AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Perfect,” I lied with a grin that felt more like a grimace. “Just thinking about all the paperwork I get to do now. Yay me.”
He chuckled, blue eyes glinting with a mix of amusement and something else—understanding, maybe. He leaned in, dropping a quick peck on my forehead before striding away, leaving me alone to deal with the literal firestorm brewing within.
Easier said than done, though. As Niko disappeared, I was left with the unsettling thought that perhaps I wouldn’t ever fully tame this new fiery sidekick.
And if I couldn’t?
Things were likely to get a whole lot hotter around here.
And not in the fun, Niko- or Riker-kissing kind of way.
CHAPTER 22
Overnight, the “heat dome” dissipated from over Texas, breaking the heatwave, and the news channels treated the event as if it was a miracle—little did they know what it had taken to bottle up that heat.
“Morning, HQ,” I greeted the empty office space the next morning.
First one in, last one out—that’s how you know you’re the boss.
Or at least, that’s what I told myself as I flicked on the lights, ignoring the yawn that clawed its way up my throat.
I dropped my bag onto the nearest chair. “Let’s see if we can find something supernatural to chase today that doesn’t involve self-immolation.” I powered up the computers, moving back to the kitchenette to get coffee going rather than waiting as the screens blinked to life.
A glance at the clock told me I had a solid hour before the others would start trickling in.
Actually, to be honest, I couldn’t be sure of that. Not with Helen, always fashionably late; Elijah, perpetually surprised by the concept of a schedule; Cairo and Poppy, wrapped up in their own world of magical politics and forbidden romance.
“Time to get to work,” I said to myself, cracking my knuckles with a flourish. “Monsters aren’t going to hunt themselves.”
But as I stared at the array of blinking cursors and endless email notifications, a pang of sadness slipped through the cracks of my bravado.
Neither Niko nor Riker would be walking through that door today.
And damn it if that didn’t put a damper on the thrill of the hunt.
The cursor blinked mockingly on the screen, but my mind was far from the mundane emails. A tingle danced up my fingers, a party trick I hadn’t asked for and certainly didn’t know how to RSVP to. Heat simmered beneath my skin, an uninvited guest courtesy of Cairo’s close call with his fiery royal pain in the arse.
I rolled up a sleeve as I muttered to myself. “Let’s not burn the place down on your first solo flight.”
Fine. So it was a mixed metaphor.
Whatever.
I focused on my palm, envisioning a tiny spark like the one you’d wish for when you’re two hours into trying to light a campfire with wet wood. Except this time, no frustration needed: a small flame burst to life, licking the air with a burning enthusiasm that mirrored my own.
“Whoa there,” I whispered, both impressed and a smidge terrified. The flame danced as if aware of its audience, casting flickering shadows across the office walls—and the walls seemed to lean in closer, curious spectators to my impromptu fire show.
“Easy does it,” I said, voice steady, but my heartbeat was doing a salsa in double-time. I willed the flame smaller, a visual volume knob turning left in my mind’s eye. The fire obeyed, dwindling to a merry glow before snuffing out completely. My breath whooshed out in relief, leaving a puff of smoke—or maybe that was just my imagination running wild with the theme.
“Okay, not bad for a beginner,” I admitted, flexing my fingers, which felt oddly singed yet unharmed. It was like learning to walk in high heels all over again—except instead of potentially tripping over your own feet, the worst-case scenario here involved spontaneous combustion.
“Let’s try that again, but maybe aim for less ‘bonfire’ and more ‘birthday candle,’” I coached myself. Concentrating hard, I summoned another flame, smaller this time, a warm dot of light hovering above my skin. It stayed put, obedient and tame, and I grinned.
“Looks like you’ve got some competition, birthday wishes,” I joked to the empty room, feeling a mix of wonder and caution as I watched the flame twirl in a lazy spiral.
Still…
Magic had its perks, but playing with fire? That was a literal hotbed of ‘oops’ moments waiting to happen. I made a mental note to stock up on fire extinguishers. Or maybe just redecorate with non-flammable furniture. Yeah, that sounded like a plan—a cozy, burn-proof office makeover.
