Blaze of Wrath (Phoenix Rising Book 5) Read online

  “Have you picked a side yet?” Joshua queried, directing his question to Nix. She shook her head without moving from my embrace.

  “We’re in the dark as much as you are,” she admitted.

  He scowled. “You risked your life and you didn’t even know what they wanted?”

  I glowered at him. “We know the Council wants Nix separated from us. We know their abhorrent treatment of all shifters. We know if they aren’t removed from power, there’s no place we could run to where we would ever truly be safe. And we know we can’t take them on by ourselves,” I argued, listing off every point as I glared at him for second guessing us. “No, it isn’t ideal, but it’s better than us fighting this damn war on our own and getting our mate killed. What good did pushing the issue do?” My words were nearly a scream now and Nix stroked soothing, long caresses across my neck and back.

  Joshua slowly nodded and focused back on Ciarán. “So, what is the point of each of these? And where do you belong?”

  “I think I’d rather you guess that,” Ciarán began, “after I tell you about each of them.” He sobered again, taking all of us in. “No single faction is perfect. There are selfish desires and bitter feuds within them. This is no fairy-tale fantasy, it is a war with deadly stakes. Even if you do not agree with a faction, we still need their support, and they have a reason for feeling the way they do. I do not tell you this lightly, and it took much convincing for the others to allow me to bring this to your attention.” He focused on Nix with a soft smile. “They have noticed your tender heart, little sister, and worried you would focus too much on the factions themselves rather than our main objective. I was among those who voted for you, who wanted you to have the whole picture—don’t prove me wrong.”

  He settled onto the floor, his legs crossed as he leaned against the wall so he had a view of both us and the door. Though he looked lazy and idle, I knew it was a farce—if any threat approached, he would be moving in an instant. “First, Faction Malachite. They approve of the current system. To put it simply, they want a change in leadership. Once the Council is ousted, their goal is to select new Council members in their place. Victoria is the head of that faction.”

  He shifted, pulling a string from his pocket, and began to play an interweaving string game as he spoke, causing Killian to groan, his embarrassment clear as he watched his brother. “Faction Topaz seeks equalization—they want to see a world where there are no classes, and mythologicals and animals are on the same level. Their leader is Valleria.” He glanced up from his string, ensuring our focus was on him, before continuing, “Faction Amber is next. Amber is mostly comprised of non-mythological shifters. They want to institute a government of non-mythologicals, insistent that they have been seen as lesser for far too long.”

  “Only non-mythologicals?” Theo interrupted. “That’s slightly illogical. They may outnumber us, but we outpower them. How do they expect to receive support?”

  Ciarán shrugged. “There are many motivations, each as individual as the shifter who holds them. Some prefer it because they’ve grown up in communes of mostly animal shifters. That’s their family and they won’t separate themselves.” Though his hands didn’t still, he added, “Finally, there is Faction Opal.”

  “Why do I get the feeling this is the one we really won’t like?” Nix murmured quietly, nerves keeping her body tense against my own as she watched Ciarán’s play of relaxation. He kept his eyes trained on the string in front of him, not meeting our eyes now.

  “Faction Opal is made of those who were most abused by the current system. They are a small subset of Faction Amber, but they have more power than many would prefer. They want to see mythologicals stripped of their powers completely, equalized to prevent anyone like the current Councilmen from ever taking over again.”

  “How is that possible?” Nix breathed in horror.

  “Different kinds of poisons, or the use of people like Zanoah,” Theo answered, his voice dark. “It isn’t pretty. In most cases, it strips a mythological of their ability to shift altogether, preventing them from ever being fully whole.”

  “Why would any mythological want that?” Killian inquired with a grimace.

  “Because some mythologicals hate their creatures.” It was Joshua who spoke now, surprising me with his quiet gravity. “They’re feared or considered weak, so they spend their time alone or amongst the lower classes. Even there they aren’t accepted, they’re the lowest of the low.”

  Nix turned her face back into my neck, a shudder working through her. “Now that I have my Phoenix, I can’t imagine losing her. It’d be like losing my arms or legs.” Panic was clear in her voice.

