“Is it?” Shtamakarein’s eyes were very dark as he smirked. “I would deem it fitting. I don’t mean to hide my role in this world, but it doesn’t mean anything without Sari.”
The fae’s face flamed, and he fidgeted a little in the emperor’s lap. Shtamakarein’s hold on him tightened. The obvious sexual tension between the two would have been funny if not for the seriousness of the circumstances.
Prince Sareltae must have realized how the whole thing looked, because he slid out of Shtamakarein’s lap and stood next to the throne instead. The emperor cleared his throat. “In any case…I’d like you to meet my brother, Rachen, and his mate, Phoenix. Rachen, Phoenix, I believe you’ve already met everyone.”
Phoenix nodded. “Yes, thank you, Your Imperial Majesty. Now, if I may, gentlemen. You mentioned there was a feather that showed you the existence of the other reality—my feather. Could I possibly see it?”
The famous phoenix feather. Camden had learned about it, but he hadn’t actually seen it. But if it was as powerful as the fae claimed, would it truly be safe to hand it over to some stranger?
Selbrian seemed to think the same. “How do you know we won’t use this power against us?”
“I suppose you don’t,” Phoenix answered. “I’m just hoping it can help me find the phoenix of this world. If that happens, I might be able to get my powers back. I highly doubt it can show me or give me anything I need.”
Philip Strange scowled. “And why should we take this chance?” he inquired. “I’ve heard enough about it to figure out that it could be a weapon in your hands.”
“It could also be the key to returning to the other reality,” Eanera offered. Even if her words attempted to be encouraging, they were actually quite filled with doubt.
“Would you like to give it more thought?” Shtamakarein inquired. “I won’t force you into handing over this item. Technically speaking, I have Sari now, so I’m happy. The interest isn’t strictly on my side.”
Selbrian finally took a deep breath and nodded. He retrieved a box from his pocket and said, “Eanera gave this to me when we went to the meeting. I have no desire to trust you with it…but it could be my only chance to get my children back.”
With that, Selbrian offered the box to Phoenix. Phoenix didn’t reach for it, instead staring at the item with a strange expression. Finally, it was Rachen who took it. “Thank you for your faith,” he said. “We will endeavor not to fail you.”
Even as he spoke, a knock sounded at the door. “Yes?” Shtamakarein called out.
A concerned-looking guard walked in, keeping his head down like he expected the emperor to smite him. Perhaps he wasn’t completely off base in that suspicion, because Shtamakarein glared at the new arrival. “I asked not to be disturbed.”
“I–I know, Your Imperial Majesty,” the guard stammered, dropping to his knees. “However, this is important. The Ivenian king… His plane is approaching Draechenburg.”
Camden gaped. He was well aware that much of what had happened had been done behind King Amarion’s back. Additionally, he suspected there was a rift of such within the Myrthylar family, possibly because of the famous box. However, he had not expected Amarion would dare to come here.
“Well, this is interesting,” Shtamakarein said. “I wonder what reasons he has for believing I wouldn’t shoot him out of the sky.”
Those reasons were kind of straightforward, really. If King Amarion had found out about Sareltae’s arrival in Draechenburg—and possibly the obvious affection Shtamakarein lavished upon the fae—he would have realized that Shtamakarein wouldn’t risk harming him. It wasn’t impossible. The fae actually had quite a lot of spies, and it didn’t seem like Shtamakarein had been discreet in his attentions. Then again, it could just as easily be the mere presence of his family.
Either way, it was a very serious development. Did it change things? Camden couldn’t be sure. In the end, their task was the same, whether the king joined them or not.
“I will hear what he has to say,” Shtamakarein finally decided. “He is a fellow sovereign, after all, and I have extended my hospitality to the Myrthylar. Allow him to land and lead him here once he arrives.”
The soldier got up and saluted. “I live and die by your command,” he said.
As the draechen guard left the room, the emperor asked, “Any idea how he might have found out about this meeting?”
“King Amarion is very resourceful,” Eanera answered, “and there was a lot of fuss here in Draechenburg. It couldn’t have been hard.”
