After years of avoiding her dragon, the phoenix potential finds that there is nowhere to run. Let the courtship begin.

Elly has known she was going to become the phoenix for twelve years. She just didn’t want it to happen quite yet.

When she meets Terric in person for the first time, there is no going back. Her transformation is underway. Her body is becoming fire and there is nothing she can do to stop it.

Terric has been looking for the phoenix since he felt the first stirrings of her power in the world around him. When he meets Elly and they dance, he knows that she is the one he has been waiting for, but his patience is running out.

She demands a proper courtship, and he complies. After all, how long had he already waited?

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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Courting the Phoenix

Copyright © 2013 Viola Grace

ISBN: 978-1-77111-772-2

Cover art by Martine Jardin

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

Published by Devine Destinies

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Courting the Phoenix

A Nexus Universe Tale

By

Viola Grace

Chapter One

It began at a wedding…

Eilinora had watched him come toward her, and her skin heated at the slow glide of his limbs. She could hear her mother and sister whispering.

“That’s Terric the Black. Why is he coming over here?”

Elly smiled nervously as he got closer. “Because I can’t avoid him anymore.”

“Elly, you have met him?” Talinora stared at her with wide eyes.

“No. I haven’t met him.” Not in this lifetime anyway. “That is what is about to happen.”

He paused near their table. “Ladies, I would like to introduce myself. My name is Terric.”

Elly looked up into his face. He was speaking to them all but looking directly in her direction.

Andora smiled at him and made the introductions. “I am Andora Dyanhart, and these are my daughters, Talinora and Eilinora. We are of the air elemental clan.”

He inclined his head to each of them and bowed. “I am the current king of dragons.”

As he straightened, there was a tearing sound and his formal suit split down the back to allow his wings to emerge.

Elly’s mother got all flustered. “Please, join us. The dancing is just beginning but neither of my daughters is prone to dancing.”

He took the chair next to Elly and his shoulders canted toward her.

“So, are you friends of the bride or the groom?” He smiled.

Andora answered. “We are from the bride’s side. My cousin married into the Matriarch’s line a few decades ago.”

Elly could feel heat coming off Terric’s body. She saw him smiling and noticed him looking down at her black and silver gown. Damn. She had worn his colours. His eyes were glowing silver as she had that thought.

She blushed furiously and her skin heated perceptibly, she brushed at her skirt.

“Lady Eilinora, would you favour me with a dance?”

She cleared her throat. “As my mother has said, sir, I am not prone to dancing.”

She felt a magical jab to her back, and she winced. “I mean to say, I would be happy to, sir.”

“Terric, please. Sir was the last knight I consumed.” He smiled winningly and got to his feet, his hand extended to her.

She skimmed her palm along his lightly, and the spark that passed between them caused both of them to jump slightly. Elly let him help her to her feet, and she paused with him at the edge of the dancers firmly involved in their turns around the floor. When the song ended and Hellebore the siren took a quick break to have a drink of water, Terric turned her in his arms, one hand holding hers and the other on her waist.

The music started up, and he stepped toward her, she backed up out of reflex, and soon, they were dancing.

The moment he got her away from her family, he asked, “Do they know?”

She shook her head. “I don’t think so. We are air mages. We always have been. The magic that I use daily falls within that scope.”

“You have been hiding in plain sight. I have seen you before.”

Her cheeks were hot. “Yes, you have. Who told you?”

Terric chuckled. “The consort of the Nexus. He was upset that she would not tell me; she was upset that he did. I am guessing that his bed will be very cold for a few days.”

She ducked her head at the mental image of Terric’s bed and concentrated on moving with him to the music.

“Are you afraid of me?” Terric whispered.

She brought her head up fast, glaring up at him. “No. I am just dealing with a few unexpected things. I was not counting on you to talk to me tonight.”

“Yet, you dressed in my colours.”

“It was unintentional. I normally dress in silver and black when I go out. It flatters my hair.” She smirked.

“I see. Well, your hair is lovely if rather unadorned.”

“Today is the bride’s day. You don’t get in the way of that. Ever.” She winked.

He inclined his head. “It seems you were born with wisdom.”

“Oh, no, that is something you learn at your first wedding with a psychotic bride. Nothing should be done to upset her on her big day, especially in our community.” She chuckled and his hand held her a little closer.

“I have waited for you a very long time, Eilinora.”

He leaned in and she leaned back.

“You will have to wait a little more. The Nexus’s wedding will be soon, well, as soon as it takes for Xander to get his courage up. You can begin calling on me after that.”

He blinked. “You are dictating the terms of our joining?”

“Yes. It will happen, you know where I am now, but the Nexus has brought us all together and nothing will happen to detract in the slightest from her union. Face it, based on the histories, our coming together is a very big deal.”

He snorted, and she could swear that she saw a burst of fire from his nose. “Fine, but I want your full name, number and location. The moment that they have been cleared away, the courtship will begin.”

She sighed. “Deal. You dance with either my sister or my mother now and I will write everything down for you.”

“Why must I dance with them?”

“Propriety, Terric. You don’t want to let everyone here know what I am yet, now do you?”

His features darkened and he held her tight for a moment. “No one is getting between us, Eilinora.”

She fought the urge to touch his cheek. Being the phoenix without her dragon was dangerous. She had lived with that danger since she figured out what she was. Until she and Terric joined, she wouldn’t be at full power or gain her other form, but she was willing to wait just a little bit longer. From what she had heard of the Nexus and Xander, she wouldn’t have to wait long.

* * * *

At the table of the elf lords, Rihadu looked to his father. “Do you think that she is what I think she is?”

Lord Merano looked at the woman in the dragon lord’s arms and cocked his head. “I have seen Eilinora since she was a child. There have never been indications that she is the one.”

“He seems to think so.”

“You don’t know what he thinks. He may just be enjoying a dance with a pretty woman. There, see? He is dancing with her mother. It is perfectly proper and nothing suspicious as all.” Lord Merano looked to his son, “That said, keep a watcher on her. If she is the one, we might be able to harness that power before he does.”

Rihadu looked over at the slight young woman as she sat and fiddled with a pen. Could she be the phoenix, and if so, did she know that the end of the world as they knew it resided inside her?

Chapter Two

And it resumed at another wedding…

Everyone who was someone in the magical world was here, and Elly had to stop herself from looking around and searching for Terric.

He had been true to his word. She got the occasional email from him but nothing involved. The email had surprised her, but his email address made her giggle. DesperateDragon@BlackDragonEnt had made her laugh out loud.

“Who are you looking for, Elly?” Her mother fussed with Elly’s hair a little, pulling out the occasional curl from the soft chignon.

“Oh, no one. There is just someone here from every population. There is so much to see.”

Her mother patted her hand and looked around from their table at the reception. Xander and Abby were well and truly wed, elves were everywhere, and there was love in the air, as well as pixies.

One of the giggling lasses dive-bombed their table, and Elly extended her hand in invitation. The tiny woman stood on her hand and spoke in a high-pitched squeak that was rapid-fire.

“I am sorry, I don’t understand.”

The bride came up behind Elly and whispered, “She wants to know why you don’t have your wings yet.”

Elly looked at the Nexus and blinked. “Oh. I am waiting for the right guy, I guess.”

“He is waiting for you; after we leave the reception, it is no-holds barred.” Abby gave her a hug and a shot of magic that made Elly’s skin gleam.

“Thank you, Nexus. Congratulations on your formalization.”

Elly looked over at her mother and noticed that she was staring in shock with her mouth open. “Oh, Abby, Nexus of power for our generation, this is my mother, Andora Dyanhart.”

Abby moved over and shook Andora’s hand. “Thanks for coming to my big day.”

Elly watched her mother pull her composure together and shake the Nexus’s hand in return. “I wish you joy.”

“I already have it.”

Abby gave Elly a jaunty wave and continued on, greeting her guests.

Elly sat with her mother, and when her sister returned from the ladies room, Andora filled her in on their visitor, and Talinora was bitter that she had missed the visit.

Elly sipped at her wine, watched the dancing and kept her eyes out for a dark pair of wings. Her pixie fluttered by and perched on her shoulder, singing along with the music and chattering softly.

