Chapter 17
About ten minutes later, the Guardians plus Deacon and Aiden were assembled downstairs in Annie and Ted’s spacious furnished basement. Jamie stood next to Aiden, their shoulders touching. Jamie could feel the tension flowing off him.
“Mate is close to shifting.” Jamie’s wolf asked, “ Can’t you feel it?”
Aiden sniffed, tilted his head, and gave Jamie a crooked smile. “Your wolf’s close?”
Jamie swallowed thickly and nodded. “Yeah. You can tell?”
“You smell different when you’re close to a shift, sort of like leaves and dirt, more like nature. Lately, your scent has been stronger,” Aiden said.
“I’m sorry,” Jamie said. He lifted his arm and sniffed.
Aiden chuckled. “No, not like that.”
Jamie grinned. “I know. I was just messing with you. Maybe my scent’s not stronger, but it’s your beast that is closer and your senses are becoming more fine-tuned. I know your scent has changed as well.”
Aiden screwed up his face. “Really? How so?”
“Sometimes, you smell like smoke, like wildfire, when your eyes go orange. Those are the times your phoenix must be closer.”
Aiden hung his head and scrunched his eyes shut. “But…”
Jamie tugged him by the arm away from the others to one corner of the room near the cellar door. “What? What’s wrong?” He kept one hand on Aiden’s forearm.
Aiden rubbed his chin with his free hand before speaking. “What if I’m able to shift, but it turns out to be bad?”
“What do you mean?” Jamie asked.
“What if I can’t control my beast? What if I turn on you if my beast really is evil like my father?” His gaze swung to Iris and then drifted to the others. “What if I turn on them? What if I’m a danger to you? I won’t be able to live with myself if I hurt them or you.”
Jamie placed his other hand on Aiden’s chin and tilted his head down closer, studying him. There were tears in his blue eyes. He really was afraid he was a monster. “First of all, that’s a lot of ‘what ifs.’ And second of all, no – just no,” Jamie said, his voice low. “You are not a monster. Your phoenix is not a monster. You are not your father.” He ran his thumb across the side of Aiden’s face.
Aiden remained still. “How can you be so sure?” he asked, one tear rolling down his cheek. “Nobody knows much about phoenix shifters. We just know what Tessa told us, and it wasn’t all hearts and flowers.” He sniffed. “Remember? She told us about battles and tempers and… and…” He dropped his head.
“Shhh.” Jamie placed a hand over Aiden’s chest right where his heart beat. “I know it in here. I’ve known you most of my life.” He grinned and then nodded toward the women in the room. “They know it, too. Tessa knew it. She was sure she was leaving the town in good hands. She told me.”
Aiden blinked slowly and then shrugged.
Jamie dragged Aiden to his side and then walked him over to the Guardians. “I promise your beast is not a monster,” he muttered in Aiden’s ear.
Aiden glanced at him sideways and gave him a skeptical look.
Mac was standing between some pillows that had been placed on the floor and the sofa, her hands clasped in front of her abdomen. She looked to Aiden, then to Jamie, and then once more to Aiden. “Are you ready?” Mac asked.
Aiden glanced at Jamie.
Jamie nodded once.
“Let’s give it a shot,” Aiden said.
“Alright, Aiden sit down right here, facing away from me.” Mac gestured to the spot right in front of the sofa. She took a seat on the couch and gestured for Aiden to back up closer so she could reach him. “Jamie, sit down in front of him.”
Jamie sat cross-legged on a pillow facing a similarly seated Aiden.
“Yes, facing him, that’s perfect.”
“Where do you want us?” May asked. She stood with Piper while Deacon and Iris sat together on a small loveseat.
“Hmm,” Mac said. “I’ll need one of you on my left and one on my right. I may need you to boost my powers by placing one of your hands on my forearms. I’ll let you know.”
“Can do,” Piper said. She sat on the couch to Mac’s left while May took a seat on the healer’s right.
“Aiden,” Mac said, “I’m going to place my hands on the side of your head, OK?”
“Yes,” Aiden said.
“Go ahead and close your eyes. Try to relax,” Mac said.
“Wait a sec! Should I be doing something?” Jamie asked Mac.
“Not yet,” she answered. “I’ll tell you if I need you to do something. Same goes for you two,” she said to Deacon and Iris.
“Got it,” Deacon said while Iris nodded.
Jamie watched as Mac placed her palms against the sides of Aiden’s head, near his temples, and closed her eyes. Jamie gasped when a warm orange light shone where she touched Aiden.
