Page 1 of Phoenix Chosen 3

1

TYLER

And I thought getting hit by a car was painful.

The clouds break and Kalistratos soars over the city of Athenos with me safely caged in his talons, and another surge of intense cramps rolls through my body like an invisible fist wringing my insides out.

I remember Jane, the receptionist at the chemical company I used to do security for, ranting to me about her pregnancy and how men had it easy. I remember how I listened politely but never really gave it much more thought. I’ve had plenty of painful experiences, like the time my tooth got infected and I had to live with it for over a week while waiting for payday so I could get it taken care of. Or when I ate shit riding dirt bikes with my friends in high school and could feel the broken ends of my collarbone grinding together. Or getting kicked in the balls by an unruly customer when I used to bounce at a local dive bar. I knew childbirth had to be no walk in the park, but men having it easy? I didn’t quite believe it.

Sorry, Jane. I’m a fucking idiot.

This is by far the gnarliest thing I’ve ever experienced—and it’s only just started.

Jesus.

Suddenly, a random factoid pops into my head about the dangers of childbirth in the times before modern medicine, and a cold sweat breaks out on the back of my neck. Something tells me the doctors in Circeana don’t know anything about germs.

“Almost there,” Kalistratos says, tilting his head to look at me with one bright copper eye.

I can feel the sonorous resonance of his voice against my body through the warmth of his chest plumage, and it’s the only thing bringing me any comfort right now. I’m scared as hell. I don’t know how I can possibly give birth. My body isn’t made for this.

No, that’s not true. My bodywasn’tmade for this. I’m an omega again, and getting pregnant and giving birth comes with the package.

Kalistratos banks left through a haze of fragrant smoke rising through the columns of a temple at the center of the city. I’m fully aware of the danger he’s putting himself in by using his phoenix form so openly over the biggest city in the region in broad daylight. Phoenikos have scattered themselves across the world, remaining in hiding to stay safe from the poachers who hunt them for the powers they believe they can extract from them, and now, because of me, everyone knows he's here, but I’m in no shape to protest. Another wave of contractions reminds me there’s no way in hell this baby is going to wait for me to give it permission to pop out.

“Fuck,Kalistratos!” I groan. “This isnotgood! Wherever we’re going, get there now, because I don’t think it’s a good idea to poop out a baby two hundred feet in the air!”

“We’realmost there!” he repeats, and we drop suddenly in altitude like we’re plummeting off the apex of a roller coaster. Thrilling, normally. Right now? The worst.

With a final dip and swoop, he lands in a cramped alleyway. We’re in what must be a slum district, tightly packed with dilapidated buildings made of mudbrick and faded wood, with roofs of thatch and haphazardly placed tiles, sagging with the weight of neglect. Laundry hangs from ropes overhead, and the air is thick with the smell of cooking smoke, dust and sewage. Wonderful.

Kalistratos is in his human form now, and he has me cradled in his arms. Carefully, he lowers me to my feet, keeping my arm wrapped around his shoulder for support. The pain has lulled again, but I know it’s just like a tidal wave—when the waters pull back, something bad is coming.

“Almost where?” I say miserably. “Please don’t tell me I’m gonna be giving birth in a pile of garbage…”

Kalistratos is hunched over, looking ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice. I feel bad that I’m giving him shit right now. He’s afraid too, maybe even more than I am.

“Can you move quickly?”

“I don’t know,” I say. “The pain comes in waves. I’ll try.”

He shakes his head and, without waiting, scoops me back up. “I won’t risk it.”

My man is strong as hell. He moves with me in his arms, quickly navigating the twists and turns of the slum back alley. The contractions start again, and despite my best efforts, I fail at keeping silent. Kalistratos doesn’t stop. I see curious faces coming to the open windows overhead, their eyes following after us.

“I’m sorry,” I mutter through clenched breaths.

He looks down at me and smiles briefly. “We’re going to be alright. I have a friend here who can help.”

“Seems like we can’t catch a break, huh? Always have someone or something chasing after us.”

“But at least we’re home.”

Kalistratos rounds a tight corner then comes to a sudden stop and pulls back into the dark of an overhanging canopy. Two humans carrying baskets of dried fish on their heads shuffle along the cross street.

“They say it was a Phoenikos,” I overhear one of them say.

“Nonsense. Why would a Phoenikos fly over Athenos?” says the other.

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