A single feather drifted through the ashes, disappearing before it hit the floor.
“It faded earlier this time,” I said. “It’s going through the cycle quickly now.”
“Soon, it might not appear at all. Climb faster.”
We kept moving, racing against time.
Finally Reyla clung to the vines two stories up. She lifted one hand and sent a piece of darkness out across the beam, a shadow as thin as a ribbon. It reached the perch close to where the phoenix always passed and spread itself thin below it.
The first chime rang out.
Legs straight, I deployed wind pressure against the bottom of my feet as I launched myself into the air. I caught a chain-vine with both hands and climbed fast enough to burn my palms. With a growl, I swung my body toward a bronze arch close to the perch and trusted the grip.
The phoenix pushed through the air again, arching across its flight that would take it by the perch.
As the bird swung in that direction, it ducked, sweeping below the shadow.
Another chime and it burst into flame, soon burning through, leaving nothing but ashes and a solitary feather behind.
Ding. The phoenix appeared again, swooping faster this time.
“Let me…” I shoved off the chain, using the wind to lift again. As the second chime rang out, wind magic carried me forward.
I stretched out my hand.
A ping echoed around us. Flames gilded the bird's chest, curling up its neck.
Reyla yelled something as I forced the wind to shove me toward the bird.
This was our last chance. If I missed, we may not get another chance. I snapped my fingers around the chain.
AndI was falling.
The phoenix burst into flames…
…and I flitted.
My teeth jarred together when I landed on my knees on the beam near Reyla, looking up at her with my fingers still locked around the chain holding the key.
Staring down at me, my wildfire bride lifted one brow. “Look at you, kneeling right where I like you best. Such a goodboy.”
A smile tugged at one corner of my mouth. “Tonight, I'll taste every sound you make until you're breathless beneath me.”
“Is that a promise?”
“Always.” I held up the key, dangling it from the chain and wrapped my fingers around it. My heart leaped. “Warm. Hot, even, love.” I passed it to her. “We found the right key.” Relief flooded through me. One step closer to breaking this curse, to keeping her forever.
A chime rang out.
Above us, the phoenix glided once more below the rafters, no longer following the full cycle. It skimmed through air, its wings glinting, then disappeared. We waited, but it didn't reappear again.
“We only saw it at dying and rebirth,” I said, thinking about it. “Dying and reborn, again and again. Just like us, tested by fire but rising stronger.”
Easing over, she settled on the beam beside me, leaning against my side. “A cycle of fire, failure, and persistence, followed by unity and flight. Itisus.” Reaching up, she brushed soot from my shoulder and gave me the sweetest smile. “Let’s take the key to the queen. Then, my good boy, you’ve got a promise to fulfill.”
A crash echoed from somewhere in the castle, followed by a shriek of pain.
Chapter 29
