57.

Farren nodded, his face pale. "Yeah, I had plenty of time to get out."

"What you did with that fire was just amazing," Dan gushed.

"Thanks."

"Why didn't you put it out before?" Dean asked.

"I can't put out flames if I'm in the middle of it all. I have to see the entire scope of the fire before I can do anything." Farren swayed a bit on his feet.

Dan wrapped an arm around him. "I've got you."

"Thanks, it's been a bitch of a day." He waved to Dan's brothers. "Dean, Devin, how are you doing?"

"We were trying to stop Dan from running into a burning building," Devin growled.

Farren turned wide eyes to Dan. "You weren't planning on rushing in there to save me, were you? You told me you had limited fire ability."

When put like that it sounded more foolish than heroic. "I wanted to make sure you were all right." Dan argued as everyone watched him like he was an idiot.

Farren threw himself at Dan who happily caught him. "I've never had anyone worry about me before."

The fire wizard's whispered confession stabbed Dan in the heart. He couldn't imagine a world where no one cared about his safety. He usually had to find a way to get his brothers to back off.

"I'll always come for you," Dan vowed. A wind whipped up around them, a spooky emphasis of Dan's words as if the gods were spying on them and wanted to have their say.

Farren kissed Dan on the cheek. "Thanks."

The four of them watched the firemen enter the building to check for people. Some of the senior wizards rushed forward to assess the damage. At least that's what Dan thought they were doing. He couldn't hear them from where he stood.

"I wonder what started the fire," Dan mused. "I checked your building's spell refresh when I went downstairs last time. It had been renewed a month ago."

"Huh. That doesn't make any sense." Farren frowned. "It shouldn't have caught fire."

"No it shouldn't have." If the spells were up to code the entire building should've been safe from fire. "Only a powerful, magically-induced fire could've bulldozed through the protection, and none of the students have that skill.

58.

"Something is destroying the wards," Farren said, barely loud enough for Dan to hear him.

"Like what? The only thing strong enough to break a fire protection curse is a djinn, and they don't exist anymore," Dean said.

"Come on, babe, you can spend the night at our dorm." Dan wrapped an arm around Farren and pulled him close. It was starting up again. The sensation in his bones whispering that bad magic was in the air. Of the three of them, Dan was the most sensitive to psychic vibrations. He didn't know what was coming, but instinct had him wanting to protect his lover from any harm. The magic had an ominous, shivery feel that made Dan want to hide Farren in a truckload of protective spells. He didn't worry for himself, but he was beginning to obsess over Farren's health.

The man wrapped in his arms brought all of Dan's protective instincts out.

"I don't want to impose," Farren objected.

"No, it's fine," Dean and Devin rushed to reassure Farren.

Dan smiled. His brothers were the best.

"I should call Maddox and make sure he has some place to stay." Farren rubbed his arm.

"He's over with the firefighters, he's safe. They'll make sure he's not homeless," Devin said.

Farren must've been more tired than Dan had suspected because he didn't argue.

Farren nodded his agreement. Dan noticed the snake on Farren's arm glowed a deep blue.

Had the little reptile protected Farren from harm?

Farren let Dan take him to the other dorm and into their room with little fuss. The thought of sleeping wrapped around Farren appealed to him. If Farren stayed with them longer he'd shove the two beds together for more room. Tonight Farren was too exhausted from the fire and whatever else had happened. His face was gaunt from strain.

"You can stay here for a few days until they find you a new dorm. Even if your room wasn't destroyed, the smell of soot will be strong enough they'll have to put some spell bombs in there and it'll take a bit for them to dissipate."

"Thanks. I really appreciate you guys letting me stay here."

59.

"No problem," Devin said. "I only ask that if you jump my brother's bones you do it where I can't see or hear it, or I might be scarred for life."

Farren laughed. "I'll be careful to jump him where you can't see."

"If you want to take a shower, there are clean towels in the cupboard." Gnome servants popped in and out, supplying them with clean linen and dropping off breakfast. Jay had a deal with the gnomes to service the triplet's room since he had more gnomes than he had jobs to keep them busy.

"Thanks. I'd like that. I can still smell the smoke in my clothes." Farren's nose scrunched up delightfully. Dan resisted kissing it. Farren was freaking adorable, but Dan didn't want to put up with his brother's teasing. If they embarrassed Farren too much he might not want to stay.

