The fire dims. Still there, still powerful, but controlled.
"Good," I praise, and we do it again. And again. Building the muscle memory, teaching his body that emotions don't have to equal loss of control.
By the time the sun starts setting, Stellan can maintain a steady flame in his palm that doesn't waver regardless of what I say or do. The fire sits there, controlled and beautiful, responding to his will rather than his fear.
"You did it," I say, unable to keep the pride out of my voice.
Stellan stares at the flame in wonder, then looks at me with those orange-tinged eyes. "I couldn't have done it without you."
Something warm blooms in my chest, cutting through the constant cold of my essence. Before I can overthink it, I pull him into a hug. His heat surrounds me, perfect and safe, and I feel more alive in this moment than I have in four years.
"Thank you," Stellan murmurs against my neck. "For understanding. For helping. For not being afraid of me."
I hold him tighter, my cold wrapping around his heat like a cocoon. "I could never be afraid of you, firebird. You're part of my family now. We don't abandon family."
And it's true. These five Magila. Skye with his infinite compassion and worried eyes, Jade with his dark humor and hidden vulnerability, Rumi with his fierce loyalty and divine strength, Ambrose with his quiet wisdom and terrible sacrifices, and Stellan with his gentle fire and phoenix heart. They're not just my mates.
They're my family. The family I chose, the family I died and came back for, the family I'll protect with everything I have.
Even from the Council itself, if necessary. Even from Death itself, if it comes to that.
Because I'm Death's walker, caught between worlds, but I choose life. I choose them.
Always.
7
RUMI
Onthethirdday,I decide that what Stellan needs isn't more gentle encouragement or emotional regulation. What he needs is to be pushed past his limits so hard that he breaks through to the other side. Jade got him comfortable with partial transformation through passion and feeding. Harlow taught him temperature control through meditation and balance.
But Stellan is still holding back, still afraid of his own power.
We have four days left until the essence hunters arrive. Four days to get Stellan to the point where he can transform completely, on command, without fear. I know how to do that because it's what someone should have done for me years ago, instead of letting me believe my chaos was something to be ashamed of.
"We're going flying," I announce, manifesting my wings in the middle of the training room where we're all gathered. The massive golden appendages spread wide, knocking over a practice dummy with a crash that makes everyone look up.
Stellan looks up from where he's been meditating with Harlow, and the immediate resistance shows in his body language. "I can't fly. Not in human form, and the phoenix form is..."
"Is what you need to practice," I cut him off. My essence crackles with impatience, but also with certainty. This is the right path. I can feel it in my bones. "Come on, firebird. You can manifest wings now thanks to Jade. Time to use them."
Stellan's eyes dart to Skye, clearly looking for permission or maybe rescue. Our Praestes sits cross-legged on the floor, pink aura visible around him as he works through some kind of meditation Mother Nature apparently taught him last night. But Skye just smiles and waves Stellan on.
"Listen to Rumi. He knows what he's talking about when it comes to wings."
I grin at my mate, grateful for the support, then focus back on Stellan with the full weight of my power. "Come on. Roof. Now."
I don't wait for agreement, just turn and head for the door. My wings fold against my back as I move through the hallway, and Stellan follows reluctantly, his hesitation pulsing through the bond marks we all share. Jade, Ambrose, Harlow, and Skye trail behind us. None of them are willing to let Stellan out of sight for long.
By the time we reach the roof, all six of us stand together, which is exactly how it should be. My mates arrange themselves around the edge of the space, ready to watch or help as needed. Skye's pink aura pulses with encouragement. Jade's purple energy radiates hunger and excitement. Harlow flickers between solid and translucent, his death-sight monitoring everything.And Ambrose has that calculating look he gets when he's already planning for every possible outcome.
The sun is setting, painting the sky in oranges and golds that match Stellan's fire perfectly, something inside me humming with approval at the symbolism. This is the right time, the right place. Balance demands it.
"Manifest your wings," I order, spreading my own in demonstration. The golden light catches the sunset, making them glow like they're made of divine fire themselves.
Stellan closes his eyes, concentrating in that way he does when he's trying too hard. The phoenix wings emerge from his back. Beautiful white-gold flames that don't burn but shimmer like living light. My nature recognizes another fundamental force, another creature that exists outside the normal rules.
"Good. Now jump."
