Drake Sisters 03 - Oceans of Fire

Prakenskii, openingly challenging him. Her temper had the better of her now and if he wanted war, she was more than ready to do battle. He had secrets. His aura told her that, and his secrets weren’t safe with her. He had power, but he wasn’t immune from magic any more than she was.
    One of the two men Aleksandr was observing leaned over the partition and said something to Chad Kingman, and handing him a lighter, Kingman nodded and slid it into his pocket. Even as Aleksandr watched them, he felt the air around them growing static with electricity. Abigail’s eyes glittered as she looked at Prakenskii. Suddenly fearing what she might do, he caught her hand again and squeezed hard.
    She ignored him.
    “Perhaps we should play a little game of truth or dare,” she said to Prakenskii. “It’s a wonderful game we enjoy. What do you think?”
    Alarm flickered in Prakenskii‘s eyes, then faded, leaving him stone-faced. He bowed slightly to Abigail.
    “I do not enjoy playing American games. Aleksandr, did you tell me you two needed to leave soon?” His tone was mild, gave nothing at all away.
    Aleksandr took the excuse, not understanding what was going on between Prakenskii and Abigail and not wanting to take any chances with her life. He rose to his feet and tugged on Abbey until she was Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    forced to stand up as well. “Thanks, Ilya.” He glanced at his watch. “I promised Abbey’s sisters we’d be home in time to help with the wedding plans.”
    “Mr. Nikitin”—Abigail held out her hand—“it was a pleasure to meet you. I’ll certainly pass on your compliments to Joley.” She kept her eyes on Prakenskii every moment.
    “I’m staying in the area for a few more days and hope we can arrange a meeting.”
    “I’ll let Joley know.” She allowed Aleksandr to lead her to the door. As they approached it, the door swung open and Mason Fredrickson walked through. Abigail looked behind her in time to see Sylvia stiffen with shock. The left side of her face was covered in a rash in the shape of a bright red handprint as if someone had slapped her. Abbey glanced again at Prakenskii. He gave her a faint smile and a brief salute.
    “What in the hell was going on in there?” Aleksandr demanded as they hurried down the ramp into the parking lot.
    Before she could reply, he pushed her behind the large bushes, his arms going around her and his head bending to hers so his lips were a breath away. “He’s out here.”
    “Who is out here?”
    “Chad Kingman, one of the men you pointed out to me. He borrowed a lighter from one of Nikitin’s men and he’s out here smoking. I want him to go back inside before we get in the car.”
    “I’m not going to make out with you like a teenager behind the bush, for heaven’s sake,” Abigail said.
    “Although the idea does have merit. What I’d really like to do is become Hannah for just a few minutes and send Prakenskii a little warning.”
    “What did Prakenskii do to Joley that had all of you so up in arms?” He pulled her closer, fitting her body tightly against his, his hands sliding down her back to the curve of her spine. “I never saw him touch her.”
    “He didn’t touch her, not physically. He’s like us. He has power, magic, talent, whatever you want to call it.”
    That gave him pause. He stared down at her, not comprehending what she was trying to say.
    “Prakenskii? As in, speak the word truth and everyone reveals secrets?”
    She shook her head. “Not exactly like my talent, more like Hannah’s or Joley’s. Maybe even Elle’s. I hope not Elle’s. That would be bad.”
    “Why?”
    “Elle can do it all. She has to carry all the gifts to pass on to the next generation. I saw him brush Joley’s palm when she went out the door. I have no idea if he took away the pain, but if he did, that definitely makes him a very powerful adversary because he’s adept at more than one thing.”
    He turned his head slightly to keep a better eye on Chad Kingman. The man crushed his cigarette butt beneath his shoe, looked around, and ambled back up the ramp to the wraparound deck. Instead of going inside, he leaned over the railing and stared up at the stars.

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    “Let me get this straight. You’re telling me that Ilya Prakenskii, the man I’ve known since he was a child, is able to use the same kind of