Healing Fire

by Angela Castle

  Tomorrow, I will be stronger. I will make him leave.

  Chapter Six

  The gleam of his crystal dagger on top of the kitchen bench caught Melor's eye. Beside it lay his sword and the small items from his pockets along with the protector's bracelet.

  His jaw clenched in anger knowing what this meant; she wanted him to leave. He picked up the bracelet and shoved it into his pocket. His crystal blade he slipped into his boot.

  He had not asked for his belongings, knowing Summer had not stolen them, but put them in a safe place away from the reaches of Blossom, forever the little Breven mother protecting her young.

  "Good morning, Melor." Blossom ran down the hall.

  He smiled, knelt down to greet her as she threw her arms around his neck giving his cheek a kiss.

  "Good morning, little Blossom. Did you sleep well?"

  "Oh yes. I dreamed we all went to Kell, and you helped Mom get better."

  "'Tis a fine dream. One I wish could come true for you and your mother." With all his soul he wanted to make Blossom's dream come true, somehow prove to Summer he was in earnest, prove to her Kell existed and he could heal her. He had little time to do so, if she truly wanted him gone. Then he would have no choice but to leave. Forcing her to journey to L.A and to the agency would only make her fear him.

  Melor removed his sword from the bench as Blossom curiously eyed it.

  "What's that?"

  "My warrior's sword, Blossom. Your mother was looking after it for me. But it is not for the hands of little girls."

  Blossom's lower lips stuck out in a pout. "May I see it, please?"

  Melor shook his head. Despite wanting to give in to her wide pleading eyes, he had promised Summer not to mention Kell to Blossom. "Perhaps another time; I will put it away for now."

  He quickly moved down the hall to his allocated bedchamber and placed it on top of the tall wardrobe before returning to the kitchen.

  Summer appeared. Her lovely dark hair hung about her shoulders in damp tresses. He longed to slide his fingers through it.

  "Good morning, Melor." Her tone was flat and formal.

  "Good morning, Summer. I hope you slept well." He remembered to conform his speech patterns to the human way of talking. He wanted to make her feel more at ease around him. She glanced up and he could see her bloodshot eyes, suggesting she had slept very little.

  "Fine, thank you."

  He knew what she was doing; her walls were up and she was shutting him out. Melor sat down and clenched his fist under the bench. All he wanted to do in that moment was sweep around the counter and pull her into his arms, kissing away her stubbornness until neither of them could think.

  He watched her take more of the little white pills which helped her to manage her pain before she began to move about the kitchen and prepare breakfast.

  "I will mend the porch steps today and the bushes along the back fence line. Do you wish me to cut them back?"

  "Um, yes, thank you. Blossom, could you take the basket and go pick some blueberries by the stream. I'm pretty sure they're ripe. I know Melor would like some on his pancakes this morning." Summer directed a loving smile at her daughter.

  "Sure, Mom. Blueberry pancakes are the best!" Blossom grinned at Melor. She wriggled off her stool, running to the front door where a few baskets sat along the windowsill. The door swung shut behind Blossom.

  Melor turned back to find Summer staring at him. The longing he saw in her face she quickly masked with one of stern resolve.

  "I need to take Blossom into town today; she has a dance lesson in the afternoon. I will pay you for your work, but I think it best if you go back to wherever it is you came from."

  "I have no desire for payment. You owe me nothing, and I have no wish to leave you. Have I not proven myself helpful?"

  "You have and you will be compensated, but you can't stay here anymore, you can't…"

  "Kiss you. Desire you?"

  She pursed her lips, but her pupils dilated. Her grip on the whisk tightened.

  "You are not to talk to me like that. There can be no us. Last night was…"

  "Wonderful, filled with the pleasure of my touch… "

  "Damn it. Stop putting words into my mouth." She slammed the whisk down on the counter, glaring at him.

  "Then stop speaking what you do not mean." He rose up from the stool. He was not about to let her shut him out now.

  She took a step back, even though the bench was between them. "Keep your distance. I don't know you, I don't know who you really are, and I'm not willing to take that chance."

  "Your husband is dead. Do you not think he would want you to move on with your life, give your daughter a chance to have a father?"

  "She has a father!" Summer's voice rose.

  "It has been three years since his passing, and you deny not only yourself but your daughter."

  Her cheeks flushed in rage. "This is none of your business. How dare you judge me for what I do or don't do with my life? I'm not the crazy one who thinks he's from another planet!"

  Melor moved around the counter. Summer backed up against the sink. He shook his head. Anyone who looked deep enough could see past her strong exterior.

  "I do not judge you, I have no need to. You do a good enough job of it yourself. It is quite clear you hide yourself and your daughter away from the world. I have told you the truth from the beginning. If you come with me to L.A, I will take you to Kell and heal you."

