Page 122 of Fire Dancer

The sharp edges of the fire grew softer — almost liquid — and a sleek body leaped out of the blue heart of the flames.

“Dolphin!” Claire clapped in delight.

Everyone grinned. Over the past few weeks, Claire had moved on from pegasi to marine wildlife.

With a flick of his hands, Greg sent the dolphin leaping high into the night sky. Mike helped by whipping up swirling clouds that mimicked the ocean, and the edges sparkled like seafoam, lit by starlight.

Everyone oohed and aahed, and Nash and I exchanged wide-eyed glances. We had definitely found our way into one crazy, lovable family.

It was like Erin liked to say. A very functional dysfunctional family. Right down to the shifters and warlocks.

When the dolphin faded, Greg lowered his hands and coaxed a new one out of the fire.

“Help me, sweetheart,” he murmured, keeping his eyes on the image he’d created.

Pippa raised her hands and stared into the fire, waiting. Catching the beat, almost, the way kids did before hopping into a rotating jump rope.

And,whoosh!Another dolphin rose out of the fire to join Greg’s, and the pair spun around each other, spiraling up into the universe.

“Wow,” Abby breathed.

Everyone was rapt, including me. I did drag my eyes away from the fire long enough to glance at Pippa, though. Her cheeks glowed, reflecting the firelight, and the smile on her face was a thing of beauty.

My chest rose with a happy sigh. She’d always dreamed of harnessing powers like her father’s.

Finally, I feel complete,she’d said earlier.

Me too,I nearly whispered.Me too.

The dolphins put on a show better than that in any Orlando theme park, leaping, flipping, and spinning. How Greg andPippa pulled off the watery illusion within a blazing fire was beyond me, but it was amazing.

Watching them at work was equally entertaining. I loved how Pippa’s lips tightened in concentration and how she lifted or dropped her eyebrows while guiding the dolphins’ movements.

For the grand finale, Greg took over both dolphins while Pippa juggled her hands, tossing fire from one to the other. Then she waved her arms, releasing a ring of fire for the dolphins to spiral through.

“Wow,” Abby murmured.

“Incredible.” Erin shook her head in amazement.

“I want to be a Fire Dancer when I grow up,” Claire announced.

“So do I,” Nash murmured, only half joking.

Magic. Like being with you,Pippa whispered into my mind. Then she blurtedWhoops!and saved her careening dolphin.

“Nothing’s going to top that,” Nash murmured as they wrapped up the show.

I agreed, but then again, I’d entertained that sentiment many times over the past few weeks, and I would bet Pippa would go on surprising me for… Well, forever.

She chuckled into my mind.I’m game if you’re game.

I grinned. This was my life now, and it couldn’t be more perfect.

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