Stone of Ascension (35 page)

How? Impossible. Unbelievable.

But real.

Damian struggled free from Louk’s slackening hold and stepped forward. The bird tipped its head and held his gaze, the golden eyes snagging his heart and stealing his breath.

Amber
.

The bird tossed its head back and opened its beak to release a piercing call of joy before it shot off into the sky, gold and violet flames streaking behind it. A single flap of its large wings had it lifting higher before it turned and coasted over the beach.

Stunning.

Joy leapt through Damian as he gloried in the gift.

Laughter tilted through his head in unison with the high, lilting call of the bird from above. Freedom. The feeling radiated through him as Amber continued to soar above the stunned occupants of the beach. For yet another time that night, everyone watched in awe and amazement as a legendary animal coasted over them.

A white phoenix, the bird so easy to identify now.

In three large running steps, Damian leapt, shifted, and soared into the night to meet her.

Laughter bubbled in her throat, the freedom exhilarating. The night air stroked through her feathers, light touches of love and welcome. Of belonging. Amber laughed, the sound coming out as the high, tilting cry of a bird.

Her. A phoenix.

She tilted her wings, gave a flap and soared in a low, graceful glide over the beach below. Her eyes sought out Damian, the man who had sacrificed so much for her. She’d felt his pain, the complete anguish that had consumed him when he’d accepted what he needed to do.

What he did do.

Ultimately, his sacrifice had saved her. But he hadn’t known that.

Her keen eyes searched the beach; she needed to find Damian. To explain. But he wasn’t down there.

Damian
? She called out to him, doubt creeping into her voice.

Here
, he answered, strong and steady.
Beside you.

A harsh flap of wings cut through the air, and Amber turned her head to see Damian soaring next to her. He was power and grace blended into one stunning form.

Always
, she answered, positive that would forever be true.

In unison, the connection so strong it was like there was a literal bond holding them together, they gave one more flap of their wings before they turned, circled, then coasted back to the beach.

They landed in the middle of the ring of Energens, exactly where she had burned just minutes before. Only now, not even the sand was darkened to mark the event. Her talons touched down in the sand as she curled her wings to her sides. She didn’t shift immediately, but instead waited for Damian, pulling from his energy.

Next to him, she was still small, her head barely reaching his shoulders. Around them, the people watched and waited.

Damian dropped his head and shuffled his feet. His gaze scanned the circle, seeking what, she didn’t know. Then his wings expanded to tuck around her, pulling her close to his warm scales.

He lifted his head, a regal declaration as he lifted one of his five-toed claws into the air and let out a mighty, flaming roar. A chill of possessiveness and pride ruffled her feathers and expanded her chest.

This man, this dragon, was hers.

How? She didn’t know. But she wasn’t going to question it anymore.

Slowly, the men before them bowed their heads and dropped to a knee in a formal bow of reverence. She recognized one of them as the man who had met them at the door of the farmhouse, which now seemed like eons ago. She watched, stunned and overwhelmed as their actions were copied and repeated in a successive wave of deference until the entire circle was kneeling in supplication to them.

The dragon and the phoenix.

Damian’s amazement matched her own. But within him, she felt a quiet thread of homecoming, understanding and forgiveness.

His head turned to her and together, they shifted. The second her body formed, she was in Damian’s arms. His embrace crushed her to his chest, then his mouth was on hers. Hot, claiming and more than welcomed.

His hands laced into her hair before he slowly pulled back to stare into her eyes.

“How?” he whispered, the wonder expressed on his face as he absorbed her features.

She understood what he was feeling because it matched her own. “I don’t know,” she answered. “The energy encompassed me when your flames hit. I could feel the heat, the sizzle of the fire as it joined with me, but there was no pain. And inside me, the energy flared, ignited by the flames. The stone came to life and for a time, I became one with the fire.” She caressed his cheek, the stubble rough and comforting under her fingertips. “Then I found the bird. And I understood what I could do. What I could be.”

His hands touched her as his eyes followed, skimming over her as if he was checking to see if she was whole, real. Somehow, she was completely unhurt. Not even her hair was singed. The fire had rejuvenated her instead of killing her. Even her clothing had returned, unmarked, when she’d shifted back.

His hands slid to her hair, and he tipped his head to rest his forehead against hers. “Don’t
ever
scare me like that again.” His breath brushed warm across her cheeks and lips.

She smiled. “Never.”

She felt his sigh of relief under her hands as they caressed his chest and in her heart where his energy was joined with hers. It was then that their animals rejoiced, the dragon once again curling around the phoenix in a jubilant embrace for the return of its mate.

The energy settled around them, a contented exhale at what should be.

Damian grasped her hand and together they turned to face the men who’d first knelt down to them. His energy flowed openly through their joined hands, a vital piece of who she now was.

The stone was warm against her chest, but for the first time ever, it was absorbing the energy—their united energy—instead of giving energy. She could feel the difference even if she didn’t understand the reason. Like so many things now, understanding wasn’t a qualification for accepting.

“Look,” Damian said, tugging lightly on her hand as he tipped his chin upward. “On the cliffs.”

She lifted her gaze, her hand clenching around Damian’s, astonished at the sight that met her. There, high on the Aquinnah Cliffs that overlooked Moshup Beach, the moonlight shone down on a long line of people as they stood silently watching the events below.

Her people.

Recognition drummed withinin her even if the faces were hidden in shadow.

In the middle, holding a long staff topped with feathers, was the Wampanoag shaman, Joseph. Flanking him on each side were Kayla and Aunt Beverly.

