by Bianca D’Arc
She realized, then, that her body count had risen to two. Two more than she ever wanted. At that point, she lost track of what was going on as she let the phoenix take control. It dealt better with the life-and-death stuff—especially the death stuff—than her human side.
Before she knew what was happening, her phoenix form had launched little firebombs all around the area, targeting those who had fallen or tried to run away. Apparently, her phoenix half was a bloodthirsty and unforgiving creature. It was turning them all to ash. She was turning them all to ash.
She gave up trying to count the bodies. She was going to have to come to terms with the power of the phoenix and its unwillingness to let any evil person survive encountering it. She made a few more passes to be certain she got them all, but when the smoke cleared and the area was cleansed to her bird-side’s satisfaction, Syd dropped down to the ground, landing in an ungraceful heap near Paul and Arthur.
She lay there, shivering in her feathers, unsure of what to do next. She was still a bird. How did she get back to her human shape? Would she ever walk on two feet again rather than fire-tipped claws and feathers? Panic made her shake as she watched Paul approach.
He crouched down next to her. “You did very well, dragostea mea. Thank you. Kreegar was a powerful mage. A powerful enemy. Alone, I don’t know that I would have bested him, but you took him out like he was nothing. I’m so proud of you.”
She opened her beak but refrained from vocalizing when she recalled what had happened when she screeched at Kreegar. She didn’t want to hurt Paul. Never did she want to hurt Paul.
“Are you ready to come back to us?” Arthur’s voice came from over Paul’s shoulder. He shook out a Native weave blanket and placed it over her shivering form. She felt the goodness of him—the magic that was Arthur—envelop her immediately, and she felt safe. “You did very well for a first-timer, Sybil.”
And just like that, she felt herself changing. She shifted into her human form to find that she was naked. Thank goodness Arthur had thought to bring her a blanket. Too much had happened in the past few minutes. Dealing with being naked in public—well, in front of two men—right now wasn’t something she wanted to deal with. Even if one of the men was hunky Paul. Arthur was a father figure to her and that just screamed of wrongness to her human sensibilities.
“I’m sorry,” she said, her voice raspy. “I kind of lost control at the end there and let the phoenix take control. I didn’t go up there intending to…uh…kill them all.”
“Sadly, when evil takes hold in a soul, there is usually no alternative,” Arthur said in a contemplative tone. “All of the people who came here today were pledged to evil. They could not be allowed to continue on their path, and I doubt any of them could have been saved. They were following the orders of a blood path mage. Once someone has started down the blood path, there’s no going back. All of these had that taint.”
Paul’s head rose as they all heard the roar of powerful engines in the distance. Motorcycles, Syd thought. It sounded like a bunch of them were coming up the winding drive to Arthur’s home.
“Sounds like the cavalry has finally arrived. I’ll go greet them,” Paul said, rising to his feet. He helped Syd stand, as well, tucking the blanket around her briefly before turning her over to Arthur’s care.
Syd went with Arthur when he coaxed her toward his house. She was bone tired but also a little exhilarated. She’d done something. Something good, despite the…um…killing…which she still had to figure out. She’d helped Arthur and Paul fight off the bad guys. She’d found her strength, despite not really understanding—or actually believing—she could be a mythical shapeshifter.
“You were glowing,” she said absently to Arthur, remembering the sight of him, wearing a glowing translucent outfit of ancient style. He’d held a staff and his leather clothes were beaded and had long fringe. He’d looked magnificent.
“It is part of my calling. When the need is great, Mother Earth protects me with Her power. I am what some call a Knight of the Light, though that’s the European term that’s popular in this age. In old times, we were called other things.” He shrugged. “The words do not matter. It is the heart that is steadfast and true that means all.”
He had his hand under her arm, guiding her in a role reversal of what was usual with the disparity in their ages. Syd was shaky, and Arthur was strong as an ox and still emitting a warm glow of power that teased her senses with a comforting security that made her feel safer than she ever had before.
