Ty was going to kill the man who’d done this to her.
Her eyes swung to his, as did Dr. Johnson’s.
Ben Johnson was the paranormal go-to doc in town. He and his team knew about supernatural creatures and how to treat them — and how to keep secrets off the charts. “Evening, Ty.”
“Ben.” Ty nodded as he crossed to Mara, taking her hand. “How are you?”
She smiled weakly. “Better than I was.”
Ty held her hand and turned to the doctor. “What happened to her?”
“Arsenic poisoning.”
“What?” Stunned, he shook his head. “How?”
“A man sent a drink over to me. I took several sips — and then my mouth and esophagus were burning.”
Dr. Johnson said, “She’ll be all right. It was a small dose. If she’d drunk the entire glass, she might not still be around, at least not without drastic measures like hemodialysis to clean the arsenic out of her bloodstream before it could bind with the tissues. But we were able to give her a blood transfusion and a magical tincture. She’ll be fine, with no residual negative effects. We do want to keep her overnight, though. Just to make sure.”
“I’ll stay here with her,” Ty announced.
Dr. Johnson nodded his approval. “We have her on chelation therapy. All that means is that the chelation drug counteracts the remaining arsenic, which the body then excretes through the urine.”
“But she’ll be okay?” Ty asked.
“Yes. Definitely. She wouldn’t be if she were human — she could have nerve and other damage — but this young lady tells me she’s a Swan Maiden, with some magic of her own. I expect she’ll be fine by morning.”
Relief washed through Ty. He couldn’t let anything else happen to Mara. He was going to call Kea and ask for someone to fill his shift.
Dr. Johnson touched Mara’s other arm. “I’ll be back to check on you later, young lady.”
Mara gave a weak smile. “Thank you.”
Next Ben touched Ty’s shoulder. “Glad you’re here with her. The orderlies will be by shortly to transport her up to a room for the night.”
Ty nodded.
As the doctor slipped from behind the curtain, Ty lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it. “I can’t stand the thought of you being harmed. I want to keep you safe.”
She smiled at him and squeezed his hand lightly. “Thank you, Ty.”
“You said this man who took your coat wants you to marry him, right?”
“I don’t know. That’s what I thought, but why would he want to hurt me, possibly kill me, now?”
“I don’t know.” He felt his lungs begin to contract, and he drew in several quick, small breaths — something he’d learned would at least postpone the fire — and felt it subside.
After a moment of silence, he said, “Will you marry me?”
She looked stunned. “What?”
“Hear me out before you answer.”
She nodded, looking unsure.
“I want to marry you to protect you. I know you don’t love me, and I’m proposing a platonic relationship. Unless you decide later you’d like it to be a marriage for real. We’ll continue to search for your coat and, as soon as we find it, we’ll get our marriage annulled, if that’s what you want. I don’t want you to think that I’m forcing you into a marriage. I know you don’t want that. I don’t want to force you into anything.”
She tilted her head, not speaking.
The uncertainty on her face tore his heart. “I care about you very much, Mara. You know I do. I have to protect you. As my wife, you will have the protection of the community, as well. People will watch out for you. I can’t think of anything else to do. I can’t be with you all the time, though I am going to take a few days off to be with you. We can go to the courthouse as soon as you’re well enough, in a few days.”
He closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath. He wanted her to marry him more than he’d ever wanted anything in his long, long life. And he would do his very best to woo her so that, even if they did find her coat, she’d want to stay with him. Because letting her go would be the hardest thing he ever did. He didn’t know if he had the strength to let go of his greatest treasure.
When he opened his eyes, he found her smiling at him.
“What?” he asked.
“If it will truly be a platonic arrangement that I can leave after we find my coat, then yes. I will marry you.”
He laughed and leaned over until his forehead rested gently on hers. “I will take care of you.”
“I know you will.” She patted his cheek.
And he kissed her. Gently. Oh, so gently.
And his lungs contracted again.
He jumped up and called out, “I’ll be back,” as he raced from the room, then from the hospital, into the parking lot, and the flame blasted into the night sky.
He really needed to get control of that.
And then he laughed.
She’d said yes.
He was going to marry his Flame.
Section 1239 of the Supernatural Constitutional Code
A LOT COULD HAPPEN IN two days.
Mara was released from her overnight hospital stay on Tuesday. Ty took her back to Walter’s house so people wouldn’t gossip. Walter had fed her well and he and Ty had entertained her with games of chess, stories of amazing historical events, and even companionable silence.
On Wednesday, Ty had totally surprised her. He’d invited a wedding dress designer to visit. Emily Osmond — a distant relative of the famous singers, who definitely had the smile, but with fangs. And Emily had come trailing a dress rack holding twenty wedding dresses in various styles.
Mara’d looked through them all — gorgeous flowing dresses, some with tight bodices, some more fluttery. They were beautiful, but none had spoken to her. Then she reached the last one — and fell in love.
The bodice was beaded, and the skirt was made out of … “Swan feathers,” Mara whispered.
She looked at Ty, who was looking at her as though she was the most beautiful woman in the world. “Did you ask her to bring this one?”
