A Touch of Flame

by Caris Roane

  As she explored the memory, she could feel Veyda’s presence behind her and off to the left, but not far. Veyda’s emotions flowed over Maeve. Fury was one of them that her ceremony had been disrupted. But there was also a sense of shock and an inability to move.

  Had Maeve done that to her? Immobilized the powerful witch?

  What had occurred had happened quickly, in great swathes of dark energy. But they’d come from her, not Veyda.

  Maeve had somehow tapped into her killing power, but perhaps not in the way her captor had hoped. There was a strong smell as well, but it wasn’t bad. It seemed almost neutral as though the herbal-based potion she’d been given was mild by comparison. She even detected mint, of all things.

  Sheba meowed.

  Mint.

  Was mint the key? Sheba thought so.

  Maeve remembered turning around, her hand spasming with power. She’d swept a shower of golden sparks behind her, where she sensed Veyda stood. She’d wanted to destroy the woman who had brought her to the torture room. But no one was there. Even the sense of Veyda had disappeared.

  But the mirror was there. Maeve could now recall that she’d shouted her rage. With another broad, powerful arc of her arm, she’d released more of the golden, destructive energy. All the mirrors had shattered. She could recall the breaking of more glass, then the strong smell of whisky. She’d destroyed a bar within the mirrored rooms.

  She saw padded benches and red velvet covered winged chairs. Mirrors had lined the back wall. These had shattered as well.

  As she turned back into the room, the familiar dark fog was in the very center of the space covering the large, central platform, though the victim’s scarred and wounded legs were now visible.

  She ignored the woman for the present and instead felt compelled to explore the area where the witch choir had performed. At this point, the women were all gone.

  She moved in the direction of the tiered seats where the choir had chanted. But she wasn’t walking. Instead, she levitated toward a doorway to her right.

  She could see a hallway and more movement. She heard the sounds of gunfire behind her. She held her arm aloft and kept the power flowing. She felt a series of thuds, bullets, maybe, dropping to the wood floor.

  She’d been invincible.

  “I’m in the air.” She spoke aloud to Braden and brought his face into view. “I can levitate, or at least I did that night.”

  That’s when she realized he looked stunned.

  She glanced down at their joined arms. Her left one was glowing. She jerked away from him. “Oh, God, have I hurt you?”

  He immediately grabbed her shoulders. “No. You haven’t. Look at me.”

  She lifted her gaze to his eyes.

  “I’m okay. Just startled, that’s all. You were … glowing.”

  “I was?” Her mouth was suddenly very dry. She nodded briskly. “I need some water.”

  He released her once more and she crossed to the small fridge and took out a bottle. She guzzled.

  He turned toward her. “What did you see? Did you remember?”

  “Almost everything this time. Mostly, my rage. I was so angry with what was happening. Kiara was right. Behind the mirrors was a viewing room. People watched the torture and the killings for pleasure. No doubt they paid a fortune for the opportunity.”

  She told him everything including the fog and the sacrificial victim in the center of the space, Veyda’s presence and the dead witches. “I’m guessing Veyda had created the mist, though I don’t know why.”

  She leaned her hip against the sink. She was deeply troubled. She’d always wished she could levitate. Most of the people in Five Bridges couldn’t, yet the memory was very clear on this point. She could levitate.

  He moved close. “Every instinct I possess, Maeve, tells me you did exactly what you’ve remembered. You’re a woman of exceptional power. And that’s part of the reason you could be an alpha-wolf’s mate.”

  She scoffed. “Lucky me.”

  He sighed then scowled.

  “What? Now you’re going to be mad at me because I’m not thrilled I could hook up with a powerful wolf like you?”

  “It’s not that.”

  “What then because I don’t need your attitude.”

  “Okay. I’m sorry. What you’re reacting to is my frustration that you’re so new to our world. A year-and-a-half is nothing.”

  “If that’s all it is.”

  “I’m frustrated because you don’t know enough at this point to be able to cope well. And it didn’t help that the one person who was guiding you ended up caught by that witch-from hell.”

  Once more, she rubbed her forehead. Her gaze shifted to the glass canisters of herbs. “I remembered smelling mint, lots of it.”

  “Mint?”

  “Yes, the air was full of it.”

  Sheba meowed once more, another sign mint would be important.

  Maeve moved toward her and Sheba immediately lifted up to sit on her haunches.

  Maeve picked her up and not being a big cat, she held her against her shoulder like she would a newborn. Sheba had always given her great comfort.

  She crossed to the jars and with one hand pulled the dried mint off the shelf. She settled it on the wood counter in front of her then waved Braden forward. “Come pop this for me.”

  Braden moved in and eased the metal clamp back. Without thinking, she handed Sheba to him. Braden took the cat and as she’d done, he held her against his own shoulder.

  Maeve reached for the canister then turned to stare at first Braden then her cat. “Dammit, she’s purring again.”

  Even Braden looked a little startled as he craned his neck to look down at the cat. “I never liked cats before and definitely not since I’ve lived in Savage. But this cat is growing on me.”