It was nice to have a tiny friend for a while, even if it did ultimately have to go home with the Nexus.

Elly sat and waited for her dragon to show up, enjoying the entire magical community out to celebrate the Nexus and her nuptials.

A prickle on the back of her neck made her turn her head slightly. She had felt him in the air, but the huge crowd had kept him from her vision. Now, there was no such restriction.

“Miss Eilinora, may I have this dance?”

She blinked when the voice she heard was not the one she was expecting.

A handsome elf wearing the crest of one of the high families was standing next to her.

She blinked, “I am sorry, sir, I do not think we have been introduced.”

“I am Lord Rihadu of the Scar Clan. Would you care to dance?”

His hair was white and there was a black lock at the front. Aside from that, he was a cookie-cutter elf, tall, fine featured and elegant.

She slowly got to her feet and grudgingly held her hand out to Rihadu.

He escorted her to the dance floor, and they shifted formally around and through the other couples.

“My sister is much more attractive, sir. Why did you not ask her?”

Rihadu leaned in and whispered, “Because she is not the phoenix potential. We have the dragon, and provided that you go with me, no harm will come to him.”

“No.”

The elf stiffened against her. “What do you mean?”

“I mean no. I am not going with you. The dragon is on his own and you are one crazy bastard.” She worked up a blast of air and shoved him backward, returning to her family table as quickly as she could.

“Wow, he was handsome.”

Elly grimaced. “And handsy. Elves think a little too highly of themselves. If he comes again, tell him to go blow.”

Andora looked indignant on Elly’s behalf. “I will give him a piece of my mind.”

“Don’t do that, but do go to the guild master and make small talk. He won’t come after you then.” She picked up her clutch purse and opened her senses wide. He was close to her, but he was stressed. She was going to have to move fast.

She was wearing a flame red gown with silver and gold trim tonight. As she strode off to the edges of the party, she sighed mentally. The dress was going to be a write-off.

Terric was near, and with every step, her connection to him grew closer until she entered a copse of trees and found the clearing where Terric was being held.

Overkill seemed to be the wisest course of action for them. Terric was wearing piles of chains and crystals and medallions of confinement were everywhere.

Three elf guards were watching the woods.

Wow. This is going to be tricky.

Terric’s head came up, and he cast a quick glance in her direction. They may not be linked yet, but he could sense her now.

The creepy elf had threatened him but not her family. As head of the dragons, Terric had plenty of folk who could come to his rescue, but no one knew that he was in trouble.

Elly concentrated and sent a coil of air under one of the medallions. It quivered and slowly lifted up and away from Terric.

She set it down behind him, checked to see if the guards had caught on and went back in for a second crystal.

The elves looked her way when one of her air columns got too close to their legs. She concentrated on thinking breezy thoughts and sent a curl of air past them from the other direction. Using air magic this precisely was exhausting, but she only had two more charms to go.

The elves were starting sweeps to find her, so she timed herself and rolled past them and into the area they had just scanned. She bit her lip as she felt her dress give way. Damn.

Elly teased and untangled the last two amulets. She was wiped out.

Terric tested the chains, and instead of snapping them, the metal heated and melted away from him. With a crack like lightning, Terric’s wings came out of his back, and he got to his feet.

The elves threw spells, and Elly kept her head down. In a few seconds, the guards were on their faces or backs.

When the coast was clear, she got to her feet and approached him.

He stepped toward her. “Eilinora, why did you come?”

She extended her hand to his, and he brought it to his lips for a lingering kiss.

“I didn’t want to turn myself in on your behalf. I do apologize.”

“I am a little upset that you have risked yourself, but I thank you for your efforts.”

“Well, you haven’t begun your courtship, and I would not deprive myself of something to look forward to.” She grinned.

“Shall we join the party?” He smiled.

“Yes, and while we do, you should explain to me how they got the jump on you to begin with.”

He wrapped her in his arms and his wings flared out. With a tremendous shove of his legs, they were airborne and Elly was holding on for dear life.

She was surprised by how far she had walked in her heels. With him flying them, they landed at the edge of the party in moments.

“You wore red today.”

“It is a colour of celebration.” She smirked. “Now that I know you are watching, I will be avoiding your colours for a while.”

“Why? I like you in my colours.”

She chuckled, “Because you have not won me over to your side.”

“So, you are going to make me work for this?”

“Of course. Nothing worthwhile is not worth winning through hard work.” Elly smiled, “My grandmother was good with sayings but always made them longer than they had to be.”

“I can see that.” He took her hand and escorted her back into the throng.

She imagined that they made quite the image. He was wearing the scuffs and grime from a fight and she was in a grass-stained gown with a rip over the hip.

The elf from earlier was nowhere to be seen as Terric returned her to her family.

“Lord Terric, I see you have found Elly. Thank you for returning her to us.” Her mother smiled and invited him to sit.

“She has found me, and I would like to take this opportunity to ask you for permission to call upon her.”

Elly watched her mother carefully, and when she nodded nervously, Elly sat back with a sigh of relief. It wasn’t like she would refuse Terric, but there was always a chance.

Her sister sat with her mouth open, “But why?”

Terric grinned, “Because I have been looking for her all my life, and now that I have found her, she is not getting away.”

It would sound sinister to anyone else’s ears, but to Elly, it was the sweetest sentence she had ever heard. Her dragon was coming courting.

Chapter Three

They swayed together on the dance floor. “So, who do you think it was?”

He leaned down until he was whispering in her ear. “I know who it was or rather the organization they belong to. Many magical folk believe that in the time of the Nexus, if the dragon and phoenix get together, it will mean the death of an entire magical species.”

“What?”

“It is our version of a doomsday cult. The dragon and phoenix get together so infrequently, there are bound to be some myths and legends about them.”

She chuckled. “I haven’t been able to do as much research as I would like to. There isn’t much that I could access without sending up warning flags.”

“I have some books and scrolls you can borrow. They show the histories of couples past.”

Elly blushed at the idea of being part of a couple. “I would like to read them.”

“Then, you shall have them. So, what do you do with your days?”

“I teach public speaking to corporate representatives.”

He blinked. “That is not what I expected you to say.”

“Why?”

“It seems such a mundane task for you. I had imagined you reigning as queen over an empire.”

She laughed. “Not these days. I enjoy helping folks get over their fears and making their point. I have taught doctors, lawyers, educators, and each one has come out of it with more confidence in their speaking abilities than before they started.”

He swirled her around, his wings forcing the other dancers to give them plenty of space.

“Do you think that the organization is going to try again?”

“I believe they will. Do not worry. This courtship will proceed at your pace, but know that I am not leaving you unprotected. You will have guards around you at all times.”

She stopped, and he paused with a curious expression.

“You are not going to put guards on me.”

“Not on you, near you. I want you safe, and while I can handle attacks on my person, I cannot abide the idea of you being in danger.”

Elly poked him in the chest with two fingers, and he stepped back. His tux was scorched where she had struck him. “I am not the one who had to be rescued in the woods.”

He wrinkled his nose. “Not my finest hour.”

“How did they get you?”

He put his arm around her waist and escorted her to a table in the prime seating of the reception.

She was surrounded by creatures. The Minotaur, gorgons and other mythical shifters were sitting at a variety of tables and socializing.

Terric sat her at a table full of dragons, and she felt right at home. “Gentlemen, this is Eilinora Dyanhart. Eilinora, this is Weller, Argus, McNaro and Dorwin. They are the dragon elders. Well, they are the eldest next to me.”

Dorwin grinned, showing sharp fangs. “Don’t mention your age, Terric. There is nothing like the reminder that you have lived beyond the lifespans of their great grandparents to send women of this generation screaming.”

“I am made of sterner stuff.” She grinned. “I know he is ancient and decrepit.”

Terric snorted and fire shot out of his nose.

“That is the weirdest thing.”

Argus leaned forward, and his crimson hair swung in a long sheet. “If you think that breathing fire is strange, wait until the wedding night.”

Elly’s cheeks pinked at the mention of a wedding night. “It is a little early to be thinking along those lines.”

