Courting the Phoenix (4 page)

When he parked outside the restaurant, she waited until he opened the door. “My best to your mother, Tualion.”

He blinked and grinned again. “Thank you for the courtesy.”

She passed him and entered the restaurant. The same host from the day before smiled as she entered the establishment and escorted her back to the private room.

Again, Terric was waiting, wearing the white shirt and black trousers of a business suit with his jacket hanging on an empty chair. He rose to his feet and took her hands, kissing each in turn. “Good evening, Elly.”

“Good evening, Terric.” She smiled weakly.

He gave her a piercing look. “You don’t look well.”

“I have been dreaming. It was very enlightening.”

He escorted her to her seat and held the chair for her while the host hovered and finally took her bag from her.

She wrestled free of her jacket and settled inside the nest it made. Elly blinked at him with a smile. “What is on the menu today?”

“We are starting with a fruit soup and skipping the salad. What did you dream?”

She fidgeted for a while and finally asked, “How do I turn from mage into creature?”

He stared at her as the starter was set in front of them. “I don’t know. I thought it was when we…”

The server blinked and got a bit wide-eyed but finished the service and retreated.

“Nope. In all the histories, we…after the transformation.”

He sat back in shock. “How is it done then? No one has written it.”

She took a spoonful of the icy soup and smiled. “No, I am guessing it was deemed too scary for subsequent generations. It also explains the occasional lack of phoenixes. Not every woman would want to do that, and if it isn’t done, the phoenix doesn’t wake.”

He scowled. “I thought that the potentials fell in love and married someone else.”

She grinned. “That may be true, but the supernatural fire died because the women didn’t want to change. They wanted the description on the tin, a life, family, grandchildren. There is no guarantee or even a mention of a union such as ours bearing fruit.”

Terric blinked. “You are right. We won’t. Dragons don’t blend well with the populace in general. It takes a very specific kind of woman to be the bride of a dragon.”

“Like me?”

“You are not a bride, you are an equal. The phoenix is equal and even surpasses the dragon in several aspects.”

Elly knew that but it was nice to hear him say it.

She dodged the details of her transformation plans and enjoyed the tapas-style meal that the chef had prepared. There was something in the spice combinations that was familiar. “A goblin chef?”

“Indeed. Well spotted. She has been with the restaurant since it began. She is delighted to have me back in town though.” He winked. “I can withstand anything she decides to concoct.”

Elly grinned and forked up some more marinated octopus. It was tasty and chewy all at the same time.

After tapas came dessert, and by the time she had finished the marinated fruit, she was feeling a little wobbly. Her body would burn the alcohol off quickly, but for now, she had a nice buzz.

“So, where do you live normally?” She smiled and propped her head on her fist.

“I travel from city to city. My actual home is under a nameless mountain.”

“That seems vague enough.” She snorted fire, clapped her hand over her nose and dissolved into giggles.

“It seems that the marinated fruit is the key to getting you plastered.”

She snorted and giggled again. “It’s the fruit sugar. It lets the alcohol get into my system. Once in there, it has its wicked way with me.”

He seemed concerned. “But, it will wear off.”

“Of course. It will just take a few minutes.”

“Good.” He got up, leaned over and pulled her hand from her mouth so he could kiss her.

She wove her hands through his hair and held tight as the heat rose in the room. Elly got to her feet and plastered herself against him, the alcohol burned away in that first rush.

Terric pulled away. “Eilinora, I think it is time for you to go now.”

A frown settled on her features. “Why? I thought we were getting somewhere.”

“I thought so too, but you have melted all the candles in the room and scorched our server. You need to cool down.”

She wrinkled her nose, but her clothes were smoking. He had a point. “Fine, but this isn’t over.”

He blinked and laughed, a deep, rich sound that rang through the dining room. “My dearest, Elly. I know it isn’t, but today is not the proper time. You are tired and your control is suspect. You need a good night’s rest.”

She grumbled but nodded. “Right. Well, at least tomorrow is Saturday; I can sleep in a little before doing the weekend chores and shopping.”