“I told her you were partial to feathers.”
Emily smiled. “Swan feathers were a thing last year and I happened to have this one left over. I think it will be perfect for you. Try it on. I’ll make alterations as needed and have it ready for you for tomorrow’s big event.”
After Ty left the bedroom, Mara had tried it on. When she turned, Emily gasped. “It’s absolutely stunning on you.”
Mara looked into the mirror. It wasn’t her coat, but it did look amazing. She looked amazing. Almost like the Swan Maiden she was. “I love it,” she said, her voice thick with emotion.
Emily started pinning until the dress fit her perfectly. They stared into the mirror together and smiled at each other.
“Thank you,” Mara said.
“I want to see,” Ty called from the other room.
Emily grinned and called back. “Not before the wedding.”
Then she’d taken the rack full of dresses, including the swan feather dress. Ty lifted the rack into her modified van, and she’d driven off.
He’d come in, looking satisfied with himself.
She hugged him. “Thank you. That dress is perfect.”
He looked surprised and then settled his arms around her. “I can’t wait to see it tomorrow.”
She pulled back and looked up at him.
Things were moving too fast. She was going to be married to him tomorrow.
Married.
She needed to call her family and tell them. Or maybe not. After all, this was not a real marriage. It was a marriage of protection. A platonic marriage, to be annulled later.
No. She’d not call them for that.
Ty looked as though he’d like to kiss her, but she pulled farther away.
Platonic. He’d said platonic.
Later that evening, Ty sat on Walter’s back porch and watched Mara as she studied
the stars. When Walter turned on romantic music, he chuckled and she turned to him. “Walter is match-making, isn’t he?”
“He thinks we’re marrying for love.”
She looked back at the stars.
He would never get tired of watching her. He could hardly wait to see her in the feather dress. Who knew there was even such a thing? But he was glad there was.
His lungs contracted and he took two short breaths.
Mara turned to look at him. “Are you okay?”
He lifted his hands. “It stops the flame. Sometimes.”
“Oh. That’s good. You’re learning to control it.”
He nodded. “It doesn’t always work.”
“Well, try not to singe any wedding guests tomorrow.” She looked at him. “We won’t have wedding guests, will we? Just the people at the courthouse?”
“Actually,” he said with a smile, “my fire chief, Kea, has arranged with his big Polynesian family to host the wedding and a big party afterward. And you’ll never guess where it will be.”
“You’re right.” She laughed. “I won’t.”
“The unicorn ranch.”
“Really?” She smiled. “That’s kind of magical. Do they do parties out there often?”
“One of the buildings is a reception hall, with balconies overlooking the unicorns.”
“Wow.”
He’d have to remember to thank Kea and his extended family. Ty suspected they had a huge, delicious luau planned.
Mara’s faux wedding day was perfect.
The sun rose warm. By 1:00 PM the temperature was in the 60s, and she looked fabulous in her swan feather dress.
Ty had been sent to the unicorn ranch earlier so he couldn’t see the dress. Emily and Audrey climbed into the backseat on either side of Mara, and Walter pulled out onto Unicorn Trail, turning left and heading east out of town toward the unicorn ranch.
Walter occasionally glanced back and smiled.
Emily said, “I’m so glad you’re letting me be your impromptu wedding planner, too. Thanks. This is an honor.”
“Wearing this dress is an honor,” Mara said, smoothing some of the white feathers on her lap.
Audrey said, “And I feel honored to be your bridesmaid. Or Maid of Honor. What am I, exactly?”
“You’re my best friend in town — and you, Emily are another one. Thanks for being here with me. I’m really quite nervous.”
“Don’t be,” Emily said. “You’re marrying one of the most eligible bachelors in town and he’s obviously smitten with you. You’ll definitely have a happy ever after.”
Until her coat was found. Then Mara would find out if he would be like other men and keep her coat, or if he would let her go. She should be happy, but it felt too much like she was giving up her freedom to a man who she very much cared for, but who might still prove to be untrustworthy.
Audrey said, “And he’s so good looking. Swoony.”
Mara smiled. “He is that.”
Walter drove along Unicorn Trail, taking them out of the residential section of town onto a more rural road, still paved but now amid fields and farmhouses.
Then a white vinyl rail fence — with two horizontal white posts between to keep in the unicorns — stretched forever.
They reached an arch lettered with: Hooves and Horns Unicorn Ranch.
Walter turned right under the arch. As they drove past fences and pastures and trees on both sides of the road, they came upon more signs:
Our Focus is Health, Healing, and Happy Endings.
Petting Zoo. Gait Work. Emotional Healing. Unicorn Rides. Magical Reception Center.
“Wow. They do a lot out here. I’m surprised.”
Emily nodded. “I work with Melodia a lot on weddings out here, so I’ve gotten to know her. She works with kids with special needs — those who’ve been abused, those who have trouble walking. Turns out that riding on a horse — or a unicorn — replicates the motion of a body walking and helps them get back to a healthy gait.”
“That’s cool.”
They approached three final signs:
What are little girls made of? Sugar and spice and everything nice.
