Page 6

6

“What the hell is that?” Brax exclaimed as he started to stride toward the front window of his outdoor shop.

Niko turned his attention from the fancy new kayak he’d been considering as an upgrade and glanced past his friend at the woman across the street and two stores up.

The doorbell chimed as Dante suddenly appeared, and through labored breath as if he’d just been running, he gasped out, “Help! Someone’s on fire!”

“Call 911!” Niko jumped into action, rushing outside to help the woman whose arms were covered in flames.

He ran flat out, already pulling his sweatshirt over his head, intending to use it to put the fire out, but before he could reach her, Indigo was there, magic pouring out of her fingertips. She’d grabbed onto the woman and an ice blue light of magic was quickly quenching the flames.

Niko came to a stop a few feet from the women, not wanting to interrupt as Indigo seemed to have it under control but making sure he was ready just in case he was needed. Her magic was impressive, and although he’d witnessed powerful witches before, he’d had no idea that Indigo possessed that kind of power. He supposed it shouldn’t be that much of a shock considering she was a descendant of the Befana witches, but it was one thing to know a family had a strong magical line; it was another to witness it.

“Shine the light on the darkness,” Indigo cried, her voice hoarse and full of emotion. “Release the chains that hold this woman. Feed it back to me. I call on the power of the Befana bloodline to reclaim the darkness and send the light. Release the darkness, let me be the beacon that makes this right!”

The ice blue magic sizzled and disappeared just as the flames reared back to life, only instead of engulfing the woman, they jumped from her arms onto Indigo’s.

Horrified, Niko lunged, throwing his sweatshirt over Indigo as he tackled her to the ground, quickly patting out the flames.

“Oh my goddess! Oh my goddess!” the woman Indigo had saved said over and over again through her sobs.

Niko barely spared her a glance as he rolled off Indigo and inspected her skin for burn marks. He stared, frowning at her arms. They were red, but not blistered. However, that wasn’t what had shocked him.

Right there on the inside of both forearms were a pair of matching dagger tattoos. Ones that hadn’t been there a few days before.

He picked up one arm, studying the tattoo. Nothing about it indicated that it was fresh ink, though it was hard to tell since her arm was red from the fire. But that didn’t explain the lack of puffiness.

He looked up into her glazed eyes and frowned. “Indigo? Are you okay?”

She blinked at him and then let out a small groan as she tried to push herself up.

He wrapped an arm around her, helping her into a sitting position.

“Thanks,” she said, her voice cracking as if her vocal chords were singed.

“You saved me,” the woman said, moving to crouch beside Indigo. Her arms had zero indication that she’d just been burned. It appeared that Indigo hadn’t only saved her from the fire, she’d managed to heal whatever damage had been done as well. “Thank you. You’re a goddess.”

Indigo turned to the woman, her eyes darkening. “Who spelled you?”

“Spelled?” the woman asked as she suddenly got to her feet and shook her head. “Why would someone spell me?”

“I don’t—” Indigo suddenly went limp in Niko’s arms.

“Indigo? Hey,” Niko said softly, pressing his palm to her face. Panic started to set in when she didn’t respond. He quickly laid her back on the ground and checked her vitals. Her pulse was steady, and she didn’t appear to be having trouble breathing. Both were good signs. But she was still unconscious.

Sirens sounded in the distance.

Niko glanced up, looking for the emergency vehicle. It was then he noticed that Kinsley, Brax, and Dante were all standing behind him, keeping a growing crowd from invading his and Indigo’s space. But the woman Indigo had saved was nowhere to be found. “Where’d she go?”

“Who?” Kinsley asked.

“The woman. The one Indigo saved. I need to question her,” Niko said, frustrated. “Surely she’s here somewhere, waiting for medical attention.” Though he hadn’t seen any obvious injuries.

Dante shook his head. “After Indigo asked who spelled her, she disappeared into the crowd. I think she took off.”

Damn. Normally Niko would do his best to chase down anyone involved with an illegal spell, but he couldn’t just leave Indigo. His body wouldn’t physically let him.

“Lily will be here in a second,” Brax said after glancing at his phone.

“Good.” Niko stayed by Indigo’s side, refusing to move even when the paramedics arrived.

One of them took her vitals and frowned. “How long has she been out?”

