by Ella M. Lee
I breathed a sigh of relief, ignoring the pain in my chest. I went back out to the living room, curling myself against Nicolas on the couch. I was shaking from the cold. He put his arm around me, drawing me close to him. I was so dazed that I hardly felt his touch.
“Teng is with Cameron,” I rasped, my hand pressed hard against my chest to stymie the coughing. “Keisha is asleep in her apartment. They are both fine.”
“Good,” Nicolas said. “Thank you for taking care of that. I appreciate it.”
He pulled me upright and made the quick looping motions of a healing spell against my neck. Immediately, the burning and tightness in my chest faded slightly. It was only a light healing, but I had no idea where he had dredged up even the small amount of power needed for it.
“Thank you,” I said.
“No, thank you,” he said, his gaze glowing and intense. “You saved Daniel’s life. If I hadn’t gotten him back to the boat that instant and done triage, he would have died.”
The words sent a jolt of panic through me. That couldn’t be true, could it? My eyes flashed to Ryan, who was off the phone and watching Nicolas and me out of the corner of his eye. His expression was very grave.
Nicolas pulled me back into a fierce embrace. He had changed into dry clothes, but he still smelled like the ocean. I whimpered in pain, and he tensed, his grip turning gentle. It felt like he never wanted to let me go, like he needed to feel me close to him.
I needed that right now, too.
“You’re a watch person, right?” I asked. I held up the watch in my hands, offering it to him. “Is this thing okay?”
He took it, surprised. “Daniel gave you this?”
“He handed it to me on the boat before you guys went below,” I said. “Why?”
“I’ve never seen him leave it with anyone else before. I bought it for him a couple of years ago as a reward for some tricky work he did, and he’s very attached to it,” Nicolas said, examining it closely and turning it over to see the movement through the small window on the back. “It looks fine to me. The straps are easily replaceable if the leather warps. Take care of it, please.”
He handed the watch back to me, and I strapped it onto my wrist, frowning down at it. I was surprised Daniel had given it to me if it was so important to him. I kept my eyes on it as I settled back against Nicolas.
“What happened down there?” I asked.
He cupped my chin in his hand, and I heard his voice in my mind. There were more guards than we expected. We had the element of surprise and managed to get our hands on Farhad quickly. Sylvio had already taken care of the two Smokes guarding him. Daniel and I covered him while he got Farhad out, but we were pinned down with the remaining four of them. One was a lieutenant, and another had superlative suppression skills. Daniel got hit when the suppressor grabbed him and demolished his shield. I killed that one and another in the same blast and got Daniel out. The lieutenant I wounded and left behind.
He paused, shaken.
When I saw you come down the stairs, I thought you were both the smartest and dumbest person I’d ever know. I had to trust that you could handle yourself. I had to choose between you and Daniel.
Nonsense, I thought to him. Daniel was dying. I was alive and well and ready to fight. That’s not even a choice. I would have done the same.
He hesitated. When I got back to the boat, I pumped Daniel full of magic to stymie all the blood loss and sent him through the portal with Sylvio, Farhad, and Keisha to get help. I had already alerted Chandra before we left, and she had tracked down Irina and brought her to us. Teng couldn’t hold the ocean back any longer. I knew you were close, so I dove in to get you, casting my magic out and forcing it to find yours.
I’m glad, I thought. Thank you.
I can’t lose a single one of you. The words were a broken whisper from him. But I especially couldn’t lose you. That was close, far too close.
I let myself sink into him, not wanting to move. I dozed on the couch, noticing not much more than the vague comings and goings of Nicolas’s group members. Nearly dying sucked every time it happened, and it was impossible to fight off my body’s reaction to the stress even with magic.
Sylvio showed up, talking quietly with Ryan and Farhad for a while. Irina left and returned. At one point, Ryan took Nicolas’s place next to me on the couch, resting a comforting hand on my shoulder and later forcing me to eat some of the food Chandra had brought.
