Page 68 of Shrine of Fire

“I can do anything for you, my love.” I shifted, laying against Aki’s broad shoulders. “Gonna concentrate on the place between worlds and pop that spirit right back.”

I grinned at Aki, and he sighed like he was very put upon. But his scowl was gone, so he felt the same joy I felt. I balled all that joy up, the warmth of my love’s flames, the warmth of Kalahar strafing the spirit, and handed it to the spirit. Like tossing a ball, gently. There was no need for pushing and shoving. It was like crochet, the hook sliding between stitches with ease.

The spirit opened her mouth again, but Nova’s fire and Kalahar’s hit her at the same time. The spirit burst into cold flames and disappeared.

“Wheeee!” I raised my arms in the air. “We did it.” I grabbed Aki and pulled him into a smoldering kiss.

Aki grunted in surprise, but instead of slapping me, he kissed me back. Hard, digging his hands into my hair with a tug.

He pulled away, panting. “Enough of that. There will be time for bedsport later.” He unceremoniously shoved me off and stood up.

I lay on my back, starting up at the swirling sky. It was getting dark, the shades of bluish purple and silver softening the harsh gray.

It was a beautiful world we lived in. Horned owls flew through the sky, and the world spun around me. Nova lay next to me, still panting.

“Hello, gorgeous.” I grinned, pulling her over me. I kissed her, with tongue and glorious energy.

She moaned in response, but pulled away after a minute, dark shadows under her eyes. “Can you take us to the cottage we’re staying in? I’m exhausted.”

“Anything for you.” I tried to sit up twice, but couldn’t manage it, the world tilting away from me each time. Hashir and Stefan laughed and helped me up.

I climbed into the back of the wagon next to Kalahar who had shifted back to human form. “Keep going down the road.”

I pulled Kalahar in between me and Nova and tilted my head back. The sky shifted as the wagon moved again, like the realms moving against each other.

The wagon lurched forward. I studied Aki’s profile as he held the reins. Blunt nose, plush lips.

Hashir had a similarly blunt nose, with high cheekbones. He caught me looking, and I winked.

“Good job,” Hashir said. “Handy having a shaman around.”

“Aye.” I curled my arm around Nova’s waist. She felt cold, and exhaustion rolled off her in waves. Energy bounced through me, surrounded by men who were united in their love for my mate.

Maybe that was why they were attractive to me when no other man had been. They all looked at her as though Nova was the only star in the sky.

They weren’t wrong.

Again, like gentle caresses, I fed energy back to Nova.

“So, a big old nasty spirit.”

“Yes.” Kalahar was as weary, if not more so. I bounced the energy between them, like waves on the lake. The further north we went, the more abundant the energy became.

Kalahar raised an eyebrow. “You’re doing well for a new shaman.”

“I have no idea what I’m doing,” I said, feeling drunk. “Tired. And happy.”

“Me too.” Nova pressed her face into my chest. Some of the blackness that hovered over her faded into white.

It was great to be alive.

Even if deadly spirits from beyond were apparently making their way back into the world. And despite lying to myself for months I was a shaman.

We arrived at the Shrine of Rolling Clover hours later. I was sore and tired, but somehow, it wasn’t as bad as when Kalahar had brought me back from the spirit world.

Cuan had a horrible headache and squinted at the light, muttering about the worst hangover of his life. He’d snoozed the rest of the way to the Shrine of Rolling Clover, but it didn’t seem to help.

I leaned against him and kissed his cheek. “You’re okay?”

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