  “We won’t let that happen, mikró pouláki,” Ryder assured her, stroking down her leg with a soft touch. “I doubt they have much support.”

  Ciarán grimaced. “They have more than you’d like, I’ll tell you that.”

  “I’d assume it’s safe to say that’s not the faction you’re part of,” Hiro stated dryly, and Ciarán inclined his head in agreement.

  “I do not wish to lose my powers, nor my alter, selfish as that may seem to them. It does not mean I don’t understand their motivations,” he explained. He cocked his head to the side suddenly, grinning at the door. “Damien, dear, you may wish to relinquish your prize for the moment if you do not want to be caught in a compromising position.” He fluttered his eyelashes at us. “It seems you will have a visitor.”

  Theo swore, just as the perimeter alarm rang out on their phones. “Stop messing with my alarms,” he snarled, glaring pointedly at Ciarán.

  “Mess with them? Me?” Ciarán adopted a mournful expression. “You wound me.”

  I slid Nix off my lap before striding over to pull the door open as my grandfather’s car pulled up outside of the house. “Damien!” he called with a smile. “Good to see you, boy. I take it you have visitors?” He nodded to Joshua’s car and I pasted on my company smile, the political mask I had perfected.

  “Yes, sir. Nix is waiting for you.” I led him inside, where most of the others had scattered. Only Nix, Joshua, Theo, and, surprisingly, Ciarán, remained gathered together. Grandfather arched a brow as he took in the motley gathering.

  “Well, I must say, this is an unusual way of meeting with potential suitors, young lady.” He gestured at the men surrounding Nix on all sides. “I assume you’re acting as chaperone?” He shot me a bland look and I merely nodded, settling myself on a surrounding chair. Someone had had enough foresight to whip out a board game, settling it between the four of them, though I was sure my grandfather wasn’t fooled in the slightest.

  “Gaspard, it’s good to see you,” Nix greeted with a blush, rising to greet him.

  “Settle down, girl, settle down. As I doubt any of your bodyguards are willing to leave you…” He trailed off, watching as Ciarán and Theo moved pieces about the board while I settled deeper into my chair, before flicking a glance at Joshua who only offered a polite smile. He sighed, settling himself onto the couch. “Let us dispense with games for a moment while I speak with you. If you wish for anyone to leave the room, command them to do so now, they will not disobey.”

  The color in her cheeks deepened as Nix shook her head. “No, it’s fine. They-they can all stay.” Grandfather’s brows shot up as he glanced at Joshua, though as fast as the expression was there, it slid away. “The Council is pushing. Since your situation is rather unique in nature, they want to see more of a commitment from you. They want you to have chosen a mate by the start of the New Year.” We all drew in breaths of shock at the sudden announcement, and Nix went as pale as the snow that fell outside the window. He glanced at the gathered men with a shake of his head. “While this is a step in the right direction, I doubt it will be enough for very long.”

  “What? Quitting school wasn’t enough for them?” Nix snapped, irritation causing her voice to raise. “What am I supposed to do? Kick off my shoes, get knocked up, and spend my life in the damn kitchen? Do they really exp
ect their women to follow such sexist stereotypes?”

  “Of course not. Our women are strong and independent. But with you, the situation is different. Normally, our females may take their time, but they’re anxious to have you breed as soon as possible.” Although his tone was soothing, his words only riled Nix more.

  “So I’m just expected to give in? You call that a choice? It’s been less than two months. How can you claim we’re free to make a decision if you keep pushing us?” Her voice broke on the last word, and I wanted to run to her and scoop her against my chest. Theo stroked a hand over her hair, offering comfort I could not.

  Grandfather sighed. “I never said it was right, Annika. I simply said it was the way of things. Now, you can choose to go against them, although that would not be my suggestion. To do so would only draw their attention.” He shot each of us a look edged in warning, and I cocked my head, studying him as it dawned on me that he may know more than he let on. I hadn’t tried my powers against his in many years, but at the moment I was sorely tempted. If he was aware of the relationship between Nix and the rest of us, was he aware of her connection to Joshua? Had he informed the Council of any of this? Although I adored him and trusted him to a point, there was only so much I was willing to risk when it came to Nix’s safety.

