Page 14 of Solar Bound
In that moment, with fire dancing between them, Dani felt a strange certainty.
This man understood fire in a way no one else in her life ever had.
The music pulsed through the bar as Dani transitioned from poi to fire fans, the flames creating sweeping arcs of light. Each movement was precisely choreographed, perfected through years of practice. The heat caressed her skin, a familiar companion, as she manipulated the fire with the confidence of someone who had tamed a wild thing.
But tonight felt different. The flames seemed more responsive, more alive. She risked a glance at Solar between movements. His attention never wavered. He leaned forward, elbows on the table, golden eyes reflecting the fire with an intensity that made her skin tingle. Was it her imagination, or was his skin actually glowing beneath his loose-fitting shirt?
As she moved into the most challenging part of her routine, Dani felt a surge of adrenaline. She wanted to impress him. Reaching for her fire staff, she spun it between her hands, creating a whirlwind of flame that drew appreciative murmurs from the crowd.
"For my final act," she announced, raising her voice to carry over the music, "I'll need complete darkness."
Solar’s expression became tense, and he sat back in his chair.
The bar lights dimmed further until only her flames illuminated the space. Dani had performed this finale dozens of times, a complex sequence that involved extinguishing and relighting the staff in a precise pattern that created the illusion of floating fire.
She began the sequence, spinning the staff faster. The crowd's faces blurred into darkness beyond the circle of firelight. Only Solar remained distinct, his features sharpened by the contrast of light and shadow. The firelight liked him, causing him to glow brighter than the rest of the crowd. Or maybe he simply had her focus.
Then, as she executed a particularly difficult maneuver, Dani felt something change. The fire surged, growing hotter, brighter. The flames stretched unnaturally long, as if reaching for something.
Reaching for Solar.
Startled, she missed her timing. The staff wobbled in her hands. One end dipped too low, catching the edge of her costume sleeve. Fire raced up the fabric with hungry intensity.
The crowd gasped, this time in alarm. Dani dropped the staff and tried to smother the flames, but they spread with unnatural speed.
Suddenly, Solar was there, moving impossibly fast. He caught her arm, and instead of smothering the flames, he did something strange. His bare hand passed through the fire, and rather than burning him, the flames seemed to flow into his skin, absorbed like water into sand.
In seconds, the fire was gone, leaving only warm fabric and a strange, electric tingling where his fingers gripped her arm.
The bar erupted in applause, assuming it was part of the act. But Dani stared at Solar, speechless, as the house lights came up.
Mike appeared next to the performance area with a fire extinguisher.
The sound of the crowd forced her into an automatic bow. Several were coming forward to put money in the tip jar Mike kept for the entertainers.
“Thank you!” Dani gave a wave before grabbing Solar’s wrist. She pulled him toward the back hallway, away from the curious eyes of the crowd.
Mike followed them, scanning her for injuries. “What happened? Are you okay?”
"I'm fine," Dani assured him, not taking her eyes off Solar.
"That was some quick thinking, buddy," Mike said to Solar, clapping him on the shoulder. "Those flames went out like magic."
"Fire responds to my energy signature," Solar answered seriously.
Mike arched a brow and looked as if he wasn’t sure if he should laugh or not.
"Basic fire safety. Nothing unusual," Dani explained. She forced a nervous laugh. "I told you tonight’s act was going to be on fire.”
Mike looked between them, sensing the tension. "Right. Well, great set, Dani. I'll have Jessie bring you both drinks, on the house."
"That wasn't basic fire safety," she said once they were alone. "I've been working with fire for fifteen years. My clothes are flame-retardant. They should not have lit on fire like that. But I know what I saw. It wasn’t natural. How did you?—?"
"You were in danger," he said simply, his voice low. Solar's expression remained neutral, but his skin had a subtle glow that seemed to pulse beneath the surface. "Your demonstration was impressive. The manipulation techniques could be useful for?—"
"Don't change the subject." Dani stepped closer, studying his face. This close, she could feel heat radiating from him, like standing near a furnace. "What are you? You're not…"
She almost said he wasn't human, but the word stuck in her throat. If he wasn't human, what did that leave? Supernatural? Extraterrestrial?