“A few minutes,” Niko said. “She used a lot of magic. The effort exhausted her, but she was initially alert. And then she suddenly just went limp.”

“Spell exhaustion,” Lily said appearing from behind Braxton. “This has happened before.”

The paramedic looked up at Indigo’s sister. “How often?”

“Lately, not often at all. But when she was in college, it was more common. The more stressed she was, the more often it occurred,” Lily explained. “I’m positive all she needs is some rest.”

“I can’t just leave an unconscious woman,” the paramedic said. “I’ll need to take her to the hospital to be checked out.”

Niko was ready to help the man load Indigo into the ambulance, but Lily shook her head. “She’d hate that.” Then Lily dropped down and pressed both palms to Indigo’s cheeks and quietly said, “Time to wake up, sis. You’re causing a bit of a scene.” A spark of magic rippled off Lily’s fingers but was gone just as quickly as it appeared.

Indigo’s eyes flickered open. She took a moment to orient herself, blinking and looking around. Then she focused on Lily. “It happened again?”

Her sister nodded solemnly. “I wouldn’t let them take you to the hospital.”

“Good,” she croaked out and again tried to push herself up.

“Indigo wait,” Niko said, pressing a light hand to her shoulder. “The last time you sat up, you passed out.”

“I’m all right,” she said. “Or I will be.” But her hands were shaking, and she was white as a sheet.

“Niko,” Lily said. “Can you help her up?”

“I really think—” he started, but when Indigo grabbed his arm, her grip was a lot stronger than he expected it to be.

“I just need some rest and an herbal infusion. Can you help me back to my apartment?”

Niko glanced at the paramedic.

The young man looked at Indigo. “Are you refusing care?”

“Yes,” she said solemnly. “But only because I’ve been here before. All that will happen if you take me in is a big bill after they hydrate me. I can do that at home.”

“Will you let me take your blood pressure one more time?” the EMT asked.

She nodded as she closed her eyes and slumped against Niko.

The EMT got to work, and once he got his reading, he frowned. “It’s lower than I’d like, but it’s not in the danger zone. I’m advising you to keep an eye on this as well as your other vitals.”

“I will make sure of it,” Lily told the EMT. “Thank you. I appreciate you looking after my sister.”

The paramedics packed up their supplies and stepped back as Niko helped Indigo to her feet. When she stumbled, he swept her up into his arms and started moving toward her apartment.

“I can walk,” she said weakly.

“Maybe, but I’m not risking it,” he said softly. “Just let me do this, all right?”

Indigo rested her head against his chest and mumbled, “Okay.”

Lily fell into step beside them and said, “I’ll take care of the shop. Just get her home.”

“Will do,” Niko said as he hurried away from the crowd.

When he reached the door of her apartment, he found it was locked and said, “Do you have the key on you?”

“Hmm?” She didn’t open her eyes and snuggled in closer.

“To your apartment. It’s locked.”

“We’re at my apartment?” she mumbled as her eyes fluttered open.

“Yes. You need to rest. Do I need to go get your key from downstairs?”

“No.” She pressed her hand to the doorknob, and immediately the door opened.

He frowned. “Did you just use magic?”

“No.” She shook her head slightly and muttered something about the knob being spelled to her touch.

He carried her inside, heading straight for her bedroom. After gently lying her on her perfectly made-up bed, he sat beside her on the cheerful sunflower print bedspread and brushed her dark hair out of her eyes. “You were really something today the way you saved that woman.”

Her brow wrinkled while she shook her head slightly, looking pained.

“You were. That was some impressive magic, Indigo. And being on the Magical Task Force, I feel like I’ve seen it all.”

Her eyes flew open as panic flashed on her face. “What happened to the woman?”

“I don’t know. She disappeared once you passed out,” he said. “Did you know her?”

“No.” Her voice sounded wary. “But I know the spell.” She was staring across the room, her expression blank. Then in an emotionless tone she added, “It’s my fault. I did this.”

“Did what?” he asked, feeling uneasy, like he wasn’t going to like the answer.

But instead of answering, Indigo’s eyes closed again and her body went limp with sleep.

“Indigo?” he asked softly.

She didn’t move, and when he pressed a soft hand to her cheek, she muttered something unintelligible.

