Page 27 of Kissed By the Sun

The blood ignited, and a searing heat engulfed us both. I screamed as flames licked her skin, certain I was about to be incinerated. Then, miraculously, the pain began to ebb, but time began again, rushing to catch up with itself.

We hit the ground with bone-jarring force, sliding through dirt and stone. Before my body could even register the impact, great wings of fire burst from Thorn’s back and spread around us, cradling our bodies in a cocoon of golden light.

"Hold on!" Thorn shouted, his arms tightening around me as we surged skyward.

I clung to him, my mind seeming to be two steps behind everything that was happening. "How—what did you do?"

"An ancient rite," he gasped, his face etched with strain. "The Blood Fire Phoenix..."

As we soared higher, my panic began to subside. The flames no longer burned; instead, they felt almost... comforting. I looked down to see the horde of corrupted fae converging on the ground where we’d landed, a suspiciously grave shaped indentation disappearing beneath the mass of bodies. The creatures shrank beneath us as we went ever higher, their howls of rage fading into the distance.

"Thorn," I whispered, awe and fear mingling in my voice. "Are we... flying?"

He managed a weak smile. "We are. But don't look down." I wasn’t sure how to break it to him that I already had.

I couldn't help but laugh, the sound bordering on hysteria, as we climbed higher still. Suddenly, I noticed a warm glow on the horizon. The first rays of dawn were breaking, bathing the world in soft, golden light.

Something stirred within me, a connection I'd never felt before. It was as if the very essence of the sun was flowingthrough my veins, intertwining with Thorn's own fiery magic. I felt more alive, more powerful than I ever had before.

"I can feel it," I breathed, meeting Thorn's gaze with wonder. "The sunlight... it's like it's a part of me now."

“That’s my magic that was protecting you,” Thorn called over the whipping wind. “Don’t worry, it’s only temporary. The Blood Fire Phoenix is a last resort to escape. To protect someone while getting them to safety.”

There had to be a downside to it. All magic came with a price as far as I understood it, either using mana or life force itself, unless it was an object imbued with magic like a potion. I needed to know what he’d just done. “At what cost?” I asked.

“I don’t know yet,” he said, the words coming too easily. Was he lying to me to protect me? Again?

I studied Thorn's face, searching for any sign of deception. His jaw was clenched tight, eyes focused ahead as he navigated our flight path. But there was something in the set of his shoulders, a tension that hadn't been there before.

"Thorn," I said, my voice soft but insistent. "Please, don't lie to me. What did you sacrifice?"

He sighed, a sound almost lost in the rush of wind around us. "Senara, I—" He broke off, wincing as if in pain. The fiery wings faltered for a moment, and we dropped several feet before he regained control.

Panic surged through me. "What's happening? Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," he ground out, but his face had gone pale beneath his tawny skin. "We need to land soon. I can't maintain this form for much longer."

I scanned the landscape below us, searching for a safe place to touch down. We had left the corrupted fae far behind, but who knew what other dangers lurked in this unfamiliar territory?

"There," I pointed to a small clearing in a copse of trees. "Can you make it?"

Thorn nodded grimly, angling our descent towards the spot I'd indicated. As we neared the ground, I could feel the heat of his magic beginning to fade. The fiery wings flickered and sputtered, threatening to disappear entirely.

We were still much too high up when Thorn's strength gave out. The wings vanished in a shower of sparks, and we plummeted. I braced for impact, but Thorn twisted in the air, positioning himself beneath me. We hit the ground hard, and I heard the sickening crunch of bones breaking.

I rolled off him immediately, my hands fluttering over his body, unsure where to touch. "Thorn! Oh gods, Thorn, are you okay?"

His eyes fluttered open, unfocused and glazed, his face tight with pain. "Senara," he murmured. "You're safe. That's all that matters."

"No," I choked out, tears stinging my eyes. "No, that's not all that matters. You matter too, you idiot!" I reached out again, wanting to soothe him but scared to touch him for fear of causing more pain. "Tell me how to help you. There has to be something I can do."

A sad smile tugged at his lips. "The ritual requires a sacrifice,” he groaned. “I've given up years of my life to fuel this magic."

Horror washed over me as the implications sank in. "How...how many years?" I whispered, dreading the answer.

Thorn's silence spoke volumes. When he finally responded, his voice was barely audible. "I don't know exactly. It could be decades. It could have been... most of what I had left. With these," he paused, gasping in pain as he tried to move.”Injuries it doesn’t really matter though, does it?”

The world seemed to tilt beneath me as the full weight of his words sank in. "No," I breathed. "No, there has to be another way. I can't lose you, Thorn. I won't." Tears stung my eyes, a lump forming in my throat. "Why would you do that for me?"

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