  "You just won't give up, will you?! Is this some kind of scam you're pulling, luring unsuspecting people to the city then robbing them blind?"

  "Damn the moons, woman! All I want to do is help you. I…"

  A scream from outside made them both jump. Melor bolted for the front door, skidding to a halt on the top step to scan for danger.

  Blossom was caught between a large lumbering black creature and the bushes.

  "Oh my God. It's a black bear. It will kill her!" Summer shrieked.

  She started waving her arms and hollering loudly.

  Melor wasted no time. He jumped over the porch steps, running down the slope. He leaped the expanse of the small stream, landing in front of Blossom and the creature.

  Pulling the crystal dagger from his boot, he faced the bear that stood on two feet, growling menacingly. Melor studied the creature's teeth, powerful jaw and deadly looking claws, no doubt dangerous to humans.

  He shouted to scare the bear away, but instead it charged at him. Melor was prepared; his training kicked in. He crouched low and braced himself for the attack.

  ~ * ~

  A sickening wave of terror made Summer's stomach roll. Her only thought was to reach her daughter as Melor ran down the slope, placing himself between the black beast and Blossom. Summer ignored the pain in her leg as she tried to run, only to stumble and fall heavily into the grass. Sweat broke out over her entire body as she struggled to her feet. She kept her eyes on Blossom who stood three feet behind Melor, frozen in fear.

  Summer fought back her scream as the angry bear roared and charged Melor, knocking the big man over. Then she watched in horror as the bear's large teeth sunk into his shoulder.

  The bear howled in what seemed to be pain before it slumped forward, the black mass twitching for just a moment before it ceased to move altogether.

  Summer blinked, trying to figure out what the heck had just happened. The bear moved again, and Summer jumped in fright as it rolled off Melor. It took a moment for her to realize the bear was dead.

  Melor climbed to his feet, and she saw the weapon clutched in his palm. She knew it was the beautiful dagger which she'd placed on the kitchen bench for him to find.

  She watched as he turned towards Blossom.

  "It's okay little one. It cannot harm you now. Come, the creature is dead." He held out his arms.

  Summer saw in her eyes the utter trust Blossom had in him as she stumbled forward. Melor, careful not to transfer blood on Blossom's clothing, picked her up and carried her back over
the stream towards Summer.

  Summer let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. He had put himself in danger to save Blossom.

  "Mom." Blossom reached for her, falling from Melor's arms into hers. She clutched Blossom tightly. Summer glanced up at him as he stood silent, expressionless.

  "Come, let us get you inside." His tone was tender as he took Blossom; he placed his hand under Summer's elbow, guiding her back up the slope.

  No one spoke until they were inside. Melor set Blossom down on the sofa.

  "Are you okay, baby?"

  "I'm fine, Mom. I was scared, but Melor saved me."

  "I know, baby, I know."

  She turned her attention back to him. Large red welts where the bear had bit and scratched him showed from where the shirt was torn on his chest and shoulders.

  "Please sit down, you're hurt. I'll get the first aid kit." She hurried into the kitchen, snatching the first aid kit from under the kitchen sink. She realized how badly her hands were shaking as she carried it back. Melor took it from her hand.

  "Mayhap you should sit. I am accustomed to battle. This is but a scratch,"

  "You're bleeding, so much blood, so much blood…I..." The vision of Tyler's bloody body flashed into her mind. Bile rose up in her throat.

  "You could have been killed!" she suddenly screamed at him. Oh God, she couldn't handle this. She ran from the room, only just making it to the toilet before crumpling to her knees and heaving her guts out.

  ~ * ~

  "Blossom, do not take your mother's words to heart. She loves you and was very frightened by what happened. Will you be alright here while I tend to her?"

  Blossom put on a brave smile. "Mom needs looking after more than I do. I'll be okay."

  He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "You are very brave, just like a warrior of Kell."

  She beamed him a proud smile. He stood up, walking swiftly down the hall and into the bathroom.

  Summer lay on the floor; her head pressed against the wall, her eyes closed. Her whole body trembled. Melor stripped off his bloodied shirt. The claw and teeth wounds were minor. He fetched a cloth; wet it from the sink before kneeling down to gently wipe down her face.

  Her eyelids fluttered open. He scooped her up into his arms and rose to his feet in one swift move, carrying her into the bedroom.

  "I should be thanking you, not yelling at you."

  "It matters not. The burden of your grief is great. I have known great sorrow in my life. I once had a family, father, sister and mother. My father was killed in the Great War when I was scarcely old enough to lift a blade. And half a year ago, my sister and mother were viciously murdered by our enemy, the Drac."

  He drew in a steady breath and set her down on the bed before sitting down beside her, brushing strands of hair away from her ashen face.

  "I know you do not believe my tales, but hear me out. Not only did the Drac kill my family, they hunted down and slaughtered every woman and child they could find."