The dragons at the table laughed. Those with wings out flared them.

Terric sighed, “They laugh because there is only one person you could be and because I have been thinking along those lines since I knew you walked the world.”

“Ah. So, they all know?”

“That you are the phoenix or that I think you are? Yes. Does that bother you?”

She shrugged. “I have spent enough time hiding, I suppose I have to change gears and start planning to be in the light.”

The moon was bright and a tiny piece of starlight fluttered in and landed on her shoulder. It was the pixie again. She chirped and started pulling grass and leaves out of Elly’s hair.

“You have been adopted, it seems.” McNaro’s voice was thick with a heavy accent.

Elly smiled. “At least there is someone here to tell me that I have grass in my hair.”

The men looked at each other. Terric laughed. “We didn’t notice.”

She sat while the little creature groomed her and listened to the voices surrounding her. Mages rarely poked their noses into creature gatherings.

It was just like being at a mage table but everyone was taller and much, much scarier.

When her little pixie friend hopped on the table and began to shove a goblet of water at her, Elly took the hint and hand something to drink. It had been a while and she was quite thirsty.

While the dragons chatted, she looked around. She was getting a little bored, and in her state of exhaustion, it was very dangerous. Elly nodded forward and jerked in surprise as she caught herself. She gripped the table and smoke suddenly appeared.

“Oops. Sorry. I am a little tired.”

Terric winced. “I apologize; I should have realized that you would be tired from your exertions.”

She shrugged and he rose to his feet, making polite goodbyes to the other dragons.

Elly turned back as he escorted her to her family’s table. The dragons were examining the scorch marks she had left, and Dorwin and McNaro were tasting the char with tongues that flicked out a solid six inches. Elly blinked back a wicked smile and kept hold of Terric’s arm.

The table was empty, and a quick check of the area rendered the inevitable conclusion. The Dyanharts were gone.

“I think I am going to have to find my own way home.”

“I will take you.”

She blinked. “Uh, I can find a cab or a relatively sober transporter.”

“It is not necessary. I can fly you home through stone.”

That didn’t sound good at all. “I beg your pardon?”

“Do you trust me?”

She thought about it. “I suppose I do. I am guessing that I always will.”

“Then, hold tight.”

He lifted her, bent his legs and took off, his wings beating heavily away from the fading reception and toward the largest block of rock he could find.

Elly shivered uncontrollably when they emerged near her home. “That is not a way I enjoy travelling.”

He squeezed her tight as he landed in her family’s yard. “It takes getting used to.”

She swallowed and squirmed to be put down. “I think I am going to hurl.”

He eased her to the ground but held her tight. With a look of focus, he blew a column of smoke into her face.

She should have coughed, but instead, she inhaled a vapour that sent off the nausea, stabilising her limbs. “What was that?”

“Ancient dragon secret. You are not the first maiden who has not enjoyed a trip through the rocks.” He winked. “There is a reason that my kind are rarely caught, and now, you know it.”

“Rocks to rocks. I just wish you had warned me that the first deposit was underground. The dive nearly gave me a coronary.”

He smiled. “You are home now, safe and sound. I will see you to your door and set about contacting a guard for you.”

“Using more dragon secrets?”

He delved into his pocket and pulled out a small object. “I thought I would use a cell phone.”

She grinned and fished her house key out of her handbag before going up on her toes and kissing Terric briefly. Sparks flared between them as he wrapped an arm around her and held her tight. Her skin got hot and the fabric between them started to smoulder.

It may have gone further, but her mother flicked the outdoor lights on and off. It was time to back away. She kissed him once more and then sighed. “I have to work tomorrow, but I am guessing I will hear from you soon. I expect to be swept off my feet in the figurative sense.”

He grinned and inclined his head. He watched her until she was safely inside.

With her hand pressed to the interior doorframe, she whispered, “Good night, Terric.”

She heard his voice answer, “Good night, Eilinora.”

* * * *

“So, you mean to tell me that you had her in your arms and you let her go? Why didn’t you use the seduction charm?” The leader of the Reckoning Society shouted.

Rihadu bowed. “She was impervious to the charm. The scent had no effect on her; it was as if it simply didn’t register.”

The room was full of representatives from all the races. They were concerned that the combination of magic from the Nexus combined with the dragon and phoenix reuniting would cause a cataclysm that would end the world or at least one species entirely.

“And, you, how did the dragon get out of your grasp?”

The three elves who had been watching the woods winced. One of them spoke up, “We didn’t know she could command wind. She took the charms off him from a distance.”

The leader sighed and rubbed at his forehead. “She has been raised as an air mage. She can control wind. Make a note of it.”

The elves bowed again and cleared the space in front of the leader’s chair.

The leader rubbed his forehead again and wondered, How could one insignificant girl be the terror they had been waiting for, and what was stopping her transformation?

It was the sort of thing that kept him up at night.

Chapter Four

The alarm came far too early, but Elly hauled herself out of bed and stomped to the shower. A brisk blast of water and she was partially awake.

Out of the shower, she dried off in a column of air, adding a little heat to it. That was a mistake; the heat almost knocked her out again.

Elly made her way back to her room and got dressed for work. Many of the people had stayed at the hotel the night before, but Elly and her family had normal jobs in the human world. With three ladies in the house, they had to make a living.

Talinora was already gone and their mother had breakfast waiting for Elly when she came down.

“I can’t believe that you are the phoenix potential.”

Elly ate her oatmeal and grimaced. “Aw, who told?”

Her mother smacked her on the shoulder. “I figured it out when Terric the Black asked to come courting. There is only one woman he has been interested in in the last few decades and that was the phoenix. How long have you known?”

“Since I was thirteen.”

Andora sat next to her. “Why didn’t you tell me, Elly?”

Elly gave her a sober look. “You had other things to worry about, and then, I forgot about it. The fire was just always there, and once I looked it up on the internet and in a few of the reference books, it made sense. Frankly, I wasn’t sure until I was at one of the gatherings and Terric showed up. The fire came roaring.”

“Twelve years is a long time to keep a secret, hon. Are you all right?”

“What, for being outed in public? As fine as I can be. Now, I have to get to work. Bills to pay and pacing to correct. I will see you later.”

“Fine, call if you aren’t coming for dinner.”

“Will do. Thanks, Mom.” She kissed Andora on the cheek, got her bag from its spot next to the door and headed to the garage.

She saw a shadow shift next to her favourite tree, and she adjusted her path. “Hello?”

“Good morning, Miss Dyanhart. Terric has asked me to watch you for the day.”

The man stepped out from the shadows, and she cocked her head. Werewolf, not dragon. Interesting.

“Well, I am off to work, so you can either run alongside or come with me in my car.”

“There is a driver waiting for you and a guard placed in your place of work. I will watch your family home.”

Oddly, it made her feel a bit better. “Fine, but don’t let my mom feed you. She puts chocolate in everything and it isn’t good for doggies.”

“You know what I am?”

She shrugged. “Of course. It comes with being what I am becoming. I can taste it in the air. Not great when you are dealing with trolls but better than not knowing what they are.”

He grinned. “I wish you a good day at work. Everything will be as you left it when you return.”

“Thank you. Don’t work too hard.”

“My senses are on alert, and I have a Sudoku standing by. Thank you for your concern.” He winked and a car pulled down the driveway.

She turned to watch the town car approach, and when she looked back, the wolf was hidden in the depths of the trees and bushes that surrounded her childhood home.

She called her mother and informed her of the change in plans. If her mom wanted to use her car for the day, she was now welcome.

The driver didn’t speak, but his cheekbones and scent screamed that he was at least partially goblin.

She sat in the back, and he took her to her current office building without a question. Apparently, Terric did his homework.

Her day was the same as any other. She went through her lecture, had them laughing and interested in what she was saying and then she began the exercises that would get them talking to strangers in little groups, and as they spoke, they gained confidence.

By the end of the day, she was exhausted and completely unsurprised to see the goblin and car waiting for her again. Instead of home, it pulled up outside a restaurant.

She looked at the restaurant entryway and her office clothing and sighed. There was nothing for it; she was going to look like she was doing an audit.