What are little boys made of? Snips and snails and puppy dog tails.
What are unicorns made of? Hooves and horns and sunlit morns.
And then Mara gasped as she caught sight of the unicorns in the pastures alongside the road and back in the forested areas. They were so much more beautiful up close than when flying overhead.
They were gorgeous white creatures with glistening horns, and colorful manes in pastel pinks, purples, and blues, and all the shades in between.
Unicorns.
Real, live, honest-to-goodness unicorns.
“Wow,” she whispered.
They pranced and reared and looked like wild creatures.
Some of them began racing along the fence with them. Walter laughed.
“What’s so funny?” Mara asked.
Walter coughed out, “They only come willingly to maidens. Ty will be happy to know this.”
Audrey rolled her eyes. “Hey, buddy. There are three of us back here.”
“What?” Mara asked, confused.
Emily touched her hand and shook her head. “Unicorns only come willingly to maidens.” She leaned closer and whispered, “Virgins.”
“Oh.” Mara felt herself blushing.
Yes, Ty would be happy — if they were going to consummate their wedding night. But this was a totally platonic relationship. Between two individuals who couldn’t seem to keep their hands to themselves.
Piece of cake. Wedding cake.
Ty paced the balcony of the Magical Reception Center. He barely noticed the amazing creatures prancing in the pastures directly before him.
Finally! They were coming!
He watched Walter’s car as it approached.
Ty stopped and took hold of the railing. He could hardly wait to see Mara in that amazing dress. The swan feather dress. This might be the closest he ever came to seeing her wearing swan feathers, except for the one on her necklace.
He would keep helping her search, though. It was his new mission in life. That, and keeping her happy enough to want a real marriage with him.
This platonic thing was going to be difficult, but he’d promised her.
Some of the unicorns in the pasture began to prance alongside the fence, keeping pace with the car, and he couldn’t help but smile.
He knew swans mated for life, once they were true mated, so he’d suspected.
She was truly his treasure, and he would keep her safe.
He watched as they parked, and the women slid out elegantly.
And there she stood — his own Swan Princess, the most magical being on this ranch.
And she was all his.
His heart pounded, his breath caught in his throat, and he didn’t even try to keep the eruption of flame from coming. He raised his arms and sent a blast high over the heads of the unicorns, who stopped what they were doing and stared up at him.
Emily hurried Mara inside so Ty wouldn’t catch sight of her.
Soft romantic music played overhead.
Once in the bride’s room, Mara studied herself in the mirror while Emily adjusted the dress.
Her swan dress. It was beautiful. Not as beautiful as the real thing, but she had to learn to deal with the loss.
The emptiness, the non-ache, was worse than the ache she’d felt for thirty years. There was just numbness where her feather sense used to be.
Forget the coat, she told herself. This is a happy day. At least we need to make sure it looks like it is.
She was happy to be marrying Ty. More happy than was probably wise.
She studied the elegant lines of the bodice, and then the flowing skirt of white feathers.
Audrey smiled at her. “He’s going to be blown away when he sees you.”
Hopefully he wouldn’t set fire to anything. This was a nice place. Mara smiled. “I cer
tainly hope so.”
Emily checked Mara’s face, and pulled out a lipstick, dabbing it on her lips. “There. You look really nice.”
There was a knock on the door. It was the photographers, the owner and manager of Dorian Gray Photography — Marigold Connolly and Mara’s bar friend, Herb Tobolowsky. After Herb introduced her to Marigold, a lovely woman in a colorful, flowing dress, the two set up their cameras and started clicking away.
The music overhead stopped, and then the familiar bridal march music began.
Emily smiled and nudged Mara forward. “You’re on.”
As they walked out of the bride’s room, Mara wondered aloud, “Who’s going to walk me down the aisle?”
Walter turned from the window, smiled, and held out his arm. “I am.”
A flood of affection for the studious man filled her. She took his arm and squeezed it. “Thank you, Walter. I love you.”
“Better not let Ty hear you say that. I value my life.”
She giggled. Actually giggled. Oh, dear. That wasn’t a good thing.
Emily said, “All right. Through these double doors. Audrey and I will follow you up.”
The doors opened — and Mara was amazed to find the room entirely full of people! Here for her wedding!
For Ty’s wedding, she corrected herself. These people didn’t know her, but they knew and respected him.
Marigold swung around and took a picture of her and Walter, as Herb moved farther up the aisle to station himself for good shots.
Ty had thought of everything, and she felt a flash of affection for him.
She smiled and clung to Walter’s arm. He whispered, “You’ll be fine. Relax.”
Relax. Okay. Yeah. Relax.
Interspersed between werewolves, fae, and vampires in sunproof gear were a large number of Polynesian folks, and she remembered that Ty’s fire chief was from the islands. She felt wrapped up in their goodwill and even love.
Step. Pause. Step. Pause. As she settled into the rhythm of the steps, she did begin to relax. And then she saw Tyberius Thrakos standing there in a black tuxedo with a pink cummerbund.
He had eyes only for her and her heart pounded in her chest. She yearned for him.
The Fireman Finds His Flame Page 7
