I ’ported, and fast. In my dressing room, I grabbed my red swimsuit and whipped it on. I’d take matters into my own hands, and if I needed water, I’d make sure it suited me.
“Silvie, I know you’re in there. The wood’s warping and the doorknob is half melted.” Guy thumped the door. “We’ve gotta get you somewhere safe.”
“I’m heading to the underground cavern. The pools are private and hot. Hot water I don’t mind. Get Faith to bring you. She has the ’porting image.” Fire sparked from my fingertips. I had to go.
Within moments I was there, my feet sinking into fine gray sand. Nice. Warm air filled the cavern, and a mist hovered over the large pool of clear water. Dark rocks lined the sides, and a small tunnel of light tracked in from one of the overhead vents. Cozy.
I could do this. I walked in, and even though hot, the water still bubbled. The mist thickened as steam continued to rise. I moved deeper. The water rose to my hips, my chest, and then flowed over my shoulders.
“Silvie? Are you in here? Damn it, I can’t see a thing.”
“Don’t come in, Guy.” Bubbles burst all around as I dove under, and the water, so hot, soothed my skin. I broke the surface.
“Air so thick, disperse and spread,” Guy chanted. “Let me see my mate, the one whose fire flares red.” The air cleared and his gaze locked on mine. Faith and Hope, having changed into their swimsuits, stood with him. “There you are. I’ll spell the water and try and cool it.”
“I like it like this.”
“And I can’t get in. I’m spelling it.”
“You okay, Silvie?” Hope peered at me. “I ’pathed Silas. He and Davio are on their way. They won’t let you go through your rising alone. None of us will.”
“I’m coming in.” Guy stripped off his shirt and tossed it behind him. “Where there’s heat, let it fade. Allow more than one to bathe.” His gaze bored into mine as he shucked off his boots and black jeans.
Left in cotton shorts, the blazing color of the sun, my temperature hurtled upward again. Bubbles burst to the surface in a gurgling riot. “You’re going to have to spell stronger than that, or else stay out.”
“Where my mate heats, counteract with cool. Diffuse and chill, within a moment’s pull.” He dove in and emerged nose to nose before wrapping his arms around me. “Don’t ever run like that from me again.”
“Then don’t spell me when you know I won’t like it.”
“I have to keep you safe.”
“That doesn’t mean getting me wet.”
“You’re wet now.” He kissed me, and every cell in my body reared for more. Oh, sweet heaven. His mouth was hot, and his body pressed against mine even hotter.
Such scalding heat.
“Whoa.” He jerked back, swinging his hand back and forth through the water. “Hold on. Another flare-up.”
“Of course she’ll have flare-ups if you’re that close.” Hope swam in beside him. “Emotions run at three-times the strength as well. You two shouldn’t touch during her rising. It’ll only make things harder for her.”
Silas shimmered into the room in his trunks. “Hey, sis. I got the call. Your rising’s here?”
“Yep, and about time you showed up.” I didn’t want to do this without my brother. He’d always been there for the big stuff, and this was considered big stuff.
Silas swam out and caught Hope around the waist. “Not too close to the hot-headed one, love.” His gaze veered to Guy. “I didn’t expect to see you here, Moyer. Last I heard, Silvie was after a final farewell.”
“It didn’t happen, and it never will. Where she is, will be where you’ll find me.”
“Damn, it was the meal, wasn’t it? I should have spiked the food before she took it.”
Guy’s gaze lit on mine. “As my father’s spell said, I’ll never go hungry before her.”
Silas coughed. “Ah, excuse me, that’ll do.”
I laughed as Guy circled in behind me. “I take it you want to get burnt again?”
“I can’t help myself. It’s just as well I fast-heal.” He slid his hands over my hips, nestled his chin on my shoulder. “Look ahead. It looks like Loveria is here too, and ready for a swim,” he whispered in my ear.
“Moyer,” Davio gritted out, having ’ported in. “What are you doing here?”
Faith grabbed his hand. “Hey, don’t get upset, but they’re staying together.”
“What happened to their release?”
“They took it back.”
