Authors: Carina Wilder

Tags: #Fiction, #Romance, #Fantasy, #Paranormal

Phoenix Reborn (13 page)

She was frightened of death. But inside her, pure joy. At last, she knew that she had nothing else to fear. She was the commander of her body, of her own destiny. And never again would she fear the world or its inhabitants. Never again would she fear herself.

Seeing that she’d rendered herself vulnerable, the vulture threw open his wings, preparing for another attack.

But he didn’t see the Eagle as it shot from the sky, a missile on a rapid path to collide with the Vulture from above. As it hit, the Vulture smashed to the ground with a brutal force. He twisted his head, trying to spew his weapon at Hawke, but the Eagle had his talons around the other bird’s long throat, twisting it, squeezing the life out of him.

“Hawke,” cried Ashling. “Don’t. Please don’t kill him.”

He wanted to, though. With everything in him, the Golden Eagle shifter wanted to tear the creature’s head off, to leave him to rot in the woods. This…thing…had threatened the woman he’d grown to adore. The most innocent, kindest woman he’d ever known. This was a creature of pure evil, of cruelty and malice. He had no place in this world.

He twisted again, feeling the Vulture’s bones begin to give way under his grasp.

“Stop,” said a commanding voice from within the woods.

Ranach stepped out, approaching the two birds, who were still bound in battle. He extended his right hand towards them, unafraid. Mumbling words that Ashling didn’t understand as he pressed his fingertips towards the Vulture’s face.

A moment later, Hawke released the creature as though he himself were under Ranach’s spell, allowing the other shifter to shake its ugly head before flying off, unsteady and awkward, seemingly oblivious to his injuries.

“What happened?” asked Ashling, stepping towards Hawke. “Why is he leaving?”

“You’re safe now,” Ranach said, even as Hawke shifted, his breath heavy in his chest.

“Are you all right?” Ashling asked, draping him in her jacket.

“I don’t know,” said Hawke. “I can’t…remember…”

“I set a spell on the Vulture,” said Ranach. “He will go back to his home, away from here. He will forget this place exists, and that you do, Ashling. He will forget what you are, if not what
he
is.”

“Has Hawke forgotten?” she asked, staring at the man who’d taken possession of her heart.

“No,” Hawke said, turning to her, his eyes seeming to clear. “I — for a moment I was confused, like something was clouding my mind. But I could never forget what you mean to me. Never.”

“Hawke will be just fine. And I’ll leave you two alone,” said Ranach, seeing the way that the two young people were looking at one another. He handed the Eagle shifter a bag that he’d been transporting. “Here are some clothes, young man. I wish you all the best. I think you’ll find at last that your lives can start. Together, I hope.”

He raised his right eyebrow, inquisitive, but not seeking a verbal answer.

Ashling turned to him. “Thank you, Ranach,” she said, embracing him hard. “For everything you’ve done. It’s inadequate to try and put it into simple words.”

“I’ve done all sorts of things, all of them selfish. If I hadn’t, after all, I wouldn’t have had you around all these years. Much as I hate to lose you, Ashling, I cannot tell you what joy I derive from seeing you happy.”

He smiled warmly and turned away. Ashling and Hawke watched him go, and with each step the wizard seemed to fade until he’d disappeared entirely into the woods.

“It’s true,” said Ashling, turning back to Hawke. “All my life he and others have looked out for me, and I didn’t even know it; I didn’t fully appreciate it. I’m the most fortunate woman who ever lived, I think.”

“You’ve deserved to be protected, Ashling.” Hawke took a step towards her, a hand going to her waist. “And I wish that I could have done more all these years, instead of trying to conceal from you what I was — what I am.”

“
Perfect
, you mean?” She smiled up at him.

He laughed. “Hardly. But you and I are cut from the same cloth. I only wish you’d always known, as I did, how entwined our fates were.”

“I don’t resent you for it, you know. I understand. You were protecting me as well as yourself, just as Ranach was. From people like that shifter. And from myself.”

“I think you’ll find that the town of Woodland Creek looks quite different to your eyes, now that you know about our kind. You’ll see how well you fit in.”

“In Woodland Creek,” she said. “And you…in New York.”

“New York? Maybe not. Do you remember when you asked me what might make me stay?” he asked, his eyes fixed on hers.

“Yes.”

“Do you remember my answer?”