After I ate, I dragged myself off the couch and took a seat next to Sylvio at Nicolas’s dining room table. I could barely sit up.
“Thanks,” I whispered. “For taking care of me after we got back.”
He nodded, his eyes serious and intense. Sylvio and I weren’t friends. We weren’t close at all, but we were family now, and he had come through for me and the entire operation. He got up from his chair and clasped my shoulder in his strong hand briefly and affectionately before leaving.
Eventually, Irina and Chandra left for the evening, both of them exhausted. I went into the bedroom to see Daniel, who was still unconscious and pale, but at least he no longer looked dead. They had removed the intravenous line, and he was sleeping peacefully. I took a wet towel to him and wiped more blood off his face and hands.
“Fi,” he said softly, his eyes still closed, startling me.
“Hey, Dan,” I said. “How are you feeling?”
“Like death,” he said, his voice no more than a hoarse whisper.
I grasped his left hand in both of mine. “Irina and Chandra had your back. You’re okay. You’ll be completely healed soon.”
“Awesome birthday. Did we win, at least?” he asked, opening his eyes, the dark circles under them making their mahogany hue even brighter than usual.
“Yeah. Farhad is safe. Everyone is okay. Our family is good,” I said.
I left out my near drowning. No need to add stress to his life right now.
“Good,” he echoed, blinking sleepily.
“Can I hug you, Lieutenant Darling?”
“Please,” he said, smiling slightly.
I gathered him into my arms carefully. His skin was cool and clammy, his breathing still somewhat labored. I held him against me for several minutes, running my hands down his back comfortingly. Moment by moment, he relaxed against me.
“I’m so glad you’re okay,” I said.
He hummed agreement. Gently, I released him, and he settled back down against the pillows with his eyes closed.
“Is Nico here? Can you get him?” Daniel asked in a whisper.
I squeezed his hand one last time. “Yeah, of course.”
Nicolas went immediately to Dan’s side, taking both his hands and leaning in close. Their heads were pressed together as Nicolas spoke quietly in Dan’s ear. He looked more relieved than I had ever seen him, and Dan’s expression was warm and content. I watched them, smiling.
“Fiona,” Ryan said from behind me, distracting me. “I need your report on what happened. You’re the last one, aside from Dan.”
He was working on his laptop at the dining room table, collecting everyone’s stories. He typed my version of events quickly, asking only a few clarifying questions as I spoke.
Farhad watched interestedly from the couch. When I was done, he came to sit at the table.
“Farhad,” he said, holding out his hand. He was a thin, tan man with kind, dark eyes and unruly curly hair.
“Fiona,” I said.
“I hear you’re responsible for saving my life,” he said, “and Daniel’s.”
“Oh…” I said, nervous and thoroughly embarrassed. “Nicolas’s orders, you know.”
“I’m grateful,” he said, then paused. “You don’t even know me.”
“Doesn’t make you any less my family,” I said.
Both he and Ryan smiled at me with affection. I was glad to know them, and even gladder to have these people watching my back, especially after today. I was happy trusting that they would come through for me as I had com
e through for them.
Exhausted and sore, I didn’t remember falling asleep. When I awoke, it was morning, and Nicolas and I were pressed together on the couch. He was asleep, holding me in a warm, tight embrace. I was glad to see his magic was strong and intact. I kissed him lightly and then clambered off the couch, going to the bedroom.
Daniel was sleeping soundly, his breathing easy. I touched his cheek. He was alive. He was okay. That was all I needed to know.
I snuck out to shower, change, and take about half a dozen painkillers. I felt almost back to normal afterward, although my chest was still very tight and sore.
When I returned, Nicolas had also showered and changed and was sitting in the bedroom with Daniel. He was awake, talking quietly, and looked about a thousand times better than yesterday. I stretched out next to Daniel on the bed, quiet and relaxed.
Nicolas left to take a call. Dan and I merely watched one another in the type of silence that had become comfortable between us.
