Phoenix Rising

by Cara Carnes

  I lost myself in her velvety kiss, the friction of skin against skin as I tasted her neck, her breasts. Her nipples pebbled beneath my fingers. Soft gasps of pleasure mingled with my needy groans.

  I growled when she turned us over so she was straddling me. I could smell her arousal in my nostrils along with her moist need when she writhed against the prominent bulge in my jeans.

  Riles leaned down. Her soft lips ran along my skin as though she would taste every inch of me. I could count on one hand how many times a woman had done this—spent time on the niceties of foreplay. Female wolves weren’t into this sort of thing.

  Arousal burst in me, tiny explosive landmines beneath my skin wherever she touched, kissed. She paused, licking and kneading my arms. “I can sense your wolf. He’s close.”

  “He wants you.”

  “Good. I want him,” she whispered. She undid my belt and jeans. Doubt broke through the haze of desire in her gaze. “I’m not…. This isn’t something I do a lot. Well, never. I mean, I’m not a…. You’re the first I wanted.”

  Rage rose within me, but I fought to remain calm. I’d kill all those who’d hurt her later. Tonight, I’d kiss the hurt in her eyes away and make love to her until the doubt in her voice gave way to cries of pleasure.

  Sensing her need to control the pace, I lifted my hips and allowed her to remove the rest of my clothes. Desire was evident in the golden flecks of her gaze. She licked her lips as she wrapped her hand around my dick. I grunted, encouraging her tentative strokes by thrusting my hips to set a rhythm she learned quickly.

  I ran my hands down her sides, pausing to pay homage to her gorgeous tits. She thrust herself into my palms. I flicked her sensitive nipples until she bit down on her lower lip and rubbed her wet pussy against my aching dick.

  Fuck.

  “Touch yourself for me, mouse.”

  Lust seized me. A slight tremble in her hands made protectiveness swell in me. She took my hands and ran them along her body, pausing on her breasts.

  “I like when you squeeze me here.”

  “Oh, yeah?”

  “Yes.”

  I complied until she gasped and settled on me until her wet heat was snuggled against my raging dick.

  Jesus, this was killing me.

  “Show me where you want me to taste you, sweetness.”

  She sighed and ran her hands along her ribs, down her hips. One hand wrapped around my dick, and the other moved to the slickened folds of her pussy. I couldn’t breathe, too enraptured by the lust pounding in my blood, the need to taste her there, feel her release.

  Her arousal glimmered on her fingertips when she drew them away. Pupils dilated, she brushed them across my lips. I suckled them hungrily, lapping at the evidence of her need. The hand around my dick squeezed as she rose above me.

  I growled and flipped us. “I need you now, Riles. Let me have all of you.”

  “Macen.” Her legs settled around me, her fingers dug into my shoulders as she claimed my mouth in a hungry kiss. “Make me yours. Please.”

  I melted into the kiss and slid into her. Swallowing her gasp, I groaned at the heat, the firm grip of her pussy around my dick. I remained fully seated, unmoving, even though I wanted to thrust, fuck her long, hard, and deep until we both collapsed in exhaustion.

  Her fingernails dug into my shoulders, her skin heated beneath me. My wolf groaned when her animal prowled to the surface. “Fuck me, Macen.”

  I fucked her hard and fast. Sweat coated my skin.

  She licked my neck and moaned. “Salty.”

  Jesus.

  She met me, thrust for thrust, our breathing labored and our bodies gliding against one another. I nipped at her neck until she stilled beneath me.

  “Mine.” The growl rumbled in my throat long after the word hung between us.

  “Yes,” she whispered. “Always yours.”

  I wanted to turn her over, take possession the way my wolf demanded. Next time. Riles tensed beneath me. She clawed and scraped her nails along my skin, clinging to me as she spiraled into her release.

  I slowed my thrusts, rubbing her clit with my finger as I looked down at her. “Look at me, Riles.”

  Her eyes fluttered open, and I was lost in the passionate sea of endless golden-flecked blue. My balls tightened; my body tensed. I needed her release more than I needed the ragged breaths I dragged into my lungs.

  “Come with me, Riles.”

