Page 56 of Wild Fires

I shrugged. “I can't feel it.”

“At all?”

I shook my head.

“How is that even possible?”

I shrugged again. “How can Andrew move water? And how do any of us use our powers?”

“I can't stand by and watch you go through that again. It would kill me.”

My heart sunk even though I'd been bracing to hear it all day.

Mine! my raven protested, sending a stabbing pain through my chest.

Did he really not feel the bond between us?

“I'm sorry,” he said before he turned, shifted, and flew away.

Somehow, I managed to walk over to the couch and sit down, then I picked up the container of melting ice cream and shoved a big spoonful into my mouth.

I wanted so badly to go after him, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it.

He actually rejected me.

I expected it, knew it was coming, but damn it hurt worse than I could imagine. I was pretty sure that actually burning alive wouldn't hurt this much.

*****

There had been no point in going to work when I was drunk and wallowing, but the next day I picked myself up, showered, and went back to the firehouse.

“What are you doing here?” Clarence asked.

“Reporting for duty. My apologies for not making it back in last night. Were there any issues?”

“None. Did you and Ryan get a chance to investigate the house fire yesterday?”

“No sir. I'm sorry but Ryan and I will no longer be working together.”

“The hell you won’t. I know he can be a bit difficult to work with sometimes, but I need you to try. He's actually very good at this sort of thing.”

“The best,” I agreed.

“Then what's the problem?”

“I cannot work with that man.”

He huffed. “Well damn it Gracie, you're going to have to try harder.”

“But I'm not even on restriction anymore. Send someone else to deal with him.”

“No. You've come this far. You're just going to have to see it through.”

“But . . .”

“No buts, and I'm not taking no for an answer. This is an order, Gracie. I don’t care about whatever beef you have with the mayor. You're just going to have to suck it up until we break this case. Ravenden PD is all over it, but this is arson. That's our territory. I need this case solved and this arsonist found before someone really gets hurt.”

“You mean unlike me,” I muttered.