“Supernatural beings with affinities for the elements.” He sounded so nonchalant, as if this type of topic were discussed every day. “Ophelia was a Spirit Fae, like me. And—”
“Spirit Fae?” I repeated. “What the hell does that mean?”
“A fae who connects with life and death.” He balanced on one arm, lifting his palm. “Try not to freak out.”
“Okay…”
He eyed me for a long moment, then refocused on his hand. It glowed, energy shivering over my skin, as a gorgeous lily appeared, blossoming into the size of my head, with big white petals.
“How did you do that?” I marveled, awed.
“Life,” he said, tucking the flower stem behind my ear. “You, too, have access to the same gift. And with time, I’ll teach you how to use it.”
Uh, right. He’d lost me again.
“You’re saying I can do that?”
“Yes,” he confirmed. “In addition, it seems, to several other things.” He stared down at me for a long moment, his gaze dropping to my mouth before flicking back up to my eyes. “I’m going to roll off of you now. Can you try to stay calm?”
He really enjoyed that word. Calm. Relax. Breathe. “Sure.” I could feign calm if it kept the crazy man content.
A flower just blossomed in his fucking hand.
And I’m in a room shrouded in… forest.
I pinched my side again.
Nothing.
This can’t be real.
But it certainly felt real.
“You’re not dreaming,” he said softly, clearly catching my not-so-subtle pinch.
I slid away from him, bracing my back against the tree—yes, a fucking tree—in the center of the room. “Fae Realm.”
“Yes.” He drew his knees upward, wrapping his forearms around them. “I know it’s a lot to take in, and you still don’t believe me, but you’ll see.”
“And if I want to go home?”
He shook his head. “You can’t, Claire. Your powers are too much for the mortal realm. You destroyed that bar.”
My brow furrowed. “What bar? When? I don’t…” A vision tickled my thoughts. One of him in his leather jacket, sitting on a stool, his lips a hairsbreadth from mine. And then flames, like the ones that had adorned his back only moments ago, encircling us and expanding. “No… That… No.” That couldn’t have happened. It couldn’t be real. “Tell me…” I paused, swallowing. “Tell me that’s not… Tell me it didn’t…” But I felt the truth of it somewhere deep inside, heard the reminiscent screams as everyone bolted into the night.
Oh God…
“Tell me I didn’t…” I couldn’t finish, my hand covering my mouth. Rick, Brittany, Amie…
“I’m sorry,” the stranger whispered, his expression one of sorrow. “Your power burst out of you too suddenly for me to anticipate. I tried to save as many of them as I could, but the destruction was too much.”
“I destroyed the bar?” I whispered.
He hung his head, as if he blamed himself. “Yes.”
“And my friends?”
His eyes lifted to mine, the answer lurking in his gaze.