Page 79 of Red Dragon’s Flame

I’m here, Mikah! Devon tried to think as loudly as she could, but everything hurt so much. The chanting rose to a fever pitch, and with a final wrench of bone and muscle, the phoenix burst of out Devon’s body. The soldiers dropped her, and she gave one agonized scream before hitting the floor.

She didn’t feel it.

Oh, God, she didn’t feel it. She was paralyzed again.

Overhead, she could see the phoenix rising, a creature made entirely of living flame. A ringing cry came from over by the cages, and then the male flew into view.

He too was now made of living flame, dark and magnificent, breathtakingly beautiful. He arrowed straight toward the female, who sheered off, crying a warning.

She doesn’t want to mate, Devon thought dully. She doesn’t want her babies to be captured. A weight was pressing down on her chest, her breathing getting slower.

Mikah! I need you!

I’m here! I’m coming! Hold on a little longer!

Relief swept through her. He’d made it. He’d come for her. Hurry…

The chanting continued, the ritual fire glowing. The phoenixes circled each other like two dying suns, trying to resist the pull of the magic and the mating instinct, but they were drawing inexorably closer together.

The Allohim leader watched them avidly, calling out a sharp command—once, twice, three times.

The phoenixes made one last circle—and then were pulled into each other.

Fire erupted in an explosion that felt like a supernova. A shock wave rippled through the dome. White light flashed, turning to sparkling colors that outdid any fireworks display humans could create.

The death of two unique beings. It was hopelessly tragic, and exquisitely beautiful. If it was the last thing she ever saw, it would almost be worth it.

But not quite. She wanted to live.

As the Allohim and Banarak watched the phoenixes, transfixed—as Devon’s breath began to leave her—someone ran over and dragged her out of the ritual area. Michelangela. She knelt down and began giving Devon chest compressions, then breathed into her mouth.

“You… are not… dying,” she said between compressions. Breath. Breath. “Not with Mikah right there. Don’t even think about it.”

The CPR should have hurt, but she couldn’t feel it. Blackness began creeping across the edges of Devon’s vision, and yet the little she could see was still incredibly clear.

The male phoenix burned out, sinking toward the ground. Magical energy poured out of the Allohim leader’s hands, guiding his remains into one of the cauldrons. They sizzled and liquefied, and without hesitation he grabbed the edges of the cauldron and plunged himself inside, feet first.

He screamed in agony, but he stayed inside, flames rising from the liquid and pouring down his throat, silencing him.

How could anyone do that to themselves?

The female phoenix was up by the roof, still burning, brighter and brighter. Then one by one, glowing spheres dropped from the flames, drifting toward the floor.

Eggs. Baby phoenixes.

More chest compressions. Mikey’s voice, but Devon couldn’t make it out. More breaths.

An egg fell toward one of the Banarak, and he lifted his vessel and captured it. It too sizzled and liquefied, and he drank it down. He began to glow, lightning surrounding him. Wings sprang from his back.

The mother phoenix cried out in distress. Devon wanted to cry. All those beautiful babies…

Another sphere neared the floor… was caught. Tears leaked out of Devon’s eyes.

High in the cavern, above the other eggs still drifting down, the final one appeared, huge and golden, spiraling slowly down. “The queen egg!” someone shouted. A collective sigh went up from the Allohim and Banarak.

And then the second magical dome shattered with a ringing crash, bringing with it the roar of battle.

Michelangela said, “I told you they’d get here in time.”