To her surprise, the driver came with her and spoke to the host. The host inclined his head with respect and escorted her to a private room where Terric was on the phone with a notepad in front of him.

The moment she came in, he ended the call and closed the portfolio that contained the notepad. “Good evening, Eilinora.”

The host took her jacket and her bag and she was seated next to Terric with polite efficiency.

“Good evening, Terric. You have certainly involved yourself in my routine.”

He shrugged. “It is the nature of a dragon to know everything about his mate. I have called your mother and told her where you are. She was very polite.”

She snorted. “I bet she was.”

He looked at her and laughed. “You just breathed fire.”

She slammed her hand onto her nose. “I didn’t.”

“You did and you are right. It does look peculiar.”

She laughed and peeked at him over her hand. “Did you bring books?”

“In the trunk of the car. Tualion will bring them in for you when you get home.” He took her hand from her face and kissed the back of it. “Those clothes do not do you justice.”

Elly shrugged. “I know, but they are as close to sexless as I can get, and for teaching, you need to be a neutral body at the head of the room. If the men in the offices I go to start to see me as a woman, their absorption of the material goes right down the tubes.”

“Why do you work like that? Your father is very wealthy.”

She laughed, and it was a harsh and broken sound. “He hasn’t been near our house for twelve years. His money is his own, and we have to scratch to make a living and keep our house. We pay it off and he re-mortgages it just to keep us in our places.”

“Can’t your mother divorce him? It is all the rage in human circles.”

“Sure, if she could find him. She hasn’t had the money to go in search of him, so we are bound to him, and he drains our efforts because the house is still in his name.”

Terric’s features darkened. “Why don’t you leave?”

“It is our home and the money is never there. Mom’s family married throughout the other races, so there is no one really to call upon for help. We get by.”

He sat back, but she could see his mind whirling.

A server appeared and brought them hot water and towels to wash their hands. Once those items were removed, it was time for the appetizers.

“Pardon my presumption, but I took the liberty of ordering your meal so that you could return home in plenty of time to get some research done.”

It was very thoughtful, but she could see he wanted to do some research of his own.

The appetizers were tiny and each fitted on a flat-bottomed spoon. She slipped it into her mouth and smiled at the explosion of flavour followed by a wave of heat.

“Very nice. Trying to start a fire, Terric?”

He looked at her innocently and took the other one. “No, I am just sure that you can handle a little heat.”

She narrowed her eyes at him and sipped at the wine that the server presented. It was a nice red and had a good body to it. It was a rare luxury as well.

“So, do you have servants at home, or do you just barbeque sheep when you are feeling peckish?”

“I have a cook-housekeeper. She keeps things organized for me. Her name is Dualion, Tualion’s mother.” He smiled and sipped at his own wine.

“Nice, so how did you get captured last night?” She had to know.

“They told me they had possession of you and I was to do as they asked.”

“Oh, wow. You are better than I am. They told me that you were in danger and I refused to follow them. I followed your energy instead.” She went quiet when the servers returned with a salad made of frightened lettuce and a drizzled dressing.

She had never understood the new trend to lettuce that looked like it had been grown using some kind of electroshock therapy. If she ate lettuce, she liked it identifiable, romaine or iceberg. This frizzled stuff was just annoying.

She was just delighted to finish it and put her fork down.

“You do have better instincts than I did. I was so worried about your safety, I would have agreed to just about anything.” He shrugged and scorched his salad with a blast of heat, puffing the ashes off his plate with a light breath.

“Cheater!” She was mainly upset she hadn’t thought of it first.

“I will tell you now, Terric, if they catch me, they are not going to come out of it without burns. I am giving off a lot more heat now. I scorched my favourite bra, damn it.”

“You are in transition, as you very well know. You will shift into your ultimate form soon, and when you do, I want to be there.”

She sighed, and the main course was slid in front of her. Strips of meat and vegetables were twisted together in a pastry shell. “You can’t watch me every moment of every day.”

“No, but members of my organization can.”

“Organization?”

“Of course. Black Dragon Enterprises is a legitimate company that helps the paranormal find means of making money in the human world. For a nominal share of profits of course.”

Elly finished her pastry with a grin. “Of course. A dragon has to eat after all.”

“It keeps my ties to the community strong.”

“I am guessing that it would. Now, tell me about those who are terrified of the end of the world.”

They sat back and sipped their wine while the course was cleared.

When they were alone, she tapped her finger on the table.

Terric sighed. “Every time the dragon and phoenix draw close to each other, there are those who fear the outcome. You will see in the histories that sometimes there are volcanos, earthquakes and other times there is no disaster at all. The societies always exist to throw fear into the next generation, and they become frenzied the moment that the phoenix appears.”

“By frenzied, you mean hunting down all traces of the phoenix and destroying her.”

He shook his head. “No, if they could get the phoenix to choose another, to choose one of their kind, the collision would not take place and the activation of the phoenix would kick over into the next generation.”

A vegetable course arrived and conversation waited until the servers were out of the room again.

“So, this all could have been avoided if I was a normal young lady and had dated and flirted my way into a match long before this.”

He smiled, “Your hardship has become my good luck.”

Elly grimaced; it wasn’t exactly her idea. She had a dream of normal and it passed her by. Now, she was dealing with the hand forced upon her.

“I do not enjoy the pain you have suffered, but it has increased my likelihood of finding you until here you are. Each event where you appeared and saw me strengthened your attachment to the personal aspect of the phoenix.”

She wrinkled her nose. “That would explain it. When I was a teen, I felt something lodge inside me, but it took me years to pin down what it was, precisely. I did a lot of research, but I only managed to get the most vague outline of what a phoenix really was. I couldn’t look into the mage archives because I didn’t want to send up any red flags.”

“Do you feel stronger?”

Elly flexed her fingers. “You could say that.”

With her index finger extended, she aimed at a candle on the far side of the room. “Bang.” She flexed her thumb and the candle flared to life.

Terric looked surprised. “You have that much control over it?”

“Just a little bit of fire, but being an air mage means that delicate control was the focus of my training. I am actually pretty good.”

She smiled brightly as dessert arrived.

Her companion was still trying to get over the control she had over her tiny bit of power; it showed in his rough-hewn features.

With a quick look around, she took the flame from the candle and called it to dance on her palm. She juggled it from palm to palm and finally let it absorb back into her skin.

The dessert was a ball of dark chocolate mousse with fresh fruit and slivers of white chocolate. It was very nice with the dessert wine that was served.

“I haven’t had this much wine at a meal in a very long time.”

“Why not?” Terric blinked in concern. “It is the highlight of every meal and your metabolism is not affected by it.”

“Oh, because we don’t have the money for it. It is an unnecessary luxury.” She twisted her lips.

“If you were on your own, you could soar free, you know.”

“I know that. I also know that my mother sacrificed by taking on two jobs, working weekends and going without until we were old enough to go to work ourselves and chip in. We all had to change because one man got bored with his vows.”

He winced. “I suppose it left you with an ill disposition toward men.”

“No, just a little problem with blind trust. It has to be earned now.”

The server returned and removed their dishes, signalling an end to the meal.

Terric walked her back to the car, kissing her lightly before he tucked her in next to a stack of books. Date one was over.

Elly wondered what he had planned next.

Chapter Five

She had stayed up late into the night reading up on the great love of the dragon and the phoenix. They crossed every cultural barrier and tens of thousands of years. The phoenix appeared in every species, every bloodline, and there was always the dragon waiting for her.

Elly fell asleep, and her soul flew back ten thousand years, finding the one thing that the books always left out. She had to die.

Brushing her teeth was a herculean effort. Her hands kept shaking. Elly repeated to herself that it was only a dream, but she knew differently. Every myth of the phoenix referred to the death and rebirth, but Terric had neglected to mention what she had to do. Maybe he didn’t know?

She went through the motions of the day, trying to keep herself blank. It was Friday, and if she wanted to go through with joining to Terric, she had to pull the phoenix out and take her place as a creature.

When she dropped into the car at the end of the day, her driver gave her a toothy grin. “You look like hell, miss.”

