Page 4 of Wildfire Witch

It was unusual for my phoenix and me to have such an opposite reaction to a situation or person. She was thrilled that Ceridor had offered to come with us. He placed his glamor back on and stepped out of the truck first. I was just glad to get some air and a moment away from his expectant stare to think.

Aodhnait wanted to trust him. But in this world? I trusted no one. I had too many half-remembered deaths performed by the hands of those I’d confided in. Aodhnait was too valuable a prize—even so-called “friends” had tried to pry her from my chest, only for us all to die consumed by fire in the attempt.

Shaking my head, I turned and looked up at Ceridor. He’d blunted his fae beauty by sanding the sharpness of his features and shading them into human colors, so he had tanned skin, dirty blond curls, and a twinkling pair of sky-blue eyes.

Even with the modifications, he looked like a male model wearing firefighter gear. He was so handsome that it was unfair. I wanted to run my fingertips over his cheekbone and leave a smudge of ash, to mark some of that skin that was too pristine for someone who’d just put out a raging fire.

No, Nix. Focus.

“Your firefighter buddies will be expecting you,” I suggested.

He lifted a hand dismissively. “My wife’s needs take priority in all things.”

My heart gave a little flutter and this time, I couldn’t tell if it was Aodhnait or me reacting.

He dropped his voice, leaning in and resting his hand on my shoulder. “Verity, I have chased rumors and loose ends for an age, yearning to see your face again. What can I do to prove that I am being genuine?”

If I thought his human glamor would make his gaze less intense, I was wrong. I reasoned with myself in that moment as he waited for my response.If he’s a stranger, he’s either completely unhinged or a fire bro. If he’s telling the truth, then I need him to share everything he knows. He may be the key to me breaking my curse.

“Tell me one fact about myself that no one but my husband would know,” I challenged.

His smile was immediate and edged in wickedness. I cursed internally, thinking he’d just make something up about our potentially fictional sex life.“Fae cannot lie, remember?”Aodhnait said.

I hadn’t gotten a traditional supernatural education in this life…so I didn’t know that for sure. But if it was accurate, he’d already outright stated that my name had once been Verity and that he’d once been my husband.

“True and true,”she whispered.

“We met in your first life, when you were Verity Carmine. I was serving as a guard for a Wind Court delegation that’d flown to Spells Hollow to strengthen diplomatic ties with your coven. It was the first assignment that I had to leave my home court for. I was young, untried, and irritable about the length of the flight. A gathering of witches greeted us when we arrived. I looked into the crowd for any dangers to the wind lord, as was my job, and ended up meeting your gaze.”

He cupped my face. I’d slap any other man for such a bold move, but…his story and the tenderness of his touch spellbound me. I wanted to lean into it. He gazed at me with devotion, and it didn’tseemfaked or forced.

“Time itself slowed as the magic in me recognized the one I am meant to complete. In that moment, I knew you were my fated. You were the one that I would make my mate…in human terms, my wife,” he said.

He dropped his hand back to his side, leaving my cheek tingling.

“Then what happened?” I winced at the smoky rasp still lingering in my voice.

“Oh, you wish to hear the rest?” He tilted his head, a playful challenge tugging at his lips. “Perhaps you should shower, and then I will tell you more over lunch.”

Something phoenix-shaped within me screamed to accept his offer. I’d be a fool to turn away someone who truly remembered me as I was, before my curse took root. As I pushed aside my skepticism and nodded in agreement, I wondered…was Ceridor the reason I felt driven to return to Seattle in each of my lives?

I feltlike a completely new woman after a shower and change of clothes. Ceridor waited outside of my apartment, standing guard like a sentinel. I could see where it’d been his job in another life, before he became a firefighter for some reason.

“To find us,”Aodhnait said.

It seemed so. If that was the extent of his plan, though, what a terrible one. A different set of firefighters could’ve been called to the café, or I could’ve had an episode in some halfway house on the way to Seattle and completely missed him.

“Stop assuming things. Besides, he’s here, and he’s ours. That’s all that matters,”my phoenix stated.

“Aren’t you protective?”I asked, lifting my brow.

Ceridor had been talking while I’d tuned out of reality to speak to Aodhnait. He was mid-question, and I probably looked like I was judging him.

“Or I could leave it on your doorstep,” he was saying.

I blinked back into awareness. “Hmm?”

“My gear,” he said. “I’m still decent under all this, I promise you.”

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