“Fi,” Daniel said eventually, his fingers twined in mine, “I hear you saved my life.”
“Nicolas saved your life. He’s the one who got you out,” I said, meeting his eyes.
“He wouldn’t have managed without you,” Daniel insisted.
I shook my head. “I’m sure it would’ve been fine. All I did was charge in recklessly. Nicolas is probably furious.”
Daniel studied me for a moment. “Take it from someone who has done a lot of charging in recklessly during Nicolas’s operations, he’s not furious. He likes results, by whatever means necessary.”
He paused, his eyes incredibly dark. “Nicolas told me you nearly died.”
I shrugged, my chest feeling tight. “He saved both of us.”
“Don’t you dare die on me, Fi,” Daniel said softly.
“Yes, sir.”
I looked away from his intense gaze. My eyes fell on Dan’s watch. I took it off carefully and wrapped it around his wrist. He smiled faintly. It had the date on it—I noticed it and burst out laughing, my sore chest protesting the harsh movement.
“Happy birthday, Dan,” I said. “Welcome to your twenties.”
“I’m glad Nicolas kept you,” he said, laughing carefully.
I sighed. “Me too.”
Chapter 11
The best part of Water magic was quite possibly its healing abilities. Daniel’s injuries, which would have taken a mortal months to recover from, were healed within twenty-four hours, leaving him merely sore and worn out.
Irina came back as we were finishing breakfast and performed a final pass of healing magic on him.
“Irina, come meet Fiona,” Nicolas said when she was done.
I had been huddled on the couch, attempting to breathe through my chest pain. A night on the couch had made my battered body stiff and tight. I stood up, tense and nervous, twisting my hands in front of me.
“Hello,” I said awkwardly. I glanced at Nicolas, but he merely watched us with narrowed eyes.
Irina came to stand before me. She was tall and slight, with skin as pale as her dyed hair and dark, tilted eyes that indicated she had East Asian blood in her.
“Fiona, hello.” Her words were even more stilted than mine.
I took a deep breath and flinched, eliciting a frown from Irina. “You’re injured,” she said.
I held up a hand. “I’m fine.”
I didn’t want to be indebted to her, didn’t want her to spend time and energy on me. I still felt terrible that I had ruined her life and taken away someone she loved. For some reason, I couldn’t choke out an apology even though I had been able to apologize to almost everyone else.
She pointed at the couch with one finger—a command to sit. I did so, still nervous, and waited while she touched her slender fingers to my throat. Her magic rolled over me, and I could see how much better she was as a healer than Nicolas, or even Ryan. Although they were both competent, Irina’s magic effortlessly formed itself into needle-thin tendrils that healed with the lightest touch.
Her healing only took seconds, and she pulled away from me immediately, standing up and backing away.
“Thank you,” I said.
She glanced at Nicolas before saying, “It’s my job.”
While that wasn’t a friendly statement or even a peace offering, it was an indication that she didn’t want to make trouble, and I was grateful for that.
She left without another word, and Nicolas offered me a grimace and a helpless shrug.
Daniel and I slept for most of the day, side by side, recovering from our healings. Nicolas would occasionally lay next to me, wrapping his arms around me and gathering me against him. Once in a while, I would reach out a hand to touch Daniel, just to make sure he was still there. Nothing made me happier than being caught between them, all of us alive and well.
I was vaguely aware of Nicolas helping Daniel out of bed in the afternoon.
“There’s still a group meeting tonight,” he whispered in my ear, kissing my cheek briefly.
When I woke again, Daniel was on the couch, clean and dressed. His features were locked in a semipermanent wince, but he was otherwise fine. I washed my face and tied my hair up, feeling a little better than earlier. I took several more ibuprofen.
“Nico gave me Vicodin,” Daniel said, a little dazed. “It’s really weird. I’ve never felt like this.”
I laughed, and Nicolas joined me. He was drinking a glass of wine at the counter, looking as relaxed as ever.
