Fire Kissed by Erin Kellison

now that you know you have other options?” Khan asked. His gaze was impenetrable. “Segue needs someone who is able to finish wraiths.”
    Needs someone who is able ... ? “Bastian said you have power over life and death.”
    “And so I do,” Khan answered. “But the wraiths and wights have no death, and so cannot die. But they can be cut from the world, as I once did with my scythe. Or burned to oblivion, as with your faefire. No mortal means can kill them, however, and I am now mortal.”
    “I don’t understand.” And she hated her ignorance. She glanced at Bastian for answers. No help there.
    “A human’s death is a precious thing,” Khan said. “A death is transformation, from one state to another. It might be terrifying to some, but it is vital to existence. The wraiths gave up their deaths to a demon in return for immortality, for everlasting life. Without their deaths, they cannot die. The wraiths cannot cross into Shadow, cannot become something else, and so forever are consigned to their flesh.”
    Hence the wight’s state of advanced decomposition. That made sense. Wraiths smelled awful, but they weren’t that far gone. This was not an immortality anyone could want. They’d been duped.
    “As the fae lord of Death,” Khan continued, “I could open the way between the worlds and force a wraith to cross. I could cut them out of life with my scythe. But I am mortal now. I cannot kill what cannot die.”
    “But I can,” Kaye said. She just had.
    “Yes. Fire is by its nature transformative . It is a great power. A god’s power.”
    Bastian growled disagreement.
    “And the visions I see in the flame?” Kaye asked.
    “Another property of Shadow—to see the possibilities of a life. To see a human’s fate. I do not think you see mage futures there—we have no fate, no boundaries or limits imposed upon us.” His dark expression split into a grin of victory. “We are not predestined.”
    “I see my fate,” she said. Her breathing got tight.
    Khan’s brows rose. She must have surprised him. “And that is?”
    “Fire.” Kaye felt Bastian’s gaze, but she didn’t look at him. Her future was none of his business. If not for this opportunity to get answers, she would have kept quiet. “I see myself on fire.”
    Khan looked thoughtful, which made her uncomfortable. Somehow it seemed more prudent to avoid his notice, to avoid being the subject of his deep consideration as well. Khan was too potent for simple conversation. “I do not know how that could be, but as a fire mage, you should be protected from flames.”
    She tried for a smile and an affirmative nod, something with calm. She didn’t feel it, though. The visions bothered her and not even Death knew why she had them.
    “One of Segue’s missions,” Khan continued, “its primary mission, I think, is to search for understanding. You would be welcome there. It is a good place. The work is dangerous, yes, but I can extend your life if necessary, even preserve it in the event something goes wrong. You need not fear death while you work there.”
    “Sounds like the offer the demon made to the wraiths,” Bastian observed.
    The whites of Khan’s eyes blacked until yes, he did look every bit the demon. Though angry, he continued to address Kaye. She held herself very still while he spoke.
    “A mage should not trust the angels. You have no soul for this one”—Khan inclined his head in Bastian’s direction—“to protect. He will not stand by you.”
    “I’ve given her my word,” Bastian said. “I’d give you the same. Please help us.”
    Khan finally regarded Bastian, who impressed Kaye by not rearing back in his seat with the gale force of Khan’s glare.
    “The Order conspired to take my Layla from me,” Khan said. “I will not help you. And further, I don’t require the protection of an angel. Nor do I have any desire to break the mage Houses. After ages of secrecy, they are coming out of hiding and making themselves