Don't Tempt the Phoenix

by CJ England

  Aithne looked up from where she was pulling down her corset, gladly taking the proffered cloth. “No…but he wanted to die without her.”

  “He did?”

  She nodded as she tidied herself. “She left him. Wouldn’t even speak to him when she found out he’d been feeding off of her. Stupid fool wouldn’t feed from me, so he was slowly starving to death.” Her eyes flashed with remembered anger. “Dawn came back to him, just in time.”

  He watched as she snapped her corset panties closed and smoothed down the black dress. “If I was gone, and you knew your only means of survival was to have sex with Jarrod, would you?”

  She froze, her eyes lifting to his. “What? Ick…no…of course not.”

  He grinned at the look on her face. “Perhaps he felt the same way. He had found the only woman to sustain him. Another would be…intolerable.”

  Aithne frowned. “I never thought of it that way.”

  He pulled her into his arms. “You never were in love before.” Their lips met in a slow, satisfying kiss. When he raised his head, he looked down at her with satisfied eyes. “I couldn’t be with another woman, now that I’ve found you. We are a part of each other. Forever.”

  She smiled. “Forever.”

  He took a deep breath. “But until then, let us return to the party. You look just the way I wanted you to. Totally pleasured.”

  Aithne blushed and took the arm he offered. “And you look suitably disheveled. What do you think Aidan will say when he finds out you just fucked his sister on the roof?”

  Milcham missed a step and glared at her when she giggled. “If your brother is the type of man to own a sex toy shop, I doubt he will be all that surprised.”

  She squeezed his arm. “I’m an owner too, don’t forget.”

  His eyes glowed lightly. “I haven’t. And I hope to see some of those toys when we get back to the hotel tonight.”

  —

  Aithne was right. While Aidan did lift a dark eyebrow at their appearance, he said nothing. Perhaps he was remembering the time when she had walked in on Dawn and him in the middle of the apothecary. His pants were around his knees, and Dawn was stark naked on the counter. Aithne had rolled her eyes and just kept walking through, but she could remember the look on both their faces.

  It didn’t take long for Milcham and her brother to pair off and disappear into a corner together. She wasn’t sure what they were talking about, but at least they hadn’t come to blows.

  She and Dawn spent the night catching up. It was the second night of Dawn’s show and already, she was considered a success. There were SOLD stickers on most of the pieces. The two talked girl-talk between times when Dawn had to glad-hand different people. Clients, agents and other artists all wanted a piece of her.

  They didn’t even see their men until they were approached by two good looking guys in suits. Perfect smiles and perfect hair, they wanted to take both women out for a drink.

  Instantly, the men were there to put their claim on their women. One look at the tall dark brooding Aidan, and the fiery tempered Milcham, and both interlopers beat a hasty retreat. The women almost collapsed in giggles at the look on their faces.

  It wasn’t long after, they decided it was time to go. Dawn had had enough of smiling and they were all hungry. They had a late night supper at Sardi’s before separating to go to their own hotels.

  The next evening, after Aithne and Milcham had spent the day sightseeing, they met the others for a show. Aithne was overjoyed at the bond she could already sense being made between Milcham and her brother. It was as if Aidan being a vampire didn’t even matter any more. Once her amber-eyed lover had accepted the situation, nothing more needed to be said.

  They had tickets to see Phantom of the Opera and she enjoyed herself thoroughly. Being with the man she loved and her family was the best thing next to heaven. When she thought about how she might have missed this, she wanted to kick herself all over again.

  But then…as if he could read her thoughts, Milcham pulled her into his arms and dropped a loving kiss on her trembling lips. “Adore…assai voi. I love you, precious.”

  She had wrapped her arms around him and kissed him deeply, wondering how she had ever existed without him.

  —

  Two days later, the couples sat in Tavern on the Green. The men were bickering companionably about who the next Superbowl winners would be and Aithne and Dawn were talking about the shopping they had done that day.

  Aithne bit her lip in consternation. “But, Dawn…I’m going to a walled city. I probably won’t need that gown designed by Prada. Where would I wear it?”

