Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble, a Paranormal Romance

by H. P. Mallory

  Don’t fall down, Rand. Whatever you do, don’t fall down. I probably shouldn’t have sent him the thoughts—especially when he needed to focus on the fight, but I couldn’t help it.

  He didn’t look at me, but as soon as I thought the words, he ambled forward, blood coursing down his chest. Bella roared. The crowd broke into applause, their cheers vibrating the room, and I thought I might lose my lunch.

  I couldn’t help sinking into Sinjin.

  “Why are they cheering,” I whispered. “It’s not over, is it? Why are they acting…”

  “Shh, my pet, it is not over.”

  No sooner did the words leave his mouth than the bear stood on his hind legs and threw his immense head back, growling the fiercest and loudest growl I’d ever heard. Bella lurched for him at the same time that Rand threw himself atop her.

  With a crushing thud, he pinned Bella beneath him and wrapped his jaws around her throat.

  “He’ll kill her,” I whispered. But, if he did kill her, would it would really be a loss? I couldn’t say I liked Bella…

  “No, he won’t,” Sinjin said with a chuckle.

  Bella whimpered and at the sign of her distress, Rand pulled away. The crowd was silent, watchful.

  Even though no one clapped, booed, or did anything, it was clear Rand was the victor. He turned, his brown eyes piercing mine. With long, fluid strides, he started toward me, his grizzly face intent on mine. I swallowed my fear and sidled closer to Sinjin who just chuckled and patted my ass. I was too overcome with the situation to get pissed off.

  With each lumbering step, Rand’s limbs shortened, and the fur began to fade into tanned skin. By the time he reached me, the bear was gone and Rand was back to himself.

  Naked.

  Completely naked.

  My mouth dropped open, and I couldn’t keep my gaze from traveling down his chest to his hips and lower still… I’m not sure what I expected after watching two “people” turn into animals, but I didn’t imagine they’d be naked. I guess it made sense, though. Changing from a two-hundred pound man to a nine-hundred pound grizzly had to be hard on your clothes.

  Needless-to-say, I found it difficult to take my eyes from Rand’s muscled body, glorious in its nudity. Much to my chagrin, it seemed Sinjin caught my interest, and he gave me a little smirk.

  I didn’t get much of a chance to regain my composure as Rand collapsed at gh. Chan. Then I remembered the huge gaping wound on his chest.

  “Oh my God,” I whispered.

  “I suggest you help him,” Sinjin said in a soft voice and pushed me forward as if I needed encouragement.

  Someone offered Rand a robe, and I exhaled my relief. Not that I didn’t want to see him naked, but now was neither the ideal place nor time.

  I stumbled onto the floor.

  “Rand,” I whispered and rested my hand on his head, willing him to look at me, to let me know he was going to be all right.

  Finally, he tilted his head back and whispered a concise, “the door” and that was when I realized we were in a bad situation. He’d won and he was in a house full of people who were rooting for Bella—that and he was hurt. I wasn’t sure how bad, but it was bad enough that he was having difficulty breathing.

  I slipped my arm around his back and helped him to his feet. Even though he didn’t put all his weight on me, it was still enough to make me stumble, and I cursed my damn hooker shoes. A sea of angry faces swayed before us, but I forced my attention to the door in the distance. Trying to walk in stiletto heels with the extreme weight of Rand was like wading through thigh-deep snow while carrying a large television.

  The planets seemed to be aligned against me, Bella’s guests refusing to budge. Rand leaned into me, and I tripped with his weight. I paused to take off my ridiculous shoes and faced the fact that there was no way I could support him and forge my way through the reluctant crowd. Soft murmurs grew to angry mumbling, and I felt someone rip the wings right off my back. I subdued a yelp as tears of frustration sprouted in my eyes.

  Sinjin stepped in front of me, and my heart sped up. Please tell me I wouldn’t have to contend with him too? He grinned before turning on his heel and forcing the crowd aside with an encouraging push. The crowd separated for him, and I slowly made my way through the passage. He reminded me of Moses parting the red sea, if Moses was a vampire. And if Moses was hot.