  She clung to me. Body tensed, I inhaled her succulent scent and lost myself in her release. Fire spread through me. My wolf fractured, undone by the emotions enveloping us. A woman had never meant this much to me, never been everything I wanted. Needed.

  I claimed her mouth, growling my release as we both collapsed in a sweaty tangle of limbs. As I battled to find some semblance of breath, I silently prayed to whatever god heard me that I hadn’t lied to her. Things had to be right tomorrow. I couldn’t lose her. Not now. Not ever.

  I drew her into my arms and kissed her forehead. She sighed and lazed by my side like a contented kitten. I had a thousand questions, but exhaustion and euphoria took over. For the first time in years, my wolf settled, calmed by the fact we’d found his mate.

  My mate.

  My Riles.

  ***

  Riles

  Something within me shifted, prowling to the surface once again. The sensation was unsettling, yet calming. I’d shifted.

  I’d killed.

  Shock kept me silent and still within Macen’s embrace. His heat blanketed me. The steady breathing eased the apprehensive pangs crawling through my mind. Shards of last night pieced themselves together, offering a larger picture I didn’t want to deal with.

  I’d inhaled hellfire.

  How was that even possible? What had I shifted into? I remember the crunch of bone, the flickering flames within my blood. Obviously, Vira had been right. I was an angel. Or a phoenix. Or something from that world. I needed answers that I suspected wouldn’t make anything to come simpler. People feared different—I’d dealt with it all my life without understanding how truly weird I was compared to everyone else.

  I was an abomination just like Jacob always said.

  All I could do now was get answers and hope Macen would understand. I couldn’t imagine losing him. Carefully extricating myself from his arms, I padded into the motel’s dingy bathroom and stared into the mirror.

  The bruises I’d expected were almost healed. At least I’d gotten the benefits of being a shifter. What would happen to me now? I’d killed those twins. Their screams echoed in my mind.

  I’d have to turn myself in. But to who? Although it killed me to imagine, I had to distance myself from Macen. I couldn’t allow him or his pack—either of his packs—to be damaged by what I’d done last night.

  Warm hands drifted along my thighs and wrapped around my waist. I closed my eyes and leaned into Macen’s strength. For this moment, I’d pretend it was all okay, that he was truly mine, and we’d have an eternity together. My nostrils and eyes burned; my vision clouded when I blinked.

  “I can’t help you if you don’t let me in, Riles. We’re in this together, mouse. From here on out. We clear?”

  I nodded and squeezed his hand. “I’m scared, Macen. What will happen to me? Oh, God! I killed someone last night. Two someones.”

  The pain spewed from me, and I collapsed, my knees too weak to support the weight of what I’d done. I couldn’t make something so malevolent right. “I didn’t know. I didn’t know I had that in me. God, I should’ve stopped it somehow. They died because of me.”

  “I’ve got you, sweetheart.” Macen picked me up and carried to the bed.

  Even though I sat in his lap like a petulant child, I leaned into him, somewhat calmed by the soothing glide of his hand down my arm and the rich timbre of his voice. I couldn’t process the words. They were nonsense which couldn’t withstand the pounding terror and pain within my mind.

  I sat there, rocking gently in his embrace until re
ality intruded. A firm knock on the door startled me to standing.

  “Hey.” Macen palmed my chin and lifted until I locked gazes with him. “It’s going to be okay. You’re mine. I won’t let anyone hurt you ever again.”

  Nodding, I silently hoped he was right. I’d never had anyone in my corner before.

  I had to admit it felt damn good. I slid on his shirt from the night before, pausing briefly to inhale his scent, a succulent ambrosia that awakened the need within me.

  He opened the door and growled as he stepped back. “This couldn’t wait until after we had breakfast?”

  “Funny. I thought that’s what we were bringing.” Logan entered, carrying fast food bags. The aroma made my stomach rumble. Lane followed with a holder loaded down with steaming coffee. “Hey, Riles.”

  Okay. I’d morphed into a hideous creature straight from a horror novel, barbequed two demons, and all I got was a “Hey, Riles”? I’d expected accusations, anger. I’d dragged the pack into a heap of mess last night with what I’d done.

