Flame of the Phoenix: Hades' Carnival, Book 6

by N. J. Walters

  Tilly leaned against him, offering her silent comfort. He rested his forearms on his knees and clasped his hands together. “We could communicate in the most rudimentary way. Mostly in images or a single thought. But even that became more difficult as the years passed and we fell into despair.”

  “I can’t imagine being that alone.” Because even if they were in close proximity, the warriors might as well have been miles apart. “Never able to talk to anyone, to move.” Tilly shivered. “I’d have gone mad.”

  She wished she could call back the words as soon as she’d spoken them. But Phoenix took no offense. “At times it felt as though I might,” he conceded. “But there was always hope. And learning. We were able to absorb all the learning of the world from those around us.” He peered up at the sun, not needing to squint even though it was incredibly bright. “The world is an astounding place, and humans even more so.”

  Tilly asked the question that had been bothering her since she’d met Phoenix. “What happened to the woman who freed you?”

  Phoenix sighed and rubbed a hand over his face. “I was able to save her. It took all the strength I had to get her away from Hades. I could only do it because I was touching her. Otherwise, she would have burned to a crisp when I shifted to my animal form.” He offered her a sad smile. “Because I’d gone up in flames, Hades assumed she was dead and never bothered to look for her. Once twenty-four hours had passed, she was safe from Hades’ wrath and no longer a part of the curse.”

  “Wow.” Tilly couldn’t imagine how scary that must have been for the woman.

  “I wasn’t able to rejuvenate my form for many years. It took a long time for the phoenix to be reborn. I checked on her once I was back in this realm and learned she’d married, had children and was living a good life.”

  Tilly let the subject drop. She could see it upset him to talk about it. “Could you communicate with your phoenix during your captivity?” From what she’d gathered from her friends, the warrior and the animal were interconnected, two sides of a whole.

  “Yes. I could still feel him at first, but that dimmed over time. Not being able to shift forms was hard on me.”

  “Do you want to shift now?” Tilly had glimpsed his animal side once before, during the last battle between Hades and the warriors, and she was more fascinated than afraid. She hadn’t been able to have a really good look at him at the time. An oversight she wanted to correct. “I don’t mind if you want to stretch a little.”

  He looked at her and she could see the longing in his eyes.

  “It’s not as easy on you as it is on the others, is it?” It couldn’t be. He couldn’t just become a wolf and run around the woods, or turn into a lion and stalk across the planes of Africa.

  “No, it’s not. It was easier when the world was less populated. But there are still vast untamed places where I can fly.”

  Tilly scuffed the toe of her sneaker against the wooden step. The paint was peeling, but it wasn’t too bad. She really needed to sell the place or fix it up. “You can’t fly here, but feel free to shift whenever you want to.” She really wanted to see the mythical phoenix again.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Go ahead. I don’t mind.” That was an understatement. His tattoo was beautiful in a primal, dangerous way. The creature itself was even more so.

  Phoenix brushed his hand over the crown of her head and then stood. “Don’t be afraid. I’m told it can be rather dramatic when I shift.”

  Butterflies flapped around in her stomach as he strode to the center of the yard. Phoenix kept his eyes locked with hers as he spread his arms wide. Then he burst into flames.

  Tilly jumped to her feet and stared in horror. No one could survive in the center of such a blaze.

  But he had. The fire seemed to be pulled inward until it shimmered around the creature. In his place stood a proud seven-foot-tall bird. The tattoo hadn’t done the creature justice. Heat rolled off him in waves as the phoenix raised his head and displayed a powerful beak that could easily crack bone. The bird flapped his wings, showing her his massive wingspan. The feathers were reddish in color and tipped in gold flame. His entire body was on fire, yet unharmed.

  He was incredible.

  “Wow.” Tilly was at a loss for words. There was no way to describe the sheer magnificence and power of the animal. The flames traveled from his wings and spread across the grass in a wildfire. Tilly gasped and pointed.