  When we reached the door, I faced the next obstacle—those damned Jackal guards. I gave them my best pissed off, you-don’t-want-to-mess-with-me look, and I was surprised when they stepped aside and the doors opened of their own volition. Hmm, maybe I’d looked mean enough…

  I spotted my Jetta parked across the street, and the vision of my little car had never been sweeter. Now, the problem of getting Rand across the street—he was becoming more and more exhausted, and a dead weight isn’t an easy one to transport.

  By the grace of God, we managed to stumble across the street. I leaned Rand against the car, smearing the window with blood as I opened his door. He fell into the seat, and I was careful to lift his legs and put them in car. Once he was situated, I hurried to the driver’s side and threw myself into the seat, banging my funny bone into the middle consul. It wasn’t very funny.

  “Goddamit to hell!” I fumed, and threw the door shut. Luckily, the keys were waiting patiently for us in the ignition. Starting the car, I pealed out, only too happy to leathe nightmare party behind.

  “Where should I take you?” I asked, forcing my eyes on the road, my elbow still throbbing like a son of a bitch.

  “You need to go to the hospital.”

  “No, no hospital,” Rand mumbled, his eyes closed.

  I tried to think of an alternative to a hospital. The dentist? A veterinary hospital? Yeah, no. The only other option was my house. It would have to do.

  As I drove, I repeatedly glanced at Rand, noting his wan expression and the dullness of his aura. Instead of the bright electric blue, it was more of a sky blue.

  “What’s happening to you, Rand?” I asked

  He swallowed hard, his eyes still closed.

  “Bella…poisoned me.”

  I thought I might choke on the bile that immediately came up my throat.

  “She what?”

  His breathing was belabored. “When she…turned into the lion…her claws…were poisoned.”

  The telltale signs of panic rose within my gut—a tightness accompanied with unbelievable nausea. I had no idea what to do in a poison situation—call poison control? Somehow, I figured “poisoned by a witch lioness” wasn’t in their repertoire.

  “What do I do?” I asked in hushed tone, keeping my head tilted back, lest I vomit all over him.

  “Just get me to your house…how much…farther?”

  “Maybe twenty minutes. Can you make it that far?” I wondered if I could make it that far.

  I didn’t hear a response and glanced over at him. He regarded me with a question in his eyes.

  “Why…are you holding your…head up like that?”

  “I feel like I’m gonna puke.”

  He dropped his gaze. “Just drive quickly.”

  I couldn’t keep thoughts of Rand dying from my mind, much though I grew furious with myself for thinking them. Now that I was inducted into this lifestyle, I couldn’t afford to lose Rand. I’m sure that sounds selfish, but sometimes you can’t help the thoughts that penetrate your head. I looked at him once more, huddled on the passenger seat. It was humbling and depressing to see such a beautiful, strong man reduced to such a trembling mess.

  “Can’t you do a spell or something to get us there?”

  He shook his head. “I can’t teletransport.”

  Dammit. Well, that just sucked. What I wouldn’t have done for a little teletransportation. Where was Captain Kirk when you needed him? Apparently, Captain Kirk wouldn’t be assisting me anytime soon, so I drove like I’ve never driven before. Usually I’m a law-abiding, decent citizen, but I drove as if the devils of hell were on my he
els and for all I knew, maybe they were.

  When we reached my street, it occurred to me that Rand hadn’t said a word in over five minutes. I glanced at him and noted his vacant gaze.

  Oh…God.

  “Rand, wake up.” Terror laced my voice.

  “I’m still…here.”

  Like aloe vera gel on a sunburn, relief coursed through me. I pulled into my garage and didn’t waste time in rushing to his side and ripping the door open. Gritting my teeth, I grabbed his arms and hoisted him forward, bracing myself when he fell against my chest. I didn’t need to look down to know I was covered in his blood; I could feel the wet warmth soaking through my dress. I tried to maneuver backward and felt like I was going to fall over. It was like moving a refrigerator.

  “I need you to help me get you into the house, Rand.”

