Forged from Flame

by Kasey Mackenzie

  “That’s cute,” I said with a smile.

  Something I said finally got to him. His lips peeled into a snarl, and he jerked a hand forward, sending two projectiles hurling at me. I called upon Dia’s affinity with Air to send them flying straight back at him. They collided with several of the other chunks of concrete, sending half of his barrier crumbling to the ground in even smaller pieces.

  This time, fear replaced rage, and he stared at me with mouth wide open. “H—how did you do that?”

  “Dorian, forgive me but for now, that’s going to stay my little secret. However, I do suggest you keep in mind that neither you nor my father have the slightest clue as to the extent of my powers. You continue thinking you can use me like a pawn, but I will not be used. Not by you, not by him, not by my bondmate, not by anyone. You two want a war? Then so be it, but keep humans and innocents out of this. The next time someone dares take hostage someone I love or to whom I have offered protection, know this. I will shower devastation upon that person tenfold compared to what that person planned for my loved one. In this case, I have it under very good authority you planned to giftwrap my mother and send her to Garrett after I inevitably refused to bond with you. So now I’m going to send you back to him in pieces.”

  My gaze flashed from Dorian to the Elementals on the far side of the firewall, half of whom were frantically talking into cell phones while the others tried to unravel the barrier trapping their doomed boss. Had all four worked together, they may have actually stood a chance, since I hadn’t added Spirit. But apparently working together wasn’t the biggest specialty of Quatrains who weren’t Beholden or even Freeholders.

  I raised my voice to make sure all four heard. “When you take Dorian’s remains back to Garrett, let him know that this is what I’ll do to anyone who hurts those I love, promise protection, or consider an ally. And ask yourselves whether you might not be working for the losing side.”

  Dorian held his hands up. “Cassidy, wait. We can be allies. Together, we could defeat even your father. Don’t be hasty—”

  “Oh Dorian, I’m not being hasty at all. I’ve been dreaming of doing this since the day we met. Now, give my best to Daddy Dearest when you wake up.”

  Part of me was tempted to kill him by incinerating him with a deadly, third-level firewall, but I wasn’t sure how permanent a death that would be. Better an enemy you knew—and that I was learning how to manipulate—than one you did not. Although there was an argument to be made that Dorian could be the perfect test subject to learn whether someone killed that way even could be revived. Or whether Spirit would need to be used to do it…

  But no. I wanted to send a message to my father. And one quick, simple death seemed way too easy an end for Dorian. Besides, I didn’t like the fact that he’d had access to Colin’s map and clues setting out where his body could be found. I was learning to think several steps ahead as this war got its start. Killing Dorian permanently today could come back to bite us tomorrow.

  So instead, I summoned multiple spears formed from each of the four physical elements and sent them flying toward Dorian. He screamed out another Spanish curse, blocked some of my projectiles with his remaining chunks of concrete, and managed to ward off all the Earth spears using his own Dragon abilities. Unfortunately for him, the other spears made of Fire, Air, and Water sliced into his body. He screamed again, this time in pain, and fell to the ground in several separate pieces. Just as I’d promised.

  Si Si shot me a fiercely proud grin when I banished the smaller firewall. We collided in an explosion of hugs and backslaps. “Thank you, thank you, thank you! This is the first time my mind’s been fully my own in months. And damn girl, you’ve been studying hard. You kicked his ass so good!”

  I inhaled her familiar expensive perfume and hugged her back just as tightly. “I really did, didn’t I?”

  “Hell yeah.” She scowled and then actually spit on his nearest body part. Completely non-squeamish was my BFF. Then again, she and I did share a love of bloody vampire flicks. “Are you sure you can’t make his death permanent?”

  I pushed back and gave a regretful sigh. “Afraid not. At least not yet. There’s a chance he may have important information, and I need to send my sperm donor a message. He’s still under the mistaken impression I’m too weak to kick his ass in this war he’s wanting to start.”

  “And you think this might convince him to back down?” Her voice sounded doubtful.