“Out of curiosity,” I asked, “was that better or worse than how your emergency operations usually go?”
I had only done a couple of missions in Flame on such short notice. They had gone poorly, but the risks hadn’t been nearly as high as this one.
“Recovery is always difficult, but this was worse than usual. Not the worst I’ve seen, but I’m glad it’s over and we made it through,” Nicolas said. Daniel nodded in agreement.
“I volunteer for the next easy task, please,” I said lightly.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Nicolas said, smiling. “So… want to try walking down the hall, Dan, or shall I carry you?”
“Fuck off,” Daniel said, but his tone was warm and amused.
The atmosphere in the meeting room was far more festive than I thought it should be after such a frightening operation, but I was in the minority with my feelings. Everyone else thought we should celebrate our success, and they were laughing and smiling like it was a party.
Everyone cheered as Dan entered the room, my arm half around him in support. He smiled abashedly and went immediately to Farhad, who enveloped him in a hug. Nicolas went to Farhad after, clasping his arm. I was happy to see that there were no hard feelings on Nicolas’s part. The need for a rescue mission or the costs it had incurred didn’t seem to bother him.
This was my first official group meeting. Two had happened while I was still mortal, so I hadn’t been invited. I sat apart from Nicolas today, letting him have the spotlight. I was still reluctant to have anyone’s attention focused on me.
Daniel came to my large plush chair and squished himself next to me. I put an arm around him, still overjoyed that he was alive. I ran my fingers through his brilliant coppery hair, and he leaned against me, relaxed.
Everyone chatted, settling down in what seemed like usual patterns: Irina with Chandra and Farhad, Athena hovering close to them, Keisha seated with Nicolas tonight, and Cameron and Teng both alone but close to one another. Ryan and Sylvio popped bottles of champagne, and it was hard to not feel cheerful. Daniel and I clinked our glasses together.
“I emailed everyone the operation report,” Teng said, raising his voice over the commotion.
“Please take a minute to read it now,” Nicolas added, but he was smiling at our happiness.
I pulled out my phone, calling up the email application. Teng was sitting next to me, directly to my right. He leaned over, touching my arm with his gloved hand to get my attention. I looked at him, bewildered.
�
�Sorry, Fiona,” he said in a low voice. “I just couldn’t hold the barrier any longer.”
“Oh,” I said, not sure how to respond. “We all made it; that’s what counts.”
“I didn’t want you to think…” He paused, hesitant.
“Think what?” I asked.
“I, uh, didn’t want you to think I did it on purpose,” he finished.
“What? No! Of course I didn’t think that,” I said, and truly, the thought hadn’t crossed my mind. “It was a tough operation. You parted the fucking ocean. What more could any of us have asked for?”
“Yeah,” he said, draining his glass. “I’m glad you came through.”
I didn’t know if he meant he was glad I was alive or he was glad I had helped, or something else entirely. I didn’t ask.
“Thanks for bringing me to my apartment yesterday,” he said after another moment, staring at his tablet.
“No problem, bro. You’re family.”
His eyes slid to mine, incredulous. After an awkward pause, he smiled slightly. I smiled weakly in return. There were worse people to have goodwill from than Teng, even if he was a little unhinged at times.
I opened the report he had emailed us. It looked very official, with dates, times, and succinct summaries. It looked like all of the other reports I had read from Nicolas’s operations, but I was impressed, nonetheless. We’d never had anything like this in my group within Flame.
I scanned the screen, my eyes going over most of the words without seeing them. I had been there, after all, and I wasn’t ready to relive some of it. Occasionally a riveting phrase caught my eye.
Farhad was captured [...] shackled [...] beaten and interrogated for several hours prior to projected move time [...] did not reveal mission, identity, or group.
Daniel [...] sustained life-threatening injuries [...] two broken ribs [...] fifteen-inch laceration [...] stopped breathing for approximately two and a half minutes.
Fiona took over sweep position […] allowing Nicolas to get Daniel back to the rendezvous…