  He nodded, and if he attempted to help me, I didn’t know it. I had to all but carry him up the steps. I wasn’t sure if it was adrenalin or magic that assisted me, but I was thankful all the same. I leaned him against my front door while I fumbled with my house key. Unlocking the door with a curse, I braced myself for my load. He fell into my arms, and I dragged him into the living room. Pushing him against the sofa, he tumbled back into the cushions. His robe fell apart and the angry red gash glared at me. I gave myself kudos for not looking any lower.

  “What do I do?”

  He said nothing for a minute and seemed to be gathering all his strength. I wondered if the end were close, and the thought made me force my head toward the ceiling while I swallowed the hint of vomit in my throat. I could not allow myself to throw up.

  “You can heal…Jolie, you have to focus your powers on me…and heal me.”

  Once the nausea retired, I leaned close to him, putting my hands just above his wound and concentrated, remembering how Rand had gotten rid of my stomach ache in such a way. I closed my eyes and imagined all of my energy going to the wound to pull the poison from it. I had no idea if this was proper magic protocol, but it was the only thing I could think of, and Rand didn’t seem to be arguing, so I went with it.

  I nearly screamed when he grabbed my hand. I looked down and had a jolting vision of two people, Rand and I, in a heated embrace. His lips were hot on mine and I could distinctly feel something inside me. It took me a moment to realize it was Rand. I gasped in response, pulling away from him. In a few seconds, it was gone.

  “What is it? What did you see?” Rand asked, his voice nervous.

  “N…nothing important.”

  He swallowed, his jaw clenching. “Was it me? Am I going…to die?”

  I shook my head, realizing I’d have to get over my embarrassment.

  “N.” Well, here goes. “It was you and me and w…we were…having sex.”

  He didn’t seem surprised at all and just nodded as though it were to be expected.

  “Well, then, I suppose I’m not going to die.”

  I smiled uneasily and with my hands shaking, grabbed a throw pillow from my wingchair, lifting his head slightly while I put the pillow underneath his neck. Then I faced the ugly gash in his chest again. I lifted my hands and settled them just above the wound. Closing my eyes, I could only hope what I presumed were my fruitless efforts were actually doing something. I opened my eyes to judge if my treatment was working—it didn’t seem to be, he still looked as pale as…me.

  My gaze moved up his chest, and had the situation been different, I could’ve appreciated the valleys and mountains of his muscular landscape. Instead, I settled my gaze on his eyes. Fear in a powerful warlock’s eyes is not something you want to witness when you’re trying to revive him. If I hadn’t thought the situation perilous before, it dawned on me now.

  What of my recent vision, though? It had appeared that Rand was as healthy as healthy could be. I had to wonder if maybe it wasn’t a vision at all but some sort of weird figment of my imagination come to visit me at the worst possible time. God, this newly awakened sex-drive thing was killing me.

  “Is it working?” I asked, scared for his response.

  “I don’t know.”

  What kind of witch was I? I’d always doubted my abilities but never as much as I did now. I had no clue as to why these beings were fighting over me when it wasn’t even warranted.

  God, I was useless.

  Tears plundered down my face and splashed against Rand’s chest, but he didn’t even seem to notice. He was pale, paler than I’ve ever seen another person, and I knew this had to mean his life was slipping away.

  There was nothing I could do.

  His face was stoic, as if he were prepared for death.

  “I’m s…so sorry Rand,” I sniveled. I hated failing him, and this was the ultimate failure. “I’m so sorry I disappointed you.”

  He shook his head, and it seemed as though it was the only thing of which he was capable—maybe he was so close to death he wasn’t even able to speak. My tears increased tenfold as I continued to focus on his wound and attempted to heal it with my ineffectual hands. My tears mixed with his blood and coursed down his side, staining my coverlet beneath him.

  I couldn’t help the sob that tore at my throat as a deluge of tears bled from my eyes.

  Keep crying, Jolie.

  I wasn’t prepared for Rand’s voice in my head and it made my tears subside for a moment as I responded to him.