Dan dug into his dresser and handed over a pair of sweats and a T-shirt. "Here, these will be a little big, but they won't stink. Put your clothes in the hamper. The gnomes will clean them."

"Cool, gnome service!" Farren grinned. The first smile Dan remembered seeing on Farren's face in a while.

What could be troubling his lover? Farren had begun frowning more after the first fire.

Dan stretched his memory to remember the last time he'd seen Farren happy. Not since they'd last spent the night together.

"Go get your shower." Dan nudged Farren to the bathroom and closed the door behind him. He went to the common area to join his brothers. He flopped down in his favourite chair. Dean and Devin sat on the couch.

"There's something going on with him," Devin said.

Dan nodded. "Yeah, I don't know what, but that's the second fire recently where Farren was close to it when it started."

"And he's a fire mage," Devin prompted.

Dean shook his head. "I don't get the impression that he's responsible. He appeared right out of the flames but looked as surprised as we were that it was on fire."

"Keep an eye on him, Dan," Devin said, his eyes on the closed bathroom door. "I have a feeling this isn't the end of it. Maybe he has magic he isn't aware of. Not all mages are in control of their abilities."

60.

Dan silently agreed, but anything he said might be construed as agreement of Farren's guilt. He wouldn't condemn Farren without further proof. "We'll see."

61.

Chapter Six.

Farren couldn't get clean. The water poured down on him, but the smell of smoke and burning building didn't fade. He'd used his power to subdue the fire outside the dorm rooms. He hoped no one had seen his work. If this kept up he'd be exposed quicker than if he shouted his djinn roots in the middle of the quad.

He'd spent several minutes making sure everyone got out of there safely. Too many random fires had occurred in buildings that should've been protected. Farren knew accusations would start to fly soon and who better to blame than a fire mage who had a bit more magic than anyone had expected.

Dan.

Tears dripped down Farren's face. He wished the dark-haired mage were in the shower with him. He ached to be held at that moment. He might not deserve it, but Farren wanted comfort. The fire snake slid from Farren's wrist then curled around his body. The itch from the scales across his skin was driving him mad.

"Could you please stop moving?"

A steamy fog filled the shower stall. His skin burned as the snake slid off Farren's chest and swirled around his ankles. The fire serpent blazed around the drain, steam wafted up from where the water touched the flaming snake.

"What are you doing? Are you going to vanish like most avatars?"

Farren jolted when the snake's voice slipped into his mind.

"I must remain with you. It is the only way I can guard you all the time. You are precious to my father. As one of the few remaining djinn, the great Xiuhcoatl has declared you one of his children. I am not just your avatar, but your spirit protector."

Farren sighed. The honour of being beloved by a god was going to get him kicked out of school and lonely, once Dan dumped him for being a snake-wearing freak.

He turned off the water. "Maybe you can stay off me at night. I don't think I can sleep with you sliding across me."

62.

Not to mention he didn't want Dan to rub his hand against the serpent and accidentally set it in motion. Anything besides Dan was one too many creatures in his bed.

The serpent slithered up the side of the tub, apparently able to stick to anything. "I have bonded with you, we are now one. I will always look out for you, Farren, leader of the djinn."

Farren shivered at the title. Goose bumps travelled up his spine.

"I'm not a leader." Farren struggled to find the words to convince the reptile. "I can't even control my family. Besides, there aren't many of us left. You said that yourself.

Wouldn't I have to have someone to lead?"

The snake hissed. It took a moment for Farren to realise the creature was laughing.

"There will be more. They are scattered. Both fire mages and djinn will be drawn to you. You will lead them all to a new understanding. You will be their mentor and their policeman. Without you, the species will die out from self-destruction and your kind will truly be no more."

"Why does your father care?"

"Because djinn are one of the few that can understand the power of the flame. Only those who create and manipulate fire can truly appreciate a fire god."

It made a kind of frightening sense. Farren could understand why Xiuhcoatl would want to support Farren if it would encourage a larger worshipping base. Gods grew their power with the quantity of their acolytes. If all the fire people died out, the fire snake god would vanish too.

"What can I do?" Farren grabbed a towel from the cabinet under the sink and briskly dried off.

"There is nothing to do now. You will have to make some choices that will determine the path of the djinn and all other fire makers. I will help where I can, but you must be the one who leads. I am only an advisor not a leader."

Great now he had a scaly Yoda to run his life.

"I don't think I'm the right person for this job," Farren confessed.