Phoenix of Dawn

Are You With Me?

Waking was a bitch when reality sucked worse than even your nightmares. There isn't much that can be done to cushion the blow dealt when dreams fade and life rushes in. Physical wounds could be mended, bones reset, and flesh stitched back together. What kind of cast could put back together a fractured soul? What bandage could stop the bleeding of a broken heart? 

Bex spent most of the morning telling me the perks of talking out your feelings but I wasn't buying into it. For seven years my life had revolved around Claira and in the blink of an eye she was no longer in my world. Now I was left drifting. 

I didn't want to drift.

I wanted her back. 

That was a child's dream though, I knew. She would never come back. 

It didn't help that I was almost certain that Axel was avoiding me. He'd dismissed himself any time I came near him and at one point even shifted to get away from me. Now he had put two families between us, his little brother beside him chattering his ear off.

No one in the whole damn world made my blood boil like Axel Sol. No one.

I hated him.

Bex gasped suddenly beside me, a shit eating grin exposing her pearly white, "I can feel him! We're almost there!"

I frowned at her, "You can feel him?"

She waved off my tone, "Oh, shut up you pessimist and come on! I'll race you there!"

It wasn't much of a race since she was tugging me along by my wrist. I felt like we were in one of those corny holiday specials, zipping through the golden leaves and sunrays toward Bex's soulmate. 

Whatever. At least running is fun.

"Bex!" 

The new voice had Bex racing faster, her warm brown eyes brimming with emotion as a man with fire red hair came bursting out of the bushes. I skittered to a halt watching Bex fly into his open arms so willingly. It was intriguing to me, this show of trust and emotion. I'd been around mates before but they had always been so established. My aunt and her mate had always been caring towards one another but this was young and vibrant. 

Bex kissed him with such ferocity that I had to look away. Sam was standing beside me, his arms crossed and a sour look on his face.

"Disgusting right? He used to be my wingman and now he's tied down."

I couldn't help but laugh at his bitter tone. At least I wasn't the only one jumping and giggling at the thought of a mate. 

"Nikko, this is Kyra," Bex was blushed as she guided her tall drink of water over, "I forced her to be my best friend. Now I just have to twist her arm to get her into a dress for our ceremony."

An image of myself surrounded by tulle and lace popped into my head. 

It was not pleasant. 

"About that...." Nikko looked down at Bex apologetically, "We have to push back the date."

her jaw hit the floor, "What? Why?"

"Are you kidding me," Sam scoffed, "I am not going to that love fest without Axel there. He's gotta go back and he won't be returning for another two or three weeks."

Back?

I felt the unease settle in watching them banter back and forth. 

Axel was going back?

How could he go back when I'd blown his cover? He couldn't go back. It was impossible. It wasn't the way things were supposed to be now.

"Then I'll have to hang out with Kyra all night," Sam announced, "At least I'll know I won't be alone in my skepticism about all this mate bull."