by Jess Haines
Chapter 20
Much later...
James and Lyra eventually found her some clothes and a shirt for him, and then made their way back to Robert’s place. He had responded with a furious “ASS. MY HOUSE. NOW.” in reply to the apologetic text James sent him. Followed shortly thereafter by, “And don’t forget to bring my car.”
They took the shortest possible route back, though they were forced to park three blocks away thanks to how packed the street was. Even Rob’s driveway and front lawn left them no room to park with all the cars, trucks, and motorcycles tearing up the previously meticulous landscaping.
When they walked in, hand in hand, the place was packed like Rob was throwing a party.
Everyone in the living room turned, the scent of ozone overtaking everything else as a couple of dozen magi and sorcerers prepared themselves to cast. Familiars squawked, hissed, or growled, things winged or clawed dashing this way and that in alarm as their masters powered their spells through them. The occasional “dude!” and “bro!” came from the television, currently blasting a shaky cellphone video of a fiery bird flying past streetlights and dark houses in downtown St. Augustine being played on the news until one of the familiars followed its master’s command to hit the mute button.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa, settle down! We’re all right,” James cried.
Lyra went stiff with alarm, looking at the sea of strange faces inside. On second thought, not all strange. She recognized one or two magi she’d done business with before, though by the way they were looking at her now, spells at the ready, they obviously didn’t recognize her with the changes that had taken over her body.
Robert poked his head out of the kitchen, scowling. “That’s my brother, all right. And...” his voice drifted into strangled silence.
Lyra gave him a sheepish grin, spreading her hands. “Surprise?”
The gathered magi made room, giving Robert, James and Lyra space to reach each other for hugs and—to Lyra’s dismay—for Robert to deck his brother.
“Don’t you ever scare me like that again, you asshole,” Robert said, his voice thick with emotion. “Working with warlocks. What the hell were you thinking?”
Grimacing, James rubbed his aching jaw. “About money, mostly. I know, I know, I’m an idiot. I’m sorry.”
A few of the gathered magi spoke up.
“What happened?”
“Where’s the warlock now? What about that book?”
“Do you still need help?”
“Have you found the phoenix?”
Lyra bit her lip, fighting the urge to shrink into herself when several eyes landed on her after that question. There was no doubt in her mind that at least a few of these magi had answered Robert’s call for help as soon as they heard it had something to do with her. The shot at getting one of her feathers was too valuable to let slide, she was sure.
The brothers shared a look that spoke volumes. James nodded.
Robert lifted his hands, calling for quiet. Once the other magi settled down, their rush of questions turning into quiet murmurs.
“Thank you all for coming. As you can see, my brother is home safe. I’ll let him tell you what happened, but I’d like to ask that you leave the phoenix out of this.”
There were a few discontented grumbles at that, but at Robert’s patented Big Brother Look, they soon quieted and turned their attention to James.
Even Lyra was impressed with the whopper of a tale he wove, leaving everything that might lead to them believing she was anything more than his ride to Robert’s house after the mess was over out of the story. As he told it, Victor had tasked him with retrieving the book and the phoenix, laying a geas on him that had forced him into laying hands on his brother to make them safe.
He gave his own spin on a story of David and Goliath, how he had (with the help of the phoenix, of course) defeated the demon and sent its master on the run with the book. He told them how the phoenix had molted, and how all that remained now were ashes. Only time would tell if it would return.
Discontented grumbles came from a few at the story, those who had been hopeful to take advantage of the arrival of the phoenix, she was sure. Most were congratulatory, with a handful making promises to keep an eye out for the book and for Victor, to make him pay for what he had almost done.
It didn’t take long after James concluded his story for the gathered magi to realize that their services weren’t needed. They filtered out in twos and threes, offering waves and curious looks to Lyra, who hung back out of the way, where none of them might touch or observe her with their Sight. It would be incredibly rude of them to cast in Robert’s house without permission, after all.
Once the last of the lingerers had been shown the door, leaving only James and Lyra in Robert’s home, he sat down and held up a cold beer to his forehead. Sounding drained, he flicked a few fingers at James.
“Feel like telling the truth now? I’m sure at least a few of them didn’t believe that cock-and-bull story.”
James grinned at Lyra, waggling his brows. “They may not, but as long as they don’t know she’s here with us, everything will be fine. You’re not going to believe this...”
This time, James told the story as it actually happened, with Lyra occasionally speaking up to pepper his account with a few more details. By the time they were done, Robert had gone white as a sheet, gripping his brother’s hand so tight that he must have been cutting off the circulation. James didn’t let out a single word of complaint.
They might have won the battle, but it hadn’t escaped anyone’s notice how close they had come to losing everything. Including their lives.
Robert hugged his brother tight, clapping him on the back.
“Don’t you ever work with a warlock again, or there won’t be anything left for Lyra to bring back. You hear me?”
James nodded, throat tight. His thin-lipped smile was grave. “I know. I’ve learned my lesson, big bro. You don’t have to worry about me.”
“Victor is still out there. Until that book is back under lock and key, I’m not going to sleep at night.”
Lyra reached out to give Robert’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “We’ve got this, Rob. Thank you for everything. I’m sorry you had to call in the cavalry for nothing.”
“I wouldn’t call it nothing,” James said. “Word is out on the street now. Victor has been defeated and they know to keep an eye out for the book. It’ll show up eventually.”
“Yes, and so will he, I’m sure. All right, you two. This has been a hell of a night, and I need some sleep. Need a lift home before I collapse?”
James and Lyra exchanged a look. Lyra considered for a long moment, then turned and gave Rob a lopsided smile. “No, that’s all right. My place isn’t too far. We’ll walk. Get some rest, we’ll catch up some more tomorrow.”
Rob’s brows shot up. He regarded James’s cat that got the canary grin and shook his head.
“In that case, I’m definitely not offering my couch. Go do that somewhere else.”
Lyra’s furious blush and James’s laugh soon had Rob laughing, too.
Everything was going to be just fine.
The End
* * *
Continue the Phoenix Rising Series in book two, Ghost of the Phoenix (coming soon). For more exciting urban fantasy and paranormal romance, be sure to check out Jess Haines’s website and sign up for the newsletter to get free reads and exclusive giveaways, as well as new release notifications!
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About the Author
Jess Haines, USA Today and international bestselling author of urban fantasy and paranormal romance, is a displaced New Yorker who writes about vampires, werewolves, and other bitey creatures of the night from her hom
e in the Tampa area in Florida. She loves coffee, chocolate, good books, and has a menagerie that includes exotic birds, cats, sugar gliders, and a fiancé who is obsessed with Weird Al Yankovic. She's best known for the H&W Investigations series (starting with HUNTED BY THE OTHERS) and Blackhollow Academy series (starting with SMOKE AND MIRRORS). Visit her website to learn more about her books or join her mailing list.
Read More from Jess Haines
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Bibliography
H&W Investigations Series
Hunted by the Others
Taken by the Others
Deceived by the Others
Stalking the Others
Forsaken by the Others
Enslaved by the Others
Purge of the Others*
War of the Others*
Revolution of the Others*
Anthologies
Nocturnal
The Real Werewives of Vampire County
Fated Souls
Haunted by Magic
Spellbound
Phoenix Rising Series
Ashes of the Phoenix
Ghost of the Phoenix*
Rise of the Phoenix*
Standalone Stories
A Salamander for Solstice
Silent Cravings*
Blackhollow Academy Series
Smoke & Mirrors
Candle & Horn*
Wind & Feather*
* Coming Soon