Tualion’s voice showed his concern. It wasn’t often goblins cared for mages, but he seemed to be interested in her health.

“I am just tired. Where to tonight?”

“The same restaurant. The dragon owns it, so it is the best place for him to see you. It is also a neutral location.”

“Wonderful. I can be cranky and no one can see me.”

“I don’t think you can manage cranky. Mildly irritated, perhaps.” Despite the conversation, his driving was smooth and deliberate. He wove them in and out of traffic without any difficulty.

When he parked outside the restaurant, she waited until he opened the door. “My best to your mother, Tualion.”

He blinked and grinned again. “Thank you for the courtesy.”

She passed him and entered the restaurant. The same host from the day before smiled as she entered the establishment and escorted her back to the private room.

Again, Terric was waiting, wearing the white shirt and black trousers of a business suit with his jacket hanging on an empty chair. He rose to his feet and took her hands, kissing each in turn. “Good evening, Elly.”

“Good evening, Terric.” She smiled weakly.

He gave her a piercing look. “You don’t look well.”

“I have been dreaming. It was very enlightening.”

He escorted her to her seat and held the chair for her while the host hovered and finally took her bag from her.

She wrestled free of her jacket and settled inside the nest it made. Elly blinked at him with a smile. “What is on the menu today?”

“We are starting with a fruit soup and skipping the salad. What did you dream?”

She fidgeted for a while and finally asked, “How do I turn from mage into creature?”

He stared at her as the starter was set in front of them. “I don’t know. I thought it was when we…”

The server blinked and got a bit wide-eyed but finished the service and retreated.

“Nope. In all the histories, we…after the transformation.”

He sat back in shock. “How is it done then? No one has written it.”

She took a spoonful of the icy soup and smiled. “No, I am guessing it was deemed too scary for subsequent generations. It also explains the occasional lack of phoenixes. Not every woman would want to do that, and if it isn’t done, the phoenix doesn’t wake.”

He scowled. “I thought that the potentials fell in love and married someone else.”

She grinned. “That may be true, but the supernatural fire died because the women didn’t want to change. They wanted the description on the tin, a life, family, grandchildren. There is no guarantee or even a mention of a union such as ours bearing fruit.”

Terric blinked. “You are right. We won’t. Dragons don’t blend well with the populace in general. It takes a very specific kind of woman to be the bride of a dragon.”

“Like me?”

“You are not a bride, you are an equal. The phoenix is equal and even surpasses the dragon in several aspects.”

Elly knew that but it was nice to hear him say it.

She dodged the details of her transformation plans and enjoyed the tapas-style meal that the chef had prepared. There was something in the spice combinations that was familiar. “A goblin chef?”

“Indeed. Well spotted. She has been with the restaurant since it began. She is delighted to have me back in town though.” He winked. “I can withstand anything she decides to concoct.”

Elly grinned and forked up some more marinated octopus. It was tasty and chewy all at the same time.

After tapas came dessert, and by the time she had finished the marinated fruit, she was feeling a little wobbly. Her body would burn the alcohol off quickly, but for now, she had a nice buzz.

“So, where do you live normally?” She smiled and propped her head on her fist.

“I travel from city to city. My actual home is under a nameless mountain.”

“That seems vague enough.” She snorted fire, clapped her hand over her nose and dissolved into giggles.

“It seems that the marinated fruit is the key to getting you plastered.”

She snorted and giggled again. “It’s the fruit sugar. It lets the alcohol get into my system. Once in there, it has its wicked way with me.”

He seemed concerned. “But, it will wear off.”

“Of course. It will just take a few minutes.”

“Good.” He got up, leaned over and pulled her hand from her mouth so he could kiss her.

She wove her hands through his hair and held tight as the heat rose in the room. Elly got to her feet and plastered herself against him, the alcohol burned away in that first rush.

Terric pulled away. “Eilinora, I think it is time for you to go now.”

A frown settled on her features. “Why? I thought we were getting somewhere.”

“I thought so too, but you have melted all the candles in the room and scorched our server. You need to cool down.”

She wrinkled her nose, but her clothes were smoking. He had a point. “Fine, but this isn’t over.”

He blinked and laughed, a deep, rich sound that rang through the dining room. “My dearest, Elly. I know it isn’t, but today is not the proper time. You are tired and your control is suspect. You need a good night’s rest.”

She grumbled but nodded. “Right. Well, at least tomorrow is Saturday; I can sleep in a little before doing the weekend chores and shopping.”

“Tualion will take you on your errands.”

Elly wrinkled her nose. “That will not be necessary. I am a competent driver.”

He rubbed her arms slowly. “It is not about your driving; it is about the society. They know who you are. It will not be hard to find you.”

“You found me fast enough.”

“Well, you did give me your contact information. It made it easier.”

She laughed and pressed her forehead to his chest. “This whole thing is tiring.”

“Just wait. It will get easier, I promise.”

“It had better. I knew there was a reason I had never bothered dating. It is a real time-suck.”

He laughed, and he helped her on with her jacket.

The host returned the bag to her, and she thanked him.

Tualion opened her door, and she tucked herself into the car.

A box was sitting on the seat with a huge bow.

“Tualion, what is this?”

“A present from the dragon, miss. He wished for you to have something necessary.”

“Necessary?”

“That is what he said.” Tualion pulled out smoothly, and she was on her way home.

She undid the bow and opened the box. Inside were more boxes and rolled documents.

One box revealed several stacks of hundreds. It was enough money to keep them afloat for ten months or more.

Another box held a blouse with a tag, Galfor Designs. “Oh my.”

“Yes, my cousin’s designs are in demand, but for the phoenix, she put the effort in. You won’t cook that blouse like you do your others. There is also a long skirt, shoes and underwear in there. They are a bit old fashioned, but I believe that you can make them work.”

She laughed. “I have never dreamed of having a Galfor design, let alone an outfit.”

“She was happy to do it and looks forward to meeting you in person for a proper fitting. She has gone from relative obscurity to wild popularity, and it is all due to the Nexus and her creatures. She will enjoy adding a new client to her roster.”

Elly kept digging and found a necklace and earrings and a thick parchment envelope.

She opened the envelope and turned on the reading light in the back of the car. It was the deed to her family home. The deed was in her mother’s name, and the mortgage had been paid off. The record of transfer of title was very clear. Her father now held no property in their sleepy little town.

“How did he do this?”

“I don’t know, miss. All I know is that he has a lot of friends in strange places. The dragon is not a man to cross.”

“Why do you call him the dragon? There are others after all.”

“He is Terric the Black, leader of the dragons. He is a lord and also referred to as the dragon. Without him, the other dragons will cease to be a unit; they will scatter and hibernate once again.”

“Oh. Got it.” Elly filed it away in things she would ask Terric about on their next date. In the meantime, she cuddled her box on her lap and turned off the reading light. Her box of treasures deserved to be properly admired by her family.

The last time she received a present, it had been her birthday. She had never just gotten one because someone thought she needed one. She brushed at the tears on her cheeks, and then, she stared at her fingers as she saw the fire.

The fire dissipated, but she knew that she couldn’t put off the change much longer. She had to engage in it while she could control the burn. The images in her mind were of turning herself into a candle that would burn for hours until her human flesh was gone and only the phoenix was left.

It wasn’t a pleasant thing to contemplate, but she would do it, and her family would support her in her decision. They always had.

Chapter Six

Her mother and sister had waited up.

Talinora started, “So, you just get driven to work and back?”

Her mother shook her head. “There are also wolves watching from the woods.”

“Right. Because of what I am or what I am becoming, there is a danger in someone snagging me for their own purposes.”

Talinora went from irritated to concerned. “Seriously?”

“Seriously. That Lord Rihadu tried to drag me off during our dance. He told me that Terric’s life was at stake. He was right. Terric was being held by a group of elves out in the woods.”

Andora smiled, “You tracked him?”

“By the scent of his magic, Mom. Just like you taught me.”

“That’s my girl. Now, what is in that box?”

She pulled out each object, saving the money and the deed until last. “Look, Mom. The title has been transferred to your name, and we got a stack of money so Tali can finish her courses and you can set up your studio.”

