Kira's body floated on the water's surface. Moonlight streamed down on her, glittering on the lapping waves beside her. Being with the Wilders, made the world feel different. The moonlight was as warm as the sun. Water rejuvenated her weary bones. The simple touch of a soft leaf brought memories of the tree to the tips of her fingers. People carving into the trees bark, roots taking hold for the first time—the entire life of the tree held within a single leaf. When she and Addrick had arrived at the Wilder tribe they now traveled with, she didn't know what to expect. She had had little experience with Wilders directly.

They'd welcomed her as if she were a long lost sister returned. They even cleared out one of their wagons to give her privacy. Kids offered to play with her, care for her horse, or wanted to talk. Older Wilders asked her questions about her powers. Addrick said they wanted to find out what kind of Wilder she was. They knew she wasn't a shifter, because she couldn't turn into an animal. She wasn't fairy, because she couldn't use her touch to send a man to his knees. They'd ruled out succubus when a male Wilder stole a kiss from her and survived, though he nearly didn't outlive Kira's blade. Even Kira wondered what kind of Wilder she was.

Then she met the tribe's seer and her apprentice. They told stories of dreams which became reality. Simple dreams at first, they told of a success a loved one would have, or when it might rain. As the seer matured, their powers became stronger. If a Wilder was near and danger fell upon them, the seer would go into a magic trance and see it before it happened. They'd feel compelled to find the Wilder and warn them. The closer the danger, the stronger the compulsion.

Kira sighed. Her hand rose out of the water and played with her necklace. A seer's power made sense, yet it didn't make sense. Why hadn't she seen Emma's death coming? She saw harm come to nearby Wilders, but the one person she cared most about, her flesh and blood, and she saw nothing.

Kira swam back to shore. Water dripped from her skin as she stepped out and turned back to stare out onto the lake. Her eyes drifted to the moonlight as she wrung the water from her hair. The night was perfect. No clouds in the sky and no chill to the air. All nights with the Wilders seemed perfect. It was as if they lived within a bubble wherever they went.

They'd stopped by a lake to camp for a few days while the traders went in to the village to sell their wares. Addrick had wanted to move on, but Kira wanted to stay. She felt as comfortable with them as she did with Emma. To her, there was no hurry to New Calandria and she wouldn't let Addrick boss her around if there was no hurry.

She closed her eyes. Her hand continued to stroke the symbol hanging from her neck. Two fingers followed the shape from one spiral to another. Calmness washed over her. Her mind wandered, floating into the heavens like a bird. Kira's heart pounded as her fingers stroked the symbol faster. The ground under her feet vibrated while pin pricks made their way through her pores. She floated above the earth, drifting between trees and rocks, dodging them without a care.

Mountains rose before her, climbing higher into the sky until clouds ate the rocky points whole. A stone wall stood before her as she landed, a jagged crack ran the length of the wall. On either side, etched into the stone, was the symbol bound to her neck. Statues of men and women, each wearing hooded robes, formed a circle around an altar. Their hands clasped together in front of their chests. The women wore jewelry with the symbol hanging from them, while the men had it tattooed on their exposed arms. Kira stepped toward the altar within her mind. One hand reached for the blemished stone surface . . .

A cough made her jump from her trance. She turned around to see Addrick standing with his hands on his hips. Half his mouth curved in a tight smile. Gray eyes appeared to radiate light from the moon itself. Her heart continued to race as she fought off the numbness spreading through her. At first, she couldn't register the full force of her shock finding Addrick standing behind her. Then she remembered she'd been bathing in the lake, naked.

"Addrick!" She covered her private parts with her arms. The necklace burned against her arm. Ever since finding the Wilders, it warmed often when Addrick was present. "I'm naked!"

Addrick's eyes tilted to her body. They scanned her from head to toe. His half smile quivered. Kira shuffled uncomfortably at the pressure of his intent gaze. Her clothes lay hanging from a log, too far for her to reach without exposing herself further. Moonlight made his hair appear to glow as he shuffled his stance. Everything about him appeared to glow in the moonlight.

