Page 64 of Heron's Flame

I didn’t hesitate to break through the mental wall that contained me. The shell shattered as I felt my spirit soar, new wings giving me flight as they extended, combining with my crow. Not just one or the other, I became a combination of two incredible, fierce beings.

My body jolted as my eyes snapped open. My head turned, and I stared into the tear-filled sky-blue eyes of my beautiful mate.

“My Spark.”

Shocked, her mouth popped open, and she gasped. “Heron.”

“I won’t ever leave you again,” I promised, scooping her up as I stood.

“I’ll kill you again!” Hammerhead shouted, subdued by Hawk and Talon.

“You’re no threat,” I laughed, staring at him as I felt my wings burst free, breaking through the skin on my back without a hint of agony. Flames danced across the span, flickering above the onyx feathers that rippled with red and golden shimmers.

I flicked my wing, and a wave of fire hit the ground, traveling at a speed almost faster than the human eye could follow. When the flames hit Hammerhead, they engulfed his body and consumed him. He screamed as he burned alive, dropping to the ground in a poof of ash. The wind carried away the fragments, and nothing from his evil soul remained.

I glanced at Crow, and he grinned. “Welcome back, Heron.”

“Don’t wait for me,” I warned as I flew upward, holding Rebel in my arms. She squealed as I spread my wings wide, flying awayfrom the land that held terrible memories for my mate. I kept going until we neared the ocean, and the soothing sound of the waves crashed against the shore.

I stayed high in the sky as Rebel faced me. “You came back to me.”

“Always.”

“But you died.”

“Yes.”

“So you’re a phoenix?”

“Well, I’m a crowanda phoenix.”

“Can I touch your wings?”

A grin twitched my lips. “Of course.”

She reached out, gliding her fingertips along the silken feathers. Instant lust surged inside me, and my cock hardened. I didn’t realize I was naked until now. It never occurred to me to pay attention.

“They’re beautiful, Heron.”

“As lovely and dazzling as my mate.”

“Your mate?”

“Yes. The other half of my soul. My love. My forever.”

Her gaze softened. “I love you.”

“You’re so loved in return, my beloved.”

She smiled as her hand inched downward, wrapping around my hard and eager length. With a single tug, I almost dropped from the sky. “I want you.”

“Right now?” No complaint from me.

“Yes.”

I held her as I used my claws to rip through her clothes. They pushed through my knuckles and appeared only long enough to shred her clothing and then disappeared, hiding until I needed them again. The phoenix and the crow would never allow Rebel harm. Their fierce and gentle love for her rivaled the possessiveness I felt.

But all three of us desired her. To them, she was a beautiful treasure. To me, my sexy wife. Or she would be by the end of the summer. I planned to marry her as soon as possible. In fact, I’d ask her once we returned to The Roost.

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