Brayden released her. “I’m a phoenix.”
“And I want a full description of what that entails as soon as we’re out of here.” Scarlett turned to James and hugged him briefly. “Thank you for coming after me.”
“Of course. I told you not to come out here—the woods are full of wraiths.” He shuddered.
“Thatwas a wraith?” Scarlett looked at the burned piles of ash. “How are people living so close to a forest with wraiths?”
A wolf howled, far too close, and Scarlett’s whole body shuddered.
“Yep. We’re leaving. Now.” Brayden’s tone left no room for argument. He and James walked on either side of Scarlett as they hurried back to the road.
Brayden didn’t stop scanning the trees as they moved. Scarlett relaxed when the SUV came into sight, but her mind was still reeling from what she’d just seen.
Back on the road, Brayden ran a hand through his hair as he stood with his back to the forest. “For future reference, don’t look wraiths in the eyes. They’ll literally eat you if they get close enough.”
Her eyes went wide as she pictured those puckered mouths tearing into her flesh. “I willnevergo into the woods alone again. What the hell are wraiths though?”
“They’re lost souls trapped in the woods for a thousand years as a punishment for abuse of magic. The government stopped punishing people that way when the Hieratian Empire fell, but there are still a ton in the woods,” said Brayden. “Are you sure you’re okay? I’ve never looked them in the eye. It’s supposed to be really strange.”
“Itwasstrange, like I couldn’t focus on anything but its eyes. I’m fine now though. Thanks to you. Thank you for saving me.”Then she smacked him on the shoulder. “Why didn’t you ever tell me you could do that? And what’s a phoenix?” Scarlett shivered again. It was freezing out here.
Brayden’s focus was all on her as he wrapped an arm around her and steered her toward the SUV. “Let’s get in the car, and I’ll tell you.”
Scarlett sat in the front seat. James made to get into the driver’s seat, but Brayden elbowed him aside. Scarlett raised an eyebrow as he climbed in and started the engine, pointing the vents so the hot air warmed her. Touched by the kind gesture, she gave him a grateful smile as she held her hands up to the vents.
The engine idled as Brayden shifted to face her. “All adults in Clair de Lune receive a magical gift we call a valor. My valor is the phoenix. I wield fire, and I’m really hard to kill.”
“Valor… Dr. Bowen mentioned that term. Are you a shifter? Like the people at that boxing match I told you about?”
“No. I don’t shift into a literal phoenix—I can just create fire. Lots and lots of fire.”
She cocked her head to one side. “Why’d you keep that a secret from me?”
He gave her some serious side-eye. “I didn’t think you’d want to hear it. You got nervous every time I brought up anything to do with magic, so I kept that part of my life to myself.”
Had she come across that way? She’d always viewed magic with a fascinated respect. She had none, and that made her feel deficient. She asked her grandmother whenever she was curious about something magical, because she didn’t want to highlight her deficiencies to Brayden.
“I didn’t mean to be like that,” she said. “I’m jealous you can do magic.” She turned around to look at James as it dawned on her he probably had a magic power too. “What’s your valor? Can you do anything cool?” Inside the warm car, the horrors of the nightfaded from her mind. It was so easy to feel safe with Brayden and James.
“I’m a vox. I’m good at giving great speeches.” He gave her two thumbs up.
“Do you shift or do anything like what Brayden can do?”
Brayden huffed in amusement beside her.
“Nope. I’m a lover, not a fighter.” James winked.
She debated how to ask her burning question with tact. “Do you like being a vox?”
He raised his eyebrows. “You mean, do I wish I had a flashy, impressive valor like Brayden instead?”
“I was trying to ask that nicely.” Scarlett gave him a crooked half-smile.
“Honestly, being a vox suits me. I’m a civil servant, and a vox is more useful in politics than a phoenix.” He leaned closer. “I could show you—”
“Remember that party I mentioned earlier?” interjected Brayden. “My friend Minnie’s house is three minutes away from here. We could continue this valor discussion with drinks, if you’re up for it.”
Scarlett shifted in her seat and smoothed the skirt of her dress. Miraculously, her silk corset dress had come out of the encounter with the wraiths with only a few wrinkles, and her appearance wouldn’t embarrass her at a party. Did she want to go? It sounded like a lot after the long, emotional day, but she was wired from the encounter in the woods and had tons of questions.
