Phoenix Everlasting

by Rebecca Royce

“I …”

  Malcolm put out his hand to Grayson. “Good job, man. You’re getting the hang of that. And excellent you sensed it the way you did. Not easy to do in a house this big.”

  My son grinned ear-to-ear. He threw his arms around Malcolm’s waist. “Thanks. I wanted to protect Mom. They told me she had a long day. I had to help.”

  “Absolutely.”

  I sunk to the floor. It had been a very, very long day. “Good job, Gray. You did a great job with that ghost.”

  “Hey Mom, why is Uncle Malcolm in here while you’re in your bathrobe?”

  Malcolm patted him on the back. “Let’s give your mom a chance to get dressed. Come on; we’ll go down together.”

  I put on my clothes from earlier and made my way downstairs. My parents, Malcolm, Levi, the kids, Victoria, Henry who held Jack, and Chase were all with Block on the porch. I stepped outside. The weather had cooled since the morning. Still, the bite of the change in temperature hurt the already frayed nerves in my skin.

  Chase walked over and put his jacket around me. “Good job earlier. You harnessed the sun. That’s so incredible.”

  I punched him in the arm, lightly. “Thanks, man. And thanks for the use of your house, Block.”

  He nodded to me. “Anytime. I was thinking about getting some Chinese food. Sound good to everyone?”

  It was perfect, actually.

  I awoke the next morning on the couch with Malcolm’s arms around me. We were both squished on the too-small-for-us sofa. The kids had gone home with Levi shortly after dinner. I owed my ex big time. I was going to have to come up with some way to say thank you. My parents had followed. I wasn’t convinced my mother even knew where she was. The thought made my head hurt, and I needed no help with that. We’d broken out the tequila. Presumably the whole crew was somewhere in the house passed out.

  I didn’t even remember going to bed.

  Malcolm snored in the way he did whenever he’d had alcohol or cleared too many ghosts. He’d hardly drunk anything, not compared to the rest of us. This had to be a fighting–Top Hat hangover. I wished I could have seen more of it.

  I got out of his arms and made my way to the backyard. The sun was high in the sky. I breathed in the new day.

  There were a lot of things to do since we weren’t running for our lives and I wasn’t mourning my dead boyfriend. Such a strange thought …

  I had to sign the kids up for the next season of sports. My father and I needed to sit down and figure out what to do about Dex’s reading. He should be more ahead than he was. I was almost out of milk at home. The kids wanted a dog. Could I pull that off?

  Victoria’s scream from upstairs was of total terror.

  I leapt forward, taking the steps as fast as I could. Malcolm ran hot on my heels. He’d jumped from deep sleep to running in two seconds. We all piled into the bedroom where Victoria was. I stopped short.

  “Something’s wrong with Jack. He’s hardly breathing.” The baby was pale on the bed. Victoria shook, and Henry spoke on the phone. “Yes, I need an ambulance.”

  Dread pooled in my stomach. “You don’t. Put down the phone. This is not something they can fix.”

  Chase shook his head. “What is it?”

  The words I had to speak burned inside of me. “There are two demons touching the baby right now. Big time demons. High level. Like the kind that had Gray. We can’t feel them. They’re very unusual, despite current evidence to the contrary.” Malcolm rubbed his eyes. “We’ll take care of it.”

  Victoria fell to her knees. “They’re touching my baby?”

  I knew the horror. “Henry, take her back. Both of you, by the window. Do what you do. Henry, get the room blocked. Victoria I need good mojo in here. Block, have at it. Nothing gets near them, and Chase, I’m going to need you as soon as it’s done for Jack.”

  “Ready.” Chase was the only one who answered. That didn’t mean the others weren’t ready.

  Gabriel blinked in and out of focus for me. I looked around. No one else seemed to see him. I’d tell them later. There were demons to be rid of first.

  “He’s not possessed; they’re pulling on his life force. Believe it or not, in terms of clearing, this is going to be much, much easier.”

  Malcolm nodded to me. “Together.”

  We both reached forward. At the same time, we yanked the demons off the baby. I hit mine with force after force. If I crashed after, that was fine. One-two-three. Over and over. I didn’t care. I wanted it dead. The demon touched a baby. A baby that belonged to my family. It wasn’t going to stay around anymore.

