Phoenix Rising (Maggie Henning & The Realm Book 1)

by Lisa Morgan

  And I cursed under my breath.

  I’m the devil. The certifiable spawn of Satan to think for even a passing second that I could have her feel for me what she does for Michel. While he lay in state in Celine, here I was, professing feelings I had absolutely no right to feel to the girl who held to a dream of my brother and a happily ever after.

  And my conscience mocked back, That’s why you vowed to her, isn’t it, you ass? You made a blood promise to her with absolutely no idea how to bring it to fruition.

  Yes … It was exactly why. Even if Maggie wasn’t mine, I’d do anything to make her happy. I’d pay any price just to stand to the side and catch a glimpse of her smiling again, letting myself play pretend in my thoughts that the smile she so willing offered was directed at me.

  She hadn’t fought the kiss though, had she? Maybe … Maybe she—

  No. She most certainly didn’t.

  Disgusted with my weakness, I shut the bike off. I shoved at the kickstand and swung my leg over the side before chucking my helmet in frustration into the maples that shielded the sunlight and left the roadway in dusk. I paced, biting my lip and kicking the stones into the shrubs as my anger grew.

  Angels, what have you done to me?

  My knees threatened to buckle as that hollow sensation once more filled me, awash in some sort of panic unfamiliar to me. I’d faced off with revenants, fought against criminals and bad guys of every sort and description, but never batted an eye, so why now? What was I afraid of?

  That you’ll never see her again, the thought whispered. That you’ll never again feel the heat of her body against you, her arms wrapped around you as you race down a moonlit road without a care in the world, playing an imaginary game that she’s yours …

  I paced, shoving my fists into my hair and warring with aggravation. I wanted to scream, to roar as loud as I could and let all of the torment inside me out. I deserved to be flogged for the emotions I dared to have.

  Who am I kidding? Flogging would be too kind for the feelings I have for her. I took a needless breath to clear my head.

  Focus, Luc … There has to be some way, some bargain I can strike to get information, some way to bring Michel back to her, to make her smile and feel loved.

  She is loved…

  Stop it!

  I climbed back on the bike, more determined to find a cure for the suffering she was trying to shield. Yet, as the bike got back on the pavement, it was turned in the wrong direction. Instead of driving away, the wheels moved back toward The Trust, and to the fire bird who tempted every fiber of my being.

  Easing up on the gas, I let the wheels roll quietly forward, lying to myself that I only needed one more glance … just one last look at Maggie standing there to carry with me on my journey.

  Using my enhanced vision, I peeked up the driveway at her from my hidden position by the roadside. She was walking back inside with Liam.

  See me, Maggie, I beg you. Just turn your eyes my way one more time and give me the vision that would stay with me through the rest of my long existence.

  She didn’t turn, though. I thought about trying to focus my hearing on her conversation, of reaching out to touch her thoughts, but stopped myself. Even though she wouldn’t know it, I refused to breech that confidence with her this time.

  I couldn’t wait around and torture myself further. I grabbed my helmet and mounted my bike. Twisting the throttle, I spun it around and headed away before I did something entirely stupid, like drop the motorcycle, run into that oversized house, and grab her … kiss her … beg her to keep me.

  The ache in my chest grew with each mile forward I drove. I rattled through my thoughts, examining potential leads or favors I could call in. I wondered about trying to find my old elvish friend Hayden and enlisting him to help find answers.

  No … Doc would see right through me. He’s known me long enough to know my pain by nothing more than sight.

  I contemplated reaching out to my father, asking him to pity his foolish son and grant me access to The Great Realm Library, the one place I could find a solution if there was one anywhere, but thought better of that as well. My father had never been inclined to help me with what he saw as useless matters; no doubt he’d laugh in the face of this endeavor.

  But there was one soul … a little old creature who I might be able to barter with. His price would be high for sure, but if there was anyone able to give me information that wasn’t readily available to others, it’d be Chapman. Perhaps he’d only request a flask of Corvus Wine to hand over …

  Who was I kidding? No way would Chapman want something as small as libations to give me the information I needed to point me in the right direction to fulfill the promise I’d made to Maggie. And that thought brought upon me another … What would I willingly give up for this creature that clung to hope that her love, my brother, would return to her?

  With the wind in my eyes, I squinted and twisted the throttle. I banked to the right, heading out of Foreston and toward Chapman’s last known location, even as I settled myself with the truth.

  She’ll never be yours, Luc. You may steal a hundred kisses and profess yourself a million times, but her heart will always belong to your brother.

  And because of that, I’d put aside my selfishness for her. I’d find a way.

  I accelerated and raced over the pavement toward the highway, determined to do what I’d promised.

  The information would be expensive, no doubt, but to see her happy again?

  Priceless.

  Even if it meant she’d be happy in the arms of Michel.

  About the Author

  Lisa Morgan lives in rural Upstate NY with her husband, three children, a mutt named Scout, a precocious Siberian Husky who thinks she rules the house, and three cats that know they do.

  A lover of books and words, it’s always been her desire to tell stories that people could use to escape the world around them by way of the page. She can always be found with a notebook and writing utensil somewhere within reach, just as her 8th grade teacher made her promise to do.

  When she isn’t writing or ferrying children someplace, Lisa enjoys reading, football, cooking, softball, singing & dancing badly, tattoos, and spending time with family and friends.

  Check out http://www.thefinalphoenix.com for news, special features, appearances, and giveaways, as well as links to her Twitter and Facebook pages.