Skye fiddled with the hem of her shirt and kept her gaze trained on the restaurant. They’d been in there forever.

“They’ll be fine.”

She glanced at Samia. With her short dark hair, sun-kissed skin and lithe assassin’s body, Skye could see why Dante had fallen for her. Skye wondered what it was about herself that drew Soren.

And was it enough to keep him interested…once this was all over.

“Soren’s still in the grip of greed,” Skye said. “He’s doing better, but…” Worry sank sharp claws into her belly.

“Hey, listen to me.” Rayne pressed a hand to Skye’s arm. “Lorenzo, Luca, Dante, and Antonio beat their vices. Soren will too.”

“But they found their Aurae.” Skye wrung her hands. “I help Soren, but the greed hasn’t left. I’m not his match.” Voicing the words sent a shot of pain under her heart.

Rayne shared a look with Samia and Sophia.

Sophia cleared her throat. “Skye, the guy is gone over you, sweetie.”

Skye blinked. “We barely know each other—”

“That’s how it is when a Warrior finds his Aurae,” Rayne said. “Believe me, we all know.”

Power filled the air, lifting the hairs on Skye’s arms. She felt the faintest hint of the East Wind, and felt something else itch under her skin. It had to be nerves. “They’re using their winds.”

“Yeah.” Rayne watched the restaurant, bouncing on her heels.

Suddenly, a huge gust of wind raced at the women, knocking them all to the ground. Skye thought she screamed, or it might have been Sophia.

Skye stayed on the ground, trying to find her breath. Ahead, she saw Rayne on her hands and knees, struggling against the gale and calling on her own breeze.

Then suddenly it felt like the wind had hands, and they were grabbing at Skye. Dragging her along the ground.

“Rayne!” Skye tried to catch hold of the shallow edges of the cobbles, scrambling to stop the inexorable force.

“No, damn you!” Rayne struggled and twisted in an attempt to reach Skye, but she was held in place. The other women were held immobile too.

A harsh laugh echoed in Skye’s ears. Apeliotus.

The Southeast wind dragged Skye backward down the street. She struggled and kicked, but it didn’t help. She felt the skin on her palms and knees scrape and tear.

She tumbled around a corner and lost sight of her sister and the others. She rolled down some steps and landed in a heap.

Skye’s chest rose and fell harshly as she tried to catch her breath. Deep, masculine laughter reached her ears and grated along her nerves.

She looked up and saw Apeliotus.

While she was windblown, battered, and bleeding, the Tempest Wind was dressed in slacks and a white shirt. He looked like he was ready for a party, not a battle.

Apeliotus shook his head. “What does the Warrior see in you?”

Skye’s chest went tight. The Tempest Wind was voicing her deepest fear. Screw him. She pushed herself up, her hands clenched at her sides.

Apeliotus strode closer and she tensed. He circled her, his gaze running over her.

“His interest in you won’t last. He could have any woman he wants. Women far more beautiful, poised, and elegant than you.”

She tossed her head back. “And yet, he wants me.” She felt the truth of that deep inside. Soren wanted her.

Apeliotus stopped in front of her, a big, looming presence. “Si. You are the only thing stopping him from taking the last step.” The Tempest Wind leaned in, his breath fanning over her face.

Black, oily memories stirred. Her stepfather crowding her, forcing her, taking what he had no right to take. Her heart pounded like a wild stampede.

“Do you know what happens after the Warrior finally gives into the greed?” Apeliotus curled his fingers around a lock of her hair. “Greed will race across the world. Together, we will be unstoppable. And I will have the power I need to resurrect the fallen Tempest Winds and we will let the other vices loose as well. Envy, anger…lust.” Apeliotus leaned in and nipped at her ear.

Skye’s stomach did a vicious turn. She stepped back, but he clenched his hand in her hair, tugging her forward.

“Lust is not my vice, sweet Skye, but greed is not so dissimilar. I like to take, I live to take, and I think taking what the Warrior values will drive him over the edge.”

Apeliotus’ hand tore at her clothes. Skye tried to scream, but in that moment, she was once again a young girl, trapped by shame and fear. The Tempest Wind slashed a hand at the front of her shirt and buttons bounced on the cobblestones.

She felt cool air on her skin, saw the ugliness distorting his face, felt his rough hands on her, hard and bruising.

Not again. Memories of those precious, stolen moments with Soren rushed in. That’s what she wanted. More desire, more pleasure, more love.

This time she wouldn’t suffer in silence and wait to be rescued.