  It had a serpent head, and I’d always hated snakes.

  It finally dissolved into nothingness. Malcolm finished before I did, waiting nearby in case I needed help. I didn’t. He was stronger. I was still pretty damned good.

  “Done.” I put my hands on my knees. This was a lot before breakfast.

  Jack cooed on the bed, Chase’s hand on his head. Our friend grinned at Victoria. “He’s funny. Happy boy. I’ve never been in the head of such a young person before. He knows happiness. That’s all. He’s going to be just fine, Victoria. I don’t need to do anything to him at all.”

  Victoria cried in Henry’s arms, a smile finally reaching her face.

  The high hit me suddenly, and the room spun. I needed food. And fast.

  Chapter Eighteen

  The laundry didn’t do itself. As much as I wished it did. Molly sang, walking up and down the hallways. Sometimes she hit the notes; sometimes she didn’t. She was happy, and ever since her stage debut, she’d dreamed about nothing but theater. I might need to get some earplugs.

  Dexter and Grayson fought like cats and dogs. Or brothers, as was the case. At my table, Victoria sipped tea while she cradled her baby. She hadn’t put him down in five days. Malcolm was upstairs on the phone. His app had been blowing up with reports. Levi had the kids starting at four, which meant I had an hour to get them packed. He was taking them to San Antonio to go to Six Flags. I was never and would never be a roller coaster person.

  I put in my fourth load for the day and walked to the table to sit with Victoria. “I think what we have to do is figure out how to make a safe zone. I know this sounds crazy. Your husband can block the rooms. We have to figure out how to make it stay put so he doesn’t have to be physically present there to maintain it. We have to figure out how to keep the kids safe.”

  So far both Grayson and Jack had been attacked. First born sons? Just bad luck? I rubbed my eyes. Victoria nodded at what I said. “Why do they keep sending the demons?”

  I heard a noise outside. I couldn’t figure out what it was. Had something fallen over? “Hold that thought.”

  If I had something like a rabid raccoon in my backyard, I was going to have a fit. What could have made such a loud bang?

  The first time I was shot I had been nine years old. The bullet had hit my abdomen, and the pain had been so excruciating I couldn’t actually recall it.

  This time, when the shadow-possessed man raised his gun and shot, I was almost thirty-seven years old. My children were in the house. My best friend, who was a mega-powerful witch, sat at my kitchen table. My boyfriend, who could destroy with a flick of his hand, sat upstairs.

  And there wasn’t a single thing any of them could do.

  Fragility Unearthed (The Cascade #3)

  Sneak Peek

  Chapter One

  The second time I was shot, I had a carton of eggs in my fridge, frozen waffles in the freezer, and potato chips in my pantry. Funny, the things I thought about while I was dying. I wouldn’t be going to the grocery store today.

  The ambulance sped through traffic. Next to me, Victoria spoke a lot. I couldn’t understand her at all, but I appreciated her presence just the same. I wasn’t sure how I’d gotten into the ambulance or anything that had happened since the shadow-possessed person had fired at my stomach. I kept seeing Michael and Gabriel. Everywhere I looked, their gazes met my own. So far Rafael hadn’t sh
own. He’d told me he’d see me when I died. His not arriving yet had to be a good thing.

  Where was Malcolm? The last time I’d died, he’d been with me, and I’d been able to pretend to be brave. Were my kids okay?

  I tried to speak and it came out more like a groan. Victoria squeezed my hand. “Don’t try to talk. This is almost over. Trust me.”

  Suddenly Malcolm was there. How had he gotten in the ambulance when it was moving? He stood over me, his eyes serious. He pulled something out of his shirt. The world dimmed a bit, but I could see it was the phoenix statue I’d recovered and Malcolm had hidden.

  “Okay, I’ve got it.” He spoke aloud. I found it odd the EMTs were not confused by his presence in the ambulance, except Michael and Gabriel looked through their eyes. Like my father, when possessed by the Others, they had no idea what was going on.