Andora looked at the deed and tears came to her eyes. “He just gave you this?”

“Yup.”

“You didn’t have to do anything?”

Eilinora laughed out loud. “Mom, the man is going to be my mate. I am not lying. He has asked nothing of me. It will be a meeting of equals when it happens. That reminds me. I have something to discuss with you two.”

Talinora was counting the cash. She looked up, “What?”

“I am going to be the phoenix, but I am not yet the creature. My transformation is going to be a little tricky.”

Her mother got a concerned look on her face. “How so?”

“I have to light myself on fire and let it burn for a minimum of four hours. I need you to promise not to put me out.”

She listened to their denials of the necessity of her lighting herself.

Humming, she got to her feet, pulled out a dish and got a knife. “I have to deal with this.”

She cut her finger and let the drops of fire splash on the plate. Elly stuck her finger in her mouth and sucked at the wound until it closed. She held up the finger where the line was disappearing as they watched.

“The fire is in me now, Mom, Tali. No matter what I do, I will be wrapped in fire. If I do it sooner rather than later, I will have control over the change. If I wait too long, it will overrun me and I will turn into ash, never to rise.”

Tali winced. “You mean you can’t stop?”

“Nope. From the moment I came into contact with Terric, there was no going back. It brought the fire out, and the flame will have its way. I either turn voluntarily or the fire will consume me.”

Andora swallowed hard and looked at Talinora.

Tali nodded.

Andora asked, “When do you want to do this?”

“As I am in danger and the fire is leaking out, I thought tomorrow. From my research, I will maintain my personality but will need some time to acclimate to my new power.”

Tali asked, “How long?”

“A few days should do. I was thinking about standing out back in the fire pit to start.”

Andora frowned. “Will that be enough space? How large will your burn pattern be?”

“I have no idea. I just thought that was far enough from the house. I will ask in my dreams and see if the previous incarnations have any insights.”

Tali was diving around in the box, and she pulled out the first clothing box. “My, my. What is this?” She opened it and frowned in disappointment. “A shirt? He bought you a shirt?”

Eilinora held up her hand, ran up the stairs and got the shirt she had changed out of before speaking with her family. She tossed the shirt to Tali. “I burned through it today.”

Tali held the charred fabric gingerly. “Geez, Elly. I had no idea.”

Andora took the damaged blouse and shook her head. “Fire spreads quickly, especially when there is air involved. Tomorrow it is, but why did he buy you this clothing?”

“It is a design by Mistress Galfor. Flame retardant in the extreme. Between that and the other clothes inside the pack, I should be able to dress normally for a few days until I go for a fitting with Mistress Galfor.”

Talinora’s face filled with good-natured envy. “Really?”

“Really. She is looking forward to making clothing that doesn’t burn. On the plus side, I am pretty sure that she will make dresses for you and mom for the formal mating ceremony of the dragon and the phoenix.”

Tali brightened at that, but Andora frowned, “I think we are supposed to pay for that.”

“Mom, I promise that I will pay for the dresses. You and Tali concentrate on using that cash for achieving your goals. I will concentrate on burning away my mortal self without turning into ash.”

“Deal.” Andora came around and hugged her. “Be careful, honey. I want you to be as safe as you can be for this.”

She hugged her mother and then her sister in turn. “Trust me. Safety is why I am doing this. Now, go put that money and deed somewhere fireproof, just in case.”

Predawn wasn’t normally something Elly saw on her Saturday mornings, but when a hand pressed a cloth over her mouth and nose, she struggled to breathe.

A few sharp inhalations later and blackness took her over.

Elly jerked awake in darkness. Her skin tingled and burned. She had been hauled through a portal.

She could hear sobbing from nearby. “Tali?”

She looked through the darkness and saw bars making up cells, and her sister was huddled against the bars, the sleeping form of their mother next to her.

“I am so sorry, Elly. I had no idea that he would come for you.”

“Who, Tali?

“Dad. He came to work, and he told me that you were in danger. He said that the dragon didn’t have honourable intentions, and he would simply kidnap you and take you away. He didn’t mention your transformation, but he did want to know what time you would be guaranteed to be home. He said he wanted to talk father to daughter.”

Tali was sobbing uncontrollably.

“Its fine, Tali. You couldn’t have known.” Her mouth was dry and her head ached. Tali had always been more charitable toward their father. She had been his favourite.

“I should have. The timing was stupidly obvious.”

“How is Mom?”

“Still asleep.”

“Wake her up.”

“How?”

“Air. Send a column of air through her lungs. She will wake up for that.”

“Right.” Tali knelt, and soon, Andora was sitting upright.

“Cut off the air, Tali.”

Talinora blinked. “I am not doing it, Elly.”

Elly closed her eyes as tendrils of air came toward her. She knew that magic.

With concentration, she picked the lock to her cell and it swung open. “Stay here where it is safe. I am going to have that father-daughter chat.”

Andora scowled. “You shouldn’t face him alone.”

“Fine. You pick that lock with a whistle, and I will be happy when you arrive.”

Elly walked through the halls, following the air magic. When she made it out of the maze, she was in the centre of an arena filled with scowling faces and a central dais. “Hello, Garth.”

“Eilinora. You are looking well.”

She walked toward him, the sand under her feet made her aware that she was wearing her sleep shirt with the howling wolf on it and nothing else under it. Her father’s involvement explained how the kidnappers got past the wolves; they simply teleported into their house. “If you wanted to see me, you could have called.”

Garth Dyanhart got to his feet and came toward her. “I wasn’t sure you would speak to me. You always did take your mother’s side of things.”

She crossed her arms and watched him come. “You are an asshat who preyed on Andora’s good nature and who trapped her in an endless cycle of providing you with money. Very tacky, Garth.”

“I had obligations and I needed my family where I could find them when this was all over. I never guessed that the phoenix had come to reside in my own daughter.” Garth reached out to touch her shoulder, and she shifted to one side.

When he lunged forward, she blasted him back with a column of air that carried him into the air and down to the sand with a thud.

Muttering went through the crowd of hundreds in a wave.

In her pyjamas, she stood and waited for her father to get to his feet.

He staggered upright, and she saw the features so similar to her own twisted in rage. He struck out at her with his magic, and she deflected it easily. He fired at her over and over again, and each attack was simply turned to the side.

“What are you trying to accomplish, Garth?”

“I want you on your knees.”

“Oh, that isn’t going to happen.” She wrapped a column air around him and pulled him to his knees. She heard a chirp from above, and to her surprise, her pixie fluttered around her head before disappearing.

The distraction let her father get one leg under him, but she quickly pulled him back into position.

“Now, tell me what I am doing here.”

The crowd shifted, and she was tired of it. She stole their air, and one by one, they dropped to the ground.

“How did you do that?” He was both fascinated and horrified.

“I have good self-control, and I know how to use my element. I would have thought you would have known that, being a concerned father and all.”

“I…there were greater matters at hand.”

“Like what?”

“The phoenix was coming.”

“I was already there before you left. You just slunk away in such a cowardly manner that I was never able to tell you.”

His cheeks darkened. “Can you release me?”

“Yes, I could. I am not going to.” She asked, “Why does this society fear the coming of the phoenix?”

“You will destroy one race. It has happened before.”

“Oh, you mean the island of Hualo when the phoenix lit a volcano that wiped out the only volcano goblins? That was the only evidence of an entire race being extinguished.”

“How do you know that?” He scowled. Fanatics hated being called on details.

“The dragons and phoenixes have kept records, charts, books, scrolls. They were all very literate. The joining has caused tectonic reactions, weather fluctuations and some forest fires. It is always an unpredictable moment, but what you are actually seeing in your histories was not the joining.”

Garth struggled in her grip. “What was it then?”

She felt the reaction start on her body. “Why, it was the true coming of the phoenix. It is about to start here and now. I hope this ground is stable, because there is no holding it at bay.”

“What?”

“The fire is burning me, inside out. I had a plan to bring it safely into our world, but you have screwed that over and the stress is pushing on me. Either I let it take over or it will burn everyone here to ash. I would recommend you begin an orderly evacuation when everyone wakes up.”

