34. Bain
Bain
Chase howls as the fire singes his side, and I lunge, but Blaze is somehow able to dodge my attack. I spin, growling as he opens his mouth to breathe fire again.
But then my focus is shifted as behind him, over the edge of the cliff, rises the most beautiful bird I’ve ever seen.
“Cherry,” I gasp through the bond.
“She’s a phoenix!” Gage says, clearly in as much shock as I am.
“She’s beautiful,” Chase hisses through his pain.
Cherry’s head snaps in Chase’s direction, her little eyes narrowing on where he’s panting heavily, his side burnt from Blaze’s flame.
She lets out a loud squawk, finally gaining Blaze’s attention.
I ready myself to tackle him, but Cherry’s words halt me in my tracks. “Stay back!”
I hesitate, my eyes darting to her in concern. Why is she telling me to stay back? I can take this fucker down right now.
With his focus shifted to her and his back turned, I ignore her request and lunge for him.
I realize, all too late, why she told us to stay back.
Right before my teeth sink into his back, she opens her mouth, and a burst of flames shoots from her, aimed right at Blaze.
And because I've attacked him, at me, too.
“Bain, no!” she screams through the bond as she snaps her beak shut. But it’s too late, the flame barrels toward us. I pull my teeth from Blaze and squeeze my eyes shut, waiting for the pain.
The heat hits first, hotter than anything I’ve ever felt. I drop to the ground, my body tensing as Cherry screams my name through our bond.
As quickly as it came, the heat stops. I open my eyes in confusion, looking at my unburned body.
The flames didn’t hurt me. I glance at Blaze and see he’s come off less lucky. Although he hasn’t been completely scorched, chunks of his fur are missing, baring burned red skin beneath. I’m not sure if it’s the fact that he’s part phoenix that saved him from being completely roasted.
As for me? I have no idea why I was spared.
“Are you okay?” Hunter asks, quickly moving between Blaze and me as I get to my feet.
“Yes,” I say, letting out a growl as I spin to face him. “Let’s end this.”
But before I can move, Cherry lands right in front of Blaze, her phoenix tiny in comparison to his giant, deformed, burnt body.
She lets out a loud squawk, then shifts back to her human form.
My eyes widen at seeing her naked body on display for him to see. My growl is echoed by my pack around me, and I prepare to once again lunge.
But this time, when she tells us through the bond to “Wait!” I listen.