  “She okay?” Lane pulled the table from the wall until the left side of the bed could serve as seating. He positioned the two chairs around the other side of the small circular surface. It was downright homey.

  “She’s fine,” I responded. “I just have a lot on my mind. I’m sorry about last night. I’m not sure what the hell happened.”

  “Well, we may have a few answers for you.” Logan sat and reached into the massive bag. “Sit, eat. We got you a veggie omelet with hash browns and pancakes. Lane thought you’d want toast, but that’s for pansies. Pancakes with syrup rock, right?” He winked and pushed the food toward the other end of the table.

  I sat beside Macen, who smirked at his second.

  “Thanks for the food, man.”

  He shrugged. “Gotta eat. No biggie.”

  I ate with abandon as though it was my last meal. For all I knew it was. I shoveled, not giving a damn what the two men across from me thought. Macen understood. We’d burned a lot of calories through the night.

  Heat rose in my cheeks when I looked over at him. I’d awakened him several times, too wanton for his touch to sleep. The animal within me stirred and hummed in awareness. I could sense Macen’s wolf.

  My mate.

  “You learn anything after we took off last night?”

  “Yeah, hellhounds don’t take too kindly to the shit that went down last night.” Lane mouthed a bite of egg and chewed for a bit. “Your girl here scared the piss out of them.”

  “I did?” I choked a bit on my hash browns. “Why?”

  “Also learned Vira can kick Stacy’s ass without even blinking. You should’ve seen her. Man, it was beautiful. Even half dead, that vampire demon was fierce.” Logan laughed. “Sorry, we’re getting ahead of ourselves. We figured Vira knew more than we did, and we were right. Come to find out, your girl is either a phoenix or an angel. Or both. Vira thinks both.”

  “What the hell?” Macen shoved his food aside and leaned forward. “Explain.”

  “Apparently, it was pretty common knowledge a century or so ago that angels and phoenixes straddled the lines between Earth and Demonia, proverbial guardians to ensure neither side had too much power. They kept shit from hitting the fan, so to speak,” Lane said.

  “Then they gave up, went away, or just didn’t give a shit anymore. No one really knows.” Logan shrugged. “All the demons knew is they weren’t there anymore. They were forgotten in our realm but became the stuff of childhood stories to keep the little demons in line.”

  “Why were they afraid of them?”

  “They could strike down a full-fledged demon with a drop of phoenix blood or a burst of angel fire.”

  “And that’s what I am.”

  “Based on what we figured out, yes.” Kindness reflected in Lane’s gaze. “You’ve created quite a stir. No one knows exactly what to think about you. Fortunately, we contacted some elders. A couple of them seemed to know more about these two species. They apparently had strict upbringings and adhered to a regimented tradition—one that dwindled their races to almost nonexistence.

  “Just over a century ago, new leadership took control of their realm. The decision was made to sever all ties with and responsibilities to Earth and Demonia, to focus on their world and problems rather than handling ours.”

  “So, how did I land here?”

  Lane sighed and looked at Logan with darkness on his face. “We’ve gotta tell her, man.”

  “It took some digging, a lot of phone calls, and a shit load of favors being called in by every pack we had alliances with. We finally got a way to connect with the new leader. He listened to what we had to say, and then he abruptly announced he’d call us back.” Lane sighed. “We heard from him an hour ago. It’s been a long night.”

  “A fucking long ass night. We’ve had the entire pack and every pack we were from up making calls country wide.” Logan leaned back into his chair. “Thank fuck it paid off.”

  “What did he say?”

  “He found your parents.”

  Chapter Ten

  It’d been a hectic, yet glorious, week. Macen insisted I move into Wolf Hall. Although most of the pack embraced my presence, there was a thick tension between Stacy and myself as well as the few of her crew who hadn’t abandoned her. Rules were fuzzy about mated Alphas in residence at the dorm and whether that made their mate the head female.

  I’d assured Macen and Stacy and everyone who’d listen I didn’t want to be Alpha female. I wasn’t pack. I was Macen’s mate, and I wanted nothing to detract from my new role. His family pack embraced me fully—I had so many family members now I couldn’t keep count, much less remember their names.