  Dawn rolled her eyes as she sipped a spoonful of Lobster Bisque. “No one needs a dress by Prada. Besides, even if it’s only Milcham who sees it, it will be worth while.”

  Aithne glanced at her soon-to-be mate who was arguing madly about who the best quarterback was. “It was so expensive.”

  “Geesh, Aithne. You have more money than Midas, and I’ll bet Milcham’s not doing too bad either. Don’t stress over a stupid dress.”

  Put that way, it did seem foolish. Aithne forked up a bite of her Stone Crab Cake and savored the flavor. “You’re right. Now I wish I’d bought that green negligee as well.”

  Dawn giggled and reaching under her chair, handed her a gaily wrapped package. “I thought you might change your mind.”

  “Dawn!”

  Milcham broke off his discussion of the finer points of instant replays to stare at the present. “What is it?”

  Aithne blushed becomingly. “Nothing I can open here.”

  “Ah, come on,” Dawn giggled. “Let him see. It’s really for him, anyway.”

  Milcham snatched the gift from Aithne and pried off the top. “For me? Wow! I haven’t gotten a gift…” His voice trailed off when he saw the delicate lingerie inside. He looked up at Aithne and his eyes glowed. “It is for me. Who do I thank, you or Dawn?”

  “Put it away!” Aithne buried her face in her hands, as Dawn laughed madly.

  Grinning, he obeyed. “I do this with the proviso you will wear this our first night together.”

  “Milcham!”

  Her brother chuckled, his dark laughter turning heads. “It is my turn to embarrass you next. Then everyone in the restaurant will know our names.”

  Milcham laughed and kissed Aithne. “Eat your appetizer. I’ll put it away for later.” He waggled his eyebrows at her as she blushed again.

  “What time do you leave tomorrow?” Aidan asked as he watched Milcham feast on his Seafood Cocktail. “Will we have time to see you?”

  Milcham shook his head. “Unfortunately, no. The only flight I could get leaves around noon. I know you will still be in bed.”

  “Where is this walled city?” Dawn asked curiously. “You’ve never really said.”

  “It isn’t somewhere,” Milcham tried to explain. “More like sometime. Think of Shangri-La, or Brigadoon. Places that truly exist, but cannot be found.”

  “Does your home have a name?” Aidan sipped at his red wine.

  Milcham shook his head. “No. It is just my home.” He looked over at Aithne and smiled. “And now hers.”

  “When will we see you again?” Dawn queried. “Soon, I hope.”

  The blond man sighed. “I don’t know what will happen. We may be required to stay. My hope is that Aithne and I can return to the carnival and live there. We can go back to the city as we choose.”

  “But if it is so beautiful, why would you wish to leave?” Aidan sat back as the wait staff brought their main courses.

  Milcham waited until Dawn and Aithne had been served Roast Prime Rib of Beef and Gremolata Salmon. “It is a beautiful place.” He felt himself drooling when his Mediterranean Seafood Risotto was set before him. “But after so long out in the real world, I think it would lack the stimulation we would need.” He watched as Aidan was served a large piece of Filet Mignon, cooked very rare. The staff left and he went on with a sigh. “I must face the fact that
I am more human than animal now.”

  “Don’t you think God will take that into account?” Dawn asked as she cut off a sliver of her meat and fed it to Aidan.

  Stabbing his fork into a delicate fresh water prawn, Milcham shrugged. “I don’t know that either. I have not spoken to Yahweh since I left so many years ago.” He looked up into three shocked faces and laughed. “Did you think I had daily communication with him?”

  “I guess I thought you had talked to him…sometime,” Aithne said slowly. “You haven’t discussed anything?”

  “I pray to him, of course. And I do know he answers prayers.” He lifted Aithne’s hand to his lips. “He gave me you, after all.”

  Aidan smiled indulgently at them. “Just so.” He sliced off a piece of the bloody meat and popped it into his mouth. “But to go so long without conversing with him. I can see how that could be wearing.”

  Milcham chewed thoughtfully. “There were many times I wished for more of his guidance. But I managed.”