Satisfied that she hadn’t passed out again and was just sleeping, he got up and went to the other room. After finding water for her bedside table, he took a seat on her couch and settled in for the night. There was zero chance he was leaving until he was certain that Indigo wouldn’t suffer any backlash for the magic she’d dispelled to save the stranger.

About an hour after Indigo fell asleep, there was a soft knock on the door.

Niko answered it, finding Lily on the other side, holding a bottle that looked like a homemade potion.

“How’s the patient?” Lily asked as she strode into the apartment.

“Asleep.”

She nodded. “I figured as much. Has she said anything?”

“Not much. Just that she knew the spell and that it was somehow her fault,” he said, wondering if Lily knew anything about that.

Lily chewed on her bottom lip as she stared toward the closed door of the bedroom.

“Do you know what she meant by that?” Niko asked, suspecting that Lily knew a lot more than she was willing to share.

“Yes.” Lily gave him a sad, sympathetic smile. “But that’s her story to tell.” She walked into the attached kitchen and put the potion in the fridge. “You can go now. I’ll stay with her tonight.”

“I’m staying,” he said simply, prepared to pull out the Magical Task Force agent card. He had no doubt that the spell that set that woman on fire was an illegal one, and he did have a moral obligation to investigate it. However, if he was honest with himself, that wasn’t the reason he wasn’t going anywhere.

Lily eyed him for a long moment, and he wondered if she was going to try to throw him out. But then she just nodded once and said, “I figured you might say that. Just…” She grimaced and shook her head again.

“Just what?” he asked, wondering what Lily thought about him refusing to leave. It wasn’t something someone would do who had only taken someone out one time. Did she suspect that Niko had it bad for her sister? Or did she just think he was the protective type?

“Just be patient with her.” Lily squeezed his arm gently and walked to the door. Before she left, she said, “When she wakes up, give her the potion. It will help restore her energy.”

“I will.”

The door closed gently behind Lily, leaving Niko alone with his thoughts. He took a seat in a chair that offered a clear view of the bedroom door and only then let himself really think about what he’d done that day.

An illegal spell had been cast and he hadn’t called it in.

Why?

He knew why. Because Indigo had known how to counter it, and that was a major red flag. He needed to talk to her before he made his report. If he made a report.

Indigo slept the rest of the afternoon away. He eventually ordered takeout for dinner, making sure to get enough for Indigo in case she woke up hungry. He doubted it, but he wanted to be prepared.

He’d just finished his grilled cheese and tomato soup combo from The Salt Circle when he heard Indigo cry out from the other room. He jumped up and ran to her side, finding her thrashing on the bed, her eyes still closed.

“Indigo?” he asked as he gently placed a hand on her shoulder.

She jerked in her sleep, swatting at him as she cried, “Get away!”

There was no doubt this was a nightmare. He had to do something to bring her out of it.

Keeping his hands to himself so he didn’t alarm her again, he kept his voice low and steady as he said, “Hey now. It’s okay, Indigo. You’re safe. You’re here in your apartment and safe. Wake up. It’s okay. I promise. Just wake up.”

She didn’t open her eyes, but the thrashing stopped and her breathing leveled out.

He was about to leave when her hand shot out and grabbed his wrist, stopping him.

“Do you want me to stay?” he asked.

She didn’t respond, but her grip tightened slightly. He took it as a yes and sat back down on the bed. After a moment, his own eyes got heavy and he laid down next to her, careful to keep a bit of distance between them. But that was short-lived, because Indigo immediately rolled into him, wrapping her arm across his chest and resting her head on his shoulder.

He froze, wondering if she knew what she was doing. But when she let out a contented sigh, he curled his arm around her shoulders and decided he’d hold her for as long as she would let him.

* * *

“Good morning,” a soft voice said, rousing Niko out of his slumber.

He opened his eyes, squinting in the morning sunlight. His lips curved into a small smile as he looked down at the rumpled, sleepy woman who was still snuggled next to him. There was nothing like waking up to the gorgeous woman in his arms. It felt far too good, and he knew he should try to put some distance between them, but instead, he kissed the top of her head and said, “Good morning.”

She was quiet for a few moments before she said, “Thanks for staying with me.”

“I’d stay every night if you’d let me,” he teased.

Indigo flinched, and he instantly regretted the words.

