Enflame (Insight #6)(68)

“What does Skylynn have to do with it?”

“They are friends, she and Phoenix’s girl. Only Skylynn failed to mention that.”

Oh, that would make me mad, too. “Did she have a good reason for that?”

“She did. But still…it’s not good right now. And if this goes bad, it may not be good for all of us. His girl is very unique.”

I knew this girl had to be remarkable. Phoenix’s energy was so vibrant that not just anyone could love him.

“She would have to be.”

He smiled. “You knew her in a past. I left you in her care when Phoenix and I left.”

I grimaced.

“What was that look for?” he thought in an amused tone.

“I’m not the best company when you are not around.”

That made him laugh.

“Are you sure we don’t need to help them?” I pressed.

“I tried. There is nothing more I can do than what I’m doing now. Phoenix feels the same way.”

“You’re worried?”

“I just don’t want to see my brother in pain, and right now he is. He’s not showing it, but I see it. It’s just not fair.”

“I’ll send good thoughts his way.”

We let silence fall as we both rambled through our thoughts.

“What are you thinking?” he asked when he felt elation in my soul.

I grinned. “About the first time you found me...the relief...what Phoenix must have felt...what she is feeling.”

He pulled me into his arms and let the hum of his energy meet mine. Silence took over, and eventually we both let go of our focus and drifted into our own thoughts and separate, scattered dreams.

Feeling his warm lips on mine caused me to open my eyes. He’d already showered and dressed for the day, and I was still wrapped in a blanket on the couch.

“I’m going to go and seal off the beach house, make it safe for Charlie and Draven and have a look at the message Charlie’s mom left her.”

“What do you mean, ‘seal’?” I asked, rubbing my eyes and sitting up.

“I think before tomorrow they are going to need some time alone. The beach house is the quietest place I know. We can seal it off from bad energy with herbs.”

“Herbs that a witch would give you. Are you telling me that you and Skylynn have a date this morning?” I said as the taste of blood ushered itself into my mouth.

His hands moved to my arms, sending a calming energy through me.

“No. I sent Brady to Perodine to get them. He and I will seal it, and it’s afternoon.”

“Did you figure out how to make Xavier weak?”

“Think so, but we will need Skylynn for that.”

My stare captured his. “Of course,” I said under my breath.

“Get ready. I’ll be back as fast as I can,” he said just before kissing my lips once more.

With little enthusiasm, I cleaned up the living room, took a shower, and got dressed. I called around to Rose, Olivia, and Felicity just to tell them I was here. They were all preoccupied with whatever tasks they had that day. Even Felicity seemed at ease with what was going on with little Allie. She told me that she sleeps peacefully and even smiles once in a while. That gave me hope.

She and Olivia were getting everything ready to make Madison and Charlie look like the royalty they were supposed to be. They invited me to help, but I thought distance was best. I was still ashamed of how insanely I acted when I first met those girls.

Instead, I pulled on a light jacket, stuffing lemon drops into the pocket, grabbed a sketchpad, and headed off to the field. My intent was to sketch our home so I would always have it with me, a solemn reminder of where I wanted to spend my ever after, but as I leaned against the rolling hills that separated all of our homes, beauty was the last thing I sketched. Instead, it was the battlefield, my necklace, what I saw come out of it last night.

I was lost in the daydream of it all when I heard the grass violently rustling behind me. As I turned, I saw legs. They tripped over me, and a rush of wind caused by my panic moved the long blades of grass and divided them, revealing Madison.

“Oh my God—are you okay?” I asked, crawling to her.

She pulled herself up and sat in the grass. Tears were streaming down her face and she looked furious. I wasn’t sure who that emotion was aimed at. As I reached for a lemon drop in my pocket, I stretched out my senses. I felt an unrest, among others, but nothing that would have caused this reaction in her.

Madison glanced over her shoulder at me, then scooted back next to me so that her body was literally touching mine. I casually slid the lemon drop in my mouth and breathed in and out, finding my balance.

“Cold?” I asked, feeling her shiver next to me, completely dumbstruck by her behavior.

“It’s numb next to you. I can’t feel anything,” she said finally.

I reached in my pocket and pulled out my bag of candy. “Lemon drop?”

She looked at me like I was insane, but then reached to take one.

“Emotions getting the best of you?” I asked.

“Always.” Her green eyes glanced over me. “You look calm.”

“Trying. It’s a constant battle.”

The wind—which I did not cause—made the pages of my sketchbook turn. I reached to catch it, thinking it would fly away. When I smoothed out the page I was working on, Madison leaned closer to me. Personal space was obviously not on her radar at the moment.