Chapter 3 #3
Ambrose runs a hand through his copper curls. “You’re playing a dangerous game here,” he says, staring at where Raith’s monster is holding me again and pawing over me. “The queen was right to be concerned. She’s a risk.”
“She’s our mate,” Thane growls protectively. “Don’t test us. Not after all that.”
Ambrose dips his head. “Just know that we’ll be watching.”
“Always,” Germain adds, smiling gleefully.
“And how long exactly will we have the pleasure of your delightful company?” Galen asks.
Ambrose lets out a long breath. “Until our queen tells us we’re no longer needed here.”
Oh great. So they’re staying at the academy. Probably to spy on us.
“Or until she’s dead,” Germain chuckles.
Knox is in front of him in an instant, his sword at Germain’s throat. “Try it. I dare you.” His voice is so cold that I actually shiver, and there’s a darkness in Knox’s eyes that makes me think he’s already planning something for the original.
Germain laughs. “You think it’ll be me? Everyone knows she’s your mate now, and a risk to the war effort.”
Knox presses his sword harder against Germain’s neck, and Germain stares him down.
“Cut it out,” Thane growls. “No one is touching Shade. An agreement has been made between Queen Krosia and the demon royals. While she’s on these grounds, Shade is to be protected.”
I’m not sure if it’s because I’m simply emotionally exhausted from everyone discussing my death, but I wiggle until Raith reluctantly lets me down.
Now that it’s just us, I slowly move over to where Bonfang, Kazer, Arizak, and Rinoc are standing.
In all the commotion I hadn’t realized they’d chosen their positions on purpose, but now I notice they’re all standing around the pile of ash that was my bonded creature.
My heart aches as I move toward the gray pile and fall to my knees.
“We were bonded for less than an hour,” I whisper, my voice wavering. “That has to be some kind of record, right?”
The others grow silent at my words, and Knox moves away from Germain.
Coming up behind me, Galen rests his hand on my shoulder, and the warmth is comforting, even if it still feels like my heart is breaking.
“How can my heart hurt so much? We only just met,” I whisper.
“The bond with a creature does that to you,” Galen replies gently. “They say losing your bonded is a wound that never truly heals, but it does get easier with time.”
A tear slips down my cheek, but I frown when Bonfang starts nuzzling the ashes. His ears perk up, and when he lifts his head, his snout is covered in gray. The wolf sniffs me and snorts in my face, and I yelp as I’m sprayed by snot and ash.
“Bonfang!” I cry out. “What are you—” I stop speaking when he plunges his nose back into the ashes, and I swear I see something.
A flash of black and blue. My heart leaps to my throat, and I move to get a closer look, craning my neck.
Yes. There! At first, I think I’m staring at a charred rock, but then I notice the glossy black pattern.
“Holy crap,” I say under my breath. “Is that…an egg?”
I shoot Galen a questioning look, but he’s just as puzzled as I am.
I’d thought my creature might be reborn as a baby phoenix, but when nothing had emerged from the ashes, I’d assumed the worst. Giddy laughter comes from me as I lean forward, gently scooping the egg into my hands.
Heat rushes from it into my fingertips, and my heart swells.
“Very peculiar,” Galen muses thoughtfully. “It appears when your creature perished, it restarted its life cycle and is now inside the egg.”
This is different to everything I’ve read about phoenix creatures, but considering the books I’ve read have been fiction, I guess maybe this is normal. At least, I’m hoping it is for my creature.
I smile, waiting for our bond to come again, but when it doesn’t, my brows lower. “I still can’t feel her magic. I can’t feel our bond.”
“The connection is always severed when a member of the bond dies, either the animali or the person,” Galen explains.
“But she’s not dead,” I say, cradling the egg. “At least, not anymore.”
Galen shrugs, just as clueless as I am.
“I wonder if your creature was already aging and she knew she would die soon,” Thane rumbles. “Perhaps she gave in to the queen, sensing that Blake would be there to help you and knowing this would speed along the process of her life cycle.”
“That would make sense,” Galen agrees. “It’s possible the creature’s age is also a reason why it was reluctant to bond with you. It may have been waiting to see if it had time to regenerate before you bonded.”
I think on that, wondering if it’s true as I peer at the glittering egg in my hands. I have so many questions, but for now, I hold the egg against me, content that she’s not gone after all.
“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you,” I whisper, already prepared to protect the phoenix like a mother bear protects her cub. So sure, despite being in an egg the ancient phoenix is likely way older than me, but who’s counting?
Ambrose arches a brow, watching me carefully. Before he can utter a word, Raith scoops me into his arms again and carries me into a shadow pathway.