Paul intercepted the wolves. Stone had arrived with most of his Pack. Slade was with them.
“Your phoenix flew,” Slade said, coming over and shaking Paul’s hand.
“That she did,” Paul answered proudly. “Saved our skins, too. The mage was a strong one. He made some interesting claims that I’d like to pass on to the leadership. Can you assist with that?”
“Absolutely. He was a talker?” Slade looked intrigued.
“A boaster who tried to get me to change sides. He claimed my kind is on their side in this, but I think he was talking out of his ass, as the Americans say.” Paul walked with Slade back toward where Stone waited with his men. “First, let’s deploy the troops, just in case she didn’t get them all.”
Slade agreed, and they stopped to talk over coverage strategy with Stone. The wolf Alpha stayed with his men when Slade and Paul went up to Arthur’s house. Most of the Pack had shifted and taken to the rugged areas all around the perimeter. They were following scent trails and making sure no other surprises were lurking in the shadows. A few others were on cleanup detail, removing any remaining traces of the attackers. Stone had agreed to dispose of their vehicles, as well, including the rather fancy luxury number Kreegar had arrived in.
That taken care of, Paul’s attention returned to thoughts of Syd. Arthur had taken her inside, so Paul led Slade up to Arthur’s door and knocked. The old man came to the door and looked hard at Slade, then said something that surprised Paul.
“Welcome, young brother.” Arthur’s magical regalia had faded, but there was still a tangible power about the old shaman that Paul respected.
Slade looked surprised. “I didn’t know there was one such as you in these parts,” Slade said to the older man as they entered.
“I am here for a reason, which I suspect will soon be fulfilled,” Arthur answered cryptically.
Arthur led them to the small sitting room where he invited them to take seats on the old overstuffed furniture. Paul was feeling the pains of the battle just past, so he was glad to sit for a few minutes, knowing the wolves were guarding the perimeter.
Syd was nowhere in sight, but Paul sensed her presence not far away. He heard running water and realized she must be in bathroom, washing up. He had no doubt Arthur was taking good care of her. There was a bond of friendship between them that was obvious to see. It was strong—almost that of a parent and child, though of course, they were not related by blood. Still, there was that unique bond that joined them in magic…and love.
Arthur brought out tray with tall glasses and a pitcher of lemonade from the kitchen, and then, the three men sat down and discussed what had just happened. Paul told Slade what Kreegar had claimed, and Slade made mental notes for later report to the Lords of all were in this part of the world.
Syd returned in the middle of their talk. She was wearing a terrycloth robe Arthur had provided, and she took a seat on the sofa next to Paul. He liked that. She snuggled into his side without demur, and he liked that even more. He put his arm around her shoulders, needing the contact. He needed to feel the soft shape of her form, the solid reality of her, sitting next to him.
After all that had happened, he just needed to have her nearby.
“Syd, this is Slade. He is a holy man among shifters and an old friend,” Paul told her, introducing them.
Syd nodded at Slade as she reached for a glass of lemonade. “I didn’t know Paul had any friends in this part of the world,” she said, though he
r voice was still a bit scratchy. “Nice to meet you.”
“I only just arrived a short while ago. Paul and I first met far from these shores, years ago. We go back a ways. These days, I’ve been living near Las Vegas with my mate,” Slade informed her in a friendly tone.
“Thank you for coming to help,” Syd said politely.
“I would’ve had to come sooner or later, anyway. There’s been a lot of magical activity here lately, and part of my job is to keep tabs on this sort of thing and report back to the Lords. They keep track of the bigger picture, and I’m one of their field agents.”
“Among other things,” Arthur put in with a wry chuckle that made Syd look a little confused, but neither Arthur nor Slade was elaborating.
“And then, there were three,” Slade said after a pause, looking directly at Syd. “You are the third phoenix shifter to manifest in this area, in the past few weeks. Let me guess. You’re an orphan?”
