Free Kindling Flames: Flying Sparks (The Ancient Fire Series Book 2) by Julie Wetzel

that he could think of where she wouldn’t endanger others and he could make sure she was safe. She wasn’t going to like his suggestion very much, but he was going to do his best to convince her to say yes.
    Darien slipped into the room to find Vicky studying the weave of the shawl still crumpled in her lap. He could see the uncertainty in her eyes when she looked up.
    “Well, that went better than I expected,” Vicky informed him as he walked around the bed and sat in the chair.
    “Really?” he prompted.
    “I was afraid she would race out here to make sure I’m okay.” Vicky sighed. “But, I was able to convince her to stay at home. Now, I just have to find a place to stay for a while.” She leaned back to rest her head on the pillow as she thought about the problem. “I should call Vanessa tomorrow and see if she still has that spare room.”
    “I have a better idea,” Darien said softly as the corners of his mouth turned up slightly. “My place isn’t far from work. You’re welcome to stay there until you can find something better.”
    Vicky looked at him in surprise. “Do you live there?” she asked.
    “Well, yes,” Darien said, shrugging, “but I promise not to get in your way.”
    Vicky stared at him, openmouthed. “I couldn’t impose on you like that,” she protested. “You’ve already done so much for me.”
    He chuckled a little as he thought about what he had done for her. A little healing didn’t seem like such a big thing when compared to having dumped her into the middle of his world. “I wouldn’t consider it an imposition,” Darien explained. “Anyway, it would be the best place for you at the moment.”
    Confusion crossed Vicky’s face as she pondered his remark. “What do you mean?” she asked.
    “Well…” Darien tried to think of the most delicate way to enlighten her, but there really wasn’t one. “I don’t think the fire in your apartment was accidental. You might be putting your friend in danger if you stayed with her.”
    Vicky’s eyes widened as she grasped her situation.
    “I could offer you some protection, but that requires you to be close.”
    Staring up at the ceiling, Vicky considered her lack of options. The fire probably gutted her apartment, if not the whole building. And she couldn’t go to Vanessa’s if there was a possibility trouble would follow her. There was always a long-term hotel, but, again, whatever had caused the fire might find her there, too. Seeing no other plausible options, Vicky turned to Darien. “An apartment?”
    “Something like that.” Darien shrugged. “But it does have a nice view.”
    Vicky rolled her eyes at him, but she couldn’t see any way around it. “All right,” she agreed. “But just until we find out what caused the fire and I get a new apartment.”
    “As you wish,” Darien agreed. He shifted in his chair so he could pull Michael’s gift from where Vicky had been playing with it. “It’s getting late, and you still have some healing to do before they’ll let you out.” He set the shawl and pin on the backpack next to the bed. “Get under those covers so you can rest.”
    “But I spent most of the day sleeping, and I’m not tired,” Vicky protested as he pushed the button to lower the bed.
    “I’m sure we can take care of that.” Darien pulled the blankets up and tucked her in. He dropped his head to hers, so their foreheads touched. “Sleep.” As he breathed the command, Vicky’s eyes fluttered shut, and she dropped into a deep, relaxing sleep. Pulling back slightly, he placed a kiss where he had touched her. “You are way too susceptible to suggestion.” Darien sighed as he pulled away. “We’ll have to work on that.”
    Picking up the book Vicky had been reading, he dropped himself into the chair next to the bed so he could continue the story as he watched over her.
    ***
    When Vicky woke up, Darien was gone again. The light filtering through the flowers told her the morning was