Courting the Phoenix Read online

  After years of avoiding her dragon, the phoenix potential finds that there is nowhere to run. Let the courtship begin.

  Elly has known she was going to become the phoenix for twelve years. She just didn’t want it to happen quite yet.

  When she meets Terric in person for the first time, there is no going back. Her transformation is underway. Her body is becoming fire and there is nothing she can do to stop it.

  Terric has been looking for the phoenix since he felt the first stirrings of her power in the world around him. When he meets Elly and they dance, he knows that she is the one he has been waiting for, but his patience is running out.

  She demands a proper courtship, and he complies. After all, how long had he already waited?

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  Courting the Phoenix

  Copyright © 2013 Viola Grace

  ISBN: 978-1-77111-772-2

  Cover art by Martine Jardin

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

  Published by Devine Destinies

  An imprint of eXtasy Books

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  Courting the Phoenix

  A Nexus Universe Tale

  By

  Viola Grace

  Chapter One

  It began at a wedding…

  Eilinora had watched him come toward her, and her skin heated at the slow glide of his limbs. She could hear her mother and sister whispering.

  “That’s Terric the Black. Why is he coming over here?”

  Elly smiled nervously as he got closer. “Because I can’t avoid him anymore.”

  “Elly, you have met him?” Talinora stared at her with wide eyes.

  “No. I haven’t met him.” Not in this lifetime anyway. “That is what is about to happen.”

  He paused near their table. “Ladies, I would like to introduce myself. My name is Terric.”

  Elly looked up into his face. He was speaking to them all but looking directly in her direction.

  Andora smiled at him and made the introductions. “I am Andora Dyanhart, and these are my daughters, Talinora and Eilinora. We are of the air elemental clan.”

  He inclined his head to each of them and bowed. “I am the current king of dragons.”

  As he straightened, there was a tearing sound and his formal suit split down the back to allow his wings to emerge.

  Elly’s mother got all flustered. “Please, join us. The dancing is just beginning but neither of my daughters is prone to dancing.”

  He took the chair next to Elly and his shoulders canted toward her.

  “So, are you friends of the bride or the groom?” He smiled.

  Andora answered. “We are from the bride’s side. My cousin married into the Matriarch’s line a few decades ago.”

  Elly could feel heat coming off Terric’s body. She saw him smiling and noticed him looking down at her black and silver gown. Damn. She had worn his colours. His eyes were glowing silver as she had that thought.

  She blushed furiously and her skin heated perceptibly, she brushed at her skirt.

  “Lady Eilinora, would you favour me with a dance?”

  She cleared her throat. “As my mother has said, sir, I am not prone to dancing.”

  She felt a magical jab to her back, and she winced. “I mean to say, I would be happy to, sir.”

  “Terric, please. Sir was the last knight I consumed.” He smiled winningly and got to his feet, his hand extended to her.

  She skimmed her palm along his lightly, and the spark that passed between them caused both of them to jump slightly. Elly let him help her to her feet, and she paused with him at the edge of the dancers firmly involved in their turns around the floor. When the song ended and Hellebore the siren took a quick break to have a drink of water, Terric turned her in his arms, one hand holding hers and the other on her waist.

  The music started up, and he stepped toward her, she backed up out of reflex, and soon, they were dancing.

  The moment he got her away from her family, he asked, “Do they know?”

  She shook her head. “I don’t think so. We are air mages. We always have been. The magic that I use daily falls within that scope.”

  “You have been hiding in plain sight. I have seen you before.”

  Her cheeks were hot. “Yes, you have. Who told you?”

  Terric chuckled. “The consort of the Nexus. He was upset that she would not tell me; she was upset that he did. I am guessing that his bed will be very cold for a few days.”

  She ducked her head at the mental image of Terric’s bed and concentrated on moving with him to the music.

  “Are you afraid of me?” Terric whispered.

  She brought her head up fast, glaring up at him. “No. I am just dealing with a few unexpected things. I was not counting on you to talk to me tonight.”

  “Yet, you dressed in my colours.”

  “It was unintentional. I normally dress in silver and black when I go out. It flatters my hair.” She smirked.

  “I see. Well, your hair is lovely if rather unadorned.”

  “Today is the bride’s day. You don’t get in the way of that. Ever.” She winked.

  He inclined his head. “It seems you were born with wisdom.”

  “Oh, no, that is something you learn at your first wedding with a psychotic bride. Nothing should be done to upset her on her big day, especially in our community.” She chuckled and his hand held her a little closer.

  “I have waited for you a very long time, Eilinora.”

  He leaned in and she leaned back.

  “You will have to wait a little more. The Nexus’s wedding will be soon, well, as soon as it takes for Xander to get his courage up. You can begin calling on me after that.”