“Silvie, is he truly the one you want? Feel free to say no.”
Poor Davio. “Yep, without a doubt he’s the one I want.”
“Great,” he sighed as he eyed Silas. “Sorry I’m late, but when you said it was Silvie’s rising, I dropped by the stockpile of logs in the forest. It’s all set to burn if she needs it.”
Oooh, he had a stockpile of logs? Yay. “I love you, cousin.”
“Only use it if necessary, Silvie.” Davio met Guy’s gaze. “Every time my cousin’s needed you, you’ve been there. In my opinion that’s what counts, whether you’re a warrior or not.”
Faith flung water as she wrapped her arms around Davio’s neck. “Now, that’s why I love you. Your heart is open to change.”
He cupped her cheek. “I’m learning my enemy isn’t exactly the enemy anymore, and it’s because of you. Times are a-changing.”
Silas inclined his red-gold head toward Guy. “There are warriors in our midst as never before, as there are protectors in yours. Can you handle it, Moyer?”
“In the past we’ve battled, and I don’t deny the hate which festers within the hearts of Dralion’s people, but it is a hate which must go.” His gaze flicked to Davio’s. “Because of Silvie, I understand this war needs to come to an end. She’s loyal to you and your people, and I would never compromise that loyalty, not when it makes her who she is. A nurturer, even with the greatest of the battle skills.”
“How do you believe this war should come to an end, Moyer?” Davio joined Silas, and the two stood united as water lapped at their chests, the girls digging their heels in beside them.
“I’m loyal to Donaldo, but I also understand we must work together. One warrior and one protector at a time. We have to see peace prevail.”
My heart pounded. His loyalty was strong, and one warrior and one protector at a time sounded like a good strategy to me. “Guy, I like what you just said. It sounds like a plan.”
“It does, and we certainly need one.” He pressed my hands to his chest. “Together we’re stronger as one.”
“We always will be.” I glanced at Davio. “What do you think? We have to try and make this work.”
“It’s good. Working together, one warrior and one protector at a time. I like it. We could turn the tide and make a change.”
“I love it.” Faith almost bowled him over as she hugged him. “This is exactly what Hope and I have wanted. For peace to prevail between our nations. Having a plan like this is a start.”
“Yes. Yes. Yes.” Hope kissed Silas. “We’re loyal to our own people, but we’re also loyal to each other. We can do this. Already there’re us and our inner circles. We just have to keep extending our reach. The more people on our side, the better.”
I looked deep into Guy’s eyes, seeing the depth of his need. He wanted this, just as much as I did. “This is what your father would want too. He said so few Magiolings are finding their mated ones. Our skills continue within our family lines, but they don’t return to full strength unless we’re born of the mated bond. And we all know that. It’s also been centuries since my fire skill was seen, and you’re one of few left who enchant. Your father’s right in saying we’re losing the battle, and it’s with ourselves more than any other. Just imagine when we can all live openly with our mates. When our secrets are gone.” Oooh, yes. My blood heated at the thought.
“Love, that sounds—” He lurched back. “This rising really sucks, and you’re getting too hot to handle. I’ll spell again.”
Silas lifted Hope from the water. “Sis, really? You need to cool it. And could you please keep your distance from Moyer? It would be helpful.”
“Maybe Silvie should go for a swim,” Hope interjected. “So her energy distributes in other ways. I’ll come with you, Silvie. I have a gel which coats my skin. It’s part of my skill and kicks in when I’m diving deep in the ocean. It insulates me from the cold, but I don’t see why it can’t insulate me against your heat.” Her skin shimmered with the slippery gel, and she slid out of Silas’s arms, escaping him with ease. She swam around me.
Having someone swim with me would be good. I wanted my closest near.
She popped up then ran her palm down her arm. “Oh, it works like a treat. The gel melts away, but my skin produces it again just as quickly. I’ll have to watch my hydration, but I can do this. Let’s swim together.”
I blew Guy a kiss and followed her out into the deep, only, I’d barely begun to swim when a wave of heat shot through my veins. On my back, I lifted my hands free of the water and pointed upward. Fire blasted out and hit the rocky ceiling.
