Into the Flame Read Free

their leader from his insanity and her witchcraft.

    The Gypsies chased the lovers, furious that a Varinski had stolen the girl who was their seer and good-luck charm.

    In secret, Konstantine and Zorana fled to the United States . They changed their name to Wilder, and settled in the Cascade Mountains of Washington State. There they raised grapes, fruits, vegetables, and three sons, Jasha, Rurik, and Adrik, all handsome, all incorrigible, and all bound by the devil’s pact.

    Like his father, Jasha had the ability to transform himself into a wolf.

    Rurik changed into a hawk and flew on night’s wings.

    Adrik grew up to be a man tortured by the clashing demands of duty and desire, and his dark soul showed itself in the form of a black panther.

    Then, for the first time in a thousand years, a child was born to them. Not a son, as the babushka’s ancient prophecy had foretold, but a daughter.

    Konstantine believed the birth was a miracle, and a sign the pact was failing.

    And perhaps it was . . . but when the devil gambles with a man’s soul, he plays to win.

    Chapter One

    Spring, Almost Three Years Ago Brown University , Providence , Rhode Island

    In her dorm room, Firebird Wilder sat with a pen in her hand, ignoring the stampede of jubilant students outside her open door, and stared at the Father’s Day card on her desk.

    Guess what we’ve done?

    Too coy.

    Surprise!

    Too flip.

    We’re in this together.

    Too chummy.

    In the end, she took the plastic stick with the blue-toned results, placed it in the card, slipped it in the envelope, and sealed it without writing a single word. There were no words to explain . . . this.

    ‘‘Hey, Firebird!’’ Jacob Pilcher stuck his head in her open door. ‘‘What are you doing sitting there? It’s over. Let’s party!’’

    She laughed at him, the honors student wearing his baseball cap sideways, a T-shirt that proclaimed, Warning, Contents under Pressure , and a silly grin. ‘‘I’m waiting for Douglas .’’

    ‘‘Ohh. The wonderful campus cop.’’ Jacob wiggled his fingers like a magician and barely kept the edge of sarcasm out of his voice. ‘‘Is he taking you to Bruno’s?’’

    She slipped the envelope into her purse. ‘‘That’s the plan.’’

    ‘‘Okay. That’s okay. He’s cool.’’ Jacob gave her the thumbs-up. ‘‘But I guess that means you’re not drinking, huh?’’

    ‘‘I wasn’t drinking anyway. I’m twenty.’’

    ‘‘I know, I know, but there are ways of getting around—’’

    Masculine shouts echoed down the corridor. ‘‘Come on, man!’’ ‘‘We’re leaving without you, man!’’

    ‘‘Gotta go!’’ Jacob saluted her. ‘‘See you there!’’ Still he lingered, looking at her. ‘‘You look great.’’ Without waiting for her to thank him, he turned and ran down the hall. ‘‘Wait. Wait, you jerks!’’

    Jacob was a nice kid. A kid, even though he was a year older than she was, and he’d been in love with her ever since she moved into the dorm as the student resident assistant. He’d been crushed when she met Douglas , but he’d kept on smiling, and now he was cutting loose.

    They were all cutting loose. It was the end of finals.

    She went to the mirror and smiled.

    Her blush was a peachy gold, her mascara was black, her blond hair was twisted into a clip at the back of her head, but Jacob was right—she did look great. Not even the dusting of loose powder could subdue the glow that lit her from within.

    ‘‘You’re beautiful, as always,’’ said a voice from the door.

    She turned with a smile. ‘‘ Douglas . You’re early!’’

    ‘‘I couldn’t stay away.’’ He walked in, blond hair rumpled from the breeze outside, holding a bouquet of red and yellow flowers in one hand and a big gold stuffed dog under the other.

    She ran to him.

    He dropped the dog and wrapped her in his embrace.

    Leaning her head against his shoulder, she closed her eyes. He was warm and