  The phoenix raised his wings and slammed them downward. The flames were immediately extinguished and a wall of heat crashed into Tilly, driving her back several steps. She threw up her arms to protect her face, but she needn’t have bothered. While the heat was intense, it didn’t burn her.

  The creature made a raucous sound and she slowly lowered her arms. He hopped forward, propelling himself on powerful feet tipped with razor-sharp talons. Fire no longer covered him, but he was no less glorious. His reddish wings shone like a flame in the brilliant sun.

  He reached out one wing and stroked the very tip over her face. It was so soft and gentle. When she stared up into the bird’s eyes she could see her Phoenix in the green depths.

  “That’s pretty impressive.”

  He tilted his head back and preened at her praise. His reaction made her smile.

  “Yeah. Yeah. You’re handsome and you know it.”

  He flapped one giant wing again and playfully nudged her to one side. She grinned and righted herself. “I wish you could fly.” She could only imagine how spectacular it would be to watch the giant flaming bird soar across the blue skies. Or, even better, a night sky.

  She sensed his sadness and patted his chest in reassurance. “As soon as this is over you can go to one of those empty spaces you talked about and fly as long as you want.”

  His form began to shimmer. She sensed he was shifting back to his human form when he suddenly stopped. He shrieked. The sound was so loud it hurt. Tilly slapped her hands over her ears, stunned by the sudden change in his demeanor.

  She saw it then, the swirling circling dark mass off to the left. She’d seen a portal once before and nothing good had come out of it. And the only person she knew who could create one was Hades.

  Hades settled into his favorite chair with a drink in his hand and stared into his special mirror, the one that gave him a view into other worlds. He disliked the fact that it was good only for one hour per day, but beggars couldn’t be choosers. And right now, it was his only doorway to the earthly realm.

  He’d changed from his leather pants and was once again impeccably dressed in one of his custom three-piece suits with a hand-stitched linen shirt and Italian leather shoes. He was once again in control of his life and his kingdom. His demons trembled in fear whenever he was about, which was quite lovely and as it should be. All manner of succubi and other female demons were ready and eager to fulfill any sexual whim he might have. Too bad he didn’t want any of them.

  The soft scent of wildflowers still teased his nostrils and he cursed Persephone. She’d make him weak if he allowed it. He tapped his fingers on the arm of the thick wooden chair. It was time for his revenge.

  As he watched, the portal grew larger. It infuriated him that such a simple think took so much effort. He couldn’t hold the gateway between here and Earth open for long. But long enough to send through a handful of his demons—enough to distract Phoenix while one of them disposed of Tilly Ledet. It wasn’t quite as delicious as his plans for Jessica and Mordecai had been, but it was better than nothing.

  He brought the crystal glass to his lips and sipped the finest whiskey available in the world. It went down smooth and warmed his belly.

  He had everything he wanted. Well, almost everything. Revenge was foremost on his agenda. Once that was done, he’d go about the business of regaining his power and running his empire. If Zeus and the others thought they could hold him back, they were sorely m
istaken.

  The sweet scent of wildflowers teased his nostrils again and he inhaled deeply. When he realized what he was doing, he swore and waved his hand in the air, replacing the lingering scent of perfume with the smell of sulfur. He didn’t miss his ex-wife. Not at all. Revenge was everything he needed.

  He peered back into the mirror, relaxed and prepared to enjoy the show.

  Phoenix had been enjoying Tilly’s reaction to his animal form. In the past, most people had been afraid of him. But not Tilly. If anything, she seemed enthralled. He freely admitted it made him feel good, and he found himself wanting to show off for her. He wished he could take to the skies and show her just how powerful he was. On the ground, he was a good fighter. In the air, he was unbeatable.

  He missed flying, racing with the wind, losing himself in the silence of the sky. But being with Tilly was just as exhilarating. The way her eyes darkened and her scent changed when she looked at him made his cock swell. His keen eyesight noted the way her nipples pebbled against her top and how she unconsciously leaned toward him.