  “Hell no; he’s an egomaniacal asshat. But it might convince some of his minions to run and hide rather than face me.”

  Her expression turned more thoughtful. “That sounds like a pretty good strategy.”

  “Thanks. I actually paid attention in History class, unlike some people.” Also, I’d been brushing up on tons of military strategy books in what little spare time I had.

  She punched me lightly on the arm, and then reality set in. No time to waste in making good our escape. I took a deep breath and tested my magical reserves. I was running pretty close to empty as far as the physical elements went. That had me smiling and doing something I’d always excelled at: improvising.

  “Grab my arm and walk close to me. Don’t let go unless I tell you to. We’re going to disappear off these minions’ radar, hop on my motorcycle, and ride like hell. Oh. Go ahead and put that helmet on first.”

  She immediately complied, slapping on the helmet and grabbing my arm tightly. I waved jauntily at the Elementals prowling around the pavilion’s perimeter closest to Dorian’s body. They sure did look pissed off. Too bad I couldn’t stick around to see how they reacted to my next magic trick.

  I reached toward the nearest bands of Elemental energy to begin creating a second-level Firewall, only to feel agony stabbing along my mind and body. My gasp had Si Si casting me a sharp glance. “Are you okay?”

  It took every ounce of willpower I could summon to give her a reassuring smile. Judging by the concern on her face, I failed miserably.

  My earlier confidence had been replaced by sudden panic as I realized that channeling Spirit was taking way more energy out of me than channeling the physical elements did. There was no way I could drop that outer firewall without first concealing Si Si and me. I definitely did not have enough energy to face off against four powerful Elementals.

  We are so screwed if I don’t come up with another plan!

  I racked my brain in a panic, trying to figure out our options. Everyone else was preoccupied with their own parts of the plan. Dorian still had mystery reinforcements out there somewhere, and they could even now be heading our way. Si Si and I were stuck here alone with no way of accessing our own reinforcements. But then I cursed my own stupidity. With Jake and my liegesworn, I was never fully on my own. And my Mindbending skills allowed me to do so much more than I’d ever dreamed.

  ((Jake, I’m tapped out. Do you have any energy to spare?))

  ((I could go all night if needed. Take whatever you need, sweetheart.))

  His joking tone didn’t fully reassure me. He had a bad habit of putting my needs first. Then again, I was often guilty of the same where he was concerned.

  I tentatively reached for energy through our bond, and he must not have been putting on a tough guy front, because a flood of vitality surged into me. My body shivered as static electricity rushed from the top of my head to the tip of my toes. Feeling renewed, I channeled Earth, Air, and Water through the Phoenix ring, adding it to my innate Fire and summoning a small firewall around Si Si and me. I took a deep breath and threaded shards of Spirit into a nonlethal, second-level firewall. Shouts rang out among Dorian’s minions again as—to their eyes—we disappeared.

  I took a moment to send tiny shards of Earth and Air stabbing into their bikes’ tires in the hopes of slowing their pursuit. Then I led Si Si, still gripping my arm, away from our edge of the pavilion and onto the Ducati. It took every ounce of concentration I possessed to keep the Spirit-soaked firewall wrapped around us while we moved. Si Si climbed on behind
me, careful not to release her grip.

  “Hold on tight,” I murmured over my shoulder and then kick-started the bike. Shudders racked my body due to the strain of maintaining two complex spells. I allowed the large, first-level firewall to collapse. Dorian’s minions reacted at once, running toward his grisly remains and looking for us with confusion on their faces. They tried to locate my bike and failed, thanks to my second-level firewall. Neither sight nor sound passed from our side to theirs, but that advantage would soon vanish. No way I could keep this spell up once we peeled away at high speed.

  Here goes nothing, I thought, dropped the final firewall, and sped away from the pavilion in a cloud of dust.

  ((We’re coming out the front entrance!)) I advised Jake. ((I used up the last of my strength to sabotage these guys’ bikes, but Dorian said there were others out here somewhere.))

