Page 9 of Phoenix Chosen 3

Kalistratos nods. “Yes. But first, we need you to recover as much strength as you can. So rest, relax. Let me do what I’m meant to do—protect you.”

I lean my head back to kiss him.

I have no idea how we’re going to find Airos and Alyx, let alone the two other omegas zapped to Circeana. After the nonstop insanity of the last day, I finally have a chance to gather my thoughts. There is one major question burning in my mind—if the other Chosen omegas were pregnant like me, did they also just go into labor?

They’re most likely out there alone, without anyone to help them. I just hope to God—or the Great Phoenix—that they’re safe.

5

KALISTRATOS

Tyler is snoring softly, curled up in the hay nest with the egg. I wave away a moth that’s flown in from the uncovered window and landed on his hair. I’m tired, but my nerves have kept me awake. There will be time for rest—but not yet.

I hear movement outside and carefully peer over the earthen sill into the dark street. It’s Zona. I quietly rise and go to the entrance room to meet her.

She pulls down the thick wool hood that was concealing her face. “You were right,” she says. “The dark market is filled with talk about a phoenix flying over the city. Seems like you have every hunter and slaver interested in finding your whereabouts.”

“Wonderful,” I say. “I was hoping to let Tyler get a full night’s rest, but we’d better not delay. There may already be eyes on this place.”

“You have a plan?”

“First, get to the city walls. Then, reach the hills. After that, I haven’t a clue. I’m a ‘figure things out along the way’ type of man.”

“And at what point will you figure out how to pay me what you owe?”

“Like I said, I’ll get you the money. Don’t worry. I just have things I need to take care of first.”

“I truly wonder what my master would’ve thought if she knew her clan’s future depended on a thief and a scoundrel.”

“I might be a thief, but I’m not a scoundrel. I mean… not really.”

“Youarea scoundrel,” she says with a chuckle. “But as far as scoundrels go, you’ve always had a good heart. Maybe that’s why you never quite fit in with the dark market.”

“Maybe. So why do you do it? You’ve always been trustworthy.”

“You don’t need to be good-hearted to be trustworthy. I ply my craft on people worse than scoundrels and thieves, Kalistratos, and I do it without any qualms. That’s not what a good person does.”

“Maybe that’s exactly what a good person does. You heal everyone, without exception. Your master… Who was she?”

Zona’s eyes sparkle. “Her name was Iris. She was everything. Strong, wise, compassionate, and beautiful.”

The word seems to linger in the air for a moment. I’m eager to hear about another Phoenikos.

“It feels like a lifetime since she died,” Zona continues. “She gave herself during the Great Plague. She said that if there was a chance her body could indeed help the afflicted, then she would gladly make that sacrifice.” She shakes her head.

The Great Plague of Athenos happened before I was born. I’d heard it said that it was that event that sealed the fate of the dwindling Phoenikos clan. As people became desperate for ways to halt the scourge and heal the dying, we became targets for the presumed rejuvenating properties of our phoenix forms. Dark times. A blackening of the hearts of Circeana.

“Madness,” I say.

“That’s what I told her, but I couldn’t convince her otherwise. To her, the few she might save were worth the cost of leaving me behind for eternity. Iris was a truly good person. I’m merely trying to stumble along in her footsteps.” She pauses, deep in thought. The lines at the corners of her eyes deepen.

“Enough of the past,” she says matter-of-factly. “We speak of the future. A piece of the shell. That’s what I want.”

“What?”

“Once that egg hatches and you’ve taken care of all this destiny business, bring me a piece of the shell and consider your debt repaid. Deal?”

“I thought you didn’t believe in any of that phoenix essence shit?” I say with a facetious smile.

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