Read. Relax. Recharge.

1/22/2026

“Holy crap!” Raul sucked in a quick breath and smiled broadly. He took Brandon’s hand in his own, kissing it before moving Brandon’s hand to the seat. “Probably shouldn’t do that when I’m driving, Sparky.” The shudder that ran through Raul satisfied Brandon on a few levels. “I’m going to need to learn more about this ability—later. Did…uh… did the same thing happen with the doctor?”

Brandon chuckled. “No. We can control how we affect each other. A non-scintilla human, even a magical human, would probably get burned. But, after our week last year, I did a little research and found out even more of the potentials between a werewolf and scintilla.”

“You did research? About us?”

“Uh huh. I was sort of hoping to get back down here. Or that you’d come to Boston for a visit. Getting kidnapped added a bit more adventure to us getting together again than I’d planned on.” Brandon picked at the seat between them and confessed, “I wasn’t sure I could ask that either.”
“Sparky, did you ever stop to think I kept up our e-mails because I was interested in you?” Raul asked.

“Yeah, I did. I was working on getting my nerve up to ask. You made it pretty clear you were amendable to meeting again.” Brandon paused for a minute before saying, “I have a secret to tell you.”

Raul glanced at him and grinned. “Yeah?”

“You call me Sparky. I like that. It makes me feel good.” Brandon looked down when he felt his cheeks warm.

Raul reached over and patted Brandon’s chest. “I’m glad. That was my goal.”

They lapsed into a comfortable silence for the remainder of the drive to the police station in Green Valley. The closer to their destination, the more jittery Brandon felt. Raul seemed to sense his mood change and reached over, taking Brandon’s hand for a few minutes, squeezing gently. The heat produced from clasping Raul’s hand spread through Brandon. It was comforting and erotic all at the same time. Touching in this way wasn’t something Brandon experienced very much during his life. Some people were afraid he’d electrocute them with even the smallest of touches. Even handshakes or friendly hugs were often withheld after a person discovered Brandon was a scintilla.

Raul wasn’t afraid. He welcomed contact—in many forms—with Brandon.
As they pulled into a parking spot, Raul said, “Don’t worry. It’ll be fine. I’ll be there with you the whole time.”

Brandon nodded as they went into the police station. There was a short wait at a reception desk until a policewoman arrived.

“This is my friend Janey Lamb. She was on the rescue team,” Raul said.

The woman, Janey Lamb, nodded once. “Hello. You’re looking much better.”

“Thank you for all your help, and everything,” Brandon said. “I feel as if I can’t thank people enough.”

“I’m glad we were able to find you.” Janey led them through a door and into a section with desks and offices. They went down a long hallway and into a room with a row of comfortable looking chairs. There was a desk in one corner, empty except for a landline phone. Janey pointed to a window taking up most of one wall.

“As I’m sure you’ve guessed it’s a two-way mirror. You can see in, they can’t see or hear out and it doesn’t matter if they’re magical, supernatural or not. Many humans in law enforcement are magical and a percentage are supernaturals, so we’re prepared.”

“Okay,” Brandon said softly. He really didn’t know what else to say.

“Don’t worry, everyone is nervous. I’ll walk you through everything.” Janey crossed to the desk and picked up the phone. “Go ahead and send them in.” She hung up and turned back to Brandon. “If it’s more comfortable for you, feel free to sit.”

Brandon felt as if his feet had taken root. His brain issued orders, but his body didn’t seem to be getting the memos. Sit before you make a fool of yourself and fall down. He started when he felt a hand on his arm. Glancing to the side he saw Raul beside him.

Dipping his head to the chairs, Raul said in a low, soft voice, “It’ll be easier to concentrate if you sit.”

Brandon moved to the chair Raul gently guided him toward. He sat down, but stayed perched on the edge, bouncing his knee up and down and both hands gripped together. His chest tightened, and his mouth dried up, the taste of acid burned up his throat and into his nose.

“Brandon, Sparky, concentrate on my voice and take a few deep breaths.” Raul was reassuring. He radiated calm and his very slight accent was pleasant to listen to.

All Brandon could do in the way of a response was to bite his lip and nod while focusing on Raul’s voice. Movement from the opposite side of the observation window grabbed Brandon’s attention. Six men, each with a number card, filed in and stood facing the window.

“They can’t see you, or any of us,” Janey reminded him. “Do you recognize any of them?”

“Numbers two and five, they were two of the men that kept me hostage,” Brandon said, voice barely above a whisper. “Two is Bill, five is Tom.”

“Take your time,” Janey said.

“I was with them for days. I don’t need to take my time,” Brandon snapped.

Janey folded her hands in front of herself and offered Brandon a sympathetic smile. “I’ll have a short statement prepared for you to sign verifying you identified those men as the kidnappers.”

“Sure. Of course. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean….”

“No harm done. Believe it or not, people have said a lot worse to me,” Janey said. “Raul did inform us there were two other men involved who are still at large. Lieutenant Ortega has asked the captain to authorize protection for you. That should be made official a little later today.”

“I’ve offered him a room at my family hacienda,” Raul explained.

Janey smiled and snickered. “I can’t imagine a safer safe house than one filled with werewolves… including your grandmother.” She turned to Brandon. “Don’t let the fact she’s about four foot eight and looks like the stereotypical granny fool you.”

“Will do, thanks.” Brandon focused on the floor. “Can we… do I need to still be in here?”