Page 35 of Sapphire Flame
When Alexis had disappeared during the Fae-Wolf Wars, she’d broken her vow to stay removed from the conflict. She’d used her futurism to predict the location of the next wolf attack. The fae victory that followed, as well as the deaths of several wolves, had been shouted to the heavens.
But she’d seen the bodies of the dead and had known that these weren’t rogue enemies, but members of one of the twelve packs. She’d been misled and had ceased her involvement then and there. It was one thing to be attacking vicious wolves who lived apart from pack life and were a law unto themselves, but quite another to be engaged in an ongoing battle with hard-working pack members. She knew the difference and was angry with those fae officers who had told her they were dealing with rogues intent on killing fae.
She’d shed countless tears and eventually had gone to the Tribunal begging for an intervention. She didn’t stop pleading her case until finally the Trib relented and stepped in to end the conflict.
She ate a few grapes and stacked thin slices of parmesan on the crackers. She refilled her glass and drank more wine.
When she lifted her glass to her lips, she noticed something very odd on the backs of her hands. She set her glass down and held her hands up at eye-level. She didn’t know what she was looking at. A rainbow-like luminescence floated across the surface of her skin and seemed to be in motion.
Oddly enough, she wasn’t frightened or distressed, which she should have been. Instead, the iridescent movement felt like part of her.
She sat back in her chair and the colors began to fade then disappeared. Where had it gone, and could she bring it back?
She sought about in her mind for some clue as to why she’d suddenly developed such a strange physical symptom in the first place.
What had she just been thinking about?
The answer was simple: the wolves of Savage.
Just like that, the iridescence returned and moved over her skin once more. She brought Grant forward within her mind and held him there. The colors intensified. She explored her desire for him, then pondered what she thought of his character and his worth, about his former life as a science teacher, even about Renee. More movement, more color.
She switched her focus to some of the fae Border Patrol officers she knew and gradually the odd colors and movement faded. But the moment she brought Grant back to mind, the colors returned.
She tried another experiment and settled her mind on Talya, who was fae. The signs disappeared. Then she focused on Savage Territory and the two alphas who were doing good things for their packs, Alphas Warren and Fergus. The iridescence strengthened once more.
She continued doing this, losing the sign when she thought of anything other than wolves and Savage, but regaining it no matter which part of wolf-life she began to think about.
There was only one conclusion and it felt like a blow to the back of her head: Whatever this was on her hands, it was wolf.
She blinked. It couldn’t be.
She closed her eyes and sent up a quick prayer to the heavens. She couldn’t be part wolf.
Renee’s voice was suddenly in her mind.Ooooh, I really like this table.
Natalie popped her eyes open. Renee stood on top of the large, round wrought-iron table with her bare toes curled over the edge and her arms spread out as though she was riding a wave.
Her balancing movements sent her ghost-mist shifting about. But enough held together that she really did look like she was surfing.
Had her prayer just been answered?
“You’re back.”
Renee turned to her and smiled. She then jumped from the table to the tile patio floor, a movement that sent her mist flattening into a pool then materializing back into her colorful ghost form. She wore red shorts this time and a white tank top.
I am. I’ve got an archangel up my ass about you. I have only one message tonight, though, then I’m outta here.
“Okay.”
Renee appeared to be thinking hard.Right. I’ve got it. You’re to go see the tall fae. No that’s not right, though she is tall.She snapped her fingers sending quick drifts sideways off her hand.Go see Talya, the fae. That’s it. Gotta run.
She disappeared but came right back.Listen up. This isn’t from Gabriel, it’s from me. If you’re gonna survive the not-too-distant future, you’ve gotta jump in with both feet. Oh, and Aaron said to say, ‘Don’t hold back.’
Renee said nothing more, she simply vanished.
Natalie was left feeling like she’d taken another hard hit to her skull.
And Aaron had sent her a message.