“Perhaps it wasn’t.” Shtamakarein turned toward Sage and Camden. “What about you, Sage? What do you think?”
Camden hated that the emperor had now taken the time to even focus on Sage, but apparently, he planned to use the time spent waiting for Amarion to point out Sage’s betrayal. Even so, Sage kept his calm. “I would agree, Your Imperial Majesty,” he answered. “I have seen the organization of the fae, and I would say they definitely have the means of learning this information.”
Shtamakarein smirked. “You truly did see it, didn’t you? Tell me something. Did you feel any guilt over leaving the draechen? Did you think of your sister, of your parents?”
“I did, yes,” Sage answered, “but I knew Hanna would have supported me had she known. And as you are well aware, Your Imperial Majesty, I’m not the only one in this war who lost his parents. To put it bluntly, Emperor Shtamakarein, no, I don’t feel guilty. Camden is my family now, and if I have my way, we’re going to rebuild what we had, what we were robbed of.”
“I suppose I can understand that,” the emperor replied, glancing toward Sareltae. “I can’t imagine it’s been easy, though. If this doesn’t work out, you and your mate are welcome to stay here.”
Camden couldn’t help a gasp. He didn’t think that he could leave his family, but still, the fact that the emperor had even made the offer was more than Camden had imagined. This had to be some sort of deception. It just seemed too good to be true.
“You don’t believe I’m being honest,” Shtamakarein told Camden, obviously catching onto his doubts.
“No, I don’t,” Camden replied without missing a beat. “I highly doubt a man like you would be inclined to wave off what you would see as treason just like that.”
“Perhaps a while back, I wouldn’t have, but I do understand your mate’s actions now. It’s hard not to, since I’m largely in the same position.”
Before Camden could say anything else, the door burst open and Amarion Myrthylar stalked into the throne room. “You must avoid giving the feather to that creature,” the Ivenian king said without preamble. “No matter what you do, Eanera, you have to prevent it.”
“Your Majesty, I don’t understand,” Eanera answered. “Why did you come here? We realize the feather’s power, but sometimes, you have to take a chance for the greater good.”
“The greater good? You have no idea what you’re talking about.” Amarion clenched his hands into fists. “Do you think I imprisoned my son for no reason? Do you truly believe that I would be so petty and cruel to do that for the sake of my own sensibilities? Eanera, he wanted to use the feather, too. I saw it that day, what destruction it could wield, how it exploits and uses people. I thought you knew, too, and you would never take such chances, at least not without consulting me.”
“Prince Talrasar was mentally unstable,” Sareltae replied in his mother’s stead, “largely because of his separation from his mate. The two of them have been reunited. As you can see, it’s not an issue anymore.”
“That’s because the damn thing has another target,” Amarion snapped back. His gaze zeroed in on the box, still in Rachen’s hand. “Return it to us. Why do you think you even ended up here? That creature lives within every part of itself. It led you all here, teasing you with promises of a dream that can never exist—just so that it could return to its master.”
In return, Rachen snarled. “You’re just afraid that it’ll work, and we’ll restore a real
ity where you don’t exist.”
Camden froze, no longer knowing what to believe. In his mind, he had made this second world to be perfect, but he hadn’t considered the idea that other people might no longer be alive.
Amarion didn’t seem surprised by the words. “I couldn’t care less about that,” he said. “Do you truly not realize the monster you’ve chosen for a mate? It was created to destroy, and it has repeatedly done so. You know this, Emperor Shtamakarein. It cost you the lives of your parents. And in this thing, you would trust your futures, your destiny?”
A shiver went down Camden’s spine. It had all seemed too good to be true, and they had been following the guide of the feather on the basis that the images shown were genuine. Had they all been manipulated? Had they played right into Phoenix’s hand?
Shtamakarein’s expression grew thoughtful, and he turned toward Phoenix. “Would you like to say anything, Phoenix? Those are some pretty nasty accusations.”
Phoenix wasn’t even looking at the emperor. In fact, he wasn’t looking at anyone. His full focus seemed to be the box. Before anyone could move a muscle, Phoenix snatched the box from his mate’s hand and opened it.