  Aithne grinned. “I’ll say you did. Do you know Milcham saw the Pyramids being built?” Her eyes sparkled with excitement. “And he was there when gold was found at Sutter’s Mill. And he watched Michelangelo paint the Sistine Chapel!”

  “Hush…Assai,” he cautioned as a diner at a nearby table turned and gawked at them. “And I didn’t see the Pyramids…I was told about them by a friend of mine who happened to fly by when they were being constructed.”

  Dawn stared at him with her mouth open. “You have seen so much.”

  Chuckling, Aidan reached over and closed her mouth. “Up to now, I’ve always been the oldest of the bunch. But now…I feel like a youngster.”

  “Age isn’t all it’s cracked up to be,” Milcham said quietly. He ran his hand through his grey streaked hair. “In my city, I was very lonely. It was loneliness that sent me out into the world.”

  “Then thank God for it,” Aithne murmured as she leaned against him for a moment. “Otherwise, we would never have met.”

  He put his arm around her. “I thank Yahweh every day for bringing us together. You make me complete.”

  Dawn sighed and smacked Aidan on the arm. “Isn’t that just wonderful. We knew when she left on her little adventure she’d find the perfect man.”

  Aidan snorted. “Instead she found the perfect…immortal.” He frowned slightly as he noted Milcham’s appearance. It looked as if the Phoenix had aged years, in just the few days they’d known him. He took his sister’s hand and squeezed it gently. “But I too am glad she left, even though I was concerned at the time.”

  His sister’s eyes filled with tears. “Did you knock down the wall like I told you to?”

  His eyes gleaming with his own emotion, Aidan nodded. “We did. It took several weeks for me to convince Dawn, but finally…she gave in.”

  “All one big room, now,” Dawn said with a sniff. “But still space enough for you to come and visit.”

  Milcham wiped the tears off Aithne’s cheeks. “It is our greatest wish to come see you both again. If it is allowed, we will be there.”

  “Good,” Dawn said, a smile lighting up her face. “Because I want to sculpt you.”

  He blinked. “Me?”

  She nodded. “Yes. As both a human and Phoenix . I can see it already in my mind, but I’ll need to sketch you to get the particulars. Plus…” she batted her long eyelashes at Milcham flirtatiously. “…I need to see you in your Phoenix form. To get all the details correct, you understand.”

  Aithne giggled as Milcham choked on a piece of scallop. “You’ve seen her work; you should be honored.”

  He turned and glared at her in dark amusement. “If I ever want to let people know what I am, I will consider it, this I promise.”

  “They will just think it is a play on your name, my brother. A Phoenix, for a Phoenix .” Aidan inclined his head as he took a drink of his wine. “If you wish, she can sculpt you as she did me…naked.”

  “Aidan!” Aithne’s shocked voice rang out.

  Her brother smirked knowingly. “See, I told you she would say my name too!”

  They all laughed and Milcham bent and kissed her soundly. “I am very glad we took this time to meet your family. Even though it didn’t start out so well, this visit has been most enjoyable.”

  Aithne smiled and looked around the table at the people she might never see again. She mentally stored away the memories of the last few days…just in case. “I hope it won’t be the last one.”

  “It won’t be, little sister.” Aidan’s leaf green eyes shown with the strength of his emotion. “You will go to the walled city and find your destiny. And then you will come back here and we will celebrate together.”

  As one they all held up their wine glasses.

  “To destiny,” Milcham murmured as he looked into his beloved’s green eyes.

  “To the future,” Aithne whispered back to him. “As long as it’s with you.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  “Oh, Milcham…it’s beautiful.” Aithne gazed in awe at the tall, crystalline walls before her. They stood so high, they gave the impression they touched the clouds. The ramparts shimmered with all the colors of the rainbow, giving the impression of the Aurora Borealis caught in the polished walls. Beautifully carved arches could be seen along the length of the wall. On the top, set about every fifty feet, were sculpted turrets with flags of gold and orange, blowing in the wind.