  “I assume you’ll be telling my father I was here?” Joshua asked quietly. “He’s well aware of it, but it may help to ease the pressure on Nix if he’s informed by you, especially in front of witnesses.”

  “I am well aware of how to care for my charge, Mr. Williams,” he scolded softly, before turning his eyes back to Nix. “The least you could do is actually show some public interest. Now is the time to start removing suitors from your list. Are there any in particular you have in mind?” He asked, his eyes tracking over Ciarán who merely blew him a kiss.

  She cocked her head, considering. “Who would you ask me to remove?”

  Grandfather sighed. “Are you sure you wouldn’t like to talk about this more privately?” I knew the words were a warning to the men in the room, but not a single one of them moved and he shook his head, irritation clear on his features. “Cedric is a good boy, as we had discussed before, but the Council would never truly approve your mating. He has been in your good graces long enough to raise his family’s esteem, so now would be a good time to remove him. You have been clear about your dislike for both Jasper and Felix.” Nix shuddered at the mention of those names and Theo growled, deep and low.

  “They may not truly be bad guys, but you can see that they don’t, well, like me for me. It’s just about raising their status. I could never do that,” she explained, sliding the charm on her necklace up and down its chain.

  “I assume you won’t be removing Theo from your list?” He asked, nodding when she shook her head. “Nor Joshua?” Those words were skeptical, but she sent Joshua a smile, a blush mantling her cheeks as she shook her head no and Gaspards brows shot up. It was hard to surprise my grandfather, but it was clear she had. “I would like to see you keep Ciarán in your group,” he declared, surprising most of us in turn. If Killian hadn’t been seated I was sure he would have fallen over as he gaped at his wayward brother.

  “You flatter me, Gaspard,” Ciarán said, giggling like a schoolgirl and fanning his hand in front of his eyes while he fluttered his lashes.

  “It is merely for her own protection, boy. Besides, you seem to grace her presence enough you’re actually a help rather than the expected hindrance. The Council likes to see Nix taking her courtships seriously, and your appearance here and there helps her keep up that illusion.” Gaspard dismissed Ciar’s antics with a wave.

  “I know you will be removing others shortly, and if your list is too short, or too appealing to the Council, they may try to move up your time table, which I know is not what you have in mind,” Grandfather said with a shake of his head.

  “That said, you have some dates coming up.” Grandfather commented and I winced, not needing that reminder. “You’ll need to contact me as soon as possible afterwards to inform me what you think of Andrei and Phillip.”

  “Yes, sir,” Nix answered, pressing her lips together as she nodded her assent.

  Grandfather pressed his hands against his knees and pushed himself to his feet. “I know this is hard on you, but I appeal to your common sense. This is what is best for you, Annika, and, in the long run, what is best for all of you as well. Heed what I say and you may all just make it out of this unscathed,” he grumbled, and showed himself to the door with another assessing look at Joshua. “Damien, if you will see me out? I must return to the Lodge and inform them that I am not letting my charge run wild, as they have claimed.” Irritation was clear in his tone, and I obediently followed him out onto the porch. Though flakes swirled through the air, neither of us noticed the cold. “Have you been to see your father lately?”

  “No, I’ve been a bit occupied.” Guilt tugged at me as I said it, and I knew I’d need to make time to go and see them soon.

  “Well, see if you can. Raphael is always better after one of your visits. It reinforces what he knows is important.” Grandfather sighed before pulling me into a hug. “He loves you, you know. We all do. Stay safe, Damien.” With that, he trudged to his car in the dying light and I watched him pull away.

  “I love you all too.” As Nix’s laughter rang out and I heard my brothers muttering to each other, joy and purpose poured through me. “I just love them more,” I added, before heading back into the chaos of my family.