  Maeve smiled and some of the tension left her body. She even dragged in a deep breath. “It’s simple. She likes you.” Unfortunately, Maeve could relate. She liked the wolf, too. She always had.

  She reverted her attention to the mint and picked up the small jar with both hands. She didn’t know what to expect.

  She took slow, deep breaths. Through Kiara’s training, she focused exclusively on the herb and let each of its properties speak to her.

  Within her mind, a list began to assemble, aspects of the herb, how it would interact with her alter witchness, then to what other elements it was most strongly attracted.

  Maeve had found that for her own particular alter witch identity, she’d been able to apportion each herb, fungus, mineral, botanical or desiccated animal matter into one of four categories: Fire, water, pressure, or wind. Once an item had its place, she was better able to align it with like or opposing items and create the effect she needed.

  She’d originally assigned mint to the water group. Yet, right now, because it had played a part in the release of her killing power, she wasn’t surprised that mint leaned toward fire. Yet at the same time, it seemed to also belong with both pressure and wind.

  She set the jar down and let this information work its way through her entire system. She’d learned this from Kiara as well, that when inspecting anything that could be used in a spell, she had to let the substance move through her body completely.

  She took a moment to prepare a soft suede pouch. She added the dried mint flakes, then closed it carefully. She ran a leather tie through the top of the flap then draped it around her neck. She could sniff the herb as often as she wanted.

  Mint had been one of the first properties she’d analyzed. Perhaps because it had been early in what little training she’d received, she hadn’t assessed it clearly enough. She wasn’t sure. But as she closed her eyes, she spread her hands wide then paid close attention to all the responses in her body. Her breathing felt labored, her left hand tingled and warmed up, her legs lost any sense of weight at all, and her mind grew intently focused.

  She kept all of these things in the forefront, and just like that she rose into the air.
She opened her eyes and faced Braden. He still held Sheba and he was smiling and nodding.

  She didn’t let go of what she felt right now, the complete absence of gravity. She took the next few minutes to practice what was the most amazing experience she’d ever known. She could levitate.

  Now for forward movement.

  “How do I fly?”

  Braden frowned slightly. “It’s been a long time since I even thought about it. I’m trying to remember back to when I first acquired the ability. I know I slammed into a few walls and trees when I was first learning.” He was silent for a moment, then added, “It’s a matter of the will. Focus on your destination then see yourself moving there. Like all the way to the opposite wall, near the writing desk.”

  She was able, though with some difficulty, to pivot midair and face the desk. She forced herself to calm down then focused on the far wall. As she did, her body simply began to move. Smooth and seamless.

  She made the short trip back and forth a few times then sped up. “I can’t believe this, Braden. And all because I smelled some mint.”

  “I can’t say I understand why the scent of anything would ignite your abilities. But I think I’d recommend you keep mint with you at all times.” Sheba pushed away from him slightly and he set her back on the worktable.

  She glanced at the stone stairs then headed to the bottom step. She began her ascent, but took it slow. She made it easily all the way to the top, then descended. Thinking it might make for the best practice possible, she went up and down at least a dozen times then increased her speed once more.

  When she was navigating the stairs without incident, Braden called out, “I can’t believe you can do that? I would have hit the wall, lost my flight completely then tumbled to the bottom.”

  She rushed over to Braden and grabbed him up in a big hug. She even used levitation to hold herself in place.

  He returned the favor and wrapped his arms around her. “You’re doing great.”

  Sheba meowed her approval.

  “Thank you for this.” She couldn’t seem to let go. If nothing else, he’d brought her this gift. She’d have more options now, if things went south whether during her rescues in the desert or at Veyda’s prison. She’d be able to shoot straight up into the night sky and make her escape.

  She realized how much she’d lived in fear of getting caught again, by Veyda or anyone else. Rightfully so, given all that had happened to her within two weeks of her arrival in Five Bridges.

  When she drew back, she dropped slowly to the stone floor and forced herself to take a few deep breaths. She lifted the pouch of mint to her nose.

  She repeated the earlier process of smelling the herb and letting it work its magic through her system. This time, she focused on her left hand. Her recent recollection of her rage-filled attack on all the witches, made it clear she’d used her left hand to release the destructive energy, her witch’s killing power.

  She lifted her hand again and held it out.

  Sheba meowed once more.

  When Maeve turned around to look at her, Sheba stared at her for a moment, leaped from the table then disappeared up the stairwell.

  She glanced at Braden. “Maybe you should stand away from me for whatever is about to happen. Although, I might need you to anchor me for this.”

  Braden moved to position himself just behind her left shoulder, then settled his hand on her waist. Stupid tears sprang to her eyes. She’d been alone for a long time. It was strange and wonderful to have the kind of support he was providing.

  Frank had been that way.

  She strove to remind herself that Braden was a wolf hunting down the witches who had killed his wife. She knew him by now, the level of his stubbornness. The man had nothing to offer anyone. He’d even left his pack to pursue justice. He wouldn’t rest until he settled the score once and for all.

  But for half a second, she wished it was otherwise.

  Chapter Five

  Braden restrained himself as best he could. But something about the last few minutes had elevated his senses.

