Page 72 of Fired Up Love

“Never underestimate massage therapists,” Zina replied with tired pride. “We know exactly where all the pressure points are.”

As if summoned by her words, the back door swung open. Thora Halliwell stood framed in the doorway, her leather jacket torn at one shoulder but her expression triumphant. Behind her, Artair Maxen’s imposing form blocked much of the hallway, his normally pristine suit disheveled but his bear-shifter confidence undiminished.

“About time you showed up,” Thora remarked, arms crossed over her chest. “We were about to organize a second rescue party.”

“How did it go with Severin?” Artair asked, his deep voice rumbling with concern.

“He’s secured,” Xai replied. “Council security is transporting him to containment as we speak.”

“Good.” Thora’s amber eyes gleamed with satisfaction. “We eliminated several of his enforcers who tried to breach the spa’s foundation.”

“Non-lethally,” Artair added when Zina’s eyebrows rose. He cleared his throat. “Mostly.”

“They’re trussed up in the supply closet,” Thora continued. “That lavender-infused rope of yours packs quite a magical punch, by the way.”

Zina couldn’t help the laugh that escaped her. “Mom always said lavender had calming properties. Guess she meant that literally.”

They moved through the spa’s main floor, surveying the damage. Considering the battle that had clearly taken place, the space had fared remarkably well. A few broken mirrors, overturned massage tables, scattered crystals—nothing that couldn’t be repaired.

SIXTY-NINE

The true concern lay beneath their feet. The traditional spa mosaic floor—a design Zina had always assumed was merely decorative—now glowed faintly, responding to her presence. Subtle vibrations traveled upward through her soles like a heartbeat slightly out of rhythm.

“The Pyre,” she murmured, exchanging concerned glances with Xai. “It’s destabilized.”

Without discussion, they gathered around the central mosaic pattern—a circular design featuring intertwined motifs of lion, dragon, and panther. Zina pressed her palm against the center tile, recalling the activation phrase her mother had taught her years ago.

“Protection flows from balance, balance flows from three.”

The floor responded immediately, tiles sliding apart to reveal stone steps descending into golden light. Unlike their first accidental discovery of the chamber, this entrance appeared readily, acknowledging Zina’s rightful access.

“I’ll wait here,” Bryn offered, understanding this was not her domain. “Keep watch with Jamie.”

Zina nodded gratefully before taking a deep breath and beginning the descent. Xai followed close behind, his hand at the small of her back providing wordless support. Luciana came last, her steps measured and respectful on the ancient stone.

The chamber opened before them—circular, ancient, with inscriptions in languages predating modern civilization. At its center burned the Founding Pyre, a triangular flame usually steady and bright.

Now it flickered erratically, its colors separating and rejoining in unstable patterns. Occasional sparks shot upward as the flame struggled to maintain its form. The backlash from Severin’s ritual had destabilized the Pyre’s delicate equilibrium.

“It’s trying to realign itself,” Xai murmured, his voice reverential in the sacred space.

Zina approached the flame slowly, feeling its distress like a physical ache in her chest. This wasn’t just a magical artifact—it was the heart of Enchanted Falls, the protection that had allowed supernatural beings to coexist peacefully for generations.

Without instruction or discussion, the three representatives moved instinctively to positions around the flame. Zina stood at the lion point, feeling warmth pulse up through her feet. Xai took his place at the dragon vertex, while Luciana positioned herself at the panther apex. Their movements mirrored their positions during Severin’s corrupted ritual, but now with deliberate intent to heal rather than destroy.

The chamber hummed with ancient power. As Zina closed her eyes, she could almost hear whispers of the past—generations of guardians who had maintained this flame before her. Her mother’s voice seemed clearest among them, encouraging and guiding.

“I think we need to focus on what we’re protecting,” Zina suggested, her intuition guiding her where formal training lacked. “Not the abstract concept, but what Enchanted Falls means to each of us personally.”

Xai nodded, his golden eyes reflecting the unstable flames. “Connection to something greater than ourselves.”

“Community despite differences,” Luciana added softly.

Zina closed her eyes, focusing on her love for this quirky supernatural town. She thought of morning coffee at Sunrise Diner, of Kalyna’s book recommendations at the library, of Artemis’s enchanted pastries that literally made people float with happiness. She thought of her mother’s dream for the spa—a place of healing and renewal for all species.

But most of all, she thought of the connections she’d forged since opening the spa. Bryn’s steadfast support, Jamie’s quiet dedication, the loyalty of clients who’d become friends. And Xai—whose presence in her life had shifted everything, awakening parts of herself she hadn’t known existed.

The Pyre responded to their collective focus, its flames steadying as it sensed their genuine devotion to Enchanted Falls. The three distinct colors burned bright and true—golden amber for lion, crimson for dragon, and violet silver for panther—before harmoniously blending at the center.

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