From inside, he retrieved a flaming feather and held it tightly in his hand. He looked away, and for a few seconds, his gaze met Camden’s. In that moment, Camden realized how mistaken they’d all been to trust in this creature.
“King Amarion was right,” he said. “Take it back. Take the feather back.”
Camden would have tried to do that himself, but several things happened at the same time. Phoenix started to laugh, and the fire from the feather trailed down his arm, until it engulfed his whole body. Shtamakarein shot off the throne, pushing Sareltae behind himself. Similarly, Sage stood in front of Camden, protecting him from the new danger.
Meanwhile, Amarion, Eanera, and Selbrian rushed toward Phoenix, probably intending to try to do what Camden had said. It was much too late. The feather disappeared, and the flames around Phoenix grew brighter.
“Thank you,” Phoenix said. “You really played your part quite perfectly. I’m now free of that blasted prison. The sprites can’t hold me any longer courtesy of this body.”
Rachen gasped, reaching for his mate and trying to shake him. “Phoenix! Snap out of it. This isn’t you.”
“Oh, but this is me,” Phoenix purred, trailing a finger over Rachen’s cheek. “Don’t worry about a thing, lover. I’ll fix it all. I’ll cleanse the world and build one just for us—a place where only the two of us exist. We don’t need anyone but each other.”
“Phoenix, don’t do this, baby,” Rachen said. “Come back to me. We can still fix things. It’s not too late.”
“Oh, but it is,” Amarion said, having stopped a few feet away from Phoenix. “That’s not the man you know. It is the creature I dreaded.”
Unfortunately for Amarion, these words drew Phoenix’s attention toward him. “Ah, yes…King Amarion. I have a score to settle with you. You stopped me once, and it cost you your son. If you’d just let Talrasar find my box and open it, everything would have been so much easier. I only wanted to be free. But no… You had to go and keep him from me. You have only yourself to blame for whatever happens today.”
Phoenix tilted his head ever so slightly, his gaze fixed on the Ivenian king. Just like that, Amarion burst into flames. He didn’t scream. At first, he didn’t even seem to realize what had happened. Camden would have thought he was seeing things, but then, that strange fire began to consume Amarion.
The Ivenian king gasped and fell to his knees. He watched blindly as his hands started to fade under the immaterial blaze. Eanera reached for him, but Phoenix just looked at her and she fell, flames surrounding her as well.
“Mother!” Sareltae screamed. “Oh, Jenarra… No!”
Seeming oblivious to the danger on himself, he ran toward the two fallen fae and dropped to his knees next to her. He tried to insert his hand into the fire, but was propelled back, unable to pass through the force. His father joined him, also attempting to help Eanera, but failing.
Both Amarion and Eanera seemed like paper figurines being burnt out of existence. No, that wasn’t right. They were merely drawings, wiped away altogether, not leaving even a trace behind, because even as their bodies started to fade, there was no scent of charred flesh, no ash, nothing. Just…emptiness.
“Sari… Selbrian…” Eanera finally gasped out. “Get out of here. Run.”
“Find Talrasar,” Amarion added, apparently clinging to his final strength. “Tell him… Tell him I love him, that I’m so very sorry… So…sorry.”
With those final words, Amarion at last faded away. Eanera endured for a while longer before she at last disappeared. And all the while, Camden could do absolutely nothing. He had thought he could handle anything. He was a warrior, and he had faced many battles. But this thing…this terror…he didn’t know how to counter it.
And then, Phoenix stepped toward Sareltae, smirking. Shtamakarein gasped, making a move to stop the creature, but a wave of power swept over the room, freezing him in place.
“Prince Sareltae… You know, I was so jealous of you for a long time. You had Rachen’s love and attention, and you tried to take him from me. And then, you made everyone hate me.” The flame around his body seemed to burn hotter and brighter. Sari gasped and clutched his hand as Phoenix continued to speak. “I only ever wanted to be free, to be loved. But you, and others like you, would clip my wings and destroy my one chance for happiness. I will not allow it. Disappear!”