  ((Don’t worry, sweetheart. Isaac’s group has already taken down the front gate so you have a clear path. They’re waiting to take out any pursuers. We’ll meet you at the rendezvous point. You got this, Cass.))

  Just having him say that with such conviction in his mental voice steadied me. I leaned forward and coaxed the bike to greater speed, allowing myself a grin when the Elementals behind freaked out over discovering that every single one of their tires had a flat. Now without my helmet, since I could be revived from a fatal head injury whereas Si Si could not, I smiled as the snapping wind tugged my braid every which way. The sense of exhilaration that swept across me as we sped along the empty park roads in the dark was intoxicating. The wind caressed my face and neck, causing me to tilt my head back so I could enjoy it even more. Euphoria that I’d bested Dorian at his own game, earning the freedom of my mother and friend in the process, flooded my system like fine wine.

  For the first few weeks of my new life as a Phoenix, I’d been running scared. Scared of my abilities, scared to let go enough to trust Jake, scared to allow myself to love him back, and scared to death I would fail everyone I cared for—especially after I’d learned the true extent of my father’s psychic power and ruthlessness. Even though I’d bested him in that downtown warehouse—not counting his blowing me to smithereens on his way out—I hadn’t truly felt as sure of myself as I now did.

  The past few months at Greener Pastures had changed me for the better. I’d learned so much about my powers, learned to accept my bond with and feelings for Jake; learned to trust that his Clan accepted me as one of them. I was even beginning to think of myself as a true Beholden. I feltthat deep need to bring magical balance to the world; to protect those with weaker or no magic from tyrants like Dorian and Garrett.

  I finally felt like what I was: a Phoenix on the rise.

  Chapter 11

  Few things in life could have topped how I felt hopping off that bike at the rendezvous point and running toward Jake’s SUV. My mother was already outside the vehicle and speeding straight toward me. We collided in a blur of outstretched arms, legs, tears, and relieved laughter. Si Si gave us a little space before she, too, joined in the hugging.

  After several moments of that, Mom stepped back and smiled at Si Si. “It’s so lovely to meet you now that we’re both back in our right minds. Cassie’s been out of her own mind worrying about you these past months.”

  Si Si let out a big breath. “I would like to say I was just as worried the whole time, but most of it is a fog. That pendejo—” she glanced at my mother and flushed, likely thinking of how her own mother would react to that vulgarity. “Er, Dorian kept me pretty loopy most of the time. He kind of lost control over it more often after he abducted you, Kari. I gather it’s harder for him to control people with Earth than it is for Cass’s sperm donor—that’s what I’m calling him from now on—to do his mind control thing.”

  I nodded. “Yeah, and he needs to focus more of his attention on controlling someone new, like Mom. Especially since he didn’t build a rapport first like…”

  Si Si grimaced as my voice trailed off. “Like he did with me.”

  Jake had joined us by now, flanked by Nic, Dia, and Liam. The other groups were taking care of Dorian’s minions and ensuring we wouldn’t be followed. Once they gave the all-clear via cell phone, we would meet them back at the safe house. Jake smiled at my mother and Si Si before pulling me into an embrace and running his hands up and down my arms; reassuring himself I was all in one piece. I bit back a smug smile as the irreverent thought that Dorian wasn’t flitted through my mind. Once, the mere thought of killing someone with my magic would have sickened me. Now, in the face of having my mother and Si Si back, I knew I would do it again if I had to.

  When I had to again.

  Not that I was losing my humanity or conscience. I’d just come to terms with what I was and how this Elemental world worked. So much of our society operated on pseudo feudal terms because of people like Garrett and Dorian, who believed that might made what they wanted to do right. And even to a lesser extent because of people like Zoe Stevens, the jealous Phoenix who had betrayed Isaac’s Freeholders in an attempt to get rid of me so she could pursue Jake once more.

  I would be damned if I let people like that walk all over everyone else in this world. Ju Hai said that the universe acted to provide a counterbalance like me to even out the scales when tyrants like my father arose. If I had the power to help, then I could do no less than use it. If that meant I had to learn how to be okay with killing the worst of those tyrants in defense of myself or others, then so be it.