“Hey, I’m sorry,” he said, giving her a look of concern. “That was just a little bit of flirting. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

“I’m not uncomfortable,” she said with a humorless laugh. “That’s the problem. I’m entirely too comfortable.” She pushed herself up into a sitting position and then when she noticed her hands were shaking slightly, she pressed her head into her hands. “Did Lily bring me a potion?”

“She did. I’ll go get it. Do you want food, too?” he asked, already missing her warm embrace. “You’ve been out since yesterday afternoon and must be starving.”

“No, just the potion for now. Thank you.”

He hurried into her kitchen and grabbed the bottle that Lily had dropped off the night before and was back in a flash. After handing her the potion, he took a seat in a chair that was in the corner and waited as she drained the green liquid.

Color instantly came back into her cheeks, and she was no longer shaking.

“Hey, that stuff appears to be a miracle potion. I wish I’d had something like that the last time I went to the bar with Brax and Dante. I’m pretty sure I drank more beer than an Irishman on St Patty’s Day.”

“I bet you felt fabulous the next morning,” she said with a snicker. “Sadly, this potion isn’t the one for that, but my grandmother does make something just for those types of occasions.”

“Bethany makes hangover potions?” he asked with a laugh. “Somehow, I guess that’s not surprising.”

“If she were looking for a career, she could make a mint on that stuff. Instead, she just does the potions for friends and family.” She raised the bottle. “That’s where Lily got this. Our grandmother is a very gifted witch.”

“So I’ve heard.” He leaned forward, and although he didn’t want to, he began asking the questions he was obligated to ask. “How did you know how to reverse that spell yesterday, Indigo?”

She glanced away but not before her jaw tightened.

“I know you don’t want to talk about this, but it’s my job and I have to ask.”

Indigo turned her tired gaze on him and said, “I’m sure there’s a file on me somewhere. You can look it up. But before you start thinking I’m responsible for this, you should know that I haven’t dealt with that type of magic since I was a senior in college. That spell won’t be traced back to me because I make a point of staying far away from it.”

He sat back, stunned by the venom in her tone. Then he eyed her curiously. “This is why you don’t date law enforcement.”

She let out a bark of humorless laughter. “Because criminals don’t date the law, right? That’s what you’re thinking?”

Remaining calm, he held her gaze for a long moment before answering. “I never said you were a criminal.”

“But you were thinking it.” The defiance in her tone was full of righteous anger.

“I wouldn’t bet on that,” he said. “People make mistakes all the time, especially when they’re young. That doesn’t mean those mistakes should follow someone around for the rest of their life.” He could only imagine what kind of trouble she’d gotten up to as a young adult. But the woman he knew now? She was careful, and he hadn’t known her to practice any magic that wasn’t a run of the mill charm meant to spell objects for fun or entertainment. The harmless kind.

“It’s accurate to say that people make mistakes,” she said evenly. “Maybe that’s true for me, too. Or maybe it isn’t. But I’m not going to talk about them, and I’m certainly not going to make a statement to law enforcement without a lawyer present. I think it’s time for you to go, Niko.” Indigo climbed off her bed and moved to stand next to the window, barely registering the sun sparkling off the bay

He couldn’t argue with that. She certainly was entitled to someone from the magical council. And she was smart to say so. Still, he couldn’t resist asking one more question. “Can you just tell me if you have ever seen that woman before?”

She pressed her lips together into a tight line, and for a moment he thought she was going to refuse to answer. But then her shoulders slumped slightly, and she shook her head. “No. I don’t know who spelled her or why or how she ended up in front of my shop.”

He nodded. “That’s what I thought. Will you do me a favor?”

She shrugged one shoulder. “Depends on what it is.”

“Let me know if you see her again… or anyone using that magic.”

Indigo glanced away, but then nodded once. “Now go. I have things to do today before I open the store.”

For some reason he hadn’t imagined her going into work that day, but that was shortsighted since Indigo was a small business owner. Taking time off had to be planned for.

He walked over to her, standing close until she looked up at him. He tucked a lock of her dark hair behind her ear and said, “I’m glad you’re feeling better.”

Indigo searched his gaze, her expression unreadable. Then she lifted up on her toes and gave him a sweet kiss on the cheek. “Thanks for keeping an eye on me.”

“Always,” he said and then left before he lost himself and gave her a kiss she wouldn’t soon forget.