  It had taken them three long days to get here. They had traveled on several planes, winding up in Jerusalem. It was then Milcham had told her all their belongings would be put into storage until they knew whether they would be leaving the city or not. She had insisted on carrying a small bag with her.

  Once that was taken care of, Milcham had flown them the rest of the way. Traveling in short spurts so Aithne’s arms wouldn’t tire from holding onto him; it took another day to finally cross the otherworldly barrier between the real world and the place where the walled city resided.

  Now, standing before it, she was only sorry they hadn’t come sooner. The walled city was everything she’d dreamed it would be, and she hadn’t even gone inside yet.

  Milcham stared at her in surprise. “But what do you see? Humans see just a sandstone wall.”

  She raised an eyebrow at him. “Don’t be ridiculous. I can see everything.”

  “You can?”

  She turned to him. “Of course. It’s like you captured a rainbow and made it into a home.”

  Milcham shook his head in awe. If he had any doubts before, this would have settled it for him. No one but he could see the true state of his city. That is…no one but him…and his mate. Here was more proof Aithne was the woman he’d been seeking.

  “Am I not supposed to see it?”

  Laughing with utter joy, he kissed her. “It just shows me how right I was to choose you. Only those destined for the city can truly see it.”

  Her eyes lit with happiness. “I love you.”

  “Not as much as I love you!” He whirled her in a circle as they laughed together. “I have an idea.”

  “What?”

  He grinned and his arms turned into flaming wings. “Hold on!”

  Giggling, she wrapped her arms around his neck, gasping as he shot off the ground.

  He flew straight upwards into the sky, then banked and came back to rest on the turret facing the east. The sun was high over head, and shimmering clouds could be seen in the distance.

  Wrapping his strong wing around her, he pointed with the other one. “Every morning, I would come up here and greet the sun with a song,” he murmured softly. “Then I would stare out at the human world, wondering what was out there.”

  Aithne laid her head on his chest. “You had never actually seen it?”

  He shook his head. “I came straight here from the garden. I never saw the outside world until I began looking for you.”

  She liked the way he said that. He’d been looking for her. She stared out over the land, the gentle b
reeze tugging at her hair. “It is so lovely, here. I’m just surprised you could ever leave it.”

  Milcham grinned. “Wait until you see within the city.”

  She turned in his arms. “I want you to kiss me. Here at the top of the world.”

  His wings morphed into arms and he held her tightly. “I stood here for centuries, longing for you before I ever even knew who you were. It is only right I reap the rewards of all that waiting.”

  She lifted her face to his and with the gentlest of motions, he touched his lips to hers. In the kiss was all the wonder of their love. The utter rightness of their being together. The certainty of the future before them. The sun bathed their faces in it’s warmth as they held each other, assured nothing could ever keep them from each other, again.

  When finally they broke apart, both had tears in their eyes. “I love you, Assai,” Milcham murmured, his hands framing her face.

  “And I love you, my fiery lover,” she whispered as she rubbed her cheeks against the palms of his hands. “Thank you for finding me.”

  He smiled. “Thank you for waiting.”

  She grinned too. “So…you going to show me where I’m going to live the next several centuries?”

  He chuckled and bowed, then wrapped her arms back around his neck. “As my lady wishes. Hold on!”

  —

  They spent the rest of the day exploring his beautiful home. Aithne was awed by the lush, verdant forests with trees so high you couldn’t see the tops. As they flew over the top of them, and then later, strolling beneath them, she was given the impression of the jungle canopies of South America. She could see why having a nest in these trees would be like living on the top of the world.

  The city was much bigger on the inside than it was on the outside. Not only were there huge expanses of trees, but also present were beautiful flower-filled meadows, and sparkling waterfalls that flowed into peaceful clear rivers. It was as if Yahweh had brought all the beauty of the Garden of Eden to this special place.

  The one thing there wasn’t, were houses. Since it was the home of the Phoenix, Milcham had lived in a nest, high in the trees, but that wouldn’t do for Aithne, even though she protested she didn’t mind. Since she wasn’t used to sleeping up high, he feared she’d fall. Instead, he built a small hut to give them their privacy.