Page 128 of Ashborne Phoenix

“No.” She shook her head quickly, one hand on my shoulder. “No residual magik. I want to help. And I want to defeat her. But he… he didn’t want me to use the power.”

‘Koa… am I dying?’

‘Firebird…’ She groaned the name she’d given me, and neither of us spoke.

My fear ratcheted up, but so did my resolve. He’d said they couldn’t touch us if we didn’t fear. But I feared.

My head spun. Yet, Voski shouted and the fire of rage coursed through him, and I knew.

He needed me.

“Do it,” I said through my teeth. “But if you do anything to harm me, my dragon will eat you alive,” I hissed.

Cali didn’t hesitate, though her face went pale at the threat and she glanced off to the side, toward Koa, who snaked her head. She nodded once, then pushed back her sleeves, and frowned at my stomach. “Brace. It will hurt—but then it will ease,” she said quietly.

“What do you—”

But the world disappeared in a fire so hot, I thought Koa had taken flame to her, and roasted me in the process.

I don’t know how long I writhed, my body convulsing silently, because my lungs ceased working. But eventually, I lay on the ground, coughing, with a blinking, panting Cali bent over me, touching my forehead and lifting my eyelids, murmuring.

Then her hands were on my stomach again, and though it hurt, I could think. I could lift my head. I put one hand on the dirt, and it didn’t feel like a blade pulled through my flesh.

“Thank you!” I gasped, still fighting off waves of that singing pain—but each tide was weaker than the preceding. “How… what did you…”

“You won’t bleed, and nothing will become infected—but it won’t last forever. You need to rest—”

“Help me to my feet. Now,” I said through gritted teeth, pushing myself up to sit.

I was hunched and shaky. My limbs weak. But with her help I made it to my knees, and then to my feet—swaying and holding her arm to keep myself from falling.

That was when Voski turned to find me and his brows shot up.

I grasped at that precious cord between us and clung to it. And felt stronger. Shoveling love at Voski, I turned my attention to his mother, who stood well beyond him, on her feet, but still partly hunched, just as I was.

Had he stabbed her? In that cocoon of pain, I’d missed what passed between them. But I felt his rage, and saw her snarl. And I was resolved.

I didn’t know how much time I had, but I knew why I was here. And why the Creator let me be injured. Because now, the Lady Avarice Ashford thought I was no threat.

Koa huffed in my mind at the thought, and I smiled.

She was exceptionally wrong.

As I moved toward my mate, my body strengthening slowly, but with every step, I prayed I had enough time and energy left to do what He’d brought me here to do. Because this woman needed to be removed. But if Voski was the one to end her, it would break him. I knew that.

Cali helped me walk—but within moments Voski saw me on my feet, and rushed toward me, face pale, snapping at Cali to let me go.

‘Don’t be cruel to Cali, she helped me,’ I sent him quickly.

He caught me to his side, clasping my hand to steady me, wrapping his other arm around my back.

‘Don’t fear—they can’t touch you if you aren’t afraid.’

I was desperately afraid that I wouldn’t be here long enough to finish this. But I wasn’t afraid of them. I nodded.

‘Just love me,’ I sent back to him. ‘Keep yourself safe. Stay in love.’

I felt something in him falter. ‘Grace, of course. I love you. But we’re getting out of here. We’ll go home—I’ll tell Donavyn and the queen about them and—’