  Seven

  Nix

  Rini’s squeal was ear-piercing, and I winced as she launched herself at me like a spider monkey instead of the sun bear she was. When she extracted herself, I sent Killian a wave as he backed out of her driveway. The guys were trying to convince me to get behind the wheel of the Hummer, but I wasn’t sure I would be comfortable driving such a large vehicle, especially traversing the slick, snow-covered streets.

  “Oh my stars!” she bounced on her toes, drawing my attention, and jostled me with every movement as she gripped my upper arms. “Ciarán told me and I didn’t believe him at first. Joshua Williams?” Clasping me on the upper arms, she extracted herself from our hug and stared me down with her typical “tell me everything” expression. I knew I was in for a long afternoon of explanation. “How could you not call me sooner?” Rini scolded.

  “I just needed a little while to process it all,” I shrugged, and I was sure there was a sheepish expression on my face.

  With more understanding than I would have imagined, Rini nodded. “Yeah, I get that. Adding an extra mate to an already established harem is difficult, to say the least. How are the guys taking it?” she inquired, dropped her arms, and pulled me into the kitchen where Molly was pouring drinks.

  “Nix!” Molly beamed and sent me a little wave while she went about her task.

  “I was just asking her how the guys are taking the news of Joshua.” Rini hopped up onto her kitchen counter and grabbed a piece of pizza from a cardboard box.

  Molly stared at the lemonade pouring from the pitcher as if it held the answers to the worlds greatest questions. “I’m sure it hasn’t been easy. Theo and his friends have always been close—practically brothers.” With a sigh, she set the pitcher on the counter and turned toward us, bracing her back against the counter. “But everyone deserves to find the person or people they belong with. I’m glad Joshua’s found his true mate, and I’m so happy that he’s yours. He’s a really wonderful man. The guys will realize that soon enough and open up. I can’t imagine them disliking him once they get to know him.”

  My heart warmed at Molly’s acceptance. “I hope so. Things have been rather tenuous, and I feel so guilty asking them to welcome him into our family.”

  “None of that,” Molly shot with a hard look. “Obtaining another true mate is a blessing, not some kind of curse. They need to man up and deal with it. This is their brother, after all. You’re not a complete family without each other. If I need to ta
lk to Theo, you just say the word. I won’t stand for them making you feel bad for something that fate dictated. It wasn’t like you asked for a sixth mate.”

  Rini smirked behind her slice of pizza, “She didn’t even ask for the original fab five.”

  I pursed my lips to a smirk of my own, “You guys are awful.” I shrugged out of my coat and hung it on the back of a kitchen chair. “I may not have asked for all these mates, but now,” I bit my lip while I thought about them all, “I can’t imagine life without them.”

  “You’ll feel the same way about Joshua soon,” Rini tossed the remainder of her pizza on top of the box, pulled her legs up, and hugged her knees. “He’ll infiltrate your life and make himself such a part of it that you can’t even remember what your family was like without him. That’s not to say that there won’t be challenges. There are always are, but the best things in life are worth the work.”

  Somehow I didn’t think we were still talking just about Joshua and my situation. “Ciarán?” I questioned, and Rini laughed, swiping a finger under her eye to wipe away a tear.

  Blinking rapidly to push back her rise of emotion, she shook her head and threw her hands into the air. “Gah, I did not mean to get so deep so fast.”

  “Speaking of deep,” Molly wiggled her eyebrows. “How did the ‘I Love You’s’ go? Theo is so damn tight-lipped that I haven’t been able to retrieve any good gossip!” she whined.

  Heat mantled my cheeks and I smiled. “The entire night was incredibly romantic. Thank you guys for helping me to pull it off.”

  “Is that the necklace?” Rini’s mood evaporated, returning her to her normally peppy, upbeat self. When I nodded, she popped off the counter and slid up to me, along with Molly, to get a closer look at the shining pendant against my chest.

  “Yes!” She bounced on her toes and stared at the silver necklace decorating my neckline. “It’s gorgeous!” she beamed, and I lifted my hand to touch the cool metal against my chest.