Invisible flames surrounded her. She felt them in her mind. It was both terrifying and liberating. She needed to look away from Lupien and pin her attention on something else. Tearing her gaze away, she fixed it on the far end of the corridor. A fire erupted, flames licking to the ceiling.
“That’s it, baby girl,” Lupien crooned. “Burn for daddy, just a little more.”
“Clelia, no!”
Erwan’s voice drifted to her, but it was distressed, and instead of calming her, it added fuel to her fire, the need to save him becoming an uncontrollable rage. She watched helplessly, her logic dreading and something primitive rejoicing as she obeyed Lupien’s command by pulling the flames higher. They burned like lovers, limbs entangling and backs arching off the ceiling. The perfume of burning wood infused the air.
“Clelia, don’t,” a voice said from downstairs. It was measured, unemotional, and controlled.
It had the desired effect. Her reason gained ground as her fury calmed. The flames retracted.
She knew that voice. It was distinct. She would recognize it anywhere. “Cain,” she said, even before she’d turned to face him.
He stood just inside the front door, leaning on his cane. “That’s exactly what he wants,” he said, crossing the entrance.
“Cain,” Lupien said smoothly, “now my joy is complete. When I take her art, you’ll die screaming. I’ll burn you alive.”
Cain took his time to mount the first three steps. “You could’ve had so much, but you wanted it all, and now you’ll end up with nothing.”
Lupien snickered. “You can’t stop the Dark Age from coming. We’ll reign like before. This time, we won’t be snuffed out and forced underground. I’ll take what’s rightfully mine, and then I’ll enjoy smelling your flesh and bones melt.”
Cain stopped when he was halfway up the stairs. “You’ve had your chance, Lupien, and chances don’t come along twice.”
Chapter 37
Siril sat on the terrace steps when Joss pulled up to the castle. It was a little before noon. To his irritation, the weapons contact he’d met in Vannes was late. For safety reasons, he hadn’t taken Clelia along, but he hadn’t been happy to leave her. At the same time, he’d been eager to get the guns. They needed all the protection they could buy. Lupien wasn’t far. He could feel it. At the first chance that presented itself, he’d go after the bastard and take care of him once and for all.
Not wanting to exhibit his purchases in front of the boy, he left the weapons in the trunk and crunched his way across the gravel to where Siril sat with his hand on his chin. “Where’s Izabell?”
“There was a fire in the kitchen at the restaurant. She said she’d be back in time to cook lunch.”
His heart slammed against his ribs. A fire. Lupien. Every sense he had went on high alert. His voice was clipped. “Where’s Clelia?”
Siril squinted up at him. “Madame de Arradon took my bike. I’m waiting for her to get back.”
Joss froze. “What did you say?”
Siril pulled his shoulders up to his ears. “She said she was going to the bakery.”
Joss had to take deep breaths not to explode. “How long ago?”
Siril checked his watch. “Maybe two hours.”
His blood ran cold. Two hours was too long. It was hard to keep a calm demeanor. “Which village?”
“I think she was going to Josselin. She asked how long it took to go there by bike.”
Fear flared in him, shredding and cold. “Didn’t I tell you to keep her locked inside?”
“Madame said she wanted to surprise you with desert.”
“You stupid, stupid boy!”
The red-faced kid looked like he wanted to bolt. He squirmed under Joss’s hard stare. “I gave her the phone you left.”
“Stay here,” he said, turning back to the car with long strides.
“Can I catch a lift with you back to town?” Siril called after him. “I can get my bike later.” He mumbled under his breath, “I don’t feel like facing wolves again.”
Joss spun around. “What did you say?”
Siril’s face flamed. “Nothing.”
Joss walked back to him with furious strides. “What was that part about the wolves?”
Siril cowered. “It’s just been a strange morning.”
“Elaborate, and make it fast.”
“A pack of wolves cornered me inside for almost half-an-hour. The beasts waited at the door. I couldn’t come back outside until they were gone.”
“Four of them?”
“Yeah.” Siril frowned. “Do you know about them? I knew there were foxes in the woods, but wolves are only supposed to exist in the legends.”
“They’re not wolves, they’re dogs.”
Siril blew air through his noise. “Could’ve fooled me.”
“And then they left?”
“I hope so.”
“Did anything else happen?” Joss asked carefully.
“Like what?”
“Did anyone come around?”
“No.” Siril scrunched up his face. “Only that man called for Madame de Arradon.”
“What?” Joss grabbed Siril by the collar. “Which man? Where did he call?”
Siril’s eyes flared. “I think he said his name was Erin. No, Erman. Wait, Ernan.”
“Erwan?” Joss said with growing irritation, urgency clawing at his gut.
“Yeah. Erwan.”
Fuck. “Which phone did he call on?”
“This one.” Siril held up a cellphone. “Izabell’s business phone.”
“What did he say?”
“Uh, he said he’d wait for Madame de Arradon in your house.”
Holy fuck. It couldn’t be. Not that. He let the boy go. “I’ll call your aunt to come get you.”
It couldn’t be too late. There was too much on the line, much more than the end of the world. All he could see in his mind’s eye as he rushed to the car was a pretty Japanese woman. His woman.
Chapter 38
The stairs creaked as Cain took another step. “Don’t give in to your anger, Clelia. It’s the only way he can harm you.”
Clelia’s emotions stabilized a little. Cain’s disinterested tone had a calming effect. The fire that raged at the end of the hallway shrunk to half its size. The flames didn’t lick the ceiling any longer, but they didn’t die down completely.
Lupien chuckled. “Look at that beautiful fire. It’s feeding now, on the floorboards and the curtains. It will feed on anything that stands in its way. You’re too late.”
Clelia looked at