As Apeliotus pawed at her breasts, she drew in a breath. She forced herself to grip his arms even though touching him made her sick. Then she slammed her knee up between his legs.

He let out a roar and staggered back. He bent over, his hot, furious gaze on her.

“You’ll regret that,” he bit out.

“I don’t think so.” She balled her hands into fists, ready to protect herself. Not only for her sake, but for Soren.

She launched herself at Apeliotus. She raked her nails down his face and neck, and kicked at him again. Rayne had taught her some basic self-defense, so she knew a few moves.

As Apeliotus roared, she reached up, trying to poke him in the eyes. Righteous energy flowed inside her.

“I won’t let you hurt more people.” She shoved an elbow in his gut. “I won’t let you have Soren.”

Apeliotus swung out and hit her with an open palm across her cheek. She staggered, pain radiating through her face. He hit her again and she went down on her knees.

Oh, it hurt. But she’d been hit before. Stay still, little Skye and keep quiet or it will hurt much, much more.

Not this time. She reached out and grabbed Apeliotus between the legs. Her stomach revolted, but she forced herself to keep her grip tight and yanked hard.

He howled, trying to pull away, but Skye held on. He brought a hard chop down on her arm. As the sharp pain burst through her, she released him and stumbled back.

He stood in front of her, a little unsteady on his feet. “You’ll pay for that.”

Skye cradled her arm close to her chest. “It’ll be worth it.”

Apeliotus took a step forward and she braced herself for what was to come. She’d keep fighting until she couldn’t fight anymore.

A screaming howl filled the narrow street. The air rushed around Skye, turning warm and humid.

Apeliotus stumbled back and glanced behind her. Whatever he saw turned his face white.

She looked over her shoulder. Soren was running. His powerful arms held out, pushing his wind at his enemy. He looked like a warrior, an avenging angel.

Soren glanced at Skye, his face tightening. “You touched her. You hurt her.”

“Join me, Warrior.” Apeliotus spread his arms. “Forget her. Welcome the greed and we can have more.”

Skye heard the pleading in his tone, the faint touch of desperation.

“I will take everything from you, Tempest Wind.” Soren’s tone was icy cold.

For the first time, Skye felt a flicker of true fear. She stared at his face and found it twisted and hard.

Soren lunged forward and grabbed Apeliotus by the collar of his shirt. He lifted the Tempest Wind off his feet. “I will relish taking everything from you, including your life.”

No. Skye scrambled up, clutching her ripped shirt together. This was wrong. Somehow, deep inside, she knew if Soren destroyed Apeliotus with greed, that he would lose. He would lose his soul to his vice.

She tried to move forward, but the howling East Wind buffeted her back. Where were the others?

“Soren, no!” Her belly spasmed.

But her scream was snatched away by the growing wind. She couldn’t reach him.

No. Please. She had to do something.

But she was useless. She had no power. No special abilities. She only had herself.

Something broke open inside her. She had to save the man she loved and she wouldn’t give up.

Skye started to sing.

* * *

All Soren saw in his mind was Skye—red cheek, blood on her hands and knees, her shirt torn open.

He wanted revenge for that.

He wanted Apeliotus to suffer. The Tempest Wind had made her relive the worst moments of her past and Soren couldn’t forgive that.

For a man on the verge of destruction, Apeliotus looked smug. A small smirk quirked his lips and his eyes were alight.

Soren didn’t care. The man wouldn’t be laughing when Soren had taken every last thing he valued, including his freedom.

“Soren. Soren!”

His name penetrated, but he wouldn’t be distracted from his task. He moved, slamming Apeliotus down hard into the ground. The Tempest Wind groaned.

Soren stared down. Apeliotus represented all the suffering Soren had felt, all the torment the greed had caused him. The Tempest Wind also represented the man who’d hurt a young Skye.

Oh, yes. This would feel very, very good. Soren raised his hands above the Apeliotus.

“Si, Warrior.” Blood stained the man’s teeth. “Do it. Give in to your greed.”

Soren reared back, his wind swirling around him ready to land the killing blow. Then a sound made him pause.

A distant melody drifted to him on a gentle breeze. A breeze filled with a quiet power that he recognized, but had never felt before.

He shook his head. Skye?

Skye was singing. Her lovely voice twined around him, her breeze melding with his. He looked up and saw her crouched on the other side of Apeliotus. Her blue eyes were fixed on Soren and her palms were held upward.

Sending her breeze to bring him her song.

Her voice rose and fell, and he listened to her words. A beautiful song, about love and giving. About a woman who would do anything for the man she loved. And a man, who would give her the world.

