Read Online The Phoenix Charm by Helen Scott Taylor - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Helen Scott Taylor
Tags: Fiction
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killing me.”
Cordelia and Michael exchanged a knowing look. For a second, mirth sparkled in his blue eyes, before it faded to be replaced by an ache of concern that echoed in her own heart. Instinctively, she reached to touch his hand, draw out his pain, heal in the way she’d been born to do.
Before she could touch him, Nightshade stepped between them. He slapped his own hand on top of the gate beside Michael’s, making her step back. He angled his head toward her, long black hair whipping around his face in the breeze. The wicked white points of his fangs flashed beneath his top lip and his eyes narrowed to cruel silver slits.
Memories she’d hidden deep beneath layers of remorse and shame swarmed up: fangs, pain, the metallic stink of blood, so much blood, hot, sticky. A cry clawed at her throat but she clenched her teeth and bit the sound back. Cordelia lurched away. Vaguely aware of treading on Thorn’s foot, she pushed past him to put some distance between herself and the vampire.
“What’s the matter, lass?” Michael strode toward her, confusion creasing his forehead.
He was about to put his arms around her, comfort her; she read the intent on his face. If he embraced her while her defenses were weak, she’d melt into his arms. She stepped away, pressed her back to the fence, and held up a restraining palm. “No, don’t. Just—” She glanced from Michael toNightshade, noted the stalker’s tight lips, clenched jaw. “—just leave me alone.” Her hand found the soft tapestry bag at her side, pushed inside to reach the comforting warmth of Tamsy’s sleeping body.
Michael halted and turned, scanning the area, a puzzled look on his face. “There’s nothing to be scared of yet.” Cordelia shivered. If he’d met Nightshade’s father, he’d understand her fear of nightstalkers.
After a few minutes, the tension eased from her shoulders sufficiently for her to move away from the fence. Her heart still raced, but she was in control again. Thorn watched her, squinting with concern while he rubbed his foot. “All right, Dee?”
She wished he hadn’t talked her into letting him come. His only power, weak glamour, wouldn’t protect him from harm.
“Let’s get a move on,” Nightshade said, giving his words a critical edge.
Michael touched his hand to his forehead in an exaggerated salute, then pointed along the path. “Onward and upward. Nightshade first, Thorn second, Cordelia third. I’ll bring up the rear. I don’t want to leave you two behind again.”
“Huh!” Nightshade turned on his heel and stomped off through the gate. Thorn waited for Cordelia to reach him, then pulled her into a hug. She returned the embrace, proud of the young man he’d become, yet also sad he was no longer her little boy.
As they made their way along a path between the prickly pine-scented branches, they met five groups of walkers coming toward them. Finally, she heard the rushing of water. After the path descended to the river’s edge, they walked beside the water for a short distance, then the white tumble of Sgwd yr Eira falls appeared through the trees.
Michael paused as they approached the cascading waterfall, a tremor of anticipation running through him. He’d only felt half alive since Fin was trapped. Now he was one hidden door away from entering Gwyn ap Nudd’s realm and getting his nephew released.
“Sgwd yr Eira falls,” he said under his breath, scanning the area for humans. “Now the work begins.” He snapped his fingers at Thorn. “Give me the instructions you photocopied from A Thief’s Guide to Unlocking Magical Doors. ”
Cordelia’s eyebrows shot up when Thorn dug in his back pocket and pulled out a folded sheet of paper. She stepped closer and peered over Michael’s arm when he took the page and started reading. “The door should be behind the falls.”
All four of them looked up together. A sheet of bubbly green water pelted down onto a stepped rocky ledge before
Cordelia and Michael exchanged a knowing look. For a second, mirth sparkled in his blue eyes, before it faded to be replaced by an ache of concern that echoed in her own heart. Instinctively, she reached to touch his hand, draw out his pain, heal in the way she’d been born to do.
Before she could touch him, Nightshade stepped between them. He slapped his own hand on top of the gate beside Michael’s, making her step back. He angled his head toward her, long black hair whipping around his face in the breeze. The wicked white points of his fangs flashed beneath his top lip and his eyes narrowed to cruel silver slits.
Memories she’d hidden deep beneath layers of remorse and shame swarmed up: fangs, pain, the metallic stink of blood, so much blood, hot, sticky. A cry clawed at her throat but she clenched her teeth and bit the sound back. Cordelia lurched away. Vaguely aware of treading on Thorn’s foot, she pushed past him to put some distance between herself and the vampire.
“What’s the matter, lass?” Michael strode toward her, confusion creasing his forehead.
He was about to put his arms around her, comfort her; she read the intent on his face. If he embraced her while her defenses were weak, she’d melt into his arms. She stepped away, pressed her back to the fence, and held up a restraining palm. “No, don’t. Just—” She glanced from Michael toNightshade, noted the stalker’s tight lips, clenched jaw. “—just leave me alone.” Her hand found the soft tapestry bag at her side, pushed inside to reach the comforting warmth of Tamsy’s sleeping body.
Michael halted and turned, scanning the area, a puzzled look on his face. “There’s nothing to be scared of yet.” Cordelia shivered. If he’d met Nightshade’s father, he’d understand her fear of nightstalkers.
After a few minutes, the tension eased from her shoulders sufficiently for her to move away from the fence. Her heart still raced, but she was in control again. Thorn watched her, squinting with concern while he rubbed his foot. “All right, Dee?”
She wished he hadn’t talked her into letting him come. His only power, weak glamour, wouldn’t protect him from harm.
“Let’s get a move on,” Nightshade said, giving his words a critical edge.
Michael touched his hand to his forehead in an exaggerated salute, then pointed along the path. “Onward and upward. Nightshade first, Thorn second, Cordelia third. I’ll bring up the rear. I don’t want to leave you two behind again.”
“Huh!” Nightshade turned on his heel and stomped off through the gate. Thorn waited for Cordelia to reach him, then pulled her into a hug. She returned the embrace, proud of the young man he’d become, yet also sad he was no longer her little boy.
As they made their way along a path between the prickly pine-scented branches, they met five groups of walkers coming toward them. Finally, she heard the rushing of water. After the path descended to the river’s edge, they walked beside the water for a short distance, then the white tumble of Sgwd yr Eira falls appeared through the trees.
Michael paused as they approached the cascading waterfall, a tremor of anticipation running through him. He’d only felt half alive since Fin was trapped. Now he was one hidden door away from entering Gwyn ap Nudd’s realm and getting his nephew released.
“Sgwd yr Eira falls,” he said under his breath, scanning the area for humans. “Now the work begins.” He snapped his fingers at Thorn. “Give me the instructions you photocopied from A Thief’s Guide to Unlocking Magical Doors. ”
Cordelia’s eyebrows shot up when Thorn dug in his back pocket and pulled out a folded sheet of paper. She stepped closer and peered over Michael’s arm when he took the page and started reading. “The door should be behind the falls.”
All four of them looked up together. A sheet of bubbly green water pelted down onto a stepped rocky ledge before
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