  We passed a surprisingly quiet night in the safehouse once the all-clear came. I kicked Jake out of bed for the evening (not that he went far—he crashed on an air mattress next to me) so I could share it with Mom instead. She was a trooper but had obviously been shaken up by her ordeal. Dia, bless her heart, had offered to bunk with Si Si, giving up the bed and taking an air mattress herself. I think both Mom and Si Si felt safer sleeping in the same room as Elementals rather than alone. A group of Isaac’s Freeholders kept watch while we slept, giving us all greater peace of mind.

  Come the morning, we all ended up chowing down in the conference room, courtesy of takeout from a nearby diner. Once everyone was mostly finished, Jake glanced over at Isaac. “We all know this isn’t over, not by a long shot. This was just Garrett and Garcia trying to weaken us or, if they could, claim Cass for their side in the coming war. It’s imperative that we unite against him now before he grows even stronger.”

  Isaac turned his grim gaze on Jake. “J, the problem isn’t convincing me. I believe you about what you say is coming. I even believe that it is in my Freeholders’ best interests to fight with your Clan. But there’s not near enough yet for me to get them to formally declare war. Have your Firsts even done that?”

  Jake blew out an exasperated breath. “You know they haven’t, or I would have led with that.”

  “My point precisely. If they haven’t even declared war yet, then I have no authority to draft Freeholders to fight on your behalf.”

  Dia’s eyes narrowed, and she drew breath as if to give him a tongue-lashing. He raised his hands to forestall her. “I said I can’t forcibly draft anyone. That doesn’t mean I haven’t asked for volunteers. A small force will be joining us when we return to Greener Pastures.”

  My sister’s body relaxed, and she mouthed Thank you to Isaac. I had to admit that hearing he was coming eased some of my own anxiety. Every body fighting for us now might make the difference in defeating Garrett before he got even stronger. Because while I might have a few liegesworn, I knew he’d be recruiting minions to bolster his own numbers. And I wasn’t foolish enough to believe that I was the only one adding new tricks to her arsenal.

  Jake’s father leaned forward. “Your support means much to Clan Zi, Isaac. We will be honored to have you fighting at our sides.”

  Isaac flashed a smile in his direction. “I’m sure we can reach a mutually agreeable contract until such time as war is officially declared.”

  Wen let out a bark of laughter. “Never fear, Is
aac. We know you answer to your Freeholders. Compensation shall be given.”

  Breena rolled her eyes. “Fair compensation shall be given after both sides sign the contract. I’ll have the Clan Zi accountant send payment once our attorneys hash out the details.”

  Isaac winked. “After you’ve checked it over with a fine-toothed comb, I’m sure.”

  “But of course,” Breena said, hands folded primly across the tabletop. “I have to put my own law degree to good use somehow.”

  Now that was a story I wanted to hear. When the heck had she found time to go to law school? I mean, okay, so most Elementals had centuries of time, but Breena kept herself beyond busy enough as it was.

  Jake glanced at me. “We discussed finding Colin after we rescued Kari and Si Si. Dorian will take at least a little time to recover. Do you think your father will hold off long enough for us to retrieve Colin?”

  I hesitated. “I think that depends on how close Bianca is to cracking that last clue. If we can leave as soon as we get back to the farm, we should be in good shape. I mean, we’re still operating under the assumption he couldn’t have gone more than a few hours away from here, right?”

  Liam nodded from across the table. “Based on everything we know now, and from the investigations we conducted back then.”

  “All right then. We’ll just have to split our time and forces wisely. Bianca and the babies will not survive the birth without a Quatrain. She’s set on bonding with Colin, which suits us just fine, because we don’t dare revive him only to lose him to the wildness. A small group of us will head off to find him while the others continue preparing for what’s to come.”

  Liam pursed his lips. “Just who will be going in this small group?”

  It still felt odd to have people who were so much older and more experienced looking to me for guidance. Thank God I’d been studying everything I could about Hikaru and other military strategists. And for all the things my crazy survivalist foster family had taught me.