Syd cocked her head in surprise. “Yes,” she answered, dragging the word out. “I was raised by foster parents, but we never really bonded,” she explained. “Probably because I was a tough kid and didn’t open up much to them.”
“I bet you also sensed things about them that made you not trust,” Slade said softly, drawing her out. Slowly, Syd nodded.
“I could always tell when someone was lying to me. Even when I was little,” she admitted. “Did you just say there are two other phoenixes in the area?”
Slade nodded. “One was raised like you, in the foster care system. He was supposedly an orphan. The other had only her grandmother, and they now believe he is related to their family through a lost relative. You might be, as well, since the shifter genes had to come from somewhere.”
“You’re saying I might have family out there? Like, real blood relatives?” She sounded so shocked and, yes, hopeful that Paul really hoped it was true for her sake.
He knew what it was to get your hopes up about finding family. He’d just found some distant relatives in Grizzly Cove, and that meant more to him than he could express in words. He hoped Syd would find the same.
“I believe so,” Slade said seriously, then smiled. “And you just admitted you’d know if I was lying.” He winked at her, and she smiled.
“I want to meet them,” she said immediately.
“But you need to stay here tonight,” Arthur put in quickly and firmly. “I have a guest cabin out back. I want you both to stay here. The other phoenixes can come up here if you can’t wait, but I suggest you take one night, at least, to recover. You’re not going anywhere, right now. This is where you need to be.”
Paul was surprised when Syd didn’t argue with the old shaman. She merely nodded and got a spooky look in her eyes. “Yes. I feel that, though I don’t know why.”
“I do,” Arthur told her with a sparkle in his old eyes. “Trust me.”
It was decided rather quickly that all three phoenixes would gather at the car lot where Stone and company worked tomorrow night, after the work day was over. Syd had decided on the time, and while Paul was surprised that she would wait that long, he suspected she knew something, or sensed something about the future that made her choose it. He wasn’t going to argue. Arthur was insistent on them staying up on the mountain with him at least overnight.
Paul had seen the old shack near the face of the mountain that Arthur referred to as a guest cabin from the air. It had looked sound, and Paul was just as glad not to have to make the trip down the mountain after the drawn-out battle. He was just tired. Bone weary. He’d used a lot of energy, and this place was both cleansed and easily defensible now that they had the wolves in play.
Stone had agreed to keep a watch on the mountain—a small band of wolves who would slink around in their fur, keeping an eye on things. At the first sign of trouble, the wolves would howl, sounding the warning. It was enough. Paul would be able to rest easier knowing that someone was watching over the perimeter.
Slade left when most of the wolves headed down the mountain, taking the vehicles of the Venifucus with them. He told Paul he was going to report back to the Lords on everything they’d learned today, and he also promised to share the new intel with the bears in Grizzly Cove. Paul would’ve called, but he was just too tired to do more than get himself and Syd settled in the guest cabin before sleep caught him.
That happened, sometimes, after a great expenditure of magical energy. Sleep would restore them both, but it would take a few hours. Syd was already asleep when Paul carried her into the cabin and placed her on the bed. He followed her down after a quick recon of their new quarters showed no threats, and that was all he knew for several hours.
When Syd woke, it was dark. At first, she didn’t recognize where she was, but the fact that Paul’s warm arm was around her middle made her feel safe. Memory returned as she blinked the sleep out of her eyes a few times. She felt groggy and sore in spots, especially around her shoulders and arms. She remembered flying with a sort of wondering smile and realized her arms were sore because she’d been using the feathered versions to fly around the mountain.
She supposed, in time, she’d build up her muscles so she wasn’t so sore after every flight. Then, she marveled at that thought. She could freaking fly.
“Are you thinking of me?” Paul’s drowsy voice sounded rough near her ear. “Is that why you’re smiling?”
“I’m thinking about flying,” she admitted, still too stunned by her own thoughts to offer a sarcastic response.