“Tualion will take you on your errands.”

Elly wrinkled her nose. “That will not be necessary. I am a competent driver.”

He rubbed her arms slowly. “It is not about your driving; it is about the society. They know who you are. It will not be hard to find you.”

“You found me fast enough.”

“Well, you did give me your contact information. It made it easier.”

She laughed and pressed her forehead to his chest. “This whole thing is tiring.”

“Just wait. It will get easier, I promise.”

“It had better. I knew there was a reason I had never bothered dating. It is a real time-suck.”

He laughed, and he helped her on with her jacket.

The host returned the bag to her, and she thanked him.

Tualion opened her door, and she tucked herself into the car.

A box was sitting on the seat with a huge bow.

“Tualion, what is this?”

“A present from the dragon, miss. He wished for you to have something necessary.”

“Necessary?”

“That is what he said.” Tualion pulled out smoothly, and she was on her way home.

She undid the bow and opened the box. Inside were more boxes and rolled documents.

One box revealed several stacks of hundreds. It was enough money to keep them afloat for ten months or more.

Another box held a blouse with a tag,
Galfor Designs
. “Oh my.”

“Yes, my cousin’s designs are in demand, but for the phoenix, she put the effort in. You won’t cook that blouse like you do your others. There is also a long skirt, shoes and underwear in there. They are a bit old fashioned, but I believe that you can make them work.”

She laughed. “I have never dreamed of having a Galfor design, let alone an outfit.”

“She was happy to do it and looks forward to meeting you in person for a proper fitting. She has gone from relative obscurity to wild popularity, and it is all due to the Nexus and her creatures. She will enjoy adding a new client to her roster.”

Elly kept digging and found a necklace and earrings and a thick parchment envelope.

She opened the envelope and turned on the reading light in the back of the car. It was the deed to her family home. The deed was in her mother’s name, and the mortgage had been paid off. The record of transfer of title was very clear. Her father now held no property in their sleepy little town.

“How did he do this?”

“I don’t know, miss. All I know is that he has a lot of friends in strange places. The dragon is not a man to cross.”

“Why do you call him
the dragon
? There are others after all.”

“He is Terric the Black, leader of the dragons. He is a lord and also referred to as
the dragon
. Without him, the other dragons will cease to be a unit; they will scatter and hibernate once again.”

“Oh. Got it.” Elly filed it away in things she would ask Terric about on their next date. In the meantime, she cuddled her box on her lap and turned off the reading light. Her box of treasures deserved to be properly admired by her family.

The last time she received a present, it had been her birthday. She had never just gotten one because someone thought she needed one. She brushed at the tears on her cheeks, and then, she stared at her fingers as she saw the fire.

The fire dissipated, but she knew that she couldn’t put off the change much longer. She had to engage in it while she could control the burn. The images in her mind were of turning herself into a candle that would burn for hours until her human flesh was gone and only the phoenix was left.

It wasn’t a pleasant thing to contemplate, but she would do it, and her family would support her in her decision. They always had.

Her mother and sister had waited up.

Talinora started, “So, you just get driven to work and back?”

Her mother shook her head. “There are also wolves watching from the woods.”

“Right. Because of what I am or what I am becoming, there is a danger in someone snagging me for their own purposes.”

Talinora went from irritated to concerned. “Seriously?”

“Seriously. That Lord Rihadu tried to drag me off during our dance. He told me that Terric’s life was at stake. He was right. Terric was being held by a group of elves out in the woods.”

Andora smiled, “You tracked him?”

“By the scent of his magic, Mom. Just like you taught me.”

“That’s my girl. Now, what is in that box?”

She pulled out each object, saving the money and the deed until last. “Look, Mom. The title has been transferred to your name, and we got a stack of money so Tali can finish her courses and you can set up your studio.”

Andora looked at the deed and tears came to her eyes. “He just gave you this?”

“Yup.”

“You didn’t have to do anything?”

