Blaze of Wrath (Phoenix Rising Book 5)

by Harper Wylde

  “She stopped time.” Surprisingly, it was Joshua who spoke up, though amusement was clear in his voice. “You didn’t tell me she had that power. I thought her skills were based on fire.”

  “They are. Well, were,” Hiro amended. “How do you know that’s what she did?”

  “It’s a common Phoenix skill,” Joshua answered with a shrug. “Some were even able to travel through time, though most could only speed it up or slow it down a little. Others could freeze it entirely.”

  Exhaustion slammed into me and my Phoenix mewled plaintively. “Here!” Hiro hurried over with my clothing. “Joshua, turn around.” I assumed by the shuffling feet that he complied and I sighed, letting the shift go and coming back to my human body, struggling to put on my workout clothes again as my hands shook madly.

  “Tired?” Hiro asked, inspecting me carefully. I nodded as he ran his fingers through my hair. “You did so well. Both of you.”

  Damien reached me just as I got to my feet, already healed as he inspected me for damage. “What made you think to go for my wings?” he inquired, cocking his head. “Most people don’t know I’m sensitive there.”

  I shrugged. “My Phoenix knew. Or, well, guessed may be more accurate. We were thinking about what our weakness would be, and she reminded me of how sensitive our wing joints are, and how easily they could be broken. We can fight without flying, but it’s much harder. So, we guessed.”

  “You were impressive.” Joshua spun back around with his hands in his pockets. “Both of you were.” He nodded to Damien who murmured his thanks. While it was a small gesture, it felt good to see them interacting together.

  “How did you stop time though?” Theo queried excitedly, pushing his glasses up his nose.

  I shook my head, a little helpless now. “I don’t know. I was thinking that we were tired and we wanted to win. That I needed to slow Damien down somehow so I could get behind him.”

  “I thought you were just trying to get away from me.” He shook his head ruefully, though a small smile danced across his lips.

  I turned to Killian and hopped up on my tiptoes, planting a sweet kiss on his cheek. “See? Nothing bad happened. At least, not to me.” I smirked and popped back down on the flats of my feet.

  Killian grumbled, but I could tell he was happy to see me relatively unscathed.

  “It seems your visions can change,” Damien mused.

  “That’s one question answered. They’re not absolute, which means the outcome can be adjusted,” Theo murmured, and I saw the way his mind was already working, calculating the different possibilities of Killian’s vision. “Truthfully, your visions are more powerful if that’s the case. It means we can use them as weapons.”

  “How?” Killian perked up for the first time since the fight.

  “If we know what’s going to happen, and we know that the outcome can change, then we just need to find out how to cause said change. In this case, none of us—including Nix herself—knew about her ability to freeze time like that. Hence, once she tapped into that power, she was able to overtake Damien.” Theo and Killian leaned closer as they walked inside, dissecting every little detail of the fight, comparing it against what Killian had seen and what had actually happened.

  “Do any of you understand what Theo is on about?” I questioned, trying to keep up.

  “Honestly? I don’t understand half of what he says,” Ryder teased, and I playfully smacked his arm.

  “Let him work this out in his own head, and once he has a clearer understanding of how we can use Killian’s power, I’m sure he’ll fill us in.” Damien smiled, his hand coming to rest on my lower back as he guided me toward the house. Joshua raced ahead to open the door for me, and my heart warmed at having all my mates together, though I knew none of this had been easy on any of us.

  “In the meantime, at least you have a new thing to practice,” Ryder said with a laugh, pulling me from my internal musings. He scooted closer to nuzzle my neck. “For now though, I really do think it’s dinner time.”

  I smiled up at him. “And time for you guys to figure out what you want to do. It’s time for dinner and a show.” I giggled as the rest of the guys groaned, leaning into Damien as we walked back home.