“Are you alright?” Mac asked Aiden.
“Yeah,” he murmured. “Fine. Just feels tingly where you’re touching.” But then Aiden grimaced as the orange light shone brighter on the sides of his head.
Mac gasped, but her eyes remained closed, her hands still on Aiden.
“What?” Jamie asked.
“His phoenix is so close. He wants to show himself. He—.” Mac winced.
“What? What is it?” Piper asked.
“He—he—he… Uh, he’s saying he wants to see his mate,” Mac said. “He also wants to train. He knows his father is coming for the town.”
Aiden groaned. His jaw was clenched, and he was sweating.
“Mac! Something’s wrong,” Jamie said. “Aiden looks like he’s in pain.”
“He’s fighting my power. He’s trying to push me out. May, Piper, place your hands on my forearms. I’ll try boosting my powers.”
Jamie watched as his friends did as Mac asked. The light at Aiden’s temples brightened considerably.
Aiden groaned again.
“Maybe we should stop for now,” Iris called out.
“He’s still fighting. His phoenix is so close,” Mac muttered.
“No, wait. Let me try something,” Jamie said. “Mac, I’m going to hold his hands. See if I can get him to relax, OK?”
“Sure. Go ahead.” Mac sounded out of breath.
Jamie wrapped his hands around Aiden’s and squeezed. He closed his eyes and willed himself to relax.
“Aiden, can you hear me?” Jamie asked telepathically.
“No, but I can,” Aiden’s phoenix replied.
“What’s wrong?” Jamie asked.
“He still doesn’t trust me. Thinks I’m unstable. He’s fighting your healer friend.”
“We need him to shift. He really wants to shift. We need to convince him that you’re good somehow,” Jamie said.
“Jamie?” Aiden called out.
Jamie’s eyes snapped open. Aiden’s eyelids were still shut tightly. “Aiden, I’m here. Relax and let your beast out. Please. Just show us a little bit of him. Maybe you can shift your arms into wings. Just think small for now. You have to believe me when I say your phoenix is good. He wants to help us.”
Aiden’s hands shook within Jamie’s. “I can’t,” he hissed.
“He’s trying to kick me out of his head,” Mac said.
“It’s not going to work,” the phoenix said sadly.
“Please, I want to see my mate,” Jamie said to Aiden. “He won’t hurt me. He won’t hurt us.”
“Can’t,” Aiden spat.
“Yes, you can. You can trust him. Aiden, please,” Jamie begged. He closed his eyes once more. “I want to see your phoenix, my phoenix. I’ll make sure he doesn’t hurt anyone.”
“Uh, Mac?” Piper asked.
“Please shift,” Jamie silently told the phoenix.
“I’m trying,” the beast answered.
“Mac?” May asked.
“What? I’m trying to concentrate. I think it’s working. I feel something’s happening,” Mac said.
“His body is glowing,” Piper said.
“What?” Mac asked.
“Aiden’s glowing. Jamie too,” May said.
Jamie opened his eyes. Aiden’s entire body was glowing, as were their connected hands.
“It’s getting hot in here,” Piper said.
Mac hissed and released Aiden. “Ah, shoot, that’s hot!”
May and Piper yanked their hands from Mac. The three women hurried over closer to where Deacon and Iris were, farther away from the heat.
Jamie’s heart clenched. “Is it happening?” he asked Aiden’s beast.
“I’m still trying.”
“Everyone, get back.” Jamie yelled. He heard them all franticly clamber away from where he sat in front of Aiden, closer to the stairs leading to the living room. He then addressed his mate in a quiet voice. “Aiden, let him out.”
“Back up, little one,” the beast answered.
Jamie released his hold on Aiden and was moving back closer to the wall right as Aiden transformed.
“Holy cow!” May screeched. Iris gasped.
“He’s—he’s—” Mac stuttered. “So…”
“Beautiful,” Jamie finished.
“I was going to say gigantic,” Mac said. “Much bigger than Tessa was. But he is stunning.”
The phoenix seemed to preen at that praise. He was so large he had to hunch over to not damage the ceiling. He was covered in brilliant yellow and red feathers that shone orange. He was glowing. Jamie took a step closer to him, holding out a hand. He wanted to touch him.
The phoenix blinked his orange eyes slowly.
“You did it,” Jamie said aloud.
“He let me,” the beast replied telepathically.
“Is he OK in there?” Jamie asked.
“Yes, I am,” Aiden answered silently.