“How?” Amber whispered, knowing the answer would not come. Her free hand shook as she lifted it to rest against her lips. “Did they know?”

“Does it matter?” Damian asked.

Slowly, in virtual duplication of the Energen forces just moments ago, Joseph, Kayla and her aunt dropped to a knee and bowed their heads. In a rippled domino effect, the people down both sides of the line followed until the entire mass of people on the cliffs were kneeling in respect to them as well.

“Wow,” she said under her breath. Her heart beat hard and demanding at the impact of the simple show of respect. She now understood what Damian had felt.

Finally, after years of ridicule and scorn, she was accepted by her people for who she was. Even though it shouldn’t matter, it meant so much.

Tears formed, blurring the image before her even as her shoulders pulled back and her chin lifted in pride. “Now what?”

In apparent answer to her question, Joseph rose, raised his staff high, then turned and walked away. Her aunt rose next, lifted her hand in a silent wave, then followed Joseph away from the cliff’s edge. All down the line, the people of the Wampanoag tribe stood and followed suit until once again, the cliffs were empty.

At that moment, the wind gusted off the water to blow across the beach and over the cliffs, the long grass that edged the top waving silently in the emptiness.

“Rise,” Damian commanded to the men before them, the authority in his voice leaving no doubt of his position. The four men in front rose, each one lifting their heads to meet Damian’s gaze. All of them were covered in blood from the battle, their clothing torn and battered from their efforts to protect her.

The man in middle, the one from the house, stepped forward. His voice was deep and full of respect when he spoke.

“Damian, it is time for you to come home.”

Chapter Twenty-Six

Damian inhaled, his chest expanding with warm air and pride. But more, it was filled with the long-awaited relief of coming home.

The scent of jasmine and honeysuckle blended in the night air and settled into the warm spring breeze that drifted inside the walls of the Energen compound. The constant temperature that persisted within the city was a benefit of the race’s abilities to control the energy and elements. It was a benefit that he’d missed along with so many other things.

In the open courtyard where they’d been brought stood the formidable line of Energen elders. The Heads of the Houses of Air, Fire, Water, Earth and Spirit. The same people who had accused and crucified Amber and him so recently.

Amber gripped his hand, a lifeline he would never let go. It was because of her that he was now home.

“You good?” she asked softly, even though she was the one who was completely out of her element.

He gave a tight smile and a short nod. “With you, yes.”

Cronus, the Ancient of the enclave, stepped forward, his hands spread wide and open, a large smile of welcome lighting his lined face. “Damian. Amber. Welcome home.”

Damian stiffened, but held his features placid. He wanted to believe the welcome was true and heartfelt. “That is quite a change from yesterday.”

I am sorry for all that you had to endure, Damian
. Cronus’s words drifted into his mind.

Giving away nothing, Damian responded in kind.
And you knew all along? You were in on it all?

The elder dropped his hands, his eyes narrowing slightly.
The new power sits well on you
. He turned to Amber. “I apologize for my actions yesterday. Unfortunately, it was a necessary move to test your path. The Marked One has chosen the light and for that, we are forever grateful. Welcome to our world, Amber.”

Amber lifted her chin and gave a tight smile in response. Damian squeezed her hand, a private signal of approval. She was so beautiful standing there, proud and regal after all she’d been through. All she’d accepted and overcome so quickly with a grace that stunned him to his soul.

Your strength amazes me
, he told her silently.

As does yours
, she replied.

Cronus stepped forward and stared pointedly at Damian’s hand, the one that bore their mark—the intertwined white dragon and phoenix. “It is as the saying goes: when the dragon soars with the phoenix at his side, the people will enjoy happiness for years, bringing peace and tranquility to all in the energy.”

“I’ve never heard that saying,” Damian mused, his eyes narrowing at the truth of what Cronus was saying.

The Ancient looked up, the countless years of knowledge and wisdom sparking in his eyes. “It is a very old Chinese saying that has long been twisted to mean something different than its original intent. Like so many things, Gog persuaded and enflamed a belief that was far from the truth. But that is his gift, his deadly skill that has incited strife and war for more years than we can comprehend. The Slanderer, The Oppressor—names for Gog that fit because that is what he does.”

“But we can change that?” Amber asked, her voice a solid cord in the thread of doubt that wound around Damian.

Cronus smiled, a gentle easing of respect and understanding. “The two of you are our best hope of finding peace once again. The balance is tipping. Too much in either direction will cause an imbalance that can never be righted. The dragon and phoenix united in our lead will correct the course and keep us steady.”

The elder’s face sobered before he continued. “The time has come for you to ascend, Damian.” Cronus turned and pointed to the long set of stairs that rose majestically into the night sky. “Last night, these rose from the ground when you joined with Amber. A sign to us that our king is ready to rise.”

The elder turned back to face them. “Your sacrifice has been for a reason. You have proven yourself loyal and strong. And now, with your mate by your side, you must rise to lead our battle against The Oppressor. For soon, Gog will be free.”

“Why?” Damian’s question echoed through the courtyard, the small group of people cringing at the hardness of his voice. “After all I have been forced to endure, why?”

“Louk and Airiana were the catalyst,” Cronus explained. “The Two that came together despite the odds against it. With them, the dragon woke, but they also brought proof that the mighty winged dragons still existed.” Cronus crooked his fingers, and Louk stepped forward from his position behind them. At Louk’s side was a tall woman with a striking blend of Asian and Caucasian features. Damian assumed she was the Shifter the other Ancient had referred to and thus Louk’s mate.