  He had his hand planted on Maeve’s right hip and her scent teased his nostrils. Her excitement about learning to levitate had reached inside his wolf and stroked him.

  He’d been separated from his pack for a year-and-a-half. With her alpha capacity, a sudden need to be bonded to her had taken hold of him. He kept arching his neck. He wanted to howl, to run, to chase her through the Savage forest and bring her to earth.

  She was becoming something fierce and powerful. The alpha in him responded to the forces racing through her and rising to the surface. Wolves more than any other alter species responded to power.

  He leaned in close. “Show me what you’ve got.” He couldn’t keep the growl from his throat. He slid his free hand down her extended left arm. Heat rose on her skin.

  “I’m ready.”

  He was, too.

  He slid his arms all the way around her.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I’m not sure what’s happening here, Maeve, but my wolf wants to be close. So, I’m going with the flow. You okay with that?”

  “More than okay, except for one thing.”

  He leaned in and sniffed her hair. “What’s that?”

  “I’m liking this way too much. And I don’t mean just the strong sexiness you bring out in me. It’s the camaraderie. I liked being with my man. You make me miss having a partner.”

  “It’s the same for me.” He drew a deep breath and pulled back, if not all the way, enough to give them both some space. “I’m caught in this difficult place. My wolf is demanding expression. I’ll need to run soon or I won’t answer for what happens here. I’m afraid I’ll seduce you, which I’m guessing wouldn’t be hard.”

  “You sure about that? You sound smug, like I’m an easy target.”

  He thought a demonstration would be better than a verbal defense. He drew her tight against him, her back still to his front. He pushed at her hair with his nose until he created enough of an opening among all her red curls to bite her neck. He growled at the same time.

  He felt her whole body relax. See? It’s an alpha thing.

  Why is it working? I don’t understand. You could take me right now if you wanted.

  He let go of her neck, but he still held her tight. I want to, yet I don’t. Dammit, Maeve, I haven’t got a thing to give you. I wish I did. I need this and I need you. But I’ve got a black hole in my heart.

  She didn’t answer for a moment, then her voice was quiet in his head. It’s the same for me. I still hurt. Frank was my world.

  He felt it then, the thing that was binding them together. Their grief. It was stronger even than his wolf call or sex or that he found her so beautiful. He could relate to her in the same way, she understood his sorrow. He knew hers as though it was his own.

  He released her but only to turn her gently in his arms and embrace her fully.

  I miss him, Braden. Every night of this godforsaken life in Five Bridges, I miss my husband. I hate that Veyda killed him. He never hurt anyone. He was good and kind, the best husband a woman could ever ask for. But I’m so alone in this world. Sometimes it gets to me.

  Braden’s throat tightened and his eyes stung. She’d described her husband the way he always spoke of Laura, a good woman, never hurt anyone and Veyda had taken her life as well. He had no proof, of course. And he couldn’t find the witch so he could interrogate her.

  He recalled what his wife had said to him earlier, that he needed to give Maeve a chance. His heart started pounding in his chest. Should he try to open up to this woman? Would it even be possible for them to be a real couple?

  He drew back and saw that her eyes were full of tears. He took her face in his hands. He leaned down and kissed her cheeks in turn, then said, “I don’t know all the reasons we’ve come together. But I like being here, being with you. I feel like I got to know you through the times I visited you in your candle shop. I don’t know how it happ
ened, but I’ve thought of you as a good friend for months now.

  “You saved my life as well. Maeve, I don’t know if this will mean anything in the face of what you suffered losing Frank as you did. But I want to be here for you however you need me. The stubborn part of me is still focused on uncovering what really happened the night my wife was murdered and I want every guilty party to pay. But I can be your friend moving forward. I can help you not to feel so alone and I suspect you could do the same for me. What do you think?”

  He slid his hands down to rest lightly on her shoulders.

  She ran her fingers through his hair. “I think I’d like that more than anything else in the world right now. You know, you go along and you think everything’s fine. You make peace as best you can with your circumstances. I thought I was doing okay. I really did. But I feel like I’ve been thrown into a whirlwind all over again.”

  “I know I’ve stirred things up in your life. But Five Bridges is full of mystery. No one out there, in the normal world, can imagine the lives we have to lead in here. I mean, my wife spoke to me a few minutes ago and you have so much power in your left hand that you smashed up an entire room.”

  “There’s only one thing, Braden.”

  “What’s that? I want you to tell me anything. I mean it.”

  “If we keep hanging out, I’ll want you in my bed again.”

  He searched her eyes. He hadn’t expected her to be so direct about wanting him. “I want you, too.”

  She swallowed hard. “But I have a feeling it’s going to complicate things and not in a good way.”

  “You’re right.” He took a deep breath. “So, here’s what we’ll do. We’ll take this one night at time and trust the right path to unfold for each of us.”

  With that, she completely surprised him by planting her lips on his. The black hole of his heart started trembling and somewhere deep in his mind, he heard his wife’s laughter. But it wasn’t a mean-spirited sound, more like she was saying, ‘Yeah, try to get out of this one.’

  For the first time since she died, maybe he didn’t want to.