Page 225 of Nobody's Girl

Grace smiles and says, “You may wish to cover your ears. The boom is quite loud.”

I look at Eden and cover my ears, as does he and the rest of our family. Grace looks up and Rodney looks down, then two simultaneous claps of thunder shake us as they become two giant blackbirds and fly straight up into the air.

I uncover my ears to peer into the night sky. Their dark bodies disappear. A loud shriek makes me throw my hands back over my ears.

We all turn around to face the direction it came from to find them coming in low and landing just in front of us. They stand still and let us touch them.

I’m amazed by them and the fact I’ll soon be one. Their feathers shimmer in the patio lights. So black their feathers are, that they sometimes appear blue.

Gorgeous!

A small squawk comes from Grace, her head nods, and I know she wants us to step back. Both birds close their eyes for about two seconds and they’re back to people again.

“To return to your human form, you simply see yourself as that, and presto, you’re back,” Grace says.

Scotty gawks at them and says, “If I hadn’t seen it, I’d never believe it. I wish I could tell my friends, but they’d call me a liar.”

Rodney looks at him. “You can never tell anyone. You can only talk about our kind with members of The Phoenix Foundation. They’re our protectors and benefactors. It’s them who bought our homes and cars and pay for everything for us.”

“Homes?” I ask.

Grace puts her arm around me as she walks with me. “We have homes all over the world, Alyssa. We’ve taken the home in England for our children and their families to keep after our time as Phoenixes is over and your time begins. Other than that one property, the rest will belong to you and Eden.”

“I can’t believe it. Tell me, Grace, is it a dangerous life we’ll lead?” I ask.

“At times, yes. But we have a superior homeostasis,” Grace says. “Once, I got knocked out of the sky from a great height by an airplane. I fell all the way to the ground, broke several bones, and suffered from bleeding on the brain. I transformed into my human self once I went unconscious. Rodney was fine and he got an ambulance, saying I’d fallen from a helicopter we were riding in that was not nearly as far up as I really was.”

I look at her with sadness. “Oh, that’s terrible.”

“It all turned out fine. Thanks to our ability to heal faster than normal humans, I was better in a week. Thankfully, we have doctors all over the world who are part of our protectors and he was able to help me,” she says, then gives me a squeeze. “The doctor who cared for you after your little accident is one of them, as is your Doctor Baker, or Byron, as we like to call him. Did you know it was me who stopped you from running into the path of that truck?”

“I didn’t know that,” I say, “But I have flash backs of the two of you being there, though I saw nothing at the time.”

“I caught you up by your shoulders and flew up a bit with you. The fright must have made you pass out, and when I placed you on the ground you fell a bit harder then I meant for you to,” she says with a frown. “I’m sorry for that, Alyssa. I didn’t mean to. You see, that’s why it’s time to let you guys take over. We aren’t as strong as we used to be.”

I pat her hand and say, “You’ve done enough in your time, I’m sure. We’ll take over and make you proud, I promise.”

“I know you will, dear. In a matter of days, the adventure which will be your long life will begin. I’m happy to have met you and Eden. The Phoenix legacy is safe with you two,” she says with a hug.

I cannot believe it. I’m a legacy!

CHAPTER 28

EDEN

Never could I have imagined how complete I could feel. Alyssa has been enlightened and we are finally as we were meant to be.

I’m truly sorry I kept this from us both for so long. So much pain we’ve both suffered for no real reason. And now Kyle is attached to my mate forever.

Wish I’d seen that coming!

We’re on the jet headed back to Cloudcroft for Alyssa’s graduation. My parents came too. They’re enthralled with Alyssa, never having had a daughter of their own to bestow dainty gifts on and chat with.

I am not a chatter.

Instead of sitting with my mate, I’m playing video games with Scotty. He and I need to bond, Alyssa told me. He’s a nice kid and he’s kicking my ass at this game that I’ve been playing for years.

Alyssa sends me little thoughts now and again, telling me she loves me and wants me. I send them back, along with how I’m going to devour her tomorrow after we’re married.