Give, not take.

Memories crashed in on Soren. He released Apeliotus and clamped his hands on his head. Pain was a searing burn across his eyes.

Skye smiling. Skye laughing. Skye lying back on his big bed.

His brothers. Dio. Everything rushed in, filling the empty, hungry void his vice had made inside him. But along with his love for his brothers came something else.

A fascination with one small woman. An honest need he knew was already growing into something more.

She’d stopped singing, but her notes lingered in the air. He looked at her now and she shot him a tremulous smile. He smiled back.

“No.” Apeliotus’ face twisted. “No!”

Soren heard the sound of running footsteps and voices behind him. He glanced over his shoulder and saw Luca, Lorenzo, Dante, and Antonio running toward him. Right behind them were the women.

“Soren, are you okay?” Luca said.

“Si, mio fratello. I am. Better than I’ve ever been.” Soren straightened.

The fierce frown on Luca’s face eased. “Soren?”

Soren nodded. “My memories have returned.”

Two harsh exclamations. A deep one from Apeliotus and a quieter one from Skye.

Rayne circled around and pulled Skye into a hard embrace.

Soren leaned down and hauled up the Southeast wind. “Game over, Apeliotus.”

“Never,” the man spat. “The Tempest Winds will never stop. We will fight to free our vices and rule the world.”

“And my brothers and I will always fight to keep you imprisoned. The Warriors of the Wind will never stop fighting to protect the world.” His gaze drifted to Skye. “And the people in it.” Soren summoned the East Wind. “Your time here is done.”

With his full power and his memories of his duty as a Warrior, Soren pulled his wind around him. The East Wind rushed around them, warm and humid, ready to do his bidding.

It grew until it was a hard roar. Then Soren threw his arm out and the wind swallowed Apeliotus.

The Tempest Wind didn’t scream, but he fought. He struggled and twisted, even as his body disintegrated, like dust in the air.

Then he was gone.

Soren breathed deeply for the first time in months. He was free. To do exactly what he chose.

His gaze zeroed in on Skye.

She stood, her head down. She looked…lost. His heart gave a hard lurch and he barely resisted snatching her up. “Skye? Are you okay?”

She lifted her head and shot him a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “I’m fine.”

“You used your power.”

She blinked and stared at her hands. “I did? Oh, I did.” Her smile was blinding. She looked at her sister. “Rayne. I used my breeze!”

Rayne’s lips trembled. “I know, baby. I’m so happy for you.”

“I feel…free. Whole.” Skye pressed a hand to her mouth, her eyes gleaming. “I can’t believe it. I’m not broken.”

“You never were,” Soren said fiercely.

Her smile dimmed. “You’re free now, too, Soren. You have your memory back and you defeated Apeliotus. You have your life back.”

Why the hell did he sense a goodbye in there somewhere? Now that her sacrifice was no longer needed, was she…done with him? Had all this just been a mission for her? A way to find herself by saving someone else?

If it was, he wasn’t sure he could bear it. Because he had a frightening feeling he was falling in love with Skye Santini.

Luca moved up shoulder-to-shoulder with Soren. “We need to carry out the Ritual of the Four Winds.”

Soren knew that. They’d all defeated their enemies, but left unchecked, they would slowly grow in power again. The ritual would send them back to their prison and lock them back in the bodies of horses on Isola del Vento. There, they’d be guarded by Lorenzo, the Keeper of the Winds.

Soren looked again at Skye. She still wouldn’t meet his gaze. Her hands were clenched together in front of her. He hated that she looked so defeated when moments before her strength had helped him defeat Apeliotus.

He strode forward. “No. Not now.”

Skye’s head snapped up and she stared at him. “Soren—”

“Luca, the ritual can wait. The Tempest Winds aren’t going anywhere just this minute.” Soren had a need far more urgent than the evil that had plagued them all the last few weeks. “Meet me tonight at the villa. We’ll carry out the ritual then.”

Luca stepped forward, his brows drawn. “Soren—”

Turning back to Skye, Soren scooped her into his arms.

“Soren.” Just a whisper, filled with uncertainty. “You don’t need me anymore—”

“Apparently you have no idea what I need.” All he knew was that right now, Skye needed him. Needed him to prove just how much he needed her. “Will you ride the wind with me?”

She nibbled on her lip, but nodded.

The East Wind swirled around them, and as their bodies began to turn into the wind, Soren relished the fact that he and Skye were one and meant to be together.

But could he convince her to stay?