Page 42 of Flames

By the time I reach the lake, I’m holding fire in both hands. I don’t know how the shield was breached—perhaps whoever the fuck is down there was here before we cast the incantation—but I know they can’t stay.

I emerge from the trees ready to take down the stranger in our midst. Then I stop dead. My mouth drops open.

Kneeling on the grassy sand, head hanging low, clothes torn to shreds is… Sam?

I extinguish my flames and jog over to him. Kneeling in front of him, I reach for his face and turn it to mine. “Sam?” I search his features. Dark curly hair, stubbled jaw, ridiculously good angles, and—peeking out from his torn t-shirt—the silvery scars that tell the story of his years at Spine.

“Luther?” his voice is hoarse like he’s been sucking on ash for the past few days. He frowns at me and moves as if he’s trying to reach out.

I release the restraints, and he rubs his wrists. Then he holds out a shaking finger and uses it to trace the contour of my face. “Luther? This isn’t a memory. It can’t be.” He looks around. “I’ve never been here before.”

With no idea how to answer him, I stand up and yell at the top of my lungs, “Mack! Get out here!”

I don’t know why I’m calling for Mack instead of Nova; perhaps because he might be able to tell me what the fuck I’m looking at; if it really is Sam. Plus, I know his bear hearing will catch my voice over the sound of the falls.

When he appears, as soon as he sees Sam, he runs toward us. With wide eyes, he looks from Sam to me then back again. “What happened?” He touches Sam’s face and shoulders. “How is he here?”

Sam stumbles to his feet. I offer him a hand and steady him as he asks, “Is this real? Am I back? Are you real?”

For perhaps the first time in all the years I’ve known him, Mack is speechless. He rubs his beard, then shakes his head. He paces a circle around Sam, looking him up and down. Then he meets my eyes and says, “What did Tanner do?”

“I have no idea, but we have to tell Nova.”

Mack doesn’t reply.

“We have to tell her, right?” I ask, Sam still leaning heavily on my arm.

Before Mack can answer me, a shrieking sound comes from the direction of the caves. Nova has spotted us. She stands close to the falls, their spray peppering her face and hair. Then she runs.

Sparks fly from her skin and float up into the air as she hurtles toward us. She barely looks at Mack or me, just throws herself at Sam. Letting go of me, Sam wraps his arms around her and holds her close.

“Sam?” She steps back, shaking her head, drinking him in. “How? How is this possible?” Tears well in her eyes, then spill over onto her cheeks. “You’re here? You’re really here?”

Smiling a small smile, Sam says, “Seems like it.”

“We have to show Tanner.” Nova grabs Sam’s hand and pulls. “He has to know what he did.”

“Tanner?” Sam asks, frowning.

“He jumped across dimensions to get you back.” Nova is grinning. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her look so happy. “He did it. He brought you back to me.”

Sam allows Nova to hook his arm around her shoulders and help him toward the falls. Mack and I follow close behind them. I glance at him. His eyes are flashing with their familiar amber glow.

“What are you thinking, Professor?” I ask him.

“I’m thinking that was too fucking easy,” he replies.

29

NOVA

Kole has placed a pan of water in the fire and is spooning coffee into steel mugs. Tanner yawns and nuzzles into my shoulder. He seems better this morning, although I feel like he knows I’m watching him.

“Sugar?” Kole asks, looking at Tanner.

“I’m sweet enough,” Tanner quips.

The warmness between them makes me sigh contentedly, but as soon as the feeling settles in my stomach it is replaced by something else. Something darker, and grittier, and more painful.