Protecting my cupped hand like it was holding liquid gold, I looked at Collin wondering how to make liquid push him back. It would just slide all around him. He stood there, smiling, waiting for me to act. His blue tee shirt was untucked from his dark jeans. His leather jacket was hanging over the chair. His arms flexed, waiting for me.

Unsure, I stepped toward him so that we were nose to nose. I gazed into his eyes as I tilted the liquid out of my hand, pouring it over his hands. His wrists suddenly snapped together like they were bound by two huge magnets, as he was dragged backwards to his chair. I flicked my wrist, still holding the shadow like a piece of string and pulled hard. Collin laughed as his chair spun like a top, with his wrists still bound together in his lap. The chair spun so fast and hard that it made me sick to watch it. Smiling, I stuck my hand out to stop the violent spinning. The shadow slid back into my palm, even though I was no longer cupping it. It clung to my skin like it was my own flesh.

Collin was laughing as I kneeled in front of him. Smiling, I asked, “How’d I do?”

He tried to look up at me several times, but his eyes were flicking around the room like he was still spinning. “That was pretty good.”

“So what else can I do with this?” I asked as I made the shadow slide under the hair that obstructed his eyes, and push it back so I could see his face.

“Anything you can think of. The only thing it can’t do is attack another shadow.” He shook his head, trying to see me. I could feel his head still spinning through the bond, and sat down quickly. He laughed.

“So, how will it help me if someone pins me the way Jake did? I mean, if the shadow can’t attack the other shadow, how would I get free?”

“You’d attack your assailant. If you are both pinned, that usually stops the fight.” He leaned forward. “Shadows can take on the qualities of air, liquids, or solids. They are only trapped by your imagination.”

“Really?” I asked, an idea forming in my mind before I knew what I was doing.

“Yeah,” Collin looked up at me his smile fading as he pieced together what I wanted to try to do. “Ivy, don’t… !” He shot out of the chair, still raked by dizziness and staggered forward trying to stop me.

I held my ring hand out, the way I did when I materialized in front of Collin last night. But instead of transporting me to him, I wanted to make the shadow bring him to me.

Before he said another word, the shadow covered his body in a glistening black mist. I pulled my hand gently and Collin’s body disappeared into the air, though I still felt him moving toward me. I opened my palm and the black mist poured out of my hand into the sparkling shape of Collin Smith. His body shimmered and I felt his palm solidify in my grip. He looked stunned as I smiled at him. I assumed that I was doing baby Valefar tricks, which didn’t match the look of shock on his face.

“What?” I asked not liking the way he was looking at me. He took short ragged breaths and stared at me. I released the shadow, and it shrank back, taking the cold with it. Collin’s hand felt warm in my grip. I squeezed it gently. “Collin, what’s the matter? I thought I did good?”

He nodded, “You did, it’s just that… Valefar can’t do that.” Stunned, he stared at me, not releasing my hand. He breathed in again, catching my scent now that the shadows receded.

“But, I just did? I don’t understand.” I said shaking my head. I pulled my hands to my chest, a nervous tic to subdue my pounding heart, but Collin’s hand was still in mine. Instead of steadying myself, I made my pulse skyrocket. I trembled.

What was happening? Why was his touch affecting me?

His scent filled the air, making my mouth water. I closed my eyes, attempting to release his hand, but he wouldn’t let go. Taking a step closer, he covered my hands with both of his hands.

His eyes shone, “If you are the Prophecy One, then you have unique powers, and abilities that I lack.” He smiled at me, not breaking my gaze. “Ivy, your eyes are rimming. They’re violet.” He leaned his head down, as his breath washed over our tangled hands.

“Rimming? What do you mean?” I asked. I couldn’t look away. I couldn’t release his hand. I couldn’t move. The bond felt like it glued me to him, and the sensations flooding between us were increasing. I was too dazed, enjoying it too much to realize I should be concerned.

He pressed his forehead against mine. Smiling he said, “It means you want something. Very badly.” He watched me as he drank in the euphoria that surrounded us. “What are you lusting after Ivy?”

Startled by his words, I flinched. “Nothing,” I lied. “I don’t want anything.”

Collin smiled lazily. His grip loosening as he slid his fingers down the inside of my arm. My body responded to his touch, melting as his fingers pressed the soft flesh.

“Liar,” he whispered. “Our eyes rim when we can’t… ” suddenly Collin seemed to wake up. His spine straightened and he tried to step away from me.

Still dazed and euphoric I asked, “When we can’t what?” My heart was beating slowly in loud thuds making me feel warm all over. Collin’s scent filled my lungs as I took a deep breath. A foreign sensation slid within my stomach, as I stepped toward Collin, holding his face between my hands. He breathed deeply, closing his eyes. His skin seared with heat under my touch. When he opened his eyes, a ring of fire surrounded his irises. It should have meant something to me, but I felt like I was floating.

His voice was so soft, “Control. They rim when we can’t control ourselves much longer.”