  I’m so sorry.

  Your tears, they’re healing me.

  I wiped my eyes on my arm and looked down at his wound. The color had somewhat returned to his skin and the blood had coagulated. I couldn’t help the smile that stole my lips. Holy crap! It was working!

  Don’t stop crying!

  His voice brought me back to reality, and I had to concentrate on making the tears resume. I couldn’t let them up now. I focused and felt as sorry for myself as I could. I thought of the injustice of the whole situation, that I’d had no choice in the matter of my future, that I was terrified of all these creatures who were now my reality, that I still thought I was going to puke, and that I’d nearly lost someone I considered a…friend.

  The tears came and I angled myself so they’d land on Rand’s wound. The torn skin began to mend itself, as if some invisible doctor were sewing it together. The angry red receded into the growing tan of his skin. A soft pink graced his lips, and his eyes got that magic charm back. And the topper—the sky blue of his aura deepened into the electric blue I’d come to know so well.

  I couldn’t help the inordinate sense of pride that washed over me as I realized I’d finally accomplished something worth accomplishing.

  When it appeared the wound had healed, I pulled away from him and allowed my tears to subside. I wiped my hand against my eyes and slumped with exhaustion. I’d been through a crap-load tonight. I felt Rand’s hand on my shoulder and tried to contain the tears that threatened to break through again.

  “You did it,” he said in a small voice. “Thank you. I knew you could.”

  “I thought I’d lost you.”

  He shook his head with a chuckle. “I wasn’t going out quite so easily.”

  I stood up and walked to my bathroom, returning with my pink terrycloth robe and handed it to Rand.

  He eyed it with raised brow.

  “Your pink dressing gown?”

  I laughed. “It’s all I’ve got, and your robe is stained.”

  He shrugged and looking down at himself, blinked and he was dressed in black pants and a white shirt. I’d forgotten about the handy little thing we both possessed called magic. I dropped the pink robe on the corner of the couch, thinking it would’ve been funny to see him in it.

  “What now?” I asked.

  He looked around the room, his gaze falling to the clock atop the mantel, and he sighed.

  “We need to book tickets to England, put your house up for sale…”

  “Can’t it wait until morning?” He’d just escaped Death’s clutches and should be in bed with some chicken noodle soup.

  “Perhaps it c
an wait until tomorrow. I’m not quite feeling myself at the moment.”Yeah, I thought, big Duh to that one!

  “Why don’t you stay here tonight? You can have my bed, and I’ll take the couch.”

  He shook his head. “I’m happy to sleep on the couch.”

  “I insist,” I said and slipped my arm around his waist, helping him to his feet.

  I led him to my bedroom, seeing it for the first time—the pink bedding, the lavender and white striped walls and the five foot, white furry monkey in the corner of the room. God, could my room scream out six-year-old girl any more?

  “Lovely primate,” Rand said with a laugh.

  “Thanks,” I muttered and noticed my cat curled atop the duvet. Shooing her away, I pulled the covers aside, helping Rand into the bed. He leaned against the headboard and looked like a giant, his feet hanging off the end of the mattress. The thought of a man, let alone Rand, in my bed was so foreign, it took me a while to even register it was real.

  He looked up at me expectantly. “Do I get a bedtime story?”

  I laughed and ignored him. “So, I really am moving to England with you?”

  “I’m afraid you don’t have a choice.”

  “I’m hearing that a lot lately.” I took a seat next to him as I thought about the immense chore that moving would mean.

  “What if my house doesn’t sell?”

  “I’m going to…encourage the first people who see it—they’ll buy it with all the furniture and your car too.”

  Witchcraft had its plusses.

  “Can my cat come with me?”

  “She’s most certainly invited.”

  I nodded, pleased that Rand didn’t seem to mind animals.

  “And Christa?”

  I guess Christa wasn’t as invited as the cat because he took a while to consider it.

  “Does she want to come with you?”

  I shrugged. “I haven’t asked her yet, but I hope she would.”

  “Very well, then she’s invited also. I want to make this as easy on you as I can, Jolie.”