  “Do it.” Who was he talking to? He couldn’t possibly mean me? I wasn’t going to be doing anything anymore. Agony was my only thought. How much longer would this have to go before it would be over? Did the universe hate me? I had to die this way twice?

  “I’m serious.” Malcolm’s voice again. “Do it.”

  Chase stood next to him. Where were they all coming from? Oh, double time. They’d somehow used that power to get on the ambulance with me?

  My body cooled, some of the pain disappearing. I opened my eyes, trying to see exactly what the hell was going on. A giant bird flew over me, hovering right above my body. Its wingspan covered the length of the entire ambulance. Purples, greens, blue, and even black coated its wings. I couldn’t remember ever seeing anything more beautiful in my life.

  I reached to touch the feathers. “Hello, beautiful bird. How lovely you’ve come to see me off at the end. Thank you for the visit.” My words slurred.

  Victoria grabbed Malcolm’s arm. “What is she talking about? Is she delirious?”

  “Sshh.” He stared at me. I knew the look in his eyes. Utter and pure fury. I hoped it wasn’t directed at me. “You see a bird, honey?”

  I stared at the bird, who flapped as it stayed over my body. “You can’t tell me you don’t see him. He’s the most beautiful bird I’ve ever seen.”

  As I spoke, something happened. Flames popped out of the wings of the bird, and in front of my eyes, the most beautiful creature I’d ever seen exploded into ash. I gasped, crying out. If I could have moved, I would have darted out of the way. The ash rained down on me, like tears from the bird only I could see.

  “It’s closing up. Look at that.” Victoria cried, covering her mouth with her hand.

  “That’s what it should do.” Malcolm hung his head. “Fix the rest, Chase.”

  “They won’t remember a thing.”

  The world tilted, and I heard the sound of a bird weeping. I knew I’d never forget the echo for as long as I lived.

  I woke in my bed. I sat, the movement tugging at my abdomen, which was sorer than I could ever remember it being.

  Next to me, Malcolm lay on his side, his eyes wide open, regarding me. “Are you okay?”

  “Sore.” I rubbed my stomach. “What happened?”

  He raised an eyebrow. “What do you remember?”

  I groaned. “Question for a question? Gee, thanks.”

  “Tell me.” He touched my arm, tracing the length from my wrist to my shoulder.

  “I was shot.” I could see the dead person whose body the shadow wore staring at me in the backyard. He’d raised his gun. I really, really hated guns. Fired. “Then nothing. The ambulance. You were there. Victoria first. Chase. The bird.”

  He lay back, putting his head on the pillow. “You were shot, yes. That shadow has been dealt with. I couldn’t get to you in time. By the time I heard the sound, you were on the ground. I thought you were dead.” His voice cracked. “I screamed and yelled. Victoria came out, too. I couldn’t think what to do. I rushed home, double time, called Chase, and grabbed the Phoenix. Michael appeared, the bastard. Told me there was enough energy in it to heal us all once. That’s why you could bring back Mary and Chelsea if you wanted to. Save us from death. Once. I met the ambulance. You’re back here.”

  I rolled, although it hurt like hell to regard him. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry you had to be scared like that.”

  “Michael told me I could save you as long as the shadows didn’t have you. Once they do, all bets are off. One time deal. I can’t do it again. Your kids didn’t realize what happened. Levi got there. Victoria sent them on and called him. They’re all fine. They think you fell.”

  I stroked the length of his nose. “I’m sorry.”

  “Fuck, Kendall. Why did you go out there?” He raised his voice.

  There he was. His temper. As long as we yelled at one another, we cared. The day it stopped, we were probably over. Healthy relationship? Maybe not. Ours? Absolutely.

  “I thought I heard a noise in my backyard in the middle of the day. I thought I’d see if there was an animal out there.”

  He breathed hard, his nose flaring. “Do you watch horror movies? What happens when the girl goes to check out a noise?”

  “It wasn’t midnight. It was the middle of the day. And I have powers. I thought I was relatively safe.”

  He shook his head. “You weren’t.”

