Fire Brand

by Kristen Strassel

  “He didn’t kiss me.” In front of anyone, which was probably worse.

  “He didn’t have to. It’s the way he looked at you. Everyone in the room needed a cigarette. The obvious place to attack you is when you’re spreading peace and love.”

  I didn’t want my practice tainted by those assholes. It was the only place everyone was safe from the sound of explosions and the omnipresent threat of the city that lorded over our home crumbling. I offered escape. Teal and Penelope may not have seen it that way, content in their two-women killing spree, but I gave the people who used to call me Queen something they hadn’t had in a long time. Hope.

  “Then they probably won’t attack my yoga class.” Logic said to hit where we least expected it, like at The Alibi. That one was probably more obvious than yoga. Ugh. “Who says they’ll even attack? They’re all about being passive aggressive, and waiting patiently for people to fuck things up on their own.”

  “Joey, that was the guy’s name who I lured in last night, ran his mouth before he belly flopped into The Bay. Dude had a death wish, or he wasn’t that smart. Either way, his stupid ass is dead. We made a fool out of The League, and they don’t like that. They think it’s their job to get revenge. They have a plan for the city and it doesn’t involve Asher. Our invasion is being considered an attack to Chronopolis security and Chronopolis must be kept secure at all costs.”

  The lights of the castle were visible through the holes in the city walls. Her bombshell that The League was planning an Asher-free future was no surprise. “Of course they are.” I sighed. “And Asher won’t have to deal with me anymore if I’m dead. It’s kinder than turning me to stone or watching me fuck everything up as a human.”

  “See? He does care about you.” Teal kissed my forehead, wobbling as I swatted at her. She’d brought her leg up behind her in a pre-yoga stretch. “It’s been a long time since we’ve had to think about attack. We’re smarter this time because we have to be. We won’t let anyone attack you.”

  “Fine.” I hoped they couldn’t tell they were scaring the hell out of me. If I died before the Blood Moon, I was pretty sure that counted as failure. The last thing I wanted was a bunch of furious former supernaturals pissing on my grave. “But you two have to promise to behave. No trying to pick guys up in class—“

  “But they’re so flexible!” Penelope protested. “Imagine the fun you could have with someone with moves like that. It would be like circus-act sex.”

  I’d thought about it many times. I’d assembled a loyal following of beautiful men with bodies that worked like machines. But I’d never act on those fantasies, for many reasons. “You make them uncomfortable. You can’t sing during shavasana, either.”

  Teal was already in downward dog, and her shorts slid up her ass cheeks. Distraction with these two was guaranteed. “It aids in relaxation.”

  “It makes them crazy.”

  She kicked her feet up into a full handstand, narrowly missing kicking Penelope and me in the face. “The class is over by eight-thirty. All those men and the whole night ahead of us? Just because you’re hung up on the King doesn’t mean that our dance cards are full.”

  “Just…behave.” I was asking for the impossible. “Don’t draw any more attention to yourselves than usual. Enjoy the practice. Spend some time in your own mind.”

  Scary proposition.

  “We’ll be good.” Penelope moved Teal’s feet out of the way so she could grab her yoga mat. I’d bought the girls mats when I became a certified instructor, and I was impressed they could find them. “The main reason we’re going is to check for any unusual activity. Let us know if there are any new faces. We may recognize them from the rebellion at the bar the other night or from the castle.”

  “Good plan.” And it was enough to settle me, to help me get in the right mindset for class. I loved my friends, but spending time with them was like juggling with fireballs.

  Why did thinking of fireballs make me miss Asher? I needed to work on this clear mind thing some more.

  Dusk came earlier this time of year, and a pastel mist blanketed the beach. A sea of familiar faces waited for me. They sat cross-legged on their mats or lay flat, arms open, eyes closed. Everyone assembled in front of the flat rock I used as my perch to teach the class from. I examined the group, looking for anything unusual.

  Once I caught Penelope’s eye, I shook my head. Teal’s gaze was fixed on the mostly naked body of the man in front of her, and she grinned like she’d just woken up on Christmas morning. I rolled my eyes when she looked up at me, motioning something that was definitely approval.

