Enflame (Insight #6)(70)

Before I could answer, thundering sounds slammed into the ground around us. Men in black suits had appeared and were sauntering near us.

“Wake up!” she screamed at me.

My focus was on the field in which my body was sitting and instantly I was there. Wind blew violently all around us as I tried to control my breathing. As I felt Madison clench my leg, I glanced at her. I swear, she could not get any closer to me if she tried.

“What the hell!” I said, finally catching my breath.

“Freaking Escorts,” she answered.

At that second, Phoenix appeared in front of us. He crouched down, glaring at me. Madison dove backward. I held her tight.

“He’s good...well, that’s in debate, but he won’t hurt you.”

Phoenix tilted his head, letting his predatory glare reveal the fire in his eyes.

“What have you been up to, Sunshine?” he said coolly to me.

“Figuring out that we were in the right place.”

As Phoenix’s eyes moved between us, Madison edged away from him.

“Explain,” Phoenix stated.

“She’s had this nightmare before,” I said, shaking my sketchpad at him. “We went to The Realm to figure it out.”

“Yes, unguarded. I’m well aware of where you have been.”

“Whatever. A hooded man drained her blood and put mine in her, then put my necklace on her. She chased after Drake when he went after the man.”

A spark of recognition exploded in Phoenix’s eyes.

I went on to explain. “When she bled—”

Phoenix interrupted, “Guardian lost his focus—DAMMIT!”

“What does that mean? What does ‘I’m a winner either way’ mean?” Madison asked.

Phoenix stood, glaring out in the distance. I made my way to my feet, and so did Madison.

“It means he merged your essence, that no matter what girl we burned, she would not be whole.”

“So, how do we undo it?”

“What is going on?” Madison asked.

“We’re trying to replay that. Do it the right way, to get souls out of The Realm.”

“I’m not reliving that,” Madison barked.

“No worries. You can’t,” Phoenix said, keeping his eyes away from her.

“So what does that mean?” I asked.

“I don’t know. We can only recreate the spell. Not what happened before.”

“So, we would both have to burn,” I clarified.

“Pardon?” Madison yelled.

“No one is burning.” He glanced at me. “As long as they behave, that is.”

I rolled my eyes at him.

“We’re recreating energy. All you did was tell us why it really didn’t work in the first place. Guardian keeps his focus. This time, we’ll be fine.”

“I have nothing to do with this?” Madison clarified.

“If you do you will end up there,” Phoenix said, looking over her and squinting his eyes slightly, as if she were too bright for him to handle.

“I have enough to worry about without you adding any more to it,” she said, glancing between us.

“It will all work out for the best,” I swore.

She stepped closer to me. “I’m miserable, in agony. It can’t get any worse.”

“What do you need me to do?” I asked her, still unsure as to why she was upset before.

She moved her head from side to side, fighting back tears. “None of my problems are your fault.”

“That doesn’t mean I can’t help you with them.”

“Sunshine,” Phoenix cautioned.

Madison threw a glare at him before glancing back at me. “I’m not shy. If I need your help, I’ll ask. Swear.”

She glanced in the direction of August’s house. “I need to get back, get ready, I guess.”

Before I could tell her thank you or ask if she was really okay with what she had to do tonight, she walked away.

“Don’t give me that look,” I said to Phoenix.

“Quit trying to meddle with their business, then.”

“She is in my path.”

“Not in every aspect.”

“Whatever. She just helped you figure out why that spell really didn’t work. Didn’t you blame Skylynn for it before?”

“Still Skylynn’s fault. She knew you were both there.”

“Where is she anyway?” I asked, glancing over my shoulder to where I knew I felt Landen.

“Lurking. She’ll be there tonight.”

“Fantastic,” I mumbled.

“What?” he teased. “Is it that your going to be watching your other court another girl or standing side by side with Skylynn that has you ruffled?”

“It’s not having control that has me bothered,” I said, fighting for control. I even focused my eyes so I could see my energy, assuring myself that my gold seal of energy was in place.

“Speaking of,” he said, holding his hand out, “fire, please.”

“Are you mad? Is that it? Does this roll you are in make you flipping insane? Why would you ask me for fire?”

“Fire. Right here, right now.”

“I can’t make fire,” I said, rolling my eyes.