  “I know.” I kissed him, and after a second he finally responded. I fused our lips together. Over and over until it wasn’t clear who led who through the embrace. I loved this man. Right or wrong. Forever or not. I loved him completely. If he’d almost died on me, I’d be utterly distraught. He’d saved me. I loved him.

  He pulled me against him, which hurt. I winced, and he stopped. “Fuck. I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “Just be gentle. Okay? I need you too. I really do.”

  He rolled me over until he was on top. “I always want to be gentle. It’s you who wants it otherwise sometimes. You’re my most precious. Gentle always.”

  Malcolm sometimes lost the ability to speak in complete sentences when he was really worked up. I was used to it when he moved deep inside of me. This was something else.

  I helped him undress while he took off my clothes. My abdomen was red where the newly knit together skin healed. The amazing work of the Others. The last time they’d be able to save my life.

  His cock pointed out, hard, and ready for me. It wouldn’t take much to get him off. Sometimes sex was as much a healing as it was about the exchange of pleasure. I’d read that couples often went home and had sex after a funeral. Sometimes we needed to be alive, to show we lived and breathed. What was more life-affirming than making love?

  I ran my hand down his length, and he shuddered. “Not yet. I’m not coming in your hand like some kind of teenager.”

  He pushed my legs apart, spreading them wider. Scooting down, he pressed his mouth against my pussy. I gasped. I was sensitive everywhere and nowhere more so than inside of me. “Too much?” His voice was quiet.

  “No, please go on. I’m very … turned on.” His breath was warm when he found my clit and circled it with his tongue. I cried out, jolts of electricity travelling up my spine. He moaned and closed his eyes. Malcolm loved to give me pleasure. He liked it as much as he did getting completion himself.

  He opened his eyes and looked at me. “Do you remember the first time we did this?”

  “Didn’t go so well.” I laughed despite myself. I’d kicked him in the head. It had been an utterly horrible moment. We hadn’t tried oral pleasure on each other again for months.

  “Great memory though. I love this.”

  He proceeded to show me. Every taste, lick, swirl, and press of his mouth against my pussy showed me he loved me. Inside, my body was on high alert. I wanted more. Needed him. The orgasm that overtook me surprised me. I didn’t think I was near ready. Usually I have to work at getting there, even beyond the care Malcolm took of me.

  I came hard and all around his tongue. He moaned, his hips jerking. Malcolm adjusted himself until we were face-to-face. His eyes held my gaze
, forcing me from the high of the orgasm to the world around us. He was here. I was too. And we weren’t done, far from it.

  “You.” He shook his head. I didn’t know what he was going to say, and apparently the words weren’t working for him. “Show you.”

  He kissed me. I swore I could feel his love in every breath he took, and his tongue finding mine joined us together seconds before he pushed gently inside of me. I’d told him to be careful, and he was. With one arm he kept his weight off me, and he moved, slowly—ever so—in and out of my body.

  “I love you.” I reached up until our mouths touched again. Once. Twice. He moved like I might break. He was right. I was usually the one who forced his hand into rougher play. He did want to worship me, always, like I was his most precious possession. Tonight, I would let him.

  Time moved slowly. It might have even stopped for all I knew. We weren’t in any hurry. When he spoke to me, it was in another language. I could never tell what he said, only I loved the sound of it. Like poetry from Malcolm’s lips. Eventually, he made a noise somewhere between a sigh and a moan.

  “I can’t.” He shook his head, and I kissed him hard.

  “Take me. I’m okay. I won’t break. I promise.”

  “You first.” He always cared. Even when we’d been so new at it the mechanics of the act had sometimes been an issue, he wanted me to enjoy myself. It was never a problem. He ran his finger over my clit, and I came.

  He kissed me all over my face before I felt his cock throb and empty inside me. Sometimes sex was more than the explosion of pleasure; sometimes it was the joining of souls.

  Minutes later, I held my love against me. He’d never admit it, but Malcolm needed to be held sometimes too.

  “You don’t die without me. That’s something we do together. You and me. Together.” He rambled, his eyes half-closed while he spoke.

  I rubbed his back and kissed his neck. “Okay.”

  My agreement seemed to settle him. I couldn’t promise him not to die without him, and he knew it. Sometimes the lie was what the other person needed to hear.