  Ten

  Nix

  Dinner had been quiet and stilted, the tension still evident in the way the boys dealt with Joshua. I had tried to stay out of it, clearing up the simple salad and sandwiches we had eaten for dinner as they planned their event. All the guys had been specific that they couldn’t eat while doing their acts and that I would simply have to wait. It was both amusing and endearing that they weren’t trying to wiggle their way out of the bet, and were taking it as seriously as they did, although I had hoped they would take the time to bring Joshua into the mix. So far, they had separated, as usual, with Joshua scrolling through his phone and occasionally glancing up at my other mates. I wasn’t sure if I was just seeing things, or if there really was a desperate kind of longing in his eyes as he watched them with surreptitious glances. I knew he had grown up lonely, and I wondered if he longed to be a part of their group, or if it was merely me pushing my wishes onto them.

  “I think this will be easiest if we move the furniture,” Theo muttered, and I arched a brow.

  “You have to move the furniture?” Maybe I hadn’t thought this all the way through…

  They didn’t bother answering me as I took a seat on the staircase out of the way, merely dragging the couch and chairs to clear room for whatever they had planned. Joshua helped them, and when he was done, he settled down beside me, stretching his long legs out as he watched the other guys prepare. “I know we haven’t had much of a chance to talk,” he began softly, keeping his eyes on the others as they bickered about the amount of space they’d need. “I’m sorry for springing all of this on you. I just… I couldn’t walk away without at least trying.” Guilt, even a little bit of shame, was clear on his features and I sighed, patting his hand softly.

  “It is confusing,” I admitted. “Though I don’t resent you for doing it. I…” I searched for the right way to phrase my thoughts without hurting anyone. “I can’t say yet that I’m glad you did, because I’m not glad of anything that hurts them. But I’m not opposed to it. I like you, Joshua. I thought from the moment I met you that we could be friends. Now, with the possibility of us being more, it’s hard, but that doesn’t mean it’s bad.” I nodded my head at the bickering males who were doing their best to give us a small slice of privacy. “They’re my family. The only family I have ever known. I just want to see if you can be a part of that family too.”

  “I’ve always wanted a family like this,” he murmured so softly, I could barely hear him. “I’ll do what I have to, to earn their respect. And yours.” He tried a smile, though it didn’t quite reach his soft, blue eyes. My Phoenix twittered at me, wanting me to reach out and comfort him. She hated seeing him sad and I did as well, though at this point I wasn’t sure how to comfort him without doing more harm than good. “For tonight though, let’s just focus on having fun and getting to know each other, okay?”

  I nodded, releasing a deep breath as I tried to relax. “Are you all almost done yet?” I teased the others. “A girl can’t wait all night for some entertainment.”

  “Oh, I’m sure there’s plenty we can do to entertain you,” Damien offered, his voice deep and husky enough to make me shiver at the ideas that rolled rapidly through my head.

  “None of that,” Ryder pleaded. “If you get her started, I’m going to want to finish it, and we promised her a talent show.”

  “I’m okay with it getting started,” Joshua whispered, and got a murmur of agreement from Hiro. I couldn’t help but laugh as a blush rose over my cheeks, and he shot me a wicked grin. I liked seeing this side of him.

  “I think we’re ready,” Theo declared, pulling his phone from his pocket and plugging it into the docking station on the wall. “Nix, why don’t you sit on the sofa so I know you’re comfortable.�
� After a moment’s hesitation, he added, “Joshua, you can sit with her too, if you don’t mind waiting for your turn.” I could almost feel Joshua light up beside me and he nodded, jumping to his feet. He held out his hand for mine, and his was warm and firm as he grasped my wrist and hauled me to my feet. We settled comfortably on the sofa, and I wasn’t sure if I was relieved or disappointed when he left a little space between us. This pull toward him was more difficult to resist than I would have thought.

  The guys lined up, with Theo standing closest to his phone, and I cocked my head, trying to figure out their plan. I had hoped they’d include Joshua, but whatever talent they were planning on showcasing seemed to be just amongst them. With a nod from Damien, Theo pressed the button on his phone and joined their line. A moment’s silence reigned, weighing heavily over us, before music suddenly pumped from the speakers.

