Free Kindling Flames: Burning Nights (The Ancient Fire Series Book 6) by Julie Wetzel Page B

survive the transformation.”
    Darien grew stoic as he concentrated on the drive. The pain of the loss burned at his heart as he thought about the woman he had loved. The feel of Vicky’s fingers brushing against his arm pulled him back from the memories. A weak smile worked its way onto his face, and he took a hold of her hand. Lifting it up to his chest, he clutched it to him, taking comfort in her touch. They drove on for a while in silence as Darien thought about how lucky he was. Vicky knew about some of his darkest moments. Things that would make sane people run for their lives, but she was still there. She still loved him. And for that, he would always be grateful.
    Pulling into the parking lot at the airport, Darien shut off the car and turned towards her. “Victoria…” he started, but Vicky raised her hand and pressed it over his mouth, stopping him from speaking.
    “No.” She shook her head as a soft smile slipped onto her face. “No apologies, no explanations. I know what you are and I love you, Darien. That’s enough.”
    Tears burned at the edges of his eyes as he reached up and took Vicky’s hand so he could speak. He pulled it down and watched his thumb slide across her knuckles as he gathered his thoughts. Vicky eased the soul-deep pain that crippled him when he lost his first love. The fact that she could accept his actions without an explanation touched him deeply, but he just couldn’t leave it at that. “Teagan was everything to me.” He glanced up and saw Vicky holding her breath, hanging on his every word. “I tried to give her everything and it backfired. I can heal wounds of the flesh with ease, but when it comes to the mind…” He clutched Vicky’s hand as despair crept into his voice. “I tried everything I could find, but I couldn’t fix her. I had to…”
    “Enough!” Vicky cut him off before he could go on. Folding her wings down her back she surged forwards and wrapped her arms around Darien. She couldn’t take the pain in him anymore.
    Carefully wrapping his arms around her, Darien took her weight and pulled her to him so she sat in his lap between him and the steering wheel. It was a tight fit, but he didn’t care. He needed her close at the moment. Leaning his head over, he rested it against her chest to take comfort in her presence, but hissed in pain as the silver of the cross she was wearing hit his skin. He jerked away from the holy item, but it was too late. His cheek burned as if it were on fire.
    Surprised by his actions, Vicky froze in his arms, not sure what happened. She drew in a sharp breath as she spotted the reddened skin on his cheek. “Darien.” She breathed his name as she reached up to touch the outline of her cross burned into his skin.
    Darien let out the air he was holding in a wry laugh as he relaxed under Vicky’s touch. “It’s all right.” He pulled her hand away from his face and turned to look at the mark in the rearview mirror. “I should have been paying more attention.” Reaching up, he touched the injured skin. The burn wasn’t very bad and should heal quickly. He let out a resigned breath and considered the cross. “Where did you get that thing anyway?” he asked, remembering how much it resembled the cross on his bedroom wall.
    Vicky looked down at the necklace. “Josh gave it to me. He said it came from Lady Aine.”
    “I should have known,” Darien said with a hint of a smile on his face. “Come on.” He patted Vicky on the side as he changed the subject. “It’s getting late and we should get moving.”
    Nodding, Vicky held on to him.
    Popping the driver’s side door open, he eased her out to stand on her own. Following her out of the car, Darien rubbed his hand down her back driving a shiver from her. He would have to do something about those wings tonight. A smile curled his lips as he helped her up into his private jet. There was a huge bed in the back compartment of the plane. He had never really used it, but