a mistake,” she insisted. “It was the heat of the moment and nothing more.”
    “Definitely,” Louk agreed.
    “Was it? Really?” The man leaned in intently. “A heat so strong, so right that it displaced the energy and woke the beast? A mistake that was felt by all for its power? For what it was? For what it is?” He stood so suddenly, his chair tipped and tumbled to land with a muted thud on the carpet. “Do not fool yourself. Your union was predestined from birth. Together you are strong. Together you will survive. Stay apart…and we all die.”
    The silence pounded through the room. Airiana was too shocked to respond. Could he be speaking the truth? She tugged on the cold metal still locked around her neck. The damn collar was blocking the energy, and she wanted to feel it. Needed to sink into it and sense if the man spoke the truth. If all the words that flowed were in harmony with what was around them. 
    “Remove her collar,” the man snapped at Louk and pointed at her neck. “There is no need for it now.” As an energy collar can only be removed by the person who applied it, Louk would have to agree with the Ancient’s demands. Surprisingly, he consented without question. His warm fingers caressed her skin as he quickly flicked the lock and pulled the collar off. The energy immediately invaded her dulled senses and stroked over every never ending in a soft wave of welcome. She bit her lip to hold back the moan that threatened at the pure joy and rightness of the returning energy. Euphoria. Or as close to it as she could get. An endorphin high without the pain.
    Louk cupped his palm against her neck and the energy spiked, then burned. She gasped in stunned recognition and her gaze held his. The collar removed, the energy rushed between them in an open flow of emotional exchange.
    His palm tightened on her neck, his mouth parted