  “Welcome to class tonight. I’m so glad everyone took time out of their day to join me.” I had to get this under control before she turned my class into an orgy. “Everyone find a comfortable seated position, and breathe in deeply through your nose, and out through your mouth. Pay attention to the way your body feels as you fill your lungs, and then your stomach, with air. Exhale it all out, letting go of the negativity of the day.”

  It was amazing how much that worked. I had a lot to get rid of. The threat of retaliation from The League, the need to figure out how to hook Asher before he signed his life away to some random woman, and the doubt the sirens instilled in me about my ability to be Queen. Had I overlooked ways to secure The Bay? The very thought of it turned my stomach. I didn’t care about my crown or the power that came with it, but I didn’t want my people to suffer.

  Just like Asher. The more I thought about him, the more I hated him for being right. For being so damned good. All the hatred in the world wouldn’t erase the tattoo or the decree to find my mate. It made me hate him even more. And crave some good, old fashioned hate sex. Followed by even hotter make-up sex.

  I couldn’t think about sex when I had everyone in the class twisted like a pretzel.

  “Bring your legs forward and reach for your toes. It’s okay if you can’t touch them, go as far as it feels comfortable. Breathe into the stretch, letting the air fill your hamstrings.”

  “How the hell do you breathe into your hamstrings?” Teal muttered, and I accidently kicked her when I walked by.

  I settled at the front of the class. Since we didn’t have any newbies tonight, everyone’s form was nearly perfect. I only had to make slight adjustments that brought people deeper into the stretch. And I needed this more than anyone. I reached for my toes, having no problem breathing into my hamstrings.

  “Let’s start sun salutations.” This was actually my least favorite part of the class, it was so repetitive I got bored with it before we were done. But it was all about the flow. “Swan dive down, touch your toes. Come halfway up…touch your toes again. Swan dive up, reaching for the sky.”

  If I concentrated fully, I could imagine myself with wings, weightless, taking flight. The sun came down to meet us during the practice, skinny dipping in the ocean before saying goodnight. It made me envy Asher for being able to kiss the sun wherever it was in the sky. I had to stop thinking about him. This was the place I came to get away from all that.

  I strangled my own scream when I opened my eyes. I’d only meant to check everyone’s form as they dropped into chattaronga, and I didn’t expect to see a newcomer.

  His Majesty.

  I had to be imaging things.

  “Sorry I’m late,” he mouthed as he unrolled his mat. Asher had never come to my class before. He’d asked a lot of questions about it, but never said he practiced. I’d invited him many times, because I thought the focus would be good for him.

  Thankfully, my regulars were familiar with the flow, and I didn’t have to tell them to shift into downward dog. I couldn’t. My gaze was glued to Asher. He’d left his golden hair free, and he hadn’t shaved in the last few days. That little bit of scruff made my mouth water. Got the juices flowing in other places, too. His light blue T-shirt clung to his biceps and chest, and I didn’t think any man could make sweatpants sexy.

  Wrong as usual.

  He looked around an
d joined the flow the next time everyone reached for the sky. He arched his back, and I swore I could see the feathers sprouting from his arms as the low sun caught the little hairs, making him look like he’d burst into flames. He was so beautiful, and never more out of reach as he reached down, kicked his legs out behind him, and curled his back into cobra pose.

  Teal and Penelope had settled into the practice, which was a miracle on its own accord, and they had yet to notice Asher. That was going to come to an abrupt halt when I had them twist into side angle pose on the next salutation.

  Penelope groaned when I moved her hips back. I knew she could stretch more than she was. Her eyes snapped open and she grabbed me. In the awkward position, she wobbled, and almost brought us both tumbling down into the sand. “Asher’s here!”

  I shushed her, smoothing her dark hair away from her face like it was all part of the plan. “Yes, he is.”

  She was speechless, or this angle rendered it too hard to talk. I’d have to remember that for future reference.

