Fireheart

Chapter 31

We get back to the suite in the very dead of night, our hearts singing with joy and our bodies locked in the afterglow. Phoenix is hesitant to let me sleep, his drive keeping me awake much further into the night.
When I eventually do sleep, it's deep and ends just twenty minutes before the meetings are set to start.
I pull on a deep purple blouse with leather pants. Phoenix, of course, wears his familiar outfit.
As we eat a quick breakfast made of oats, I stare at the new tattoo that covers my left hand. I smile as I take in the same tattoo on Phoenix's right hand.
"Lady of the Flame." Phoenix says to me as we leave.
"Clan Leader." I pur back. He kisses me deeply as we join hands and walk to the Meeting Room.
Phoenix is visibly surprised as he realizes that Aspen, who called the meeting, is not in the Meeting Room when we arrive.
"Where is Aspen?" Phoenix asks Jimmin as we sit.
"I do not know, Phoenix." He responds. He looks shaken by something.
Martina and I pick up a conversation about books as Phoenix and Jimmin move to talk on the other side of the room. After some time, the doors fly open.
"I swear to the heavens I will not keep quiet about this, Aspen!" I hear Rebecca yell.
"Everything okay, Aspen?" Phoenix asks.
"Cut the shit, Phoenix." Aspen growls.
"Why did you do it, Jimmin?" Aspen says, slamming his hands down on the table. Rebecca stands behind him, tapping her foot and fuming.
"Quit tapping your fucking foot." Aspen says to her. I take a step towards Rebecca, who does as she is told.
"I do not understand what you mean, Aspen." Jimmin says, meeting Aspen's gaze. His violet eyes hold fury I've rarely seen in a person.
"You know what the fuck you did."
"Explain, Aspen." Phoenix says, stealing a glance at me and Rebecca.
"My Frozen Palace was attacked last night." Aspen said, not taking his eyes off of Jimmin.
"And the attackers that were captured claimed Shamol blood."
"THAT IS NOT TRUE!" Jimmin yelled, slamming his own hands down on the table.
"Wait, let's chill and figure out what exactly happened." I say to the men. Jimmin looks over at me and sits back in his chair. Aspen continues to stand.
"The Church of Thanom attacked my territory last night. The attackers claimed they are of Shamol alliance."
"I have no clue what you are talking about, Aspen." Jimmin said. "I have no known Church charters in my territory."
"That matters not." Aspen said, not taking his eyes off of Jimmin. "Because of this attack, I must declare war on the Shamol Clan."
"That's ridiculous!" Rebecca screamed from behind her husband.
"All you want to do is pursue this petty grudge against Jimmin. Why don't you grow up?!"
Aspen glared at her with fury in his eyes.
"I have heard enough about this out of you! If you're jealous, why don't you just say so, Rebecca?"
I looked at the both of them.
"Why would she be jealous?" I asked.
"No reason." Aspen replied, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Aspen doesn't like Jimmin because Scarlet was Jimmin's half-sister. He didn't approve of their marriage." Rebecca said, continuing to glare at Aspen.
"I told you not to reveal that." Aspen spat at her.
"Why does that leave you with a grudge?" Phoenix asked Aspen.
"Because I could've cured Scarlet's sickness." Jimmin said. He hung his head in shame at the words.
"All I had to do was give her some of my blood. It was a sickness that ran through our mother's side of the family. But because she married Aspen, I denied her that blood."
"He took away the love of my life." Aspen said. "Because he didn't like us together."
The room was suspended in silence. We all looked at each other. I glanced at Phoenix, who wore a calm mask. However, I'm sure he was as confused and mad as I was.
"But this war is not about Scarlet." Aspen whispered into the room.
"This war is because Shamol church members attacked my territory."
"Aspen." Rebecca said. The look in her eyes told me she didn't believe anything Aspen was saying.
Aspen turned towards her and raised his hand.
"I have heard enough out of you!"
A loud crack rang through the room.
Rebecca fell to the floor, holding her reddened cheek.
"One more word and there will be more." He growled at her.
My vision turned dark gray.
It felt like the world moved in slow motion as I raised my hand.
A brilliant wall of red fire hit Aspen, and he screamed as the flames devoured him.
As he was covered in flames, I jumped on him. I bit into his neck, my teeth going deep.
"Fyre, stop!" I heard Rebecca yell.
I growled as I felt strong arms under my arms. Phoenix heaved and managed to pull me off of Aspen. His blood coated my mouth.
Aspen looked to Phoenix, his eyes wide and wild.
"Your wife has claimed your side. I suggest you prepare for war, Phoenix."
Aspen charged out of the room, leaving Rebecca sobbing in the floor. Jimmin and Martina stood on the other side of the room, Jimmin standing protectively in front of his wife.
I swallowed Aspen's blood and kneeled to Rebecca on the floor. Wolf had a tight grip on my mind, but when I was able to speak, I apologized.
"I'm so sorry." I whispered to her.
"S'okay." She whispered back, finally letting go of her cheek. It was still angry and red, but she would be okay.
"I will try to talk him out of this war, but as for now, I would return to your territories. He may be serious." Rebecca said, standing.
We said our goodbyes to her and Jimmin and made our way back to the suite in silence.
Phoenix grabbed my hand and turned me to him when we made it to our suite.
"I am very sorry he hurt her." He said to me. "I should've jumped on him before you did. I am sorry."
"Don't worry about it, Phoenix." I said.
"Let's get packed."
Packing our bags did not take long. So when we were finished, we laid on the bed, unable to talk or sleep. Morning came roughly and we packed the carriage with no hesitation. We left the Neutral City at sunrise.
I, for one, did not wish to leave.
But deep in my heart, I knew Aspen was serious about war.
I could only pray to Broxly that it would not hurt my family in any way.