Chapter Two: Fire and Ash
Ember's breath caught in her throat. For a split second, she froze the word echoing in her mind. Phoenix.
It wasn't possible. He couldn't know. No one had ever seen her for what she truly was, not unless she'd chosen to reveal herself. She'd been careful—always careful—never to stay too long, never to let anyone get close enough to see beyond the surface.
And yet, here he was, this stranger with his golden eyes, staring at her as if he could see straight through the layers of secrecy she'd built around herself.
The common room suddenly felt too small, too close. Heat prickled beneath her skin, her magic stirring at the edges, urging her to run. She clenched her hands into fists, focusing on keeping her power in check. If she lost control now...
She couldn't afford that. Not here.
"Can I help you with something?" Ember asked, her voice steady despite the pulse of fire coursing through her veins.
The stranger leaned back in his chair, studying her with an intensity that made her want to retreat. But she held her ground, refusing to look away. He had seen something in her, something no one else had before—but what, exactly?
He tilted his head slightly, a faint smirk playing at the corner of his lips. "You don't have to pretend with me. I know what you are."
The words sent a jolt of panic through her chest, but Ember forced herself to remain calm. She'd dealt with threats before, with people who thought they knew more than they did. This man could be bluffing.
"And what is that, exactly?" she asked, her tone sharper now, a challenge.
The stranger didn't answer immediately. Instead, he reached up and pulled back his hood, revealing the rest of his face. His dark hair was windswept, his features rugged, but it was his eyes that held her—those strange, golden eyes that seemed to gleam in the low light of the fire. They weren't normal. Not human.
Ember narrowed her gaze, her senses sharpening. He was a shifter. Not one of the common types—wolves, bears, or even eagles—but something else. Something rarer.
"I could smell the ashes on you the moment I walked in," he said finally, his voice low but not unkind. "You're not like the others in this village."
Her pulse quickened, and before she could stop herself, she took a step back. She knew her scent was different, though she'd never met anyone who could distinguish it so clearly. Most people were blind to the subtleties of magic, but this man—he was something else.
"You're mistaken," she said quickly, the words feeling hollow even to her own ears.
The stranger chuckled softly, rising to his feet in a slow, deliberate motion. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and moved with the grace of a predator, his steps silent despite his size. Ember tensed, ready for a confrontation, though she wasn't sure if he meant her harm or something else entirely.
He stopped a few paces away from her, close enough for her to feel the faint warmth of his presence, but not so close that it felt threatening. His expression softened slightly, though his gaze remained sharp, calculating.
"I'm not here to hurt you," he said, his voice quiet but firm.
Ember's heart raced, her mind spinning. He wasn't bluffing. He really knew.
She swallowed hard, her throat dry. "Who are you?"
He hesitated for a moment, then gave a slight nod, as if deciding that was a fair question.
"My name is Ash," he said, his tone matter-of-fact, as if that alone explained everything. "And I've been looking for someone like you for a long time."
The irony of his name didn't escape her, but Ember's wariness only deepened. "Why?"
Ash exhaled slowly, his gaze flicking to the fire before returning to hers. "Because I know what it's like to run. To be hunted for what you are."
She stared at him, unsure whether to believe him. The tension between them was palpable, the air heavy with unspoken truths. But something in his voice—something in the way he looked at her—made her hesitate.
"What are you?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ash's lips twitched, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. "I'm a wolf shifter," he said, his voice steady. "But not just any wolf. My pack is... was... part of a long line of hunters. We were tasked with tracking down the most dangerous creatures in the world. Phoenixes, among others."
Ember's blood ran cold. Hunters. She'd heard of them—packs and clans dedicated to hunting magical creatures for power, for sport, for control. And now one of them stood in front of her.
But Ash wasn't finished. "I left that life behind years ago," he said, his voice quieter now, tinged with something that sounded like regret. "My pack is hunting me now, too. They don't take kindly to wolves who go rogue."
Ember's gaze hardened. "So why come after me? If you've left that life, why follow me here?"
"I didn't come here for you," Ash said, taking a step closer. "Not at first. I didn't even know you were here until I walked into this village. But now that I know..." He paused, his eyes searching hers. "I think you can help me."
"Help you?" Ember raised an eyebrow, incredulous. "With what?"
Ash's gaze darkened, his expression growing more serious. "My pack is after me because I broke one of their most sacred laws. I let one of their targets escape. A phoenix."
Ember's breath hitched, her pulse racing as a wave of realization washed over her. Another phoenix?
"Where is she?" Ember asked, her voice sharp.
"I don't know," Ash admitted. "She disappeared before I could find her again. But my pack—they're relentless. They'll find her. And when they do..." He trailed off, his expression grim. "They'll kill her. Just like they'll kill you if they find out you're here."
A heavy silence settled between them, the weight of Ash's words sinking in. Ember's mind raced, her instincts screaming at her to run, to flee before the danger caught up to her. But something stopped her.
Ash had risked everything to save a phoenix once before. And now, he was standing in front of her, asking for her help.
She didn't trust him—not yet—but there was something in his eyes, something raw and vulnerable that made her believe he wasn't lying.
Ember took a slow breath. "What do you want from me?"
Ash's gaze softened, and for the first time since they'd met, his voice held a quiet plea. "I want you to help me find her. Before it's too late."
