Page 5 of Mated in Flames

I slide the barn door open. It’s very bright in here, the windows facing out every way to always catch the sun, no matter where in the sky it was. On the walls, Dane and I had installed heaters, silent for now but very useful during winter. I can hear snuffling nearby, and I smile as I kneel down, waiting as a small black nose pokes itself curiously from behind a barrel.

“Food time,” I call softly.

I’m mostly ignored. The phoenixes prefer to keep to themselves, and this is a new batch of young creatures we’re raising, so they aren’t entirely sure if we’re trustworthy yet. Once we leave, they will fall on the food with gusto.

One of the creatures, however, barely leaves our side whenever we enter the barn. My grin widens as a tiny red panda tumbles into view, snuffling on the ground before looking up at us with wide, curious eyes. At first glance, the animal looks ordinary, if out of place in Australia, where it shouldn’t be native, but Dane and I had witnessed this one bursting into flame for ourselves.

“Hungry?” I ask.

The red panda scurries forward, and she rubs her head on my outstretched hand eagerly, making me laugh. She’s definitely a sweetheart.

It doesn’t take us long to put the food down and then we bid farewell to the panda before leaving. As we close the barn door, I startle as I hear the sound of a loud clang over the road.

When I look back, Dane is giving me a severe look.

“It’s none of our business, Warwick,” he says.

“It might be nice to know more about our new neighbour,” I point out. “You know, to make sure she isn’t a plant.”

“Is there a reason someone might have found us here?” Dane asks, eyeing me suspiciously.

“Come on, man, I’ve been as careful as you,” I remind him. “I’m just saying that we have a lot of rare creatures in our barn, and you know it won’t take much for them to catch our trail.”

We both shudder in unison. They are the Supernaturals, a loose collective of creatures and immortals who capture and use their own kind; so much worse than any Hunter could be. Supernaturals care only about themselves and their allegiances are temporary at best. At least a Hunter, should we be caught, would offer us a quick, merciful death. Supernaturals, however, will draw it out, forcing us to do their bidding until they have no more use for us.

“It might be worth finding out who she is,” Dane grumbles. He shoots me a glare. “One visit. Just one.”

“She’s human, Dane,” I say, rolling my eyes. “I’m not going to stay any longer than necessary.”

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