“He’s OK,” Jamie told the others. Tears rolled down his face. Why was he crying? “Aiden’s alright. He spoke to me telepathically. Finally, I can hear him in my head. Oh, thank God!” He felt the knot loosen in his chest a bit.
Mac walked back over and placed a hand on Jamie’s shoulder.
“Why am I crying?” Jamie asked. He wiped the tears from his face.
“Stress response?” Mac answered. “Relief?”
“Happiness?” Piper suggested.
“Stop crying, please,” Aiden said. “This is so weird.”
The others cautiously walked back over to stand closer to Jamie. They stared in awe at the mysterious creature in their midst.
Jamie took a step closer to his mate. He wanted to touch him so badly.
“Come closer,” the beast demanded telepathically.
“Please,” Aiden added. “He wants you to touch him. He said he’s been alone for so long.”
Jamie complied and reached a hand out toward the beast’s head. The phoenix closed his eyes, lowered his head, and pushed it toward Jamie’s outstretched hand.
Jamie ran his hands through the silky feathers. “So soft,” he mumbled.
The phoenix made a chirping sound, almost as if laughing.
“Is this OK?” Jamie asked.
The phoenix opened one fiery eye. “Yessss,” he said silently.
“We probably should have done this somewhere with higher ceilings, huh?” Piper mused. She wiped sweat from her brows. “It’s really heating up in here.” She looked at Jamie. “You really don’t feel it like we do?”
Jamie shook his head and grinned stupidly. “I like it.”
“Little witch is right. I can’t spread my wings in here. Well, not without upsetting the alpha wolf,” he chuckled. “I’d prefer not to destroy his father’s home.”
“Shoot, how do we get you out of here?” Jamie asked out loud. He turned to his friends. “He wants to spread his wings out.”
“What the hell!”
Everyone—including the phoenix—turned to stare at Heath. He’d stopped halfway down the stairs, mouth open, eyes wide.
“But, big brother, isn’t this what you wanted? Behold”—May extended her arms toward Aiden’s beast—“the mighty phoenix!” She smirked at her long-suffering older brother.
Heath’s mouth snapped shut, and he shook his head. He addressed the phoenix, “Yes, I am very happy to meet you.” He then turned to his sister and the others. “I just thought you guys were going to get him in the right mindset and then, you know, try to have him shift outside where there’s plenty of room.” He ambled closer to the beast, staring in awe.
“Well, we misjudged, OK?” Mac said. “We’re all new to this, too.”
“Can you speak to us?” Heath asked.
“Yes,” the beast said in their heads. “I can speak to you in your minds.”
Heath gazed around the room. “You can all hear him, right?”
Everyone in the room nodded.
“How do we get him outside so he can spread his wings?” Jamie asked.
“There’s no way he’s fitting up the stairs or out the emergency hatch,” Deacon muttered.
“We need Leah. She could teleport him out,” Piper said.
The beast released a deep, throaty chuckle that made Jamie’s mouth go dry. “I don’t think that will be necessary.” The air shimmered around the firebird’s body before he smoothly morphed into a very naked, very wide-eyed Aiden. Then the man’s big blue eyes fluttered shut, and he collapsed against Jamie. Oh no, no, no!
Jamie wrapped his arms tightly around Aiden’s sweat-soaked body and lowered him to the floor, dragging him onto his lap. He cradled his body against him and watched as Aiden’s chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm. Thank God!
“What’s wrong? Is he breathing?” Iris asked. She started toward her brother, but Deacon held her back.
Jamie nodded. His throat was tight. He must be tired because of his shift, right?
“Mate’ll be OK,” his wolf assured him.
“I hope you’re right,” Jamie answered his other half.
“I always am.”
“Everyone stay back. Let me examine him,” Mac commanded.
“I can’t—” Jamie started.
“No, not you,” Mac said kindly. “You’re right where you need to be.” She turned to her mate. “Heath, bring me my medical bag please.”
“On it.”
Jamie squeezed Aiden tighter as Mac leaned closer and felt for the pulse at his neck. “I think he’s just tired,” Jamie murmured, hoping like hell he was right. “His breathing seems even to me.”
“You’re probably right, but I just want to make sure,” Mac said.
“Here it is,” Heath said. He held Mac’s medical bag out to her. He had a huge smile on his face.
Jamie scowled. “What’re you so happy about?” He was so worried about Aiden.
Heath’s eyes moved to Aiden and then back to Jamie. “Because this”—he nodded to Aiden—“what just happened—it changes everything.”