  "Where were you when this happened? What happened to the great warriors of Kell ready to defend their kingdom?"

  "We had marched across to their lands to put an end to the war once and for all, leaving the city undefended. It was a cruel lesson to learn. We were left without hope, destined to die out, for we no longer had women to bear our children."

  "I'm not saying I believe you, but is that why you came to earth? To find women to, um, marry." Her stormy blue grey eyes held simple curiosity.

  "Aye, our hope of survival came with a single human woman. She had fallen through a natural doorway which connects our worlds. She brought with her hope of survival, a way to move on and forward. I was there the day we found her. My commander became quite taken with her human beauty." He gave a small smile.

  "I don't understand. Did you come to earth to find a wife?"

  "Aye. Every lady I have met rejected me for another. I was on my way back to Kell when the trembling of the earth caught us by surprise. I fell into the portal, and it brought me here, to you." He took her hand, raising it, and brushed his lips over the back.

  "I believe in fate, which brought me here to you and Blossom. I want to take care of you and protect you both. I care not if you have no wish to travel to L.A. with me and go to Kell. I am quite willing to give up my homeland and stay here with you. You need never be alone again. I am here for whatever you need or want."

  He released her hand and stood up from the bed. "Think on my words, my lady."

  "I need to get up. Blossom needs me."

  "No, you will stay. Blossom and I can fend for ourselves today. You said she has a dance lesson in the afternoon?"

  She nodded.

  "As I am not trained to drive your mode of transport, we need you to rest until then. Let us take care of you." He bent over the bed, placing a swift kiss on her lips.

  He could feel the heat of her gaze on his back as he walked out of the door. The black bear had been a blessing as much as it had frightened Summer. Perhaps now she would start to see the truth through his actions rather than his words.

  Chapter Seven

  He wasn't going to give up his story of being an alien, and somehow it no longer mattered. Melor had proven himself a level-headed man of action with a wisdom in his dark eyes Summer could not refute.

  It was time to get up. She couldn't spend all day wallowing in self-pity. She still wasn't sure what she wanted, but somehow the dynamics had shifted. She knew what she didn't want; to be pitied, or hide away as a hermit. If she wanted her daughter to live a full happy life, she needed to lead by example. Even before she married the handsome U.S. Army captain, life had been an adventure worth living.

  It was clear her body wanted Melor, but her mind still cautioned about getting too close. The guilt over Tyler's death still weighed heavily on her heart.

  Melor was right. It was time to try to move past it and start to live again. Not just for her sake but for Blossom's. Opportunity had been staring her in the face, but she'd been too blinded by grief to realize it.

  Her love for Tyler would never fade, but it didn't mean she didn't have room in her heart for another.

  Unscrewing the top of the medicine vial, she fished out two pills, downing them with the water on her bedside table. She stood, stretching her back, working out the kinks, feeling refreshed and more energized.

  She rifled through her wardrobe, wanting something nicer to wear, choosing some neat, dark dress pants and a pretty, white print blouse which gave her a generous neckline. She brushed out her hair until it fell in soft waves around her shoulders. She found some lipstick at the bottom of a drawer. She glanced in the mirror to add some red to her lips before inspecting the montage. Wincing at how pale she appeared, she took in her large wide eyes which she always figured were her best feature.

  Not much she could do about her weight; after all some men loved curves. Melor seemed to be unable to keep his eyes off her.

  Satisfied she had done all she could do to look her best, she exited the bedroom. She smiled to find Melor with Blossom on his lap as he listened to her read The Cat in the Hat.

  An idea occurred to her as she watched him and her daughter. The answer had been staring her in the face all the time, only she was too scared to realize it. For however brief a time, maybe she could use Melor to help her overcome her fears of intimacy and get back into life. She wasn't the prettiest or thinnest woman; on top of that she had scars. But she couldn't let her own insecurities stand in the way of her living a full life.

  The only concern was he would reject her, but if he truly wanted her as he'd boldly proclaimed last night, then her scars wouldn't matter.

  There were plenty of women out there worse than she. Melor was one adventure where she wanted to explore every inch. What red-blooded woman wouldn't want a sex-on-a-stick man like Melor?

  Be strong, brave; you are a confident, independent woman.

  Summer drew in a deep breath and limped over. Melor glanced up at her,
and she gave him a genuine smile of thanks. It was time to start showing her affection.

  She leaned in and placed a kiss gently on his cheek. When she pulled back, he was regarding her with heated curiosity.

  "I wanted to thank you properly for what you did this morning; I want to make it up to you. How about we take Melor to Charlie's after your dance lesson, Blossom?"

  Blossom let out a cheer. "I love going to Charlie's. They have the best pizza and play gym in the state! You're going to love it, Melor!"