The Last Lunar Phoenix

I stood there stunned and unable to move . "You sold me to the vampires?"

"Of course," he said, like it was obvious. "Just like Father sold Mother. It's nothing personal, Zephyr. Just good business."

The Phoenix fire roared to life, and this time I didn't try to contain it. Golden flames erupted across my entire body, turning night into day.

"You're going to die," I said, and my voice was layered with something ancient and furious. "Both of you. Tonight."

Bron's smirk faltered. "Attack!" he screamed to the rogues. "Fifty thousand to whoever brings her down!"

They charged as one, twenty wolves against one Phoenix.

I threw my arms wide and let the fire explode outward.

The wave of Phoenix flame swept across the lawn like a tsunami. Rogues screamed as their fur ignited, and as the fire found them no matter where they tried to hide.

"Zephyr!" Avalon's voice was sharp with concern. "You're burning too hot!"

He was right. The fire was feeding on my rage, growing beyond my control. The grass beneath my feet turned to ash, and the air shimmered with heat.

"I can't stop it," I gasped, even as more rogues fell. "It won't stop"

Cool hands grabbed my shoulders and the shock of it broke through the fury, and I gasped.

"Breathe," Avalon commanded. "Channel it and don't let it control you."

I focused on his touch, on the mate bond tying us together. Slowly but painfully, I pulled the fire back in.

When I opened my eyes, the lawn was scorched black. At least fifteen rogues lay dead or dying, and the survivors were fleeing into the forest.

Bron had also disappeared.

"Coward," Zane spat, appearing beside us. "He ran the moment you started burning."

"He won't get far," Osilus said. "I can track him."

"No," I said, swaying slightly. The fire had taken more out of me than I'd realized. "Let him run. Let him tell Father I'm coming for them both."

"Zephyr," Avalon said gently, supporting me as my knees buckled. "You're bleeding badly. We need to get you inside."

I looked down and saw that the claw marks on my back had soaked through my clothes, and blood pooled at my feet.

"I'm fine," I started to say, then my vision doubled.

But before I fell, strong arms caught me and the last thing I heard before darkness took me was Avalon's voice.

"Find them. Find Bron and Bruin Chance. I want them alive."

I woke to pain.

Every breath sent fire through my back, and I groaned before I could stop myself.

"Easy," Osilus's voice was soft. "Don't try to move."

I forced my eyes open to find myself in the master suite, lying on my stomach. Osilus sat beside the bed, one hand resting gently on my shoulder.

"How bad is it?" I asked, my voice rough.

"Very bad," he said. "The rogues had somehow used silver claws so it'll take longer to heal."

"How long was I out?" I tried to hold my head.

"Six hours," Avalon said, and I turned my head to find him standing by the window. "Osilus has been healing you, but silver slows everything."

"What about the estate?" I asked.

"It's safe for now," Zane said from the doorway.

"And Bron?"

"He was gone before any of us could find him," Avalon said, his jaw tight. "But we found something interesting on one of the rogues." He held up a piece of paper. "A contract and payment for your capture."

"Does it say who signed it?" I asked, though I already knew.

"Bruin Chance," Avalon confirmed. "Your father ordered your death."

The words should have hurt, but they just made me angry. "I need to find out where he is now?"

"That's the interesting part," Zane said, coming to sit on the edge of the bed. "We tracked him to the old Chance estate. He's barricaded himself inside with Bron and about a dozen guards."

"I need a car," I said, trying to sit up and pain went through my back. I groaned until Osilus gently pushed me back down.

"You're not going anywhere until you heal," he said firmly.

"The hell I'm not," I argued. "They tried to kill me. Again. I'm not waiting around for them to try a third time."

"Zephyr," Avalon said, and there was something in his voice that made me look at him. "The rogues we captured... they talked... Your father has been in contact with the vampires. He's offered you to them in exchange for territory and power."

"When?" I demanded.

"They're coming in three days," he said. "Your father plans to hand you over personally."

"The only person I'm handling over is his dead body" I said flatly.

"But, you can barely move," Osilus pointed out gently. "Give it at least..."

"No, I'm so close to having my revenge,I couldn't sleep." Just then Emma ran inside holding a letter. I took it from her hand and as my eyes saw the first word, my heart stopped beating. It was from the Council members.