He waved his hand toward the young fae, and predictably, Sareltae started to fade away as well. When he realized what was happening, he looked past Phoenix and straight at the emperor. “Karein…I’m sorry.”
Oddly enough, Sareltae’s words seemed to break the spell on the emperor. A roar escaped Shtamakarein, and his form melted into that of a huge black dragon. He launched himself at the phoenix, his entire being a study in despair and hatred.
The attack of the draechen leader snapped Camden out of his own trance. Sage turned into his shifted form, while Camden retrieved his gun. He had no idea if it would work, but it certainly stood a better chance than close combat.
He caught sight of Philip, Raleigh, and Lord Selbrian doing the same. But before they could even strike, Phoenix the man disappeared, and a huge fire bird appeared in its stead. It screeched, and a blaze of fire emerged from its beak. It hit the black dragon, sending him flying back. Lord Selbrian suffered a similar fate, hitting the wall with a nauseating crack.
Philip and Raleigh were next. A wave of power struck them, and before Camden’s very eyes, their forms melted into that of mere feline cubs. However, this gave Sage the time to gather his magic. Camden did his best to support his mate, feeding all of his love into their bond.
Sage converted his own power, and Camden’s, into the largest ice bolt Camden had ever seen. It was a long shot, and it probably wouldn’t work—they were faced with a phoenix, after all. Nevertheless, they couldn’t just stand by and watch. They had to do something. They had to try.
While Camden started to shoot at the creature, Sage launched the ice spell. None of the projectiles made contact. The bullets fell to the ground, useless, while the ice bolt stopped inches away from Phoenix, hovering midair, glittering like a jewel as the glow of the fire bird’s blaze mirrored itself into it. Phoenix turned slowly, eyeing it with slight interest. He waved a wing, and the ice bolt came speeding back toward Camden and Sage. In a flash, Sage threw up an ice shield and took Camden in his arms, shielding him once again with his larger body.
Camden had the time to curl against his mate before the ice shield cracked and his entire world turned black.
Chapter Thirteen
It was a nightmare, a complete and utter nightmare. Rachen had thought that if Phoenix got his power back, all their problems would be solved. It had never occurred to him that the phoenix of this world would use the chance to free himself from the sprite-built prison and
take over Rachen’s mate instead.
Sari, Eanera, and Amarion were already gone, wiped away from existence as if they’d never been. Selbrian lay still and motionless against the wall, his neck at an awkward, unnatural angle. Sagenamadeen Zager and his mate had been reduced to nothing but statues of ice. The two shape-shifters had turned into cubs, and were shying away from Phoenix, hiding behind one of the larger blocks of ice.
Karein was the only one who seemed to have withstood the phoenix’s terrible power. He was still moving, his wings trembling as he struggled to get up again. He didn’t get the chance to try another attack on Phoenix. A strange darkness began to gather above Karein. The dragon’s body started to writhe and twist, as if he was struggling against some unseen force. At one point, the power pushed Karein into changing back into his human form.
Rachen wanted to stop it, to stop his mate, but he couldn’t move a muscle. He could only watch as the man he loved tortured Karein. It was hell on him, especially when Karein started to call out Sari’s name. Once. Twice. Three times. And then, it was all over.
Karein’s body went still and motionless. At first, Rachen thought that his mate had killed his brother, but then, Karein began to stir again. However, when Karein lifted his head and faced them, Rachen saw that his hair and eyes were no longer black. They were red. Rachen’s hair. Rachen’s eyes.
The fire bird next to him melted back into the man Rachen had once fallen in love with. “There you are.” Phoenix smiled at the draechen who should have been Karein. “You’re free like me. You will no longer be a prisoner in another man’s body.”
Rachen felt a little nauseous as he realized what the phoenix had done. He had effectively cast away Karein’s soul, leaving only this world’s Rachen to inhabit Karein’s body. The second Rachen looked a little confused, but Phoenix rushed to his side and helped him up. “It’s okay,” Phoenix said. “We’re together now.”
Hyacinth, Scarlet - From the Ashes [Chronicles of the Shifter Directive 7] (Siren Publishing Epic Romance, ManLove) Page 23