The flames started between her toes and licked up her legs. To her surprise, portals opened around the arena and dragons in half-shifted form came through. Solid black and gleaming with the charm of obsidian, Terric landed in front of her.

She released Garth. “Terric, this is Garth Dyanhart, my father and the chief jackass of this society. I would go more in-depth, but I have caught fire and I am going to be here for a while. Oh, and my mother and sister are down below, can you get the somewhere safe?”

“Of course, beloved.”

She smiled, knowing that he would take care of it. “Then, love, I will see you on the other side.”

He kissed her and backed away as the fire came up her body, burning away her nightdress and leaving her clothed in fire. Showtime.

Chapter Seven

She paced in a circle for the first hour. Elly kept herself calm by using the same breathing exercises she used while learning air magic.

Dragons evacuated the arena, and a few trolls appeared to take members into custody.

It was strange to watch everything through the white and blue flames. She had always thought that a phoenix would have hot-coloured flames. Hers were in the cold range, which meant they burned hotter, but it felt weird.

Once her sister and mother were safe, Terric returned, and he shifted to full dragon, curling up around the exterior of the arena and waiting.

During hour two, she felt the fire turn inward, her belly warmed, her heart pounded and her lungs heaved.

Hour three changed her hair and nails to a deep blue and silver. Hour four, she felt power stream through her limbs, and she stretched her arms out and let the fire roar in a vortex.

When the fire finished its work of building on her new body, she tried it on. The feathers of fire felt right.

She wandered over to Terric and climbed on his back. He took the hint and propelled them into the sky.

She clutched the scales and hide with her claws. When he completed his climb, she stretched out her wings and called the air.

She released her grip and flew, at first tumbling end over end before she got the rhythm of flight.

Terric flew alongside her, stroke for stroke. When she gained altitude, he came to her and tangled his claws with hers before he joined their bodies. They fell together, locked in an intimate embrace until a burst of energy shook the heavens.

They parted a hundred metres from the ground, and their wings carried them up and away from the ocean beneath them.

It seemed the society had the good sense to put their headquarters on an island, which meant there was little chance that the first dance of the dragon and the phoenix had been seen.

To her surprise, he brought her to Hotel Spectre.

They arrived on the grounds and attendants came out with robes and wraps for them. It was nice to be in a place that knew how to treat a shifter.

Elly staggered when she was back on human feet. For a while, she didn’t think she could do it. “Well, I have never dive-bombed a Japanese fishing vessel before, but I guess there is a first for everything.”

“You have just reawakened the myth of the phoenix. Congratulations.” He chuckled and put his arm around her.

“I guess I should have used a concealment charm, right?” It was a standard charm that all flying shifters learned. She had never needed to know it before.

“Yes, but that can come in time. I can teach you.”

She shook her hair over one shoulder, and sure enough, she had navy blue replacing her normal locks. Silver streaks ran through it but in horizontal waves, not vertical.

“Do I look horrible?”

“You look beautiful, Elly. Now, let’s sign in.”

The desk was well attended, and the moment that Terric appeared, they nodded briskly. “Lord Dragon. Welcome once again to Hotel Spectre.”

“Thank you. This is the Lady Phoenix. She will be sharing quarters with me.”

“Of course.” The attendant nodded briskly and handed a book over to Terric. “Sign in please.”

Terric signed in and handed the book to Elly. When she signed, the letters reformed and changed into a glittering blue silver. Lady Phoenix – Eilinora Dyanhart.

They were given their room keys, and the request to be notified when Mistress Galfor arrived was filed. Terric escorted her to the elevator and up to their floor.

She was nervous. Their mythical bodies may have had a moment in the sky, but Elly had never been this close to a male with only a thin layer of fabric between them.

Once they were in the opulent suite, he turned to her. “How are you feeling?”

“Fine. A little naked but otherwise fine. Did we already…”

“No, not quite. We mingled magics, for lack of a better term. That just happened to take place over the ocean.”

“Oh. Good. I would hate to think that we had sex and I didn’t know.” She tried to keep a straight face, but she giggled at his expression.

He wrinkled his nose and closed the distance between them. “I promise you will be aware of it when it happens.”

She kissed him quickly, wrapping her arms around him; the feeling of being unfettered by clothing beyond the robes was a sensual treat in itself.

He had just slid his hand to her collarbone and was beginning to part her robe when there was a knock at the door.

“I ordered something for you. The first shift is hell on the system.”

Elly laughed, “You have a thing for food.”

“A well-fed dragon need never raid a village. That is what my mother always said. Of course, she died raiding a village.” He shrugged and opened the door, inviting in the invisible delivery personnel of the hotel.

Elly had stayed at the hotel before, but having ghosts with enough power for table service was quite a feat. The management of the hotel was exceptionally powerful.

When the table in the suite had the contents of the cart, the delivery staff whisked themselves and the cart out the door.

The scent of food pulled her to the dining table, and she grinned when she saw the football-style feast. Wings, pizza, nachos, a vegetable platter and soda took up the table.

“Wow. This is impressive.”

“I thought you would enjoy something a bit more casual today. If Mistress Galfor arrives, this might be your only chance at a filling meal. Get eating.”

“Yes, Terric the Black, lord of all dragons, the dragon.” She rattled off as many titles as she knew.

“I am also lord of the stones, minister of shadows and walker between worlds.”

“Fancy.” She picked up a slice of pizza in one hand and a chicken wing in the other.

“Indeed. I have a question for you. Well, several questions. The first is do you know that pixie?”

“Sure, she keeps following me around, ever since my cousin’s wedding. She pops up now and then, but she seems very friendly.”

“That she is. She led us to you and gave us entry coordinates so we wouldn’t smash together. Very smart little creature.”

“Well, she is a Nexus creation, and the Nexus made them all different. Perhaps this little one just decided that it liked me.”

“It does that. She was very panicked until we said we would follow.”

As if thinking about her summoned her, the pixie popped into the air next to Elly, and immediately, she wrapped herself in the newly blue hair making happy noises.

“That settles that. What was the other question?”

“Oh, how did you gain control of the arena?”

“I took their air. All of it. I gave them just enough to keep them alive, but I drained most of the oxygen out of it. I am or was an air mage, after all.”

“But why couldn’t your father subdue you?”

“Because he learned enough to be a bully and stopped. I learned what I needed for control and kept going.”

“Excellent. Your father will be up on trial, but as you were their sole target and they weren’t able to capture you properly, I believe he will be let go.”

“Well, I am going to force him into divorcing mom so she can get on with her life. It should only take a little bit of torture to get him to agree.”

She continued to mutter and eat, but by the time she had scrubbed her hands, washed her face and flossed, Mistress Galfor was at the door, ready for battle.

Chapter Eight

Three weeks later, Elly was ready to leave her mother’s home and join with Terric officially. She was set to begin running the corporate-training branch of Black Dragon Enterprises, and her department was increasing the ability of paranormals to blend in with humans. The business plan would kick in right after the honeymoon.

She refused to share Terric’s bed out of formalized mating. Of course, their animal forms could still engage in some mid-flight interaction but that was an instinct. They were drawn to each other in their flying forms. She could hold onto her self-control as a human…barely.

Mistress Galfor had pulled out all the stops. Elly had a full trousseau of fireproof clothing, including her wedding gown. With the Nexus’s wedding in the past, there was plenty of time for Galfor to put her four arms to work.

Hotel Spectre was honoured to be hosting the nuptials. They had arranged the catering, the transport and the music for a party that happened only once in several lifetimes.

It wasn’t as rare as the wedding of a Nexus, but it was the first time that the phoenix had negotiated a separate room until the wedding night.

The morning of the wedding, Elly wasn’t nearly as nervous as she imagined she would be. It was simple; she was too tired.

The phoenix had to be married during the three phases of the sun. That meant wearing her dress for a predawn walk into sunrise and that meant having a goblin lace her into a formal gown at four in the morning.

Elly yawned against the lacing.

“Keep still, Elly. I am trying to get an even lacing here.”