Beautiful. Such a glorious explosion of red, burnt orange and sizzling yellow.
“Silvie!”
I grinned at Guy’s shout. “Don’t you like it, honey?”
He let out a long sigh. “Get some control. There’s only so much I can spell at once, and now I have to cool the ceiling before it collapses on us. Aim for the walls if you have to.”
“Oh, good idea. The walls.” My fingers tingled to release more fire.
“Give me a second first to work out a spell for the roof.” He rubbed his forehead. “Okay, hopefully this will work. Take the rising steam and along the ceiling of rock, layer and lock it into ice. I need prisms of white, and I need them spun nice.” His words floated to me, and above, the steam crystalized across the ceiling, adding layer upon layer of the tough white stuff.
“Okay, ice opposes fire. Now for the walls.” Guy glanced at Faith. “You should be forewarning me of these problems before they arise.”
“There aren’t any forewarnings. You’re dealing with them first, but I’ll certainly holler if you slip up anywhere.” Her brow furrowed. “Hey, what was your rising like? I’m trying to imagine how that would work for an enchanter.”
“Nobody could stop the barrage of rhymes which spilled from my mouth. I did a number of terrible things whenever somebody attempted to contain me. It wasn’t pretty.” He shifted his gaze toward Hope, who now bobbed in the water, waiting for me to catch her up. A look passed between them.
“You were there.” I kicked toward her. “What did he do?”
“It was unbelievable. He turned me completely purple. Skin, hair, everything, and all because he liked the color of my violet eyes and thought the rest of me should match.”
I laughed. “No way.”
“Yes way.”
Silas chuckled from where he’d clambered onto a large rock at the water’s edge, no doubt to get a better view of Hope. “I would have loved to have seen that, Moyer. Can you do it again to my mate?”
Hope gasped. “Silas, not funny. And no, Guy won’t. Not if he values his life.”
Pushing a hand through his slick black hair, Guy said, “It took me a couple of days to figure out how to reverse the spell, and I’ve learnt my lesson. No one messes with a Wincrest.”
I kicked away from Hope as another wave of heat pulsed through my veins. “Guy, this one’s gonna be bad.” I aimed my fingers at the wall. “Can you get that now?”
“One sec.” He mumbled a short ditty, and ice shimmered over the surface of the walls as my fire flared.
It slammed into the layer of ice and blasted off. Chunks of pristine white flew and everyone ducked. “Stay low. My rising is definitely rising.”
“You’ve gotta swim.” Having dove off the boulder, Silas swung back onto the top of it. “Force your energy out, but not through your fire. There are other ways. Use them.”
“Sorry.” Yeah, I had to get busy and swim. I had to move and get the energy out that way. Kicking, I swam length after length as Hope dipped in and around, remaining solidly at my side.
She was fast, sleeker than a seal in her element and clearly having a world of fun, yet no matter how hard I kicked, my energy grew. It surged, and I battled my natural response to keep it in check.
Still, I did what I could, but as the hours passed, my fire bubbled and brewed, stewing beyond my control.
“You’re getting worse,” Guy called out. “I can barely keep up with your demand. The ice is melting from your heat alone.”
Energy rippled through me, only seconds after the last flare. I had no time to warn him and sent the explosive fireball upward. Fire lit the craggy ceiling. Sharp black rock sheared off and shot in all directions.
I couldn’t keep doing this. Someone would get hurt. I swam toward Davio. “It’s time for the bonfire. I’ll trail your airstream.”
“Done.” He nodded and flashed away.
I followed, fast.
12
Pine needles stuck to the wet soles of my feet. The clearing in the forest was dark, the sun having dipped below the horizon hours ago. A stockpile of logs awaited its fate. Beautiful. My kind of kindling.
“You’re glowing, Silvie.” Davio hunkered down, one hand pressed to the damp soil. Faith flashed in beside him and knelt with one hand on his back. Silas blinked in with Hope.
“Where’s Guy?”
He shimmered in. “I barely caught the others’ airstream.”
