Page 6 of Crimson Skies

“Prospecting?” He stared. “You mean, the guy’s looking for gold? Like in the Old West?”

“Like I said, he’s special.”

The gully gradually widened. Shallow puddles appeared underfoot. They soon merged to form a stream.

They found Jethro Wallace near a pebbly shoreline, two miles up the creek. The mage had his back to them and was knee deep in the water where the riverbed curved east. His prospecting pan glided in the currents as he moved it expertly from side to side.

“By the way, there’s something I need to tell you about Jethro,” Suzie mumbled guiltily.

Zach narrowed his eyes slightly. He could tell from the way the witch was carefully avoiding his gaze that he wasn’t going to like what she was going to say.

“Jethro is my ex.”

The demon clenched his jaw.I knew it!

“Your ex? As in, your ex-lover?”

Suzie scratched her cheek. “Hmm, yeah.”

Zach didn’t realize he’d unleashed his demonic powers until a low rumble made the gully quake. The horses huffed and danced agitatedly. Suzie startled and looked around.

A surprised yelp left Wallace as the stream receded around him. “What the—?!”

A six-foot wall of water shot around the corner of the arroyo. Wallace cursed and bolted for the shoreline. The air shimmered around him as he raised a shield of wind magic. The deluge crashed over the translucent barrier.

The force of the impact knocked the mage into the shallows.

The flash flood ended just as rapidly as it had formed, the dying surge sloshing around their nervous horses’ legs. Suzie gave Zach a sharp look.

The demon shrugged, unabashed. “It’s not like I did it on purpose.”

Wallace removed his soaking hat and gave it a squeeze. He looked around at the sound of their approach. Surprise widened his eyes. He climbed hastily to his feet.

“Suzie?!”

Zach didn’t miss the overfamiliarity in the guy’s voice. They stopped their horses on the shallow embankment where Wallace stood.

Suzie jumped down from her mount. “Hey, Jethro.”

The mage beamed and made his way toward her, unheeding of the water dripping from his clothes and sloshing out of his galoshes. He picked Suzie up by the waist and whirled her around.

“Suzie Poo! It’s good to see you again! What are you doing here, my saucy little minx?”

Zach’s shoulders knotted.Suzie Poo?!

His eyes shrank to slits when Wallace slid Suzie down his body and promptly kissed her. The witch wrenched her mouth free and extricated herself from her ex-lover’s arms.

“We’re not in that kind of relationship anymore, Jet,” she admonished. “Besides, your clothes are drenched.”

Wallace appeared suitably contrite at that. “Did you see that flash flood just now? That was weird, right?”

Suzie wrinkled her nose and glanced at Zach.

Wallace followed her gaze. “And who might this gentleman be?”

“My name is Zach Mooney.” He dismounted and walked over to stand next to Suzie. “I’m her boyfriend.”

Wallace straightened at his cool tone and territorial stance. At six foot three, he matched Zach in height. Wind magic pulsed faintly around him as he assessed the demon with a guarded stare.

---