  Vira had become my shadow. The guilt had slowly started giving way to the acceptance that I couldn’t change how horridly I’d screwed up her life. All of Demonia hated her—she’d been found guilty of the death of Prince Drecor’s daughters and banished to the Earthen realm permanently.

  “Stop thinking about that shit.” She slapped my hand. “And stop fiddling with your top. You look gorgeous, and fuck them if what you wear matters. They’re lucky this shit is even going down.”

  “Vira, we discussed this. What happened in Jacob’s pack wasn’t their fault. They weren’t there.”

  “Exactly. They. Weren’t. There.” Her obsidian eyes sparkled with red. “They should’ve been, and until I hear for myself why the fuck they weren’t, every second of what went down with that miserable prick’s pack is their fault as far as I’m concerned.”

  To say she’d become rather protective of me was an understatement. Macen found it amusing. I found it a bit overwhelming. She was my sister in every way that mattered. I wanted to thank her, tell her I loved her and felt the same protectiveness she did. I was pretty sure she wasn’t prepared for my emotional diarrhea.

  “I still say we should’ve made them wait longer.”

  “It’s been a week.” I took a deep breath. “Honestly, I can’t wait any longer. I want answers, Vira.”

  “We all do.” She squeezed my shoulder. “Let’s go. They’re waiting.”

  They. My parents. My animal stirred in my belly. I followed her down the stairs to the bottom level of Wolf Hall. Sharing a room with Macen had made me nervous at first, but I’d wanted to be with him, in his bed.

  His mate.

  “I hope Macen gets back in time to be here with us.”

  “He just arrived.” Vira grinned when I looked over my shoulder. “I’ve got really good hearing.”

  I was a bit jealous since I had something in me. I didn’t know how to communicate with the thing inside me. I didn’t understand what it could do, what it wanted from our relationship. It sounded foolish, but it was how I’d heard many shifters describe their inner animal. Hopefully, today would give me some answers, some idea how to delve into my powers.

  If I had any.

  We entered Macen’s office. A trio stood—a petite woman with long, flaxen hair and shimme
ring sky blue eyes. Her soft smile trembled as she gripped the man beside her. He wrapped his arms around her, and his cautious, green eyes tracked my movement into the room. His ebony hair matched mine. He was tall with wide shoulders and a massive torso to rival Macen’s.

  A younger, slender, flaxen-haired woman stood beside them. This was my sister. Macen made his way to me, encircling me in his strength. The thing inside me stirred, humming softly in pleasure. My heart fluttered.

  “Xenia,” the woman whispered.

  “Betina, we discussed this,” the man whispered. “She is Riletta.”

  “Riles,” Macen corrected.

  “Of course, forgive me.” The woman approached, her arm extended. “You are more beautiful than I could’ve imagined.”

  “Don’t hover. You’re making her nervous.” The man smiled. “I am Savan, and this is my mate, Betina. This is our other daughter, Xandra.”

  Xandra stepped forward. “So, you’re my little sister. We thought you were dead.”

  Betina gasped.

  “Xandra, we discussed this. We curb frankness in this realm. It’s often not appreciated.” Savan grinned. “My apologies.”

  They’d discussed this. They’d discussed me. Then they cared, right? “It’s nice to meet you.”

  “Sit, please.” Lane motioned toward the sofa.

  Macen and I took the chair beside them. He settled me next to him and wrapped his arms around me.

  Lane leaned against the desk. “Vira and I are here as intermediaries, if you will.”

  The smirk on his face made me grin. They were far from neutral.

  “Thank you for all you did for X— Riletta. Riles.” Savan sighed. “This is still quite a shock to us. When my uncle contacted me, I couldn’t believe you were alive.”

  “Your uncle?”

  “Yes, the king. He was the one Lane spoke with. We have claims almost daily since we’ve never stopped searching for you,” Betina explained.

  “You were stolen from our bedchamber by a disgruntled heir of the former king. We tracked him down a couple of months after your disappearance, but he never gave us your location. He died during questioning a year after we captured him.” Savan squeezed Betina’s hand when she leaned against him. “We’ve heard very little about your upbringing.”