33. Evelyn
33
Evelyn
A s I soared high above the treetops, the wind whipped through my feathers, and my wings spread wide. Beside me, Ryker’s dragon form cast a shadow over the forest below.
As a phoenix, I felt invincible. Power coursed through my veins, and instinct took over. I swooped and dove, reveling in my newfound abilities.
I let out a joyous cry.
Ryker rumbled in response, smoke curling from his nostrils.
I dipped my wing, spiraling downward in a corkscrew. The ground rushed up to meet me, but at the last second, I pulled up, skimming the treetops.
My heart raced with exhilaration.
He nodded his massive head toward a distant mountain peak.
Challenge accepted.
I tucked my wings and shot forward like an arrow. The mountain grew larger by the second. Just as I was about to crash into it, I pulled up sharply, riding the air currents along the rocky face.
Ryker appeared beside me, his scales glinting in the moonlight. We raced to the summit, neck and neck. At the last second, I poured on an extra burst of speed, touching down on the peak just before him.
I crowed, doing a little victory dance. It probably looked ridiculous coming from a giant bird, but I didn’t care.
Ryker snorted, a puff of smoke enveloping me. When it cleared, I found him in his human form, a rare smile tugging at his lips.
“Not bad,” he said, his deep voice sending heat all the way to my bird claws. “But can you do this?”
He stepped off the mountain’s edge, transforming mid-fall into his dragon form. My heart leaped into my throat as I watched him plummet, only to pull up at the last second in a move that put my earlier stunt to shame.
Show-off! I thought loudly—only to hear the words project outward.
Holy smokes. I can project my voice!
I was grinning like a fool—or whatever the bird version of grinning was.
My phoenix form was fire!
Who knew practice could be this much fun?
I let out a triumphant cry, reveling in the rush. This was freedom.
We flew lazy loops, chasing each other playfully through puffy clouds.
I’d never seen Ryker so carefree. It was a good look on him.
As we soared over a lake, something inside me shifted. Heat built in my core, spreading outward. Before I could panic, I burst into flames.
For a split second, there was nothing but fire. Then I blinked, finding myself on the lakeshore.
What the hell?
I looked down at my human hands, then back at the sky where Ryker circled, obviously searching for me.
Had I just…teleported? Through my phoenix fire?
Ryker landed nearby, shifting back to human form. His eyes were wide with amazement.
“Did you see that?” I asked, my voice shaky with shock and excitement.
He nodded, pride shining in his expression. “You’re remarkable.”
I laughed, giddy with the discovery of this new power. “Holy crap,” I breathed. “I can’t wait to try that again.”
We spent hours exploring the skies, and I tested the limits of my new phoenix abilities. By the time we landed, I was exhausted but exhilarated.
Transforming back to human form, I grinned at Ryker. “That was amazing! I’ve never felt so free, so powerful. Eris is going down.”
I wrapped my arms around Ryker, laughing. We were both naked and grinning like fools in the courtyard. His muscled body radiated heat, and I felt a different kind of fire ignite within me.
“You know,” I said, tracing one of his tattoos with my finger, “we’re already undressed. Seems a shame to waste the opportunity.”
Ryker’s eyes darkened, his gaze locking onto mine with a heat that made my breath hitch. Instead of answering, he gripped my waist and pulled me flush against him before crashing into me, claiming my mouth in a searing kiss.
I giggled, breathless and giddy. “I’ll take that as a yes!”