  Dark crept in during the practice, the tiki torches that we lit at the corners of our area cast shadows on everyone. We were coming to the end too quickly. Most nights, it was my favorite part of class, a chance to totally let go and connect with my fellow yogis, but tonight I dreaded it.

  I was known for my shavasana head rubs. People told me they came to class just for that. I couldn’t skip it. Talk about a revolution at yoga class. I’d be out of business.

  My heart pounded as I moved from body to body, adding a drop of eucalyptus essential oil to my fingertips before giving them a scalp massage. It only lasted a minute. That was all I needed to bring them to another place. Their bodies jerked and they smiled in bliss.

  I couldn’t skip Asher. As much as I wanted to.

  But I could leave him for last. I settled behind him and smoothed his hair away from his face. It was amazing how peaceful he already looked with his eyes closed, his flame-tipped lashes fanned against his pale skin. We’d never slept together. I destroyed him before he had a chance to rest. No wonder he didn’t want me.

  No negative thoughts this close to him. I had to remind myself of the most important part of practice, breathing, before I touched him. He exhaled when I made contact, and let himself go to another place as I made small circles with my fingers against his temples.

  Asher did the worst thing possible. He opened his eyes. I was the one who went somewhere else, lost in the golden glow as brilliant as the sunset. His lips moved with each rotation my fingers made. They weren’t words, they didn’t have to be. I couldn’t stay away. My hair fell in his face, and it was just him and me.

  “Is naptime over yet?” Teal’s voice ruined everything. “Homeboy over here is snoring loud enough to wake the dead.”

  “That’s the last thing we need.” Penelope laughed, and everyone shuffled to sitting position. I stole a couple quick looks back at Asher, who was slow to rise, as I returned to my mat.

  “As you go out into the world, spread the peace that you found tonight in your practice,” I said quickly, clapping my hands into prayer position and bowing. “The light in me honors the light in you.”

  Now everyone, screw.

  “Namaste,” they chanted back, bowing.

  Everybody took their time getting up, which I usually encouraged. Going back out into the world after practice sucked. A few people came up and thanked me for the extra-long shavasana, and others just wanted to chat.

  Penelope, completely unfamiliar with peace and tranquility, barged past them. “I was into that. Thanks, Vee. That getting into my own headspace thing did wonders for me. I think I know how to take The Bay back now.” She was talking way too loud. “Have you figured out who your fated mate is yet?”

  She had to know that Asher was right behind her.

  “Not yet.” I smiled through gritted teeth.

  “Okay, we’re going to have our way with the opposition and then take them for a one-way skinny dip. Wanna join us?”

  “I was hoping you’d have some time to spend with me tonight?” Asher’s voice was husky, like he’d had a much more strenuous workout.

  Teal made kissing faces behind his back, then stuck her finger down her throat. Penelope glared at me.

  “I think that sounds perfect.” I turned to the girls, hoping they wouldn’t notice I’d already slipped my fingers in between Asher’s. They belonged there. “Ladies, I’ll see you in the morning?”

  “Sure,” Teal grumbled, grabbing Penelope’s arm. “While you’re on your date, we’ll be keeping The Bay safe. Chronopolis too. Someone has to.”

  “Don’t forget to tell him about your new ink.” Penelope slid her gaze back to Asher before she lifted the hand with the tat to her lips and kissed it.

  Finally, it was just me and Asher. “Aren’t they precious?” I gave him a cheesy grin.

  “I wish I had friends like that,” he said. Whether he meant it or not, he sounded sad. “Now tell me about this fated mate.”

  Chapter Twelve

  It sounded crazier every time I talked about it. “I had this insane dream…” I proceed to tell him the details as we walked down the beach, yoga mats tucked under our free arms. He listened without judgement, without interruption, without poking fun at the most important parts like my best friends did. “I didn’t realize that Allendra was a real person. I thought she was just a legend.”

  “She’s real,” he said without any irony. Like he expected me to tell him this story. I searched my memory, wondering if he was there at my mystical meeting, but I couldn’t recall anyone’s faces. Just what they were. Not a phoenix in sight.