“Yes.”

“Show me.”

N
ew York City was everything Ashling had expected and more: giant skyscrapers, a perpetually frenetic pace, people running about as though their hair were on fire.

Among its inhabitants she didn’t see the shifter population that she was now aware of in Woodland Creek. It seemed that shifters stayed away from Manhattan.

But she would always recall the day when Hawke had taken her around her hometown and pointed out how many inhabited the streets where she roamed so frequently.

“Over there, window-shopping,” he’d said.

Ashling had looked over to see a person — one that she’d always assumed was
normal
— and now she could see. The differences, the subtle variation in movement, in alertness.

In the days that followed, when she and Hawke weren’t staying in bed late to make love or to talk about their future together, they wandered the streets. The Demon Run, an autumn tradition in the town, was in full swing by now. So occasionally a costumed inhabitant would zip past them, dressed in a menacing mask.

But no demons frightened Ashling now. She was at peace. It felt at times as though she’d been issued a new life, offered a rebirth of sorts in a body that finally made sense. She was powerful, strong and all the more so for the man who stood by her side. The man who offered her love without condition.

And now they were in his New York apartment, packing up his things.

“Are you sure about this?” she asked. “This is your home.”

Hawke turned to her. “You’re my home,” he said, grabbing her by the waist as she let out a surprised yelp. “I’ll go where you are. I have no attachment to an apartment that costs far too much money. Besides, in Woodland Creek I can fly. Here I worry that I’ll get shot for less.”

“Well, I’m happy if you are. You know that,” she said, giving him quiet pecks on the cheek. “But it seems odd for a movie star to take up residence in such a small town.”

“All the clever movie stars do it. Especially the shifters.”

“There are other shifter stars?”

Hawke leaned in and whispered something in her ear, causing her eyes to go wide.

“Really?
And
her husband?”

Hawke nodded knowingly.

“Well, well,” said Ashling. “Isn’t that interesting.”

“Not nearly as interesting as you. Now tell me again why you’re not naked?”

“Because you told me someone’s coming over and in my experience, greeting guests while nude is considered gauche.”

“Oh, right. Damn, I hate societal restrictions.”

Just then, the buzzer for the building’s front door sounded. Hawke sprang over and pressed the button, saying, “Come on up,” before the person on the other end was able to speak.

“So you’re not going to tell me what kind of pizza we’re getting?”

“Nope.”

“Fine, then.” Ashling continued milling around, looking for items that she could pack up. “Is this…” she began, but when she turned she saw that Hawke was occupied.

He’d opened the apartment’s door. In its frame stood a man, wearing a suit and tie. He handed Hawke a small white envelope.

“Here’s what you asked for,” he said.

“Thanks, Mike. For everything.”

“No problem. I hope it helps.”

The man turned and left without ceremony, and Hawke closed the door.

“Who was that?” asked Ashling.

“A friend,” said Hawke. “He brought us something.”

“I can see that. Are you going to open it?”

“Well, it’s really for you.” He handed it to her.

Ashling opened it slowly. It wasn’t an engagement ring; of that she was certain. So why the secrecy?

Inside she found folded a sheet of paper, inscribed with the words:

Matthew and Evangeline Jones

106 Dufferin Crescent

Bradbury, California.

“Is this — is this what I think it is?” Ashling asked.

Hawke nodded, apprehension engraved on his face. “Don’t be angry with me,” he said. “I thought you should know. You never have to contact them, if you don’t want to.”

Ashling put the envelope down and laid her hands on Hawke’s face.

“I’m not angry. And I don’t know what the future holds. I don’t know if I should ever go to them. But thank you for giving me the choice.”

“You’re welcome.” He kissed her. “As for the future — I see a farm, with sprawling fields. And I see frequent reports of fiery comet sightings above Woodland Creek.”

“Oddly enough, the fiery comet will always be accompanied by a beautiful Golden Eagle.”

“A Golden Eagle who loves that comet more than anything in the world.”

The Woodland Creek Series

Woodland Creek Series.

30 Authors. 30 Shifter Stories.

One Epic Release Day.

www.woodlandcreekseries.com

About the Author

Carina Wilder the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Sought by the Alphas, Seeking her Mates, Wolf Rock Shifters and The Seekers series. Her latest project is called Plenty of Shift, a Choose Your Own Romance Paranormal series.