  He blinked. “You are dictating the terms of our joining?”

  “Yes. It will happen, you know where I am now, but the Nexus has brought us all together and nothing will happen to detract in the slightest from her union. Face it, based on the histories, our coming together is a very big deal.”

  He snorted, and she could swear that she saw a burst of fire from his nose. “Fine, but I want your full name, number and location. The moment that they have been cleared away, the courtship will begin.”

  She sighed. “Deal. You dance with either my sister or my mother now and I will write everything down for you.”

  “Why must I dance with them?”

  “Propriety, Terric. You don’t want to let everyone here know what I am yet, now do you?”

  His features darkened and he held her tight for a moment. “No one is getting between us, Eilinora.”

  She fought the urge to touch his cheek. Being the phoenix without her dragon was dangerous. She had lived with that danger since she figured out what she was. Until she and Terric joined, she wouldn’t be at full power or gain her other form, but she was willing to wait just a little bit longer. From what she had heard of the Nexus and Xander, she wouldn’t have to wait long.

  * * * *

  At the table of the elf lords, Rihadu looked to his father. “Do you think that she is what I think she is?”

  Lord Merano looked at the woman in the dragon lord’s arms and cocked his head. “I have seen Eilinora since she was a child. There have never been indications that she is the one.”

  “He seems to think so.”

  “You don’t know what he thinks. He may just be enjoying a dance with a pretty woman. There, see? He is dancing with her mother. It is perfectly proper and nothing suspicious as all.” Lord Merano looked to his son, “That said, keep a watcher on her. If she is the one, we might be able to harness that power before he does.”

  Rihadu looked over at the slight young woman as she sat and fiddled with a pen. Could she be the phoenix, and if so, did she know that the end of the world as they knew it resided inside her?

  Chapter Two

  And it resumed at another wedding…

  Everyone who was someone in the magical world was here, and Elly had to stop herself from looking around and searching for Terric.

  He had been true to his word. She got the occasional email from him but nothing involved. The email had surprised her, but his email address made her giggle. DesperateDragon@BlackDragonEnt had made her laugh out loud.

  “Who are you looking for, Elly?” Her mother fussed with Elly’s hair a little, pulling out the occasional curl from the soft chignon.

  “Oh, no one. There is just someone here from every population. There is so much to see.”

  Her mother patted her hand and looked around from their table at the reception. Xander and Abby were well and truly wed, elves were ever
ywhere, and there was love in the air, as well as pixies.

  One of the giggling lasses dive-bombed their table, and Elly extended her hand in invitation. The tiny woman stood on her hand and spoke in a high-pitched squeak that was rapid-fire.

  “I am sorry, I don’t understand.”

  The bride came up behind Elly and whispered, “She wants to know why you don’t have your wings yet.”

  Elly looked at the Nexus and blinked. “Oh. I am waiting for the right guy, I guess.”

  “He is waiting for you; after we leave the reception, it is no-holds barred.” Abby gave her a hug and a shot of magic that made Elly’s skin gleam.

  “Thank you, Nexus. Congratulations on your formalization.”

  Elly looked over at her mother and noticed that she was staring in shock with her mouth open. “Oh, Abby, Nexus of power for our generation, this is my mother, Andora Dyanhart.”

  Abby moved over and shook Andora’s hand. “Thanks for coming to my big day.”

  Elly watched her mother pull her composure together and shake the Nexus’s hand in return. “I wish you joy.”

  “I already have it.”

  Abby gave Elly a jaunty wave and continued on, greeting her guests.

  Elly sat with her mother, and when her sister returned from the ladies room, Andora filled her in on their visitor, and Talinora was bitter that she had missed the visit.

  Elly sipped at her wine, watched the dancing and kept her eyes out for a dark pair of wings. Her pixie fluttered by and perched on her shoulder, singing along with the music and chattering softly.

  It was nice to have a tiny friend for a while, even if it did ultimately have to go home with the Nexus.

  Elly sat and waited for her dragon to show up, enjoying the entire magical community out to celebrate the Nexus and her nuptials.

  A prickle on the back of her neck made her turn her head slightly. She had felt him in the air, but the huge crowd had kept him from her vision. Now, there was no such restriction.

  “Miss Eilinora, may I have this dance?”

  She blinked when the voice she heard was not the one she was expecting.

  A handsome elf wearing the crest of one of the high families was standing next to her.

  She blinked, “I am sorry, sir, I do not think we have been introduced.”

  “I am Lord Rihadu of the Scar Clan. Would you care to dance?”

  His hair was white and there was a black lock at the front. Aside from that, he was a cookie-cutter elf, tall, fine featured and elegant.

