Wiping the tear that fell from his face, he turned to reenter his emptiness. The light shone around him, glowing, and his heart jumped, his woof thrummed within, and before he could get his hopes too high, he heard her voice.
“Turning in so early?” There is was, the feisty tone that caused his wolf to stir. “Here I thought you were a night owl.”
The sound of her voice was everything he needed in that moment, and every moment that would follow. It was life returning to him.
“Zaria?” He turned around to see her land on the balcony and her wings disappeared into her sides.
“Missed me?” She smiled, and he crossed the space in one bound and picked her up. He would waste no time; his greatest regret was that he hadn’t ever tasted her lips, felt the fullness of her body wrapped into his. He kissed her with such passion that her body lit up and threatened to burn.
“Well, damn.” She caught her breath when he released her. “Is that what I’ve been missing out on?” She ran her hands through the dark silk of his hair and pushed it away from his face.
“I’m sorry.” Smiling, he buried his hair in the wild curls framing her face. “I thought you were gone, I thought I would never see you again.”
“Yeah, for a while there I thought so too.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him again, this time in a gentle way, the kind that told of how much she’d been longing for him.
“Where were you?” he loosened his hold on her just enough to allow him full view of her face.
“It’s crazy, I thought that I had died and gone to heaven. I thought that was my reward for living a good life, but I hadn’t died … well, I did but not an eternal death. The burn was the most painful I have ever experienced. It seemed like it would never end. But it did. And when my body cooled and my eyes opened, I was home.”
“Home? As in the phoenix realm?” Ardyn wore a shocked expression. “I thought you couldn’t go back.”
“I thought so too. But whatever Akasha did, it broke the curse that Daegal put on me when he changed me.” Smiling, she released her hold on his neck. Her arms spread out to her sides as her skin glowed from within. “I feel so free, Ardyn! Freer than I ever have before.”
“That’s amazing! I’m so happy for you.” He grinned and pulled her tight to him again, but then loosened his hold as the weight of her announcement set in. He stepped away from her. “Are you going to go back there?”
“What?” She was hurt by his sudden distance.
“To your home. I know you’ve wanted to be there, with your people.” He tried to mask the fear that he felt of losing her again but failed.
“Ardyn, I just spent three amazing days with my family, but I have to admit that it was more than enough for now.” She laughed and stepped closer to him, pressing herself against his chest. “I know that it seemed so much longer here, but I came back as soon as I could. Besides, I said I wanted the option of going back, not that I wanted to live there forever.”
“So, you’re here to stay?” Biting his lip, he looked down at her.
“Unless you want me to go,” She pretended to turn away from him, but he grabbed her arm an pulled her back into him.
“There is no way in hell I’m ever going to let you go again woman.” He growled and she lit up from within.
For Zaria
All that existed was the absence of light. Complete and total darkness ripped apart time and time again by the agony of her burning flesh. Never had she burned in this way. Never had she felt the flames cutting through the layers of her body, reaching into the depths of her soul and destroying every fiber of her being. She prayed, prayed for it to end, for the eternal death to take hold of her and make her sacrifice worth the loss of him.
The eternity of agony was cut short, but not a moment too soon. The pain of her flesh searing beneath the fire that was not her own, ended. The cool touch of ice spread across her, this had to be the welcoming touch of death. She relaxed her body as much as she good and freed her mind of thought. In those final moments, before life would escape her completely, she could think of only one thing. Home.
When her eyes opened, she lay beneath the lush coverage of trees. Sunlight reached through the limbs and warmed her skin. Her eyes strained against the assault of light after being trapped in the darkness for so long.
‘This must be heaven.’ She thought to herself as she took in sights, sounds, and smells around her. It all felt so familiar. When she sat up and peered out into the distance, she could see the place she’d only dreamt of for centuries. Built in the trees with whimsical steps that lead up to the vibrantly painted door, was her home. The tiny house where she’d grew up with four siblings, an overbearing mother, and a goofball father. Without second thought, she took off running. Though her limbs felt heavy and she quickly lost her breath, she pushed forward.
On the path, every step that took her home brought with it the realization that this wasn’t a dream, it was real. The shocked expressions of neighbors she’d known since she was a child caused a flood of tears that blinded her sight but still, she ran towards that blue door that sat like a beacon for her. On the wind, she could hear her name being called out by a few people she passed. The recognition brought a joyous laughter from within her.
She paused just a moment beneath the stairs, hesitating about what she should do. The sound of her mother’s voice from above eliminated all worry that they wouldn’t want her back. Fear was squashed by bravery as she bounded up the steps and without knocking or waiting for invitation, she swung open the door that was never locked.
Inside, the shocked expression of her mother and youngest sister greeted her.
“I’m home!” Zaria’s voice rang out as she ran into her mother’s loving hold.
Continue the Djinn Rebellion with book 4
Rosie
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About the Author
Jessica Cage is a bestselling author from Chicago. She often bleeds elements of her home town into her work. You can find out more about her and her signature Caged Fantasies at www.jessicacage.com. You can connect with Mark on Twitter at @writa_jlodi, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jcageauthor and you should send him an email at [email protected] if the mood strikes you.
THE SPHINX
Cursed by a god and turned into a monster, Asa is out for revenge. Years after the gods have fallen from power, she awaits their return. She’s gathered her own strength and is ready to take out the one who stole her life away!
Find out what happens when Asa wages war against the god of war!
SIREN'S CALL
A moment of fear unleashes a power that Syrinada never knew she possessed. Men fall at her feet, while a family secret unravels and forces her to go on the run. Can she control these new powers in time to save her life?
Start the series today!
/> EXILED
Once exiled for loving a human, Malcom has lived his life alone and on the run. Now, the pack that destroyed his life and abandoned him wants him to return to save them from an Alpha gone mad!
Start the series today!
Djinn Rebellion Boxset (Books 1 -30: A Post-Apocalyptic Fantasy Page 51