Page 3 of His Fiery Mate

“Just a feeling,” she’d replied.

He shook his head. “I have no idea what’s going on in that head of yours, but I’ve learned not to discount your feelings about things. So far, you’ve never been wrong. The head of the fire department, Roland Ashford, is a friend of mine. I’m going to send you over there as a liaison. I’ll tell Rollie what you’re doing but try and keep it on the down-low.”

Melisandre nodded. “Will do.”

Two days later, she was walking around the perimeter of the charred remains of a historic building. She groaned as she watched fire department personnel and the press trampling what could very well be key evidence into the ground. Standing at the outer perimeter, looking far better than any hunky fireman on a calendar, was Tanner North, the man the press had deemed the ‘hero firefighter,’ whose unorthodox methods allowed him to save lives at great risk to his own.

The acrid smell of smoke and destruction filled her nostrils, making her nauseous. She cleared her head to try and focus on what she could see, smell, and taste on the air. Before she could make sense of her dizziness, two strong hands clasped her waist and steadied her.

“I’m fine,” she said, looking up into the darkest brown eyes she’d ever seen. He was a shifter. Although she could tell he wasn’t dragon; she wasn’t sure what he might be.

“Well, let’s just get you over here to the paramedics’ bus.”

“I don’t need a paramedic,” she snarled. What she needed was to get away from him.

“Why don’t we let them be the judge of that?” he said in his deep, melodic voice.

“Because I don’t need your or anyone else’s opinion of whether or not I’m fine. I am.” Melisandre jerked away from him, backing up right into the chief.

“Problem?” he asked in a way that let them both know he was not expecting them to have one.

“No, sir. I was just trying to help… I’m sorry I didn’t realize there would still be civilians here or that your people wouldn’t know the AIU had been called in.”

“You’re AIU?” Tanner said with some skepticism before turning to the chief. “Do you think this fire is connected to something else?”

“Unknown,” said the chief. “That’s why I called in the AIU.”

He hadn’t actually called in the AIU. Melisandre had been watching the fires for a pattern and had then gone to her boss, who had, in turn, gone to his friend who just happened to be the chief of the fire department here in Kodiak.

“I take it you’re Melisandre Blaze,” said the chief smoothly, extending his hand.

Melisandre gripped it firmly and nodded. “Guilty as charged. If you wouldn’t mind clearing the scene, I’d like to get started.”

“Tanner, can you take care of that? Let the others know that we believe we might have a serial arsonist, so if Melisandre needs anything, including all of us staying out of her way, I will expect people to listen to her as if they were listening to me. And Tanner, tell everyone this is need-to-know only.”

“That kind of thing might be received better if it came from one of our own,” said Tanner.

“That was my thought, as well,” said the chief, “which is why I’m assigning you as her official liaison.”

CHAPTER 2

TANNER

The Hollow

Two Years Ago

“You can’t just banish us,” snarled Tanner, using his rage to cover his fear and disbelief.

“I can and will do whatever I believe is necessary to protect the hellhounds. You have become more than a dissenting voice; you have become a destructive force. Our women will never be subjugated by you or those who follow you.” Hayden shook his head; Tanner thought he was most likely trying to rein in his temper. “Besides, I am not banishing anyone…”

“You told us we had twenty-four hours to clear out…”

“I told you that you had twenty-four hours to be gone from the Hollow, and that you will not be allowed back until I no longer consider you a threat to our people.”

“You might not call it a banishment, Hayden, but that’s what it is.”

“I can see how you feel that way. Does it occur to you that those who were so quick to elect you to lead them are not here to help you argue their cause?”

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