“No.” I backed away. “I can’t stand Hope’s kind of action. I’ll just dip my fingers in like Faith did.”
“You don’t have a choice. You’re getting hotter by the second and we need to cool you down.” With a sweeping motion of her hands toward the river, Hope made waves ripple. Through her skill alone, a huge mass rose, bubbling around the edges until the water poured in on itself. She drew it into a controlled orb.
A pool-full of water, and far more than she needed to cool me down, levitated over the river toward me. “Hey, that’s not even remotely funny. Stop that.”
Faith sighed. “It has to happen.”
“Let’s think of another way.” I darted further back, but the rolling sphere soared to block the sun.
“Stay still,” Hope warned.
I ducked and ran, only, Guy caught me and swung me around. “What are you doing? Let me go. You’re supposed to be on my side.”
“You have to cool down, and this is the only way. I’m going to help.” His beautiful enchanter eyes swirled. “With legs of lead, you will stand still. Let this spell take hold so no harm can be—”
I shoved a hand over his mouth. “Don’t even think about finishing that spell.”
A deluge hit me, sluicing over my head and down my body until it pooled in a hissing puddle at my feet. Guy jumped clear of the hot water with a yelp.
Uncontrollable fire flared at my fingertips. “Um, that should have stopped that.”
“You have to stop the flames, or I will,” Hope yelled. She flicked her fingers and another large pool of water rose from the river.
“Put that back. I can’t get control under this kind of duress.” I glared at Faith. “Tell her to stop.”
“Hope has a mind of her own, and you must be moving into your rising.” She jerked back. “You’ve gotta rein in your temper. Every time it flares, so does your heat. It pulses in waves.”
My anger surged and the grass around me rippled, flattened and became browned.
“I’ve got this.” Hope’s bubble of water shot at me. It knocked me onto my butt.
I spat out a mouthful of sandy yuck. “Okay, that’s enough.”
“I’ve barely started.” She collected another rolling sphere, and I so wasn’t going to stick around for that.
I ’ported, and fast. In my dressing room, I grabbed my red swimsuit and whipped it on. I’d take matters into my own hands, and if I needed water, I’d make sure it suited me.
“Silvie, I know you’re in there. The wood’s warping and the doorknob is half melted.” Guy thumped the door. “We’ve gotta get you somewhere safe.”
“I’m heading to the underground cavern. The pools are private and hot. Hot water I don’t mind. Get Faith to bring you. She has the ’porting image.” Fire sparked from my fingertips. I had to go.
Within moments I was there, my feet sinking into fine gray sand. Nice. Warm air filled the cavern, and a mist hovered over the large pool of clear water. Dark rocks lined the sides, and a small tunnel of light tracked in from one of the overhead vents. Cozy.
I could do this. I walked in, and even though hot, the water still bubbled. The mist thickened as steam continued to rise. I moved deeper. The water rose to my hips, my chest, and then flowed over my shoulders.
“Silvie? Are you in here? Damn it, I can’t see a thing.”
“Don’t come in, Guy.” Bubbles burst all around as I dove under, and the water, so hot, soothed my skin. I broke the surface.
“Air so thick, disperse and spread,” Guy chanted. “Let me see my mate, the one whose fire flares red.” The air cleared and his gaze locked on mine. Faith and Hope, having changed into their swimsuits, stood with him. “There you are. I’ll spell the water and try and cool it.”
“I like it like this.”
“And I can’t get in. I’m spelling it.”
“You okay, Silvie?” Hope peered at me. “I ’pathed Silas. He and Davio are on their way. They won’t let you go through your rising alone. None of us will.”
“I’m coming in.” Guy stripped off his shirt and tossed it behind him. “Where there’s heat, let it fade. Allow more than one to bathe.” His gaze bored into mine as he shucked off his boots and black jeans.
Left in cotton shorts, the blazing color of the sun, my temperature hurtled upward again. Bubbles burst to the surface in a gurgling riot. “You’re going to have to spell stronger than that, or else stay out.”
“Where my mate heats, counteract with cool. Diffuse and chill, within a moment’s pull.” He dove in and emerged nose to nose before wrapping his arms around me. “Don’t ever run like that from me again.”
“Then don’t spell me when you know I won’t like it.”
“I have to keep you safe.”
“That doesn’t mean getting me wet.”
“You’re wet now.” He kissed me, and every cell in my body reared for more. Oh, sweet heaven. His mouth was hot, and his body pressed against mine even hotter.
Such scalding heat.