  She slowly got to her feet and grudgingly held her hand out to Rihadu.

  He escorted her to the dance floor, and they shifted formally around and through the other couples.

  “My sister is much more attractive, sir. Why did you not ask her?”

  Rihadu leaned in and whispered, “Because she is not the phoenix potential. We have the dragon, and provided that you go with me, no harm will come to him.”

  “No.”

  The elf stiffened against her. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean no. I am not going with you. The dragon is on his own and you are one crazy bastard.” She worked up a blast of air and shoved him backward, returning to her family table as quickly as she could.

  “Wow, he was handsome.”

  Elly grimaced. “And handsy. Elves think a little too highly of themselves. If he comes again, tell him to go blow.”

  Andora looked indignant on Elly’s behalf. “I will give him a piece of my mind.”

  “Don’t do that, but do go to the guild master and make small talk. He won’t come after you then.” She picked up her clutch purse and opened her senses wide. He was close to her, but he was stressed. She was going to have to move fast.

  She was wearing a flame red gown with silver and gold trim tonight. As she strode off to the edges of the party, she sighed mentally. The dress was going to be a write-off.

  Terric was near, and with every step, her connection to him grew closer until she entered a copse of trees and found the clearing where Terric was being held.

  Overkill seemed to be the wisest course of action for them. Terric was wearing piles of chains and crystals and medallions of confinement were everywhere.

  Three elf guards were watching the woods.

  Wow. This is going to be tricky.

  Terric’s head came up, and he cast a quick glance in her direction. They may not be linked yet, but he could sense her now.

  The creepy elf had threatened him but not her family. As head of the dragons, Terric had plenty of folk who could come to his rescue, but no one knew that he was in trouble.

  Elly concentrated and sent a coil of air under one of the medallions. It quivered and slowly lifted up and away from Terric.

  She set it down behind him, checked to see if the guards had caught on and went back in for a second crystal.

  The elves looked her way when one of her air columns got too close to their legs. She concentrated on thinking breezy thoughts and sent a curl of air past them from the other direction. Using air magic this precisely was exhausting, but she only had two more charms to go.

  The elves were starting sweeps to find her, so she timed herself and rolled past them and into the area they had just scanned. She bit her lip as she felt her dress give way. Damn.

  Elly teased and untangled the last two amulets. She was wiped out.

  Terric tested the chains, and instead of snapping them, the metal heated and melted away from him. With a crack like lightning, Terric’s wings came out of his back, and he got to his feet.

  The elves threw spells, and Elly kept her head down. In a few seconds, the guards were on their faces or backs.

  When the coast was clear, she got to her feet and approached him.

  He stepped toward her. “Eilinora, why did you come?”

  She extended her hand to his, and he brought it to his lips for a lingering kiss.

  “I didn’t want to turn myself in on your behalf. I do apologize.”

  “I am a little upset that you have risked yourself, but I thank you for your efforts.”

  “Well, you haven’t begun your courtship, and I would not deprive myself of something to look forward to.” She grinned.

  “Shall we join the party?” He smiled.

  “Yes, and while we do, you should explain to me how they got the jump on you to begin with.”

  He wrapped her in his arms and his wings flared out. With a tremendous shove of his legs, they were airborne and Elly was holding on for dear life.

  She was surprised by how far she had walked in her heels. With him flying them, they landed at the edge of the party in moments.

  “You wore red today.”

  “It is a colour of celebration.” She smirked. “Now that I know you are watching, I will be avoiding your colours for a while.”

  “Why? I like you in my colours.”

  She chuckled, “Because you have not won me over to your side.”

  “So, you are going to make me work for this?”

  “Of course. Nothing worthwhile is not worth winning through hard work.” Elly smiled, “My grandmother was good with sayings but always made them longer than they had to be.”

  “I can see that.” He took her hand and escorted her back into the throng.

  She imagined that they made quite the image. He was wearing the scuffs and grime from a fight and she was in a grass-stained gown with a rip over the hip.

  The elf from earlier was nowhere to be seen as Terric returned her to her family.

  “Lord Terric, I see you have found Elly. Thank you for returning her to us.” Her mother smiled and invited him to sit.

  “She has found me, and I would like to take this opportunity to ask you for permission to call upon her.”

  Elly watched her mother carefully, and when she nodded nervously, Elly sat back with a sigh of relief. It wasn’t like she would refuse Terric, but there was always a chance.

  Her sister sat with her mouth open, “But why?”

  Terric grinned, “Because I have been looking for her all my life, and now that I have found her, she is not getting away.”

  It would sound sinister to anyone else’s ears, but to Elly, it was the sweetest sentence she had ever heard. Her dragon was coming courting.