Phoenix13: Resurrection (Phoenix13 Book 3)

Part #13: Not Easily Conquered: Chapter Two

Chapter Two

Once Roxanne had collected every piece of the broken blade, Kalligan stepped out into the center of Stonehenge's inner ring. "We need to leave." He stood tall as he spoke, marveling at his own composure in the face of what was easily the biggest disaster in human history. Without the cursed piece of Jason's soul tethering him to human weakness, Kalligan found himself reverting to his godly form; for all intents and purposes, Zephyr was taking over.

Bree moved slowly to Kalligan's side, holding up Sterling's limp weight with a grim, determined expression. She'd slipped an arm around his back, the other draped across the front of his torso. Sterling's head lolled limply on her shoulder, feet dragging in the scuffed-up snow. "The others are all dead," Bree said. Her voice was low, hollow. "Sullivan and Jason are probably with Rosetta."

"Deyanira," Kalligan corrected, spitting the name like poison. "They're with her, I know it. She took them."

Roxanne nodded. She slid the last shard of the shattered sword into her folded fur coat, tucking the bundle under her arm. She cradled it like a baby, careful not to let it slip as she strode back toward Bree and Kalligan. "That's the last of it," she said. She glanced up at the sky, blinking as raindrops splashed across her sharply defined cheeks. "Let's move. Before the storm gets any worse."

Kalligan nodded his agreement. He hardly felt the chill of the rain and ice falling from the darkened sky, but knew that, especially for Sterling and Ariel, it was important to find shelter soon. After their terrible ordeal, the last thing any of them needed was to catch cold.

They set out side-by-side, Kalligan carrying Ariel in his arms, Bree half-dragging Sterling's unconscious body by her side, and Roxanne clutching the precious bundle of shattered metal shards to her chest.

. . . . . .

Piper Morgan West was not a patient woman. Beauty, brains, and a quick temper had always gotten her what she wanted, when she wanted. Waiting was not her forte.

So when the guard outside Rosetta's chambers repeated told her that she'd have to wait to see the Queen, Morgan knocked him aside, undid the lock on the door with quick, nimble fingers, and was inside the room before anyone could do anything to stop her.

Rosetta stood in the middle of the room, clothed in a luxurious white gown, her emerald eyes flashing as she turned to look at Morgan. "Ah, Miss West." Her smile was tight as a rubber band stretched between two towers. "I had assumed you'd left the city."

"And why would I do that?" Morgan crossed her arms. Her eyes narrowed, and her lip turned up to reveal pristine white teeth, the canines sharp and long.

Rosetta shrugged, her smile growing smug. "It's over, Shifter girl. I've won. Dominion over Aridiya is mine."

Morgan shook her head. Her arms uncrossed, hands balling into fists by her sides. A growl built in her chest, deep and hollow as mourning bells in a plague-ravaged city. "Where's Jason?" A part of her didn't want to ask, to know an answer that could only bring her pain. "What did you do with him?"

Rosetta tilted her head, auburn hair falling in luscious waves against her pale neck and breast. "The Thirteenth Phoenix has served one purpose, yet his usefulness has not run out. Before my Red Dawn breaks anew—and it will soon enough—my greatest weapon must be polished and honed to perfection. Without the compliance of my creation, Zephyr may still destroy me. I cannot let that happen."

"Your creation?" Morgan snarled, taking a step closer. Rosetta watched her with gentle amusement, unphased by the beast-like fury growing in Morgan's golden eyes.