  Laughter had me nearly falling from the couch, and only Joshua’s quick hands pulled me back. It wasn’t just any music, they’d chosen N*Sync “It’s Gonna Be Me.” The five moved in unison, and from the synchronized movements, it was clear that they had practiced this on numerous occasions. I giggled madly, looking from face to face, as they executed the stylized 90s movements. Killian looked embarrassed, though he didn’t miss a single motion. Ryder led the crew, mouthing every one of the words as he danced the lead. Theo’s face was a mask of concentration as he executed the sharp movements. Damien had a small smile on his lips, drawing my eyes as he jumped and sent me a wink. Hiro moved fluidly, nearly as comfortable with the motions as Ryder, and not a single one of them fell out of step as they performed the choreography perfectly.

  Joshua was clapping along with the beat, and I wolf whistled at them, giggling madly. Killian pulled forward, implementing a complicated backflip and I gasped in awe—no wonder they wanted space cleared. The others alternated their own impressive acrobatics, never once losing the beat of the song. I couldn’t deny that it was sexy as hell to watch them move like that, even to the 90s song choice.

  I clapped madly as they came to a close. “Oh my god, you guys! That was incredible!” I ran up to hug each of them in turn. “How in the world did you learn to do that?”

  “Practice,” Hiro said on a smile.

  “Once upon a time, we lost a bet with Ryder,” Killian added. “When we were teenagers, every time we’d lose to him, he’d make us do one of these stupid routines. Apparently we still remember them.” He shook his head sadly. “Imagine what I could do with that brain space.”

  My grin was so wide you could probably see it from outer space. “Thank you for that. I loved it,” I gushed.

  “Don’t thank us yet, we’re not done. We figured one act for five of us wasn’t quite fair, so there’s more to come. We just thought Joshua may want to go next. Give his fair share,” Damien called out, stretching his arms over his head. The handsprings he had done seemed to have left him a little sore.

  “Do you want to go, Joshua?” He had never been involved in our bets before, and I was feeling a little guilty for forcing him to do something in front of all of us. It wasn’t like I had a talent to show off. I didn’t want to make things more awkward for him. Surprising me, he smiled and nodded.

  “Mine’s not as good as yours, but it’ll give you a chance to rest.”

  “What, no choreographed dance planned for an impromptu talent show opportunity?” Ryder teased him good-naturedly, and it helped to lighten my heart, easing a small portion of the weight that had been there since Joshua had shown up on our doorstep.

  Joshua smirked and stood fluidly, tucking one hand into the pocket of his jeans. Standing before me, he appeared as though he could have strutted off the pages of a fashion magazine. Playfully, he tossed his other hand across his brow as he said, “My dancing is not quite up to caliber, I’m afraid. As many cool points as it costs me to admit, I have something far more appealing to women.” He darted into the kitchen, coming back a moment later with a bag of apples.

  “Fruit?” I asked with a snort of laughter. I had missed being silly like this. Tensions had been running so high for so long that this was an epic release as I settled down on Killian’s lap.

  He grinned, pulling three apples from the bag, and tossing the rest onto the couch before beginning to spin the apples in a wheel above his head and I laughed so hard I had tears in my eyes. “Everyone knows that women can’t resist jugglers, so of course it was a skill I developed at the earliest opportunity,” he declared solemnly, as the others joined me in laughter. “Another!” he called out, as our amusement died down. Killian muttered in surprise, and Hiro tossed another apple into the fray. Joshua didn’t lose pace at all, now all four rotated with ease as he winked at me. “Another,” he declared again. No one laughed now, and I held my breath as Damien tossed a fifth apple into the circle he rotated. I had never been to the circus before, but I assumed this kind of breathless excitement was what the experience was like. I leaned forward on Killian’s lap, my eyes intent on the circling fruit.

  “More?” Ryder called out, hefting an apple in his hand.

  Joshua nodded, his eyes glued to the spinning fruit. A sixth, then a seventh apple joined the lot, spinning for a moment before, quick as a whip, he shot an apple at each of us, catching the final one in his mouth with a muffled, “Ta-da!”

  I clapped madly, bouncing on Killian’s lap and making him grunt. “That was great!” Okay, so, it wasn’t a sexy talent the way that the guys’ dancing had been, or even the way Damien’s cooking was, but I loved it nonetheless. Where juggling may have been considered funny, it was Joshua’s confidence that had completely captured my attention. His entire routine was completely adorable and endearing, and I hoped he’d be willing to do it for me again in the future.