"Aye, ye are. As I said before, there isn't much there. We need to talk. I know ye weren't being honest back there with the Seers. I was there when ye and Rylanne stormed the guards attacking my tribe. Ye were on yer way to the Glades from the castle and we were nowhere near the road between the two."

"Addrick, I'm still naked."

"I've seen a naked woman before. It's nothing new."

Kira shuffled her arms, wanting to free the burning pinned necklace, but keep herself concealed from his watching eyes. The heat was unbearable. Gems embedded in the spirals wanted to leave a mark on her arm. Addrick's eyes narrowed and stared at her chest. At first she thought he was staring at her breasts. Her mouth opened to scold him when he moved so fast she didn't realize it until he was upon her. His hand pulled the necklace free. One thumb stroked the ruby jewel.

He swallowed hard. "Where did ye get this?"

"That's none of your business. If you don't mind, I'm still naked. Turn around so I can get dressed."

"I said where did ye get this?" A growl rumbled with his words as his gray eyes shifted to yellow. The beast within him yearned to be freed.

"Emma said it belonged to my mother, now let go before you break the chain." But Addrick didn't let go. She stopped caring about the vulnerable state of her body. Fire coated her hand when she reached up and grabbed Addrick's wrist. He snarled and stumbled back. She kept the fire burning and spread it to her other hand. Addrick knelt on the ground, rubbing the burnt flesh. It healed without issue.

Yellow eyes blazed. Addrick lunged for her with magic swirling his fists. Kira side stepped him and watched as he narrowly missed falling head first into the water. Her hands came together, the magic formed between palms. Energy grew in size, licking at the lines running through her palms. She pulled it closer to her chest and launched it toward Addrick. He pushed on the ground and jumped into the air. Kira gasped as it appeared as though he flew.

Her moment of awe was her downfall.

Addrick landed on her, knocking her to the ground. The weight of his body pushed her deep into the grassy shore. All of her limbs burned and she tried to center the energy under his hands, but Addrick didn't flinch that time. Both his hands grabbed her wrists and pinned her down. His breath tickled her face as he leaned forward. It was as hot as the energy coursing through her. His eyes drifted to the necklace.

"Ye have no idea what that symbol means, do ye?"

"I didn't even know I was a Wilder until a short time ago, what do you think?"

He growled. "How can ye know so little about what ye are?"

"Then fill me in, Mr. I know everything"

"I'm going to release ye, but do not flee and I'll tell ye."

"You have five seconds, and then I'm punching you."

"That symbol . . ." He stopped and released her wrists.

One hand rolled up the sleeve of his tunic and showed her the tattoo on his arm. Her fingers traced the blue color. The necklace burned more as she brushed his skin. Addrick closed his eyes, his hand drifted to her necklace. His thumb brushed the ruby. Kira's mouth fell open as one of the brass colored circles on his arm glowed. Its color was swallowed by the ruby coloring of her necklace. A brass jewel on her necklace turned to a sapphire gem when Addrick pulled his hand away. Her heart raced and she couldn't take her hand away from his tattoo. She was aware her touch was dangerously close to molestation, but she didn't care. His symbol called to her. It became a shrill voice rising in the distance and beckoning her to come. Her mouth dried as her fingers circled the newly colored swirl.

"Yer like me, Kira. I don't know how, I was supposed to be one of two left in the world, the last hope to keep the evil sealed within Calandria away from the human realm. Rodyn has killed all but me in an effort to unlock Calandria, and I'm not sure he knows I exist or else I might be dead, too. Yet here ye are, living, breathing, wearing the symbol."

"What are you talking about? You're rambling and making zero sense."

"That symbol is our emblem. Yer a Guardian of Calandria. We must go talk to the others, they can tell ye more about our history." Addrick rolled off her and walked away.

She sat up and held the symbol in the palm of her hand. Her finger ran over the newly formed gem. Once, when she was little, she'd fantasized about how the necklace could be the seal of a country in which she was their long lost queen. Never did she expect it to hold true value.

"Oh, and Kira," Addrick said.

"Yeah," she said without looking up from the necklace.

"Yer still naked."