“No, stay back, okay? I don’t want you getting hurt.” Fire pulsed from my raised fingertips. It vaulted right over his shoulder.
He ducked. “Hell, the flames are moving up your arms. Your fire is spreading.”
Flames raced to my shoulders and across my chest. The fire swept down, around my hips, thighs and legs. My toes tingled as fire flared from the tips. I was ablaze, every inch of me. Sooo mesmerizing.
“Everyone, back to the tree line,” Davio yelled. The others sought the shelter they needed, all except Guy. He remained crouched, and close.
“You can’t handle this kind of heat. Go. I’ll be fine, Guy.”
“No. I’m not leaving your side. You’re my mate. You need me.”
“I’ve never lit up like this.”
“Send the fire from you. You have to release this excess energy. Aim it at the stockpile.”
My blood fairly sang as I zeroed in on it. It was all for me.
Oh yeah, this was what I wanted. To burn.
In anticipation, I stamped my feet, only, a ripple of fire flared out from my toes. It sent an undulating wave of heat across the ground. Smoke puffed and clouded around.
Guy fanned the air. “Don’t set fire to the ground. The stockpile.”
My heart burst with a hunger for more. “This is amazing.”
He edged closer, almost touching my flames. “Keep your focus, and your sight on the prize.”
“The prize. Yes.” Arms raised, I spread my palms toward the tower of logs. My blood exploded with heat, and fire crackled and popped in a sizzling rampage. My flames lit the night sky. Wow, this was one seriously hot skill.
“Let the heat go!” Guy bellowed.
Go. Yes. I drew every last ounce of energy and brought it forth. The flames pulsing from me grew thicker, stronger, and brighter. The red flickered with blue then a cold, dark thing shoved all my feelings aside. Burn. I had to burn and devour.
“Silvie, no!” Someone slammed into me, only, I was rooted to the ground by the sheer force of the energy bound within. “I’ve got you. Now, damn it, send the fire from you.”
Guy. I couldn’t harm him. My mate. With my last reserves, I thrust the build-up to my hands. I shot the fire like an arrow into the heart of the logs. It hit with a thunderous roar and flames soared into the sky, spearing out in a deadly array.
“Don’t let me go.” My energy drained from one heartbeat to the next. My limbs went rubbery and my body be
came a dead weight.
“Never. We stick together.” He scooped me up before I sank to the ground. “You did it. You managed not to burn me and your fire is out. Your rising is done.”
My vision swam, and I dropped my head onto his shoulder. My energy was completely gone, every last ounce sapped. Had I really done it? “Is everyone all right?”
“After that show, just.” Faith bounded in.
“It was spectacular.” Davio grinned. “There’re a few fires flaring up of course, but with Hope’s help we’ll deal with them.”
“Way to go, sis.” Silas kissed my cheek.
“I’m needed out there to bring water in, but congratulations.” Hope rubbed my back.
“Be careful. No one’s allowed to get burnt while they put my fires out.”
“We’ll get onto it now.” Silas pulled Hope into his arms and flashed away with her. Davio and Faith followed in their airstream.
I looked deep into Guy’s eyes. My enchanter who would forever enchant me. “Thank you for staying. You were amazing.”
He pressed his lips to mine, his kiss filled with more emotion than I could grapple. “I wouldn’t be anywhere else. You’re my world, my heart and my soul.”
“As you are mine.” I kissed him back.
Slowly, he pulled away, ending our kiss far too soon. “I’d better get you to bed so you can rest.”
“Yes, please. That sounds—” He ’ported us into my bathroom. “Fast.”
“I’m all spelled-out. It was exhausting keeping up with you today.” He set me on my feet between him and the shower then reached inside the stall and flicked on the lever. With one hand, he tested the heat. “Okay, this is good.”
“I don’t know if I need any more water today. I’m water-logged.”
“It’s piping hot. You’ll love it.” He carried me in. Steam enveloped us as he propped me against his side. Gently, he lathered a bar of soap then smoothed his hands over my arms and around my neck. “Tip your head back.”
I did, and he plopped shampoo onto the top and massaged it in. “Oh, that’s nice. You have magic fingers.”
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