  He executed a quick bow. “Entertainment and a snack, juggling has it all. I think that means you guys are up again.” He hesitated, before holding his hands out for mine, his eyes on Killian. Killian sighed heavily and passed me over.

  Joshua didn’t press the advantage, quickly lowering me to the couch again, and Killian patted his back. “Good job. That takes quick hands,” Killian complimented him grudgingly. I was so proud of him in that moment as Joshua flushed with happiness and leaned against the wall beside the couch, apparently unwilling to sit yet.

  As they lined up again, I considered them, wondering if they would do a different dance routine for me. Theo scrolled through his phone and, from the way Damien angled his head, glancing at each of them, I assumed Damien was speaking in their minds to keep from spoiling the surprise. With a nod from Theo, he pressed a button on his phone and a beautiful melody filled the room, far slower than I had expected. At this point, I doubted anything would have surprised me and I envisioned them beginning to waltz.

  I couldn’t have been more wrong. Killian and Hiro began to sing, the sound sweet and true. I was so shocked by the notes, it took me a moment to realize they were singing in flawless Japanese. Hiro doing it wasn’t a surprise, although I hadn’t known he spoke Japanese, but Killian? Theo, Damien, and Ryder joined next, their harmonies perfect as they sang right to me, the words flowing over me and making me smile. I needed to learn Japanese and quickly. I desperately wanted to know the lyrics. As they all joined together, the harmonies made me shiver, and then another voice joined in, strong and sure.

  Joshua stepped forward, his eyes on theirs, singing along. If the widened eyes and shared glances were any indication, they had no idea Joshua spoke Japanese or knew this song, let alone that he could sing as beautifully as they could. The melody passed between each of them in turn, not a single one faltering. Damien had to have mind spoken to him, because when it was Joshua’s turn to carry the song solo, no one else sung over him and the song wove on. By the time he and Theo held the closing notes and let them linger, tears streamed heedlessly down my cheeks and I applauded, unable to do more than cry and push my awe toward them for Damien to share.

  “You know Japanese?” Hiro asked Joshua with a smile. “T
hat’s an odd skill.”

  Joshua shrugged, rubbing at the back of his neck. “I speak four languages. Five if you count American Sign Language.”

  “Really?” Killian queried, skepticism clear in his voice. “Which languages?”

  “English, Japanese, Greek, and Spanish,” he answered with a shrug, as though it wasn’t a big deal.

  “Wow, that’s really impressive.” My head was spinning at the idea. “You all sing too? And Joshua, how did you know that song?”

  “It’s from an anime I like,” he replied with a smile. “I watched it to help me learn Japanese.”

  “Hiro, I didn’t know you liked anime!” I beamed at him. I liked learning new things about my guys. He laughed though, shaking his head.

  “I don’t dislike anime, but this one wasn’t my choice.” Hiro winked at me, and nodded his head toward a blushing Theo.

  “I enjoy it,” he admitted quietly, fiddling with his glasses. “Like Joshua, I started watching it when I was learning Japanese.”

  “You’re all fluent?” I asked, looking to each of them as they nodded in agreement.

  “We learned when we were kids because of Hiro. We wanted to make him feel more at home,” Killian added.

  I shook my head, still in shock. “You’re all so talented. Really, you are. Each time I think I’ve learned everything I can about you, you surprise me with something else.” I bit my bottom lip hard, trying not to let the rest of the words I was thinking spill out. And every time you get even more attractive—I just want to lick you all. I needed a cold shower, now.

  I ran from the room as booming laughter surrounded me. Apparently, I hadn’t been very good at keeping that part to myself.

  Eleven

  Hiro

  “Have you guys seen Nix?” I asked Damien and Theo as they cleaned up the kitchen. We’d had breakfast over an hour ago, and Nix had disappeared on us. I had thought, after last night, that maybe she’d be feeling more open, but instead she had hidden herself away, only grabbing a granola bar for breakfast as she claimed she was too tired. All of the humor from last night had burned away, leaving more tension than ever before.