Eilinora laughed out loud. “Mom, the man is going to be my mate. I am not lying. He has asked nothing of me. It will be a meeting of equals when it happens. That reminds me. I have something to discuss with you two.”

Talinora was counting the cash. She looked up, “What?”

“I am going to be the phoenix, but I am not yet the creature. My transformation is going to be a little tricky.”

Her mother got a concerned look on her face. “How so?”

“I have to light myself on fire and let it burn for a minimum of four hours. I need you to promise not to put me out.”

She listened to their denials of the necessity of her lighting herself.

Humming, she got to her feet, pulled out a dish and got a knife. “I have to deal with this.”

She cut her finger and let the drops of fire splash on the plate. Elly stuck her finger in her mouth and sucked at the wound until it closed. She held up the finger where the line was disappearing as they watched.

“The fire is in me now, Mom, Tali. No matter what I do, I will be wrapped in fire. If I do it sooner rather than later, I will have control over the change. If I wait too long, it will overrun me and I will turn into ash, never to rise.”

Tali winced. “You mean you can’t stop?”

“Nope. From the moment I came into contact with Terric, there was no going back. It brought the fire out, and the flame will have its way. I either turn voluntarily or the fire will consume me.”

Andora swallowed hard and looked at Talinora.

Tali nodded.

Andora asked, “When do you want to do this?”

“As I am in danger and the fire is leaking out, I thought tomorrow. From my research, I will maintain my personality but will need some time to acclimate to my new power.”

Tali asked, “How long?”

“A few days should do. I was thinking about standing out back in the fire pit to start.”

Andora frowned. “Will that be enough space? How large will your burn pattern be?”

“I have no idea. I just thought that was far enough from the house. I will ask in my dreams and see if the previous incarnations have any insights.”

Tali was diving around in the box, and she pulled out the first clothing box. “My, my. What is this?” She opened it and frowned in disappointment. “A shirt? He bought you a shirt?”

Eilinora held up her hand, ran up the stairs and got the shirt she had changed out of before speaking with her family. She tossed the shirt to Tali. “I burned through it today.”

Tali held the charred fabric gingerly. “Geez, Elly. I had no idea.”

Andora took the damaged blouse and shook her head. “Fire spreads quickly, especially when there is air involved. Tomorrow it is, but why did he buy you this clothing?”

“It is a design by Mistress Galfor. Flame retardant in the extreme. Between that and the other clothes inside the pack, I should be able to dress normally for a few days until I go for a fitting with Mistress Galfor.”

Talinora’s face filled with good-natured envy. “Really?”

“Really. She is looking forward to making clothing that doesn’t burn. On the plus side, I am pretty sure that she will make dresses for you and mom for the formal mating ceremony of the dragon and the phoenix.”

Tali brightened at that, but Andora frowned, “I think we are supposed to pay for that.”

“Mom, I promise that I will pay for the dresses. You and Tali concentrate on using that cash for achieving your goals. I will concentrate on burning away my mortal self without turning into ash.”

“Deal.” Andora came around and hugged her. “Be careful, honey. I want you to be as safe as you can be for this.”

She hugged her mother and then her sister in turn. “Trust me. Safety is why I am doing this. Now, go put that money and deed somewhere fireproof, just in case.”

Predawn wasn’t normally something Elly saw on her Saturday mornings, but when a hand pressed a cloth over her mouth and nose, she struggled to breathe.

A few sharp inhalations later and blackness took her over.

Elly jerked awake in darkness. Her skin tingled and burned. She had been hauled through a portal.

She could hear sobbing from nearby. “Tali?”

She looked through the darkness and saw bars making up cells, and her sister was huddled against the bars, the sleeping form of their mother next to her.

“I am so sorry, Elly. I had no idea that he would come for you.”

“Who, Tali?

“Dad. He came to work, and he told me that you were in danger. He said that the dragon didn’t have honourable intentions, and he would simply kidnap you and take you away. He didn’t mention your transformation, but he did want to know what time you would be guaranteed to be home. He said he wanted to talk father to daughter.”