  He wanted her again.

  He’d just started to shift back to his human form when he felt a disturbance in the energy field around him. He cried his displeasure, whirled around to face the threat and came face-to-face with a portal. The black hole swirled, getting larger with each rotation.

  Hades. Phoenix had seen this particular kind of portal many times in the past and it never boded well. He stepped in front of Tilly to protect her.

  “Run!” His voice was more animal than man, but he managed to communicate the warning. He would protect Tilly. Keep her safe.

  He whipped his wings high into the air and they ignited, burning hot and bright. If they thought to take Tilly from him, they were in for a surprise. Hell might be hot, but it was nothing compared to the flames of the phoenix.

  The first demon stepped out and Phoenix slammed his wings together in front of him. He redirected his power, shooting fire straight at the opening of the portal. The demon caught fire and began to scream. Phoenix smiled and fried the next demon behind the unfortunate creature.

  The remaining demons rushed out in a flurry, some going low and others jumping high. So many demons at once, it was impossible for him to get all of them. But that didn’t stop him from trying. He whipped his wings wide and sent his deadly flames into the heart of the portal, burning it from the inside out. Hades’ fires were dark while the phoenix’s burned brighter than the sun. He was at full power while the god wasn’t.

  The two opposing forces slammed together, louder than a clap of thunder. The dark struggled, but the light overtook it and the portal winked out of existence. Now all Phoenix had to do was kill the remaining demons. Hades wasn’t here himself. Phoenix was hopeful that meant the god wasn’t powerful enough to enter this realm.

  “You can’t escape me.” His voice was low and guttural. Angry. The demons couldn’t attack him because the warriors had broken the original curse. Phoenix was safe from Hades and all his minions. But the same couldn’t be said for them. Phoenix was under no restrictions.

  Relishing the coming fight, he smiled. He’d send all Hades’ demons back to Hell.

  Then he heard Tilly scream.

  He whirled around and gave a raucous cry of pain. Another portal had opened behind him and a demon now held Tilly in its grasp. She was doing her best to fight it but was no match for the hulking creature. The demon stood almost as tall as Phoenix did in his bird form. The demon’s skin was leathery and two horns protruded from the sides of its head.

  Phoenix immediately sent a bolt of his power into the heart of the portal, collapsing it.

  The smell of death was behind him. Phoenix spun back to face the remaining demons. He’d almost forgotten them in his fear for Tilly. He shot fire at the remaining half-dozen demons and set them all aflame. They burned brightly and were quickly consumed. Their screams of agony filled the clearing. The smell of charred flesh stung his nostrils.

  Satisfied they were no longer a threat, Phoenix shifted back to his human form and turned to face Tilly and her captor. “Release her,” he demanded.

  The demon smiled. “I don’t think so. My master will open another portal and I’ll take her to Hell.” The creature licked the side of Tilly’s face. She elbowed the creature in the solar plexus, but the demon didn’t even seem to notice.

  He took a step toward them but stopped when the demon tightened its hold on Tilly’s neck. “Come any closer and I’ll snap it. My master wants her alive. If that’s not possible, dead is just as good.”

  Phoenix swore and glanced at Tilly. She was angry, but he could also see fear in her dark brown eyes.

  As if on cue, another portal began to open. The black swirling mass swallowed the light around it. If the demon got Tilly into the portal, she’d be lost to him forever.

  “Do you trust me?” he asked her.

  She tried to nod but couldn’t move her neck. “Yes,” she gasped before the demon tightened its hold.

  Phoenix took a deep breath. What he was about to try was incredibly dangerous. He didn’t even know if it was possible. But better Tilly die with him if he failed than end up in Hades’ clutches.

  She is ours and we are hers, he told the Phoenix. The great bird roared his agreement.

