Page 81 of Red Dragon’s Flame

The bonding magic rushed through him, blending with the phoenix flame the way it had the night they declared their love. Mikah poured his whole heart into it—his love and passion for his mate, his dreams of forever, his dragon’s determination to hold on to what was theirs.

He willed her to come back.

Mikah. He heard her voice, and buried his face in her fiery hair.

Devon. My mate, my love, my forever. We are one.

She said, We are together. Always. My hero.

My partner.

The male phoenix pulled away from Mikah, leaping upward and calling out again in his bell-like voice. The queen egg, at their feet, burst into the blue heart of a flame. It took the shape of a tiny bird, and slid upward between them, entering Devon’s chest over her heart.

The blue flames spread through her body, filling her.

She rose up into the air, a creature of fire, flaming wings extending from her back—and they were back in the Allohims’ cavern.

She hovered in the air above him, wings moving, the shape of a giant bird with a long fiery tail superimposed on her. Mikah gazed at her, awed.

The fire around him died to a circle of ashes, as suddenly as it had began. Mikah stepped outside the circle.

The battle was over. Everyone was staring at Devon, burning in mid-air with magnificent beauty.

The male phoenix circled overhead, calling out over and over. Suddenly, out of the ashes, a ball of flame exploded upwards and burst into life—a brand-new phoenix.

All the hatchlings rose up, calling out in their little voices as the two adult phoenixes twined together.

Devon landed beside him, human and naked, her wings folding into her back and disappearing. Mikah grabbed her and lifted her up, almost crushing her in his arms. “I came for you,” he said. “Just like I promised.”

“I knew you would. I keep telling you—you’re my hero.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.

He reveled in the feel of her, warm and real and alive. “You’re okay,” he said. The gold disk that he’d brought and been lost in the flame, but she was moving. Breathing. In full control of all her limbs. “You’re not paralyzed. What happened?”

“The phoenix queen. She jumped into my body when we bonded, and… I think somehow she healed me. And, she gave me wings.” Devon twisted around, trying to see her own back. Mikah turned her around. The original tattoo had disappeared, and in its place was a set of flaming wings.

Chapter 37

The Allohim and Banarak were totally defeated. Those that hadn’t been killed in battle were captured behind force fields, until Emon and Thorne decided what to do with them.

Mikah had just conjured Devon some clothes when Michelangela came running up and hugged them. She was followed by her dad, who was yelling at her about getting captured and causing them to have to call out an army.

Michelangela hugged him too and said, “I told Devon not to worry. I knew you’d both come for us and kill everything in your path.”

Rafe looked surprised, then pleased. “Damn right. If you ever scare me like this again, you’re grounded for life.”

She hugged him again. “I love you, Dad.”

He hugged her tight. “I love you too, Ninja Baby.” He added, “You did good today. I’m proud of you.”

Michelangela’s face lit up.

The phoenix family had been flying around overhead, ecstatic in their freedom. Now the adult phoenixes floated down to land in front of Mikah, Devon, Michelangela and Rafe.

The male phoenix spoke into their minds. Apparently, he’d learned human language in his time with the Allohim. What are your intentions toward these vile creatures? He projected a picture of the Allohim and the Banarak.

“It’s not our way to annihilate a species,” Mikah said. “But one that steals power from others for their own gain is a danger to all the worlds.”

“That’s true,” Devon said. “Even if you and your family escape them, there’s nothing stopping them from trying to find other magical creatures to enslave.”