I threaded my fingers through his hair. My thoughts felt distant, suspended by sheer bliss. But, I could still hear the internal warning that something was wrong. My body felt like it was lost in a dream. It felt warm and happy, happier than I’d ever felt. Collin’s breath flowed softly across my lips, causing my pulse to race. Confidence that wasn’t mine held my hands on his skin, and kept my fingers tangled in his soft hair.

Something’s wrong. Collin’s voice brushed the back of my mind.

I tilted my head to the side, ready to press my lips to his. The sensation of his soft flesh on mine was all I could think of, but I froze when I realized neither of us was moving.

Straightening my head, I tried to release him, but couldn’t. It felt like I didn’t want to, although I did. There was a reason why I wasn’t with him. There was a reason we couldn’t be together. As I tried to remember, my eyes locked on his lips—his perfect smooth lips.

Collin’s voice broke through my mental haze, “Your eyes are almost completely violet. Tell me what you want Ivy. I’ll give you anything you want.” The allure of his words and the seduction in his voice enticed me further. His words made me feel seductive. Powerful. He felt it too. My mind registered a warning, but I couldn’t think. It was so warm and Collin was so close. His eyes drank me in a way that felt sensual, like he desired me in every way possible. My breath caught in my throat as our lips lingered dangerously close. If I could taste his lips, I’d die happy.

Something in the back of my mind awoke with the thought. It began to break through the haze. My pulse quickened, as if my body were fighting for its life. The thought resonated with something deep inside of me—an instinct. Words tumbled out of my mouth, whispered so close to his lips. “I’m not Valefar.” The words penetrated the haze. I snapped out of it, realizing where my thoughts where. I was about to kiss him. “I’m not Valefar!” I cried. “I’m Martis and I can’t! We can’t! Collin, don’t!”

I yelled trying to push him away. My heart thundered in my chest as I realized what was happening. His eyes were pooling crimson. My heart lurched, as I tried to wiggle out of his grip. “Collin, you have to let go of me. We can’t do this. You don’t want to do this.” I managed to pull my wrist away, but he was still lost in lust.

His crimson eyes raked my body. His movements were jerky, like he was trying to control his body, but it wouldn’t let him. The bond was a jumbled mess, part Valefar, part Martis. I couldn’t catch his scent anymore, which meant mine was much more potent. I wondered if I could call shadows as a Martis. I tried, but they didn’t respond. I needed to figure out how to possess both at the same time, but now wasn’t the time to learn. Focusing intently, I realized the bond wouldn’t break as a Martis. I shifted my focus back to Valefar to subdue my Martis scent. Heat surged through me, and I fought back the lust that claimed me before.

Collin’s eyes saw me, but were still rimmed in red. I called the shadow back to me, and made it cover my body, hoping that it would seal in my scent and allow Collin to regain his composure. The shadow covered my body like a sheet of ice. It was disgusting, and felt like corpse fingers were stroking my flesh. But, I held the shadow in place and it sealed in my soul.

Collin closed his eyes hard, and stepped away from me. Clutching his head between his hands he asked, “What happened?”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

I was looking at my shimmering body, holding my arm in front of my eyes, when I answered. “I don’t know. We were talking, and then things got weird. Are you all right?”

He nodded, and turned to look at me. His eyebrow shot up as he cringed. “What is that?”

Proud of myself, I said, “It’s an Ivy suit. It seals in my wholesome goodness so you won’t try to eat me. I feel like I’m wearing dead people though, so I’d really like to take it off as soon as you can stand there and not eat me.”

Collin nodded, turning away. His eyes were still rimmed in fire. He leaned against the bookshelf, looking at the floor. “We have to break the bond.”

“But I told you already,” I couldn’t believe I was saying this. Again. “I didn’t do this to us. I can’t break the bond. I didn’t make it.”

The door crashed opened with a loud crack. I startled, backing away as three guys walked in. One was Jake. They didn’t see me. I backed away faster, wishing I could shrink into the shadow and disappear as my heart lurched into my throat, gagging me. Collin’s voice brushed inside my mind, He can’t see you. The shadows that formed my Ivy suit held in my scent, and my body was hidden by the massive bookcase. I didn’t move.

“We looked everywhere for her, but she’s gone. It’s the same as last time. And there is no sign of the painting. Are you sure...?” Jakes words were cut off. I watched in wide-eyed horror as Collin addressed him.

“I am. Keep looking for the girl. It’s not like last time—at all. Continue the search.” He glared at them. “Leave.” The three quickly left and closed the door. The roar of my pulse thundered in my ears. I shrank into the corner, as far from Collin as I could get. Collin was authoritative. It almost seemed like they were making a report.

The truth crashed into me. “You’re their leader!?”

Collin didn’t deny it. He nodded sadly. “You see the mess we’re in? You weren’t supposed to be wrapped up in a girl I wanted to keep.” He shook his head.