  He spread his arms wide and jumped toward them. The demon yelled as Phoenix ignited, shifting once again to his bird form in midair. Flames shot out from his body, consuming Tilly and the demon in a fiery cocoon. Phoenix yanked Tilly away from the demon and cradled her into his arms. Because he hadn’t been holding her when he’d shifted, she hadn’t been protected. Using his powerful wing, he knocked the flaming demon into the swirling portal. The black mass closed in on itself, collapsing into nothingness.

  Throughout it all, Tilly never made a sound. Was she burned? Was she even still alive?

  Phoenix knew he only had one chance to save her. He opened his heart and began to pour his healing life force into her even as he smothered the flames that engulfed her. If she was a part of him, the fire would not burn her and whatever damage had been done would heal.

  At least he prayed that’s what would happen. It was his only hope.

  He shifted back to his human form and held her close to his chest. White light surrounded them. Color quickly bled through the white until they were in the center of a circular rainbow.

  “Tilly.” He whispered her name, afraid to look at her, afraid he would see nothing but charred, burned flesh. If she died, he did not want to live. Tilly was his heart. His very soul.

  The lightest touch on his chest jolted him and he jerked his gaze down to hers. Tilly’s skin was unblemished and her brown eyes were filled with awe. “You saved me.”

  “I had to,” he told her honestly. “I love you.”

  Shocked by what he’d just said and the fact she hadn’t died, all she could do was stare up at him in wonder. Every nerve ending in Tilly’s body was alive, flooded with life-giving energy. Light containing every color of a rainbow and more danced over her skin and penetrated every pore of her body. She was also totally naked, her clothing having been completely consumed by the phoenix’s flame. “What have you done?” she managed to ask. She felt the same but different. Better.

  “What I had to.” He swooped down and captured her mouth with his. The kiss was hot and forceful. Their tongues tangled and she moaned when he lifted her right off her feet. She clutched at his powerful shoulders. She tasted his relief and his desperation.

  He left her lips and dotted her face with kisses. “I shared my life force with you. I had to. The fire was burning your body and I had to save you. I thought my immortal energy would heal any of the damage from the blaze.”

  He released her and ran his green-eyed gaze over her from head to toe. “You’re really all right?”

  Tilly nodded. Other than being a little lightheaded, s
he felt great. “The fire,” she began.

  He nodded. “I didn’t have any other choice.” There was pure torment in his eyes. “If the demon had gotten you into the portal, you would have been lost forever. Hades would have had you.”

  Phoenix fell to his knees in front of her. “Forgive me.”

  Tilly stared down at the proud warrior before her. She caught his beloved face in her hands and lifted until he was looking at her. “The fire didn’t burn me.” She gave a small laugh. “My clothing might not have made it, but I’m fine.” It was the most amazing thing. The flames had surrounded her like a protective barrier between her and the demon. A living creature, the fire had pushed the demon away from her.

  “Truly?” He covered her hands with his. “You’re not just saying that?”

  She shook her head. “No. It surrounded me. Protected me.”

  He released a huge sigh. “I’d hoped, but I didn’t know it was possible. Not without me holding you.”

  “How?” The fire should have burned her to a crisp.

  “You are ours.” His simple words coupled with his declaration of love made her weak. She trembled and her legs shook. Phoenix surged to his feet, caught her before she fell and lifted her into his arms. “You’re immortal now.”

  He walked up the porch steps and went inside the house while she tried to wrap her head around that idea. He carried her into the bedroom but didn’t release her. Instead, he sat on the bed with her still clasped tight in his arms. He yanked the blanket from the bed and tugged it over her.

  “You are safe for all time now. You are part of me so Hades can no longer harm you. The original curse stated that he cannot harm us now that we are free. Since you are now a part of me, you are now off-limits to him.”

  “Oh my God. You’re right.” Tilly’s mind was racing. “We need to call Mordecai. That’s how he can save Jessica.” She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him on the lips. “You’re brilliant.” It was such a simple idea, but it was the right one. “Where’s my phone?”