Enflame (Insight #6)(64)
I narrowed my eyes at him playfully. “So I might feel her if we undo this?”
“We cannot undo what was done to you. Only what we did. That deal should be good, nice little wall between you.”
I relaxed into the couch.
“Is that relief, Sunshine?”
“Maybe. I don’t think she cares for me.”
Sympathy filled his stoic image. That edgy, playful Phoenix stepped aside for a moment. “Then you shouldn’t feel relief. If she felt you, she would see what I saw, over and over again. She would know you and your other would only destroy each other.”
“She’s a Scorpio, too.”
He nodded once like he knew that. “Looks like bonding time is over,” he said, almost to himself.
A second later, I sensed Landen and Brady getting closer, slowly. I’d taken the Jeep, so they must be walking. I thought I felt Marc and Chrispin, too.
“His brother is a good guy. Calmed me down a time or two. Loves his family,” I offered.
“Seems all right. Little possessive,” Phoenix muttered.
“You’re a bit intimidating.”
“Who, me?” he said as he looked at me and widened his eyes so I could see the flames.
That made me laugh. “Landen has been around for nineteen years. Why did you just show up now?”
His playful expression left immediately. “If I don’t have all my ashes, it’s hard to be in reality, and everything I would have recognized about Guardian was masked deep inside. The Realm ripped him right open. It would not have taken me long to sense him. You calling me by my ashes gave me a constant link to you, way to ‘pop in,’ as you say. Each minute I was around you when we met, images of him flashed into my mind, what you looked like then did...one thing Skylynn did right.”
“You recognized Dane immediately.”
“I recognized his energy, not what he looked like. Both of you are far healthier looking in this life.”
“Because we are with the ones who complete us.”
He tilted his head as his gaze filled with wonder. “You remember that if Dane’s mate ends up chasing him to the dark side and we have to fight them. Tell yourself they are together and happy.”
“He’s not going to that side, if I have to turn back time myself.”
“If I were you, I’d save that card,” he said, glancing to my medallion.
“Why?”
“As soon as you show it, they will plot to take it away, and Sunshine, we have barely begun this war.”
Landen opened the front door at that moment. He’d changed clothes. He was now wearing dark denim and a white T-shirt. Brady, Marc, and Chrispin filed in after him.
The tension was immediate. Phoenix never bothered to stand to greet them.
“Phoenix,” Landen said, nodding to him, “you’ve met Brady. This is Marc and Chrispin. This is Phoenix. I’d tell all of you he’s my brother, but the truth is, he’s more than that.”
Obviously pleased with his introduction, Phoenix stood and shook their hands, hearing ‘Welcome to the family’ more than a few times.
Marc squeezed my shoulder to tell me hello as the others pushed the oversized chairs toward the couch. I noticed the ink on his arm, the fake tattoo I usually drew on him to match Drake’s: a willow tree laced with a dragon.
“This is real?” I said as I moved my fingers across it.
He grinned. “Yeah. We went and did that after lining the ship up. It will just make it easier if I have to keep standing in for Drake. Landen healed it for me. Look good?”
“Yeah,” I mumbled, tracing the lines with my nail. “You sure about this? Standing in and stuff?”
He shrugged his shoulders. “Stella is always with the looking glass. Gives me an excuse to stay close.”
“The boat is lined up?” I asked them all, which caused a rumble of laughter.
Chrispin was stretched out in one of the big chairs. “Lucky for us your man is a good swimmer.”
Landen tossed a pillow at him.
“Olivia?” I questioned, feeling a little outnumbered by all of them.
“Teaching Madison how to use her energy.”
Landen sat down between Phoenix and me. “You trying to get away from me?” he teased, reading my intent.
“Just trying not to get in the way.”
“Never,” he said with a sultry glance.
I blushed in response.
“What’s the plan?” Brady asked, sitting on the arm of the chair in which Marc was lounging.
“I wanted to show them what we’re up against, the big picture. Did you find anything out?” Landen asked Phoenix.
Phoenix cautiously glanced around the room, clearly not wanting to divulge anything in front of people he’d just met.
“Family,” Landen said to him, so quietly I barely heard him.
Phoenix pursed his lips, trying to take in that word. It seemed bitter to him. “There is quite a rumble in the veil.”
Landen relaxed into the couch. “Always is,” he said as the fire caught his gaze.
I noticed the glances Brady and the others were giving each other. They knew Landen was forever more changed. What they didn’t know was if they would like the new Landen as much as the old one.
“Did you find Charlie Myers?” Landen asked.