The Tempting Touch Of Fire (Elemental Awakening, Book 1) by Nicola Claire Page A

well," I pointed out, as the door swung open and the guard offered a hand to help me step out.
    Theo rounded the car in a flash and took my arm from the guard's grip. The guard bowed, like those at the gate had, and stepped backward until he was several feet away. It was unusual seeing the never show your back rule in practise. They must use it for all dignitaries or guests, I supposed.
    "Ah, but Cassandra, here I can at least attempt to protect that beautiful neck," Theo said, leaning in to whisper the words in my ear as we ascended the stairs. "Out there, you would be alone."
    "So, the arrangement doesn't stand if I run now?" I asked, lifting the skirt of my dress so I wouldn't trip.
    "The desire to do so, Oraia , would still exist. The possibility wouldn't however." I didn't understand what he was saying, and chanced a glance at his face. It was set hard. He had fortified himself for whatever lay ahead. It didn't calm me in the slightest, his preparedness. It made my heart rate escalate and small panting breaths escape clenched teeth.
    The ornate double doors to the building were opened then and we stepped through to another world.
    Marble everywhere, in all manner of creams, golds and whites. Palms and ferns, that soothed my soul and made it possible to breathe without panting. Statues and sculptures that made Theo's house seem ordinary. High moulded ceilings, enormous gold framed paintings. And the smell of the Mediterranean Sea.
    Time seemed stalled here for some reason. A pocket out of the modern day world. But it could never be considered stagnant. This was vibrant, alive. Life. Pyrkagia life. It pulsed with it. I could actually feel its presence. My body flushed with heat, as I swayed on my feet and gripped Theo's arm tighter. His free hand came over and covered mine, a gesture to calm me, or warn me, I wasn't sure. Something very unnatural was enveloping me right then, it was all I could do not turn on my new heels and run.
    It wasn't evil, it wasn't even wrong. It was just so jarring in its blatant attempt to get me to react, that I panicked. The pot plants around the room began to sway. Theo stiffened.
    Luckily, the butler who approached didn't notice. "Welcome back, sir," he said. "The Rigas is in a meeting, but asked for you to wait in the parlour. He shouldn't be too long."
    "Of course," Theo said, pulling me almost frantically from the hallway and into a side room. He shut the door in the butler's surprised face as soon as we crossed the threshold and then turned angry eyes on me. "Control yourself. He will sense your energy. He will know you are calling on your Stoicheio ."
    I nodded, too freaked out to question what the hell a Stoicheio was right then. I walked over to another nearby plant and wrapped my sweaty palm around its leaves.
    Please, don't react to me here. Stay hidden, help me hide.
    Theo made a growling sound behind me and then two strong hands on my shoulders tugged me back from the plant, but not before I heard its whispered compliance. My back met his broad chest and his angry instruction was breathed in my ear from behind.
    "Behave."
    "I can't get enough air," I complained, the panic not evaporating under his reprimand.
    "Casey, you must," Theo insisted, turning me in his arms and lifting his hands to cup my face. His head ducked down to look me in the eye. I frantically tried to look away, too scared he would see me when he looked there. " Oraia, " he whispered across my lips. "Look at me."
    I shook my head, my eyes still averted. Theo swore in his customary Greek, then ran an all too tender hand across my jaw until he wrapped it around the back of my neck. He pulled me closer, lay a soft kiss on my forehead, and then pressed my cheek to his chest.
    "Just breathe," he instructed. And held me until breathing was all I could do.
    I don't know how long we stayed like that, but it was long enough for the King to finish his meeting and storm into the room. We jumped apart, Theo as surprised as me,