“Sorry, Galfor. Even when I had to work for a living, this was a little early for me.”

“Well, this is my revenge for you forcing me to throw out my design pallet and start again. Blue and silver. What self-respecting phoenix was ever imagined in blue and silver?”

“I know. I am a disgrace, but in my defense, I can say that from the records I have seen, I am the only one to go from air mage to flying fireball.”

Galfor patted her spine. “Fair enough. Tualion speaks very highly of you, by the way, and it is very hard to earn my cousin’s respect.”

“He’s a trooper. He drives like a swan.”

Galfor laughed. “His mastery of human technology is his true pride. He has limited magic but excellent hand-eye coordination.”

Elly couldn’t disagree.

Talinora and her mother were already dressed and having coffee and croissants at the table of her suite. “Are you sure that the dress will stand up to fire, Mistress Galfor?”

Elly smiled. “We have tested it, Tali. This is the third gown and the only survivor.”

Andora grinned, “Trust the professionals, Tali. Mind you, at this point, Terric will have her butt naked in the middle of an open field.”

Elly felt her face heat, but the sentiment was true. Dragons had a lot of patience, but he was at the edge of his. After all the waiting, he was done.

A knock on the door brought them to attention. “Ladies, it is time.”

Tali opened the door, and Tualion was there, wearing Terric’s colours. As the phoenix, it was up to Elly to gain her own bondservants but that would come as she grew into her new status.

Elly smiled and kissed Galfor on the cheek. “Thank you for your efforts on my behalf.”

“Thank you for the orb. It has purchased a wardrobe for five decades. By that time, I believe you will be firmly in your position.”

An orb of phoenix fire had been enough magic to purchase Galfor’s services on Elly’s own account. It had driven Terric a little crazy to find that she was giving away some of her magic, but it was hers to give away as she pleased.

The transformation power of a phoenix was legendary, and if Galfor kept the orb, it would rejuvenate her over the coming decades or possibly even centuries.

“Let’s head out then, ladies. Time is wasting.”

Their party headed out and into the elevator, guarded by Tualion.

Elly was wearing a white gown with a six-foot train embroidered with flames and feathers in a satin stitch.

Galfor was behind her, defending the honour of her pristine gown.

When they emerged on the main floor and headed toward the garden, Elly was shocked at how many folk had come for the open invitation. Several cell phones snapped a picture of her, but with the pendant hanging inside her bodice, she looked like any other bride anywhere in the world.

She laughed as the Oak Point Guard appeared in her vision. Even Seesee Montrose had brought her little girl along to watch the wedding. Tiny Gaia was rubbing her small eyes with her fists.

Abby and Xander were seated on her side of the aisle and the scarier creatures from Terric’s family were on the other side. Elly followed her mother and sister up the aisle toward her dragon, and when she joined him, she looked over their invited guests in the seats. They were the new generation on her side and the oldest generations on his. It was yet another point to their balance.

Terric took her hands, and they stood as the sun bathed them in the dawning light. “Together at last, Eilinora.”

“Together at last, Terric.” She smiled and leaned up on her toes to kiss him as the full impact of the rising sun struck her. Her skin caught fire, and it spread out in a wave, billowing down her back and extending her train down the aisle, a carpet of fire and magic that did not burn.

When the flame faded, she broke the kiss and smiled. “See you in six hours. Be here or be hunted down by a firebird.”

“While that sounds like fun, I will be here.”

They went their separate ways, each being congratulated by their family and friends.

Abby smiled brightly. “I am so glad that you stopped running, Eilinora.”

“I wasn’t running, I was hiding. The transformation wasn’t something I was prepared for and have you seen Terric? I can deal with him in shifted form, but he is a little overwhelming to invite into my bed.”

Abby laughed and gave her a hug. “It will all work out. Speaking of, what happened to your father?”

“He and the rest of the society are under tracking arrest. If they come within two hundred yards of me, they will pass out.”

“Nice.”

“Not really. They wanted to stop the process, but the moment that I met Terric, it was irreversible. The only way to stop a phoenix rising is to find her before she meets her dragon.”

“And you had already met him.”

“I bumped into him years ago at an event here at the hotel. After that, the fire started, and it has been growing ever since.”

“Are you happy with the way things have turned out?”

Grinning, she looked around at the gathering filling the grounds and hotel. “They aren’t done turning yet.”

Abby smiled, “So, how are you dealing with the day-long ceremonies?”

“I am used to them. Unlike you, I came into this from the paranormal society. I didn’t have to learn it all from scratch, though I am mystified to still have my air-mage skills.”

“Wow, you got to keep them?”

“Apparently.” She shrugged and suffered Galfor putting a giant bib on her to protect the dress while she had breakfast.

Abby stayed with her during the meal, and Talinora was delighted to meet the most powerful woman in their generation. Andora was star struck and delighted that her daughter’s new status was giving her a boost up the social ladder with the matrons of the high families.

The noon ceremony was simple. They faced each other, held hands and Terric kissed her while she burst into flame once again. She heard gasps in the crowd and laughed when the flame faded. This time, they retreated from the podium arm in arm, off for a garden party and luncheon.

There was dancing, laughter and the hotel staff was scrambling to keep up with the demand. They managed, but Elly noted the stress on their faces.

When they walked to the podium for the final ceremony, Elly felt a lightness in her heart. This was the purpose to her transformation. Light and dark, feminine and masculine, phoenix and dragon.

They met together in this kiss just as the blaze of the setting sun struck them. She felt her beast body flare out behind her and felt the waves of power from Terric.

She heard gasps in the guests and murmurs as their kiss continued until her fire covered him and his covered her.

He nipped at her lips and smiled. “It’s done. I am yours.”

“Now, dearest Terric, what am I going to do with you?”

He grinned, his suit tore and he lifted her in his arms, flying into the air and heading for the honeymoon suite at Hotel Spectre.

* * * *

Talinora sat at the head table, and when the burst of energy above them informed one and all that the phoenix had her dragon at long last, she laughed and raised her glass in a toast to the happy couple.

Andora had her pottery studio up and running, and Talinora had enrolled to complete her courses in business management. Terric had already offered her a job when she graduated.

The party was in full swing, and the amount of magical energy in the room was incredible. A pile of gifts, fifteen-feet high, swayed in the corner and waited for the phoenix and dragon to open them.

It was a good start for her sister. A new start. Talinora looked around at the people that had fallen over themselves to make introductions tonight and a few that had always been there for her. It made a difference to know that some of her friends had liked her when they were outcast mages and still were willing to be at her side now that her sister was a mythical creature.

The phoenix may have risen from the ashes, but it was her family that was getting a new start.

* * * *

At midnight, those who remained at the party looked up to see a streak of fire and a dark shadow playing tag in the sky. The streak of fire was faster, but she always let the shadow catch her.

After all, it was only fair to keep the balance.

Author’s Note

At long last, Courting the Phoenix is complete. You can guess at what they were up to in their rooms, but that is left to your imagination.

The dragon and phoenix have always been images of air and fire, water and earth. The balance that they affected caused a ripple of prosperity to all around them. Now, with the Nexus involved, this ushers in a golden age for all in the world of the Nexus chronicles. Balance and power and love, oh my.

Thanks for reading,

Viola Grace

http://www.violagrace.com

viola@violagrace.com

About the Author

Viola Grace was born in Manitoba, Canada where she still resides today. She really likes it there. She has no pets and can barely keep sea monkeys alive for a reasonable amount of time. Her line of day job tends to be analytical which leaves her mind hopping to weave stories. No co-worker is safe from her character analysis. In keeping with busy hands are happy hands, her hobbies have included cross-stitch, needlepoint, quilting, costuming, cake decorating, baking, cooking, metal work, beading, sculpting, painting, doll making, henna tattoos, chain mail, and a few others that have been forgotten. It is quite often that these hobbies make their way into her tales.

Viola’s fetishes include boots and corsetry, and her greatest weakness is her uncontrollable blush. Her writing actively pursues the Happily Ever After that so rarely occurs in nature. It is an admirable thing and something that we should all strive for. To find one that we truly like, as well as love.