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  Rone did something else to the controls and cast a sidelong look at Kate. “Beginning our landing sequence. Here we go.”

  “Yes, I guess so.” Kate nodded. But for some reason, even though the viewscreen was taken up with the vivid vegetation and the bubble complex, her mind’s eye kept lingering on Mistress Light, the angel-lady who had spoken to them.

  There’s more to her than meets the eye. Depend on it, the Knowing whispered in her head. Kate tried to shrug off the bad feeling that was growing in the pit of her stomach but she couldn’t help herself. Her sixth sense was sending her a warning and she didn’t know how to interpret it.

  What’s going to happen to us down there? Will we be all right?

  She didn’t have any answers but she did know she couldn’t refuse to go. This was her only chance to regain her memory…and lose the pervading fear she felt anytime Rone got too close and touched her. Kate didn’t know how she felt about all the things he’d been telling her regarding their life together, but she did know she was tired of freaking out around the big Kindred.

  This is the only way, she told herself. Just keep alert—a warning doesn’t always mean trouble ahead. Which was true—sometimes the warnings the Knowing sent allowed her to avoid trouble. This was going to be one of those times, Kate decided. She would simply keep her eyes and ears open and be very, very careful while she and Rone were here at Flame and Frost. And as soon as she took a swim in their pool and got all the damn fear toxins sucked out of her, they would be out of here and on their way to a normal life.

  She hoped.

  Chapter Thirteen

  “This way. Mistress Light awaits your coming.”

  A being with pale blue skin and long blue hair was waiting for them when they descended from the ship. Rone made sure to keep between the person—he couldn’t tell if it was male or female—and Kate. He knew his mate liked to look out for herself and might get mad if she thought he was being overly protective, but he couldn’t help it. The contrasting rumors he’d heard about Flame and Frost made him nervous. And he’d so recently found Kate—he was damned if he’d take a chance on losing her again or letting her be hurt in any way.

  “We’re really just here to use your bio-chelation pool,” Kate said, stepping forward. The landing area around the complex was in a large, clear bubble made of some kind of transparent yellowish material. The sunlight that filtered down through this barrier cast Kate in a golden light and turned her long, curly red hair into a flaming corona around her face. Rone thought he had never seen her look more beautiful, but then, he had often had that thought about his mate. He longed to reach out and put a hand on her shoulder or just touch her hair but he knew he couldn’t. He curled his hand into a fist at his side, resisting the urge.

  “The Pool of Purification is on the Frost side of the complex,” the blue-haired being said in a soft, androgynous voice. “This one may not venture there—this one has not been touched by the Shadow.”

  “This one what?” Kate asked blankly. “I’m sorry, but what are you talking about?”

  “I think he…er she is referring to herself. Or himself. Sorry,” Rone apologized. “I don’t know your people or species.”

  “All is well,” the blue-haired being nodded, indicating that he—or she—wasn’t offended. “This one is a Celestial. This one’s people do not claim to be either male or female as this one’s kind may be either in time of need.”

  “So you can switch sexes at will?” Rone raised an eyebrow. “That’s convenient, I guess.”

  “It is very helpful during some of the therapies.” The Celestial inclined his/her head gracefully.

  “Well, we’re not here to have that kind of therapy,” Kate said quickly. “Like I said, we’re just here to use the pool. But it is very nice to meet you.” She held out a hand but the Celestial backed away, looking startled and a bit fearful.

  “Forgive this one, but you have yet to be purified and it was this one’s understanding that your flesh has been defiled and polluted by poisons.”

  “Those are some very strong words,” Rone growled, feeling a surge of protective anger shoot through him. “None of what happened to Kate is her fault. And she’s not ‘polluted or defiled’ in any way. She just needs—”

  “She needs to visit Mistress Light who awaits your coming,” the Celestial interrupted smoothly. “Please, may this one bring you to her? It is better to be timely lest you meet the Madam of Shadows instead.”

  “Is she another one of the directors here?” Kate asked as they followed the blue—haired being out of the landing area and into another, smaller bubble. This bubble was made of the same transparent material but it was tinged with orange instead of yellow. As before, the sunlight flooded through, filling the round space like water in a bowl.

  “She is,” the Celestial nodded and smiled as he/she led them through the orange bubble into another. This one was crystal clear and in the very center of it stood the being they had seen on their viewscreen—the female with pure white hair, eyelashes, and brows. It must be Mistress Light. She was wearing a pure white gown and her mouth widened into a benevolent smile as they approached her.

  “Ah, Kate and Rone,” she said, holding out plump, pale hands to them, her violet eyes sparkling. “So very good to see you, my dears. I have heard much of your tragedy already from Commander Sylvan.” She looked at the Celestial. “And thank you for bringing them in, Azure my dear.”

  The Celestial nodded. “This one lives but to serve you, Mistress Light.”

  “Yes, I know. You’re such a darling. But come—I must greet you!” she said, smiling at Kate and Rone.

  Rone came forward first, again putting himself between Kate and the perceived threat. Mistress Light seemed all right but there was something different about her—something strange that had his Wulven senses on high alert.

  She smelled…strange. His nose detected crisp, clean notes that reminded him of an ocean wind and warm comforting notes that reminded him of the apple pie recipe Kate had gotten from her grandmother. But there were other scents too—some so hidden that no one without his special talents could have detected them.

  Along with the pleasant, comforting, clean smells, there was a whiff of burning and the spice of peppers—the kind so hot it would make your eyes water and sting just to be near their fumes. The kind that would burn your mouth like the Seven Hells if you dared to taste one. There was something else too, something even darker but it was so faint and buried that even Rone could barely detect it. Still, it troubled him.

  “It’s very good to make your acquaintance, Mistress Light,” he said, holding out a hand to her since she was also holding out both her hands to himself and Kate.

  “I’m pleased to meet you as well, my dear but I must touch both of you at once to assess your problems.” Mistress Light nodded at Kate. “Come dear heart, don’t be shy.”

  Rone didn’t like that he couldn’t touch Mistress Light first and better assess the threat but he knew how angry Kate would get if he tried to block her from touching the resort director. Besides, it was probably a good thing to let Kate touch her—the Knowing always gave her a better sense of what a person’s true intentions were when she made skin-to-skin contact with them.

  Together, they reached out to take the plump, pale hands of Mistress Light. As they made contact, Rone saw Kate’s green eyes widen but she said nothing. He wished they still had their link so she could tell him what she’d seen but as it was, there was nothing he could do but smile genially and shake hands with the director of Flame and Frost.

  “Ah, yes.” Mistress Light closed her brilliant purple eyes and a troubled look came over her face. “Oh my dears—such torment as you are both going through!” she exclaimed when she opened them again and finally released their hands. “I vow to you here and now that I will do everything—everything—in my power to restore your relationship to its former harmony.”

  “That’s really sweet of you but we’re honestly just h