  “Have you ever met her?” I stopped walking. We were ankle deep in the tide, and it was the only thing that moved as I waited for his answer.

  “A couple times.” Asher looked out to the ocean. I wondered if that was where her Queendom was, somewhere on the other side of the waves. “I met her when I was coronated. She welcomed me into the Kingdom.”

  “How come she never did that for me?” I’d been Queen for decades. It pissed me off.

  “Sounds like she just did.” He shook his head and urged me to keep walking. “She wanted to know what my plans for Chronopolis were. How I planned to save the city from siege.”

  If I’d had to give the Queen a mission statement, maybe I wouldn’t have been overthrown. The sting wouldn’t go away anytime soon. “What did you tell her?”

  “That I planned to align with other kingdoms to form a peaceful alliance too strong to overthrow.”

  I thought about what his report card must look like. A whole lot of needs improvement. “Did that include choosing a Queen to further your interests?”

  “Avila.” He sighed.

  “I’m serious.” Even in the dark, the brand was easy to see. “You said that you planned to keep the city safe by relying on others. I got drunk and woke up with a biker tattoo. I think the two are connected. Who else would be my fated mate?”

  Asher laughed. “Lucky guy has no idea what he’s in for.”

  “He knows exactly what he’s in for.” I stepped in front of him, catching him by surprise. He bumped against me, his body branding mine with its heat. My hands were on his shoulders, thick with muscle and tension. Nothing else existed but us. Not the stars, not the ocean, not the sky. He grabbed a fistful of my hair, pulling my head over to the side like he was a man who’d been denied too long.

  I wriggled out of his grasp and trotted away from him. He caught up to me with little effort, after all, he could fly.

  “I want you to come to the party.” Asher seemed satisfied with my shock.

  “Why? So I can wish your new bride well?” I was a sore loser. “You can give her my statue as a gift.”

  “Because I want you there.”

  “I hate you right now.” And hated myself more for knowing I’d be there with bells on, thinking I could save the day. “What will you do for me in return?”

  “Anything you ask.”

 
; “Shift for me.” My voice was breathy. The suggestion scared me. I wasn’t sure what I was asking him to do.

  He shook his head. “I only do that in battle.”

  “I want you to fight for what you believe in. Stand up on your own and lead your people to the future you want them to have.” I didn’t have too much convincing to do. His eyes shone in the dark like two sparks of a flame. Whether he wanted to shift or not, it was coming. I backed away from him, taking a seat in the hard, wet sand near the shore.

  Asher’s shift started the same way as his demise. His hair moved in a gust of wind that came from nowhere. His eyes were on fire, and it flowed through his veins, illuminating his skin before it broke open, revealing feathers dripping with flames. Sweat beaded against my skin, the temperature on the beach had suddenly become unbearable. I wouldn’t have been surprised if the water bubbled. Once his transformation was complete—feathers, beak, and talons—he shot into his sky, opening his wings and hovering above me. The span blocked the light from the moon. It made me wish he always had wings. I wanted to touch them, to see if the down was soft or if it would cut my fingers like the edge of a razor. Sparks rained down on me like fireworks, but they didn’t burn.

  Asher spun around in circles, lighting up the sky and leaving a trail of flames in his mist. It was the most majestic thing I’d ever seen. I wished I could see him battle, but in a way, he already was. With himself. He knew everything was about to change for all of us. For better or for worse.

  His talons kicked up muddy sand when he landed. I shrieked, and I shouldn’t have cowered away from him, but I wasn’t used to him in his avian form.

  “Happy now?” His voice sounded strange. Actually it sounded the same, but it didn’t line up with the visual.

  “Yeah.” I relaxed when I realized Asher was still in there. If it wasn’t for his eyes, I wasn’t sure if I would’ve believed it. “Can I touch you?”

  “It’s all I ever want.” He came closer, his wings had yet to calm after his flight, and they fluttered softly as they came to rest against his body. I held my breath when I reached out to him. Another step, and a low sound rumbled in his throat when I made contact. Like if a bird could purr.