The Phoenix Fey Saga: The Curse of Violet Blood

Chapter 1

The forest just beyond the cottage was quiet at night, the air chilly with the last exhale of winter. Kenza wasn't thinking about the weather though as she laid between the trees. Instead, her attention was on the distant clear sky and the warmth of Shen at her side. They laid in silence like this often, having known each other so long as to not even need to utter a word to understand one another. Kenza tentatively stretched out her hand, fingers brushing the soft grass before finding Shen's own and delicately interlacing.

A longing sigh escaped Shen, "I wish you would stay."

"You know I can't," Kenza said. She shifted so they lay facing each other. Dappled moonlight shimmered on Shen's face, across his cheeks and lips. His dark hair fell in waves across his forehead. Kenza met Shen's deep brown eyes, "But I'll tell you a secret."

"Oh? What's that?"

"I wish that too."

"That's not much of a secret," Shen said with a smile.

Kenza laughed then became serious, "I would never be able to, I have duties at the court of flames," she ached to tell him everything.

"Well, one day, when you're free, I'll show you a thousand springs, every beautiful thing that you have never known, this forest when it's alive and thriving. I'll give it all to you."

Kenza closed her eyes trying to picture it, a smile forming on her face, "Promise me, please."

Shen leaned in close, taking her into his arms and whispering into her ear, "Promise."

"Lady Kenza!"

The voice of her tutor brought Kenza crashing back to reality. The daydream slipped away so fast she shook her head in shock. "Yes."

"Are you paying attention?" Her snooty tutor looked down her nose at Kenza, her spectacles enlarging her eyes to a ridiculous degree.

Kenza used her last bit of patience not to roll her eyes, "Do you really want me to answer that honestly, Professor Incendos?" she replied in a tone of complete sincerity.

"It would be to your benefit to watch that tongue of yours, my lady." Professor Incendos' feathers bristled, "Now would you please tell me how the Silver Ryders were able to conquer the outer territories of Graceland?"

Kenza took a breath, she definitely should have been more gentle with her Phoenix Fey tutor. Kenza was pretty sure she was seconds from shooting fireballs from her ears. Lucky the question was an easy one, she could hopefully win back Professor Incendos before the end of the lesson, "The Silver Ryders were at a disadvantage because of the bordering lakes. Instead of attacking from the south, they flew into the territories from the east and used the wooded area to gain the upperhand before advancing."

"Very good." Professor Incendos relaxed and continued with the lesson.

Taking a class on the history of combat and war strategy wasn't as easy for some of Kenza's peers, but when your father was the Commander of the prolific Silver Ryders it was easier to remember such things. Regardless, her mind wandered back to places of cool forests and Shen's strong arms.

Kenza stopped herself. Focus, she forced herself to listen to Professor Incendos' long winded lecture. It was getting close to the hour mark, soon she would be released from this class, and not long after that she could return to her mother's cottage and back to Shen in the real world, not just her imagination. Just a few more minutes, hours, days. Kenza sighed.

Professor Incendos glanced at her timepiece, "That should do for your lesson, today."

Kenza rose to leave, "Thank you, may I go?" Kenza began moving for the door without waiting for an answer.