Phoenix Reborn (Woodland Creek)(29)

But this time the light came from her. It seemed that she was glowing, though with what, she wasn’t clear: was it some sort of phosphorescence? She wasn’t hot — for that matter, nor was she cold. Everything somehow felt just right. Perfect, as though temperature were no longer even a measurement. She felt as though she’d found her body for the first time, at one with the world around her. So this was what had been trapped within her and tried, for so many years, to emerge. And this must be how Hawke felt when he changed, too. Comfort, ease and perfection in a body that was far from human.

The Eagle led her several miles away, to a crystal pond where he dove down deliberately, abruptly towards its rippling surface, guiding Ashling as he went. It took only a moment for her to realize what he was doing for her; that he wanted to show her her own reflection.

She hovered over the pond for a moment, taking in the image below. At first, it seemed that the world had flipped upside down and that she was seeing the mirror image of a campfire hanging in the sky above the water. But then her eyes seemed to focus on the cascading flames of orange, blue, red and violet, moving along the body that she occupied in waves, her wings flapping slowly.

What she saw was a bird of fire, engulfed in flame and yet not burned or burning. And more than that, she was beautiful. Never in her life would she have used that word to describe herself, and yet here she was: exquisite, unique and elegant. She wanted to cry, but held back for fear of dousing the flames that had brought on this beauty.

Hawke landed on the far side of the pond. By now, they were miles from where Ashling had set up camp, and she steered herself, coming to land next to him, grateful for the pause. All of it was miraculous, but overwhelming. The Golden Eagle shifted again into the dark-haired man. And so the flaming bird closed her eyes, envisioning her human form. And a moment later there she stood, close to him. It only took a moment to realize that she, too, was naked. She threw an arm over her chest in an attempt at modesty. It had been a long time since any man had seen her unclothed.

“Oh, God,” she said. “This is insane.”

“You’re perfect,” he laughed. “There’s nothing insane about that. You’re perfect and gorgeous, and even better without clothes on than I’d ever imagined.”

“Don’t tease me,” she replied, pivoting, trying to angle herself to get away from his keen eyes. “What was that? How am I a flaming bird? There isn’t such a thing.”

“Yes there is. Because that’s what you are. You have some impressive genes, Ashling. You’re a Phoenix, and even more beautiful than I could have envisioned. I always knew that you were something else; wonderful, unique. But this — well, you’ve blown me away.”

She wanted to run and hide behind a tree; that would have been the only appropriate thing to do. She was bare, vulnerable to him, to his judgment, to his gaze. And yet a calm seemed to wash over her, as though all was still right with the universe. Hawke would not judge her. He’d meant those words: You’re perfect.

There was also the part of her that wanted to reach for him, to expose herself even further, to render herself as vulnerable as he had done. It took a lot of guts to let her in on his secret, one that could ruin him if it made its way to the wrong ears. She imagined that his truth was unknown to every human in the world. He had risked everything for her, to save her from her assailant for the third time.

And now she was a bird of fire, a Phoenix, as he’d said. Though how it was possible was beyond her. And yet, everything in her life now made sense: the incidents in her youth. Her strange power over heat and flame. Even her parents’ disappearance was beginning to seem take on a distant logic.

“Hawke,” she said quietly, her voice weak.

Gently, he laid a palm on each of her cheeks. “Don’t,” he said. “Don’t speak, don’t try to explain it away. You have no idea how lovely you are. You never have, and that’s what I’ve always adored about you. But I want to show you — I’ve wanted to show you for so long.”

He kissed her, his body at first keeping a respectful distance from her own. But as her arms crept around his neck it was she who pulled him to her, pressing her hips forward, wanting to feel every part of him against her.

His chest pressed itself to hers, his beautiful warmth caressing her in waves, slipping along her skin’s surface. And she, too, was warm, her flesh glowing for a only a moment as emotions surged through her. Intensity, Ranach had said. Intense feeling was her trigger for flame. And there was no question that she felt a great deal for Hawke. But now she could control it. The heat would remain inside her, would feed her passion for this man rather than become a destructive force.

And so she allowed it to move through her body, to radiate out to his. But this time it was a welcome, a warmth, asking him for closeness rather than pushing him away. There was no hostility, no violence. Only growing feelings of adoration for this man — this man that she had wanted so very much, and had thought she could never have.

Slowly she eased down onto the grass, her back descending to meet the damp blades as she offered herself to him. He moved over her, his palms flat on the ground, and looked into her eyes.

“You will never understand how I’ve wanted you,” he said.

“I think I have some idea.”

He smiled. “If you have any idea, then this is the best day of my life, because I never thought this could happen. But wait — there’s something I need to do.”