A bead of sweat trickled down Nix’s forehead as she exhaled heavily and growled, “No.”
“You are angry with time’s choice to punish you? Then, change it.”
The Goddess began to fade, as did the orange tint to the air.
“Wait! About m-my mother—”
“Phoenix spirits leave behind embers—echoes waiting to be reignited. If you wish to know more,listen.”
Listen? To what? Nix might be able to speak to her mother?
Before the Goddess disappeared, she said, smiling coyly, “Burn it all down, phoenix. And maybe, you will be our new favorite.”
CHAPTER 43
When time resumed, Nix heard the humming sound of Lemmuns’s horrific drill in Ryker’s throat.
She closed her eyes as she heard her mate bellow with pain.
She felt the flame in her chest.
She thought of the ancestors the Goddess told her about. Fighters and warriors, disguised as mothers, daughters, and girls.
She thought about allshehad endured in her life.
My anger is not their weapon—it is my awakening.
I will stand—for every woman forced to kneel.
I will burn—for every story extinguished and erased.
She let it build and build, growing her warm flame.
I will rise, not only for them, but for me.
I will rise.
I will rise—
And she let it, finally, explode.
With a battle-cry-worthy scream, Nix’s entire body erupted into ruby red flames. Not her normal fire, the flames meltedthe collar from her neck until the silver metal dripped down her naked chest, down her thighs, and onto the ground at her flaming feet.
She stood, breaking through the leather restraints on the chair as her flames hungrily deteriorated the restrictive straps. She blurred, with unknown speed, to where Lemmuns held the drill over Ryker.
Placing her hands over his, she burned his flesh, and the mad scientist howled and released his hold over the thin drill. She pulled it from her mate and pushed the metal through Lemmuns’s chest with such ease—as if the man were made of puffy, vaporous clouds.
Hands now freed, Nix laid her fingers over Ryker’s collar and ripped the melted metal from his neck.
Ryker growled animalistically as his shifter abilities and healing came rushing back to him. Breathing heavily on the metal table, Ryker grabbed one of Nix’s hands and kissed the back of it.
She squeezed his palm but stepped away from him. She quickly released Bael and Persius the same way, melting their collars with her flaming hands.
The men were speechless as she saved them. They rubbed their necks and tested their wings, shifting to ensure their powers were back.
Finally, she stepped up in front of Thierry’s statue-stiff, stone body.
“I still need to finish your class, professor,” she said softly as she wrapped her arms around the stone chest.
