Page 31 of Phoenix Fated

Maybe he had. Maybe it was what he believed. I just don't understand why.

My body finally relaxes. I need to walk and to settle my thoughts. I turn over and see Jackson huddled into a ball on the other side of the tent, shivering on the bare sand. I sigh.

"Truly stubborn."

I lay the blanket over him, then step outside.

10

JACKSON

They want him in Al'Phaer.

They want him in Al'Phaer.

They want him in Al'Phaer.

A voice repeats in my head like a warning alarm, inescapable, firing at me at every turn. I'm frozen stiff, trapped and unable to move, and though I know this is a dream I can't force myself awake.

I'd seen this exact same thing last night while unconscious. For a moment, I see an ocean and shoreline. The world around me is so big. Everything changes. I'm hiding inside a dark space, a cave, or a hollow in a tree. Somewhere only a child could fit. Iama child. Then I see two men approaching, silhouetted in shadow, with a group following behind them. I recognize them—or at least the me in the dream recognizes them, and a space that oncehad been filled with love for these people is filled with a terrible, all encompassing, inescapable fear.

Now I'm running. I know they're coming after me, but I can't let them catch me. I won't go with them.

Why are they doing this?!

The world blurs past me as I speed down the rocky mountain trail, hot tears streaking my face.

Why?! Why?! Why?!

I scream the question in my head.

Why did I have to be born like this? I didn't ask to be a Phoenikos!!

Then, I wake up.

There’s a blanket draped over me. I’m lying on my side with my knees squeezed against my belly, and my body is trembling from both cold and the feelings still lingering from my bizarre nightmare.

I guess I should be thankful for a break from my usual fucked up recurring dreams, but what thehell? It was like being in someone else’s head. None of it belonged to me, and yet it allfelt so familiar. Maybe I’m going crazy. This worldismaking me crazy after all.

I roll over. The tent is filled with cool dawn light, and Airos is gone from the carpet bed. Do I just shimmy over there and thaw myself out?

No. Fuck that. I’ve made my bed and I’m gonna lie in it, even if it means freezing my ass off.

I grab the blanket and move to fling it off, but I'm stopped by a startling scent drifting off the scratchy wool threads.

His scent.

I pull the lip of the blanket up closer to my face and draw in a hesitant breath.

Jesus...

My head is swimming, like I've just taken a hit of the world's most potent drug. It's intoxicating in a way that makes my throat go dry and my stomach tighten. I should be disgusted. We've been out in the desert without a shower for almost two days now. But this raw scent has me by the throat. And I find myself taking another deep breath, letting it fill my lungs completely.

What the actual fuck is happening to me? It's like some primal part of my brain has decided to override every other function.My fingers curl into the fabric, gripping it tight as I force myself to pull it away.

I sit up. Everything is sore, especially my thighs and ass from the gryph ride across the desert. I'm going to be covered in one giant bruise, if I'm not careful about it.

Suddenly, the tent flap pulls back and Airos peers inside. My first reaction is to throw the blanket aside, even though I've stopped sniffing it like a fucking pervert.

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