Chapter 180: The Phoenix
**James**
We all finally reach Avery. She is different, but still our Avery. Her wounds are healing rapidly, too rapidly. Then I see the cause for her transformation. Donn lay dead before her. I bow my head at his sacrifice, one we all would have made for Avery and the life she carries in her womb. As Avery rises, the void around her shudders, as if the very fabric of reality is protesting her newfound power. Her gown shifts, mending itself as if woven by an unseen hand, and her crown gleams with a light that rivals the stars. She stands tall, her curvy figure commanding attention, but it’s her eyes—those fucking eyes—that hold everyone’s gaze. They’re no longer just green; they’re a storm of colors, swirling with the darkness she’s consumed.
Cassius is the first to approach her, his lean, athletic frame tense with worry. “Avery,” he says, his voice careful. “Are you—?”
“I’m fine,” she cuts him off, her tone sharp. She turns to the rest of the group, her gaze sweeping over Clint, Conner, Vincent, me, and the others. “But Donn—he’s gone. He gave his life for mine.”
The words hang heavy in the air, and for a moment, no one speaks. Clint’s jaw tightens, his blue eyes dark with grief, while Conner’s broad shoulders sag as if bearing the weight of the world. Jace, ever graceful, steps forward, his violet eyes filled with sorrow. “We’ll find him,” he says, his voice steady. “We’ll bring him back.”
Avery’s lips twist into a bitter smile. “You don’t understand. He’s not just gone. He’s in me. His soul, his strength—it’s a part of me now. But I can feel him, somewhere, waiting. And I won’t rest until I find him.”
Vincent, his tall, muscular frame commanding as ever, steps forward, his amber eyes glowing with a light of their own. “Then we’ll help you,” he says, his voice a low rumble. “We’re not losing another one of our own.”
The group nods, a silent pact forming among us. But as we begin to discuss the next steps, Avery’s gaze lingers on the void, her expression unreadable. She can feel Donn, a faint echo of his presence, like a whisper in the dark. And she knows, with every fiber of her being, that she’ll find him.
Because she’s Avery, and she doesn’t fucking give up.
Not on him. Not on any of us.
Not ever.
**Avery**
The Primal Flame roars within me, a tempest of light and heat that sears through the void, leaving nothing but ash in its wake. Donn’s raven form feels impossibly light in my arms, his feathers brushing against my skin like silk. I can feel the weight of his absence already, even as I hold him close, his small body a stark contrast to the man I know—tall, athletic, always smirking like he’s got the world by the balls. My heart aches with the knowledge that he’s not truly here, not fully, but I cling to him anyway, my fingers trembling as we plummet through the shattered darkness.
Then, with a jolt that sends a shockwave through my bones, we land.
Altima Island...
The air is thick with the scent of blooming flowers—jasmine, yes, but also something wilder, something ancient and untamed. It’s the smell of life, of possibility, of hope. The ground beneath my feet is soft, moss-covered, and it vibrates with a strange, pulsating energy, like the island itself is alive and breathing. All around us, creatures of light and shadow move in a mesmerizing dance, their forms blurring between beauty and terror. A dragon with scales shimmering like opals soars overhead, its wings casting rainbows across the forest floor, while a creature with the body of a deer and the antlers of a stag—but made entirely of shadow—grazes peacefully beside a stream of liquid silver.
My mates materialize around me, their forms solidifying as if they’ve been pulled from the ether itself. Cassius stands tall, his blue eyes blazing with determination, his lean, athletic frame coiled like a spring ready to snap. Clint’s blue gaze is fierce and protective, his casual yet refined attire doing little to hide the raw power beneath. Conner’s strategic mind is already whirring, his sharp features set in a frown as he scans the horizon, his dragon-scale patterned belt glinting in the strange light. James, regal and commanding, cuts through the surreal atmosphere with his presence, his bright green eyes piercing through the chaos. Vincent, his tattoos glowing with an otherworldly light, exudes both danger and allure, his dual-hued eyes shifting between amber and black like a storm brewing.
But Donn… Donn is gone.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
