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“No,” she said, peering at him from beneath her lashes. “It’s cold.”
“Feels good, though, right?”
“Yeah.” She leaned into him, mesmerized by the flame. “I like it.”
“Can I touch it?” Ember asked.
When Nikkos nodded, Ember shoved the bowl into my hands and quickly jutted both hands into the flame. She pulled back with a giggle. “It doesn’t hurt at all!”
I set the bowl down and grabbed Ember’s hands when she tried again. “That’s enough, Em. Let him heal your sister.”
Ember pouted.
“Was your mama a good witch?” Aurora asked him.
He bit his lip while continuing to run flames across her arm. “I was just a baby when she died, but Blaze and Drae told me she was the best witch.”
“Could she heal people and talk to animals?” Ember asked, invading his personal space again by leaning against him.
He shook his head. “Her magic was different.”
“What could she do?” Aurora asked.
“Her powers were extremely rare,” he said with a smile in his voice. “She helped Ravini and Sidhe Fae have babies.”
Ember wrinkled her nose. “How?”
My heart clenched when shadows passed over his eyes. “I’m not sure.”
“I’ve heard of your mother,” I blurted. “She’s the reason Tari and I were born. Our parents tried for over thirty years to conceive.”
He cleared his throat. “Many Ravini and Sidhe struggled with fertility until my mother came into her powers.”
“They called it the ‘Fertilis,’” I said, recalling what my parents had told me. “It lasted only a few years, but so many Fae babies were born during that time.” I wanted to tell him their mother was an amazing Fae and how sorry I was they lost her, but I had a sinking feeling they still blamed my parents for her death.
“Hold still while I clean off your arm,” Nikkos said to Aurora, flashing a smile that didn’t mask the sadness in his eyes. “Then I’ll get you and your sister some candy.”
My nieces squealed, bouncing up and down.
“Aurora, hold still,” I reminded her.
She instantly went still while Nikkos poured water onto a cloth and wiped the remnants of the poultice from her arm.
“Look, Auntie!” she said, holding out her arm.
To my surprise and delight, the festering wound was gone, replaced by perfectly smooth skin.
Nikkos dug into his bag and pulled out a sack, pouring out what looked like two orange-colored crystal rocks into his palm. He gave one to each girl, and they plopped them in their mouths, their grins stretched nearly ear to ear.
“What do you say?” I reminded them.
“Thank you!” they said in unison.
“My pleasure,” Nikkos said, then he grunted when Aurora slammed into him and kissed his arm.
Both girls dashed away, hopping from rock to rock while sucking on their candy.
“Be careful you don’t choke!” I called to them.