His arm tightened briefly around her midsection. “I will love to fly with you,” he whispered, and she’d never heard anything sexier. “I don’t have feathers, obviously, but I can still teach you a few things about aerodynamics, I think.”
She turned in his arms to face him. “I’d like that.” She reached upward slightly to kiss him. “I think I have a lot to learn, and a lot of muscles to build. My shoulders are really sore,” she admitted, still smiling.
He moved one of his big, warm hands to her shoulder and started a gentle massage that made her want to melt into a puddle. He knew just where to touch to make her muscles begin to relax.
“Here,” he said, lifting upward until he was sitting on the side of the bed. “Roll onto your stomach, and I’ll give you a proper rub down.”
She was too sore to argue, and after that little sample, she was convinced he could make her feel better if given half a chance. She turned onto her stomach, turning her head toward him so she could watch him.
Paul went into the small bathroom and emerged with a little plastic bottle in his hands. He approached the bed and opened the bottle, squirting a small amount of cinnamon-scented oil into his hands. He rubbed them together to warm the oil.
“I saw this earlier. Not sure why Arthur keeps his guest room stocked with bath oils, soaps and lotions, but the little closet in there is full of stuff. Not a lot of choice of scent, though. Most of it is cinnamon or spice,” he told her, almost apologetically.
“That’s okay. I love the smell of cinnamon,” she told him.
“That’s good,” he replied, sitting on the side of the bed facing her. “I’ve been told that my dragon form and the smoke I produce when in that shape has a slight cinnamon flavor to it.”
She nodded as best she could with her face laying on one cheek. “It does. It’s very pleasant. Not hellfire and brimstone at all,” she told him, smiling wide.
“Your feathers have a more delicate scent,” he told her in a low growl. “I’ll have to think about the proper words to describe it. I’m no poet, but it’s a spicy scent that reminds me of the Orient.”
“Sounds mysterious,” she told him sleepily as he began to rub the oil on his hands up, under the loose shirt Arthur had loaned her, over her bare skin in slow, sensual circles. It felt wonderful.
“Exotic,” he told her, his voice dropping low. She felt the feather light touch of his lips on one shoulder. “And beautiful.” He paused to kiss her other shoulder. “Just like you.”
She h
eld her breath, hoping he would take it further, but he returned to massaging her shoulders and back. She didn’t resist when Paul pushed the shirt up over her head and off. In fact, she helped by lifting up enough to shimmy the fabric out from under her. As far as she was concerned, she wanted nothing between his hands and her body.
He reached for a bit more oil and continued his work until her spine was jelly and her protesting muscles were completely mollified. She couldn’t issue a single complaint about anything—except maybe the fact that he wasn’t inside her yet.
The massage had done more than soothe her soreness. It had brought about an aching awareness. A pulsating awareness that demanded satisfaction. A satisfaction that she knew, from previous experience, only Paul could give. She wanted him. Deeply. Madly. Passionately.
Rolling onto her back, she looked up into his eyes, gratified to see the fire simmering in the depths of his gaze. He wasn’t as unaffected as she’d thought. Good.
She raised her hands to his shoulders as his hands worked their way around to her breasts, cupping her. The slickness of the oil was still on his fingers as he rubbed them over her nipples. It was a delicious sensation. One she would never forget. But she wanted more.
She coaxed his head down with gentle pressure on his neck until she could kiss him. The kiss deepened and seemed to wake the dragon within. She felt the fire of him blazing hot as he kissed her with a ferocity he must have held in check in their previous encounters.
She wanted it all, this time. She didn’t want him to hold back. His magic rose and tickled hers—at least, that’s what it felt like. She was new to her power, but she was starting to recognize its feel, its shape. His power seemed to tease hers, touching and gliding away, twining and untwining. It felt right, if a bit tentative, at first. The two types of fiery magic blended and separated, coexisting with harmony and a unique expression of each of their innate magics.
