Page 62 of Infernal Hearts

Valerie stands strong beside me. “I’ll give it to you—this was a good idea. It’s something I would have expected from your father. Well done.”

Her words aren’t lost on me, but they still sting a little. “Thank you.”

The flames change—a rainbow of every color. It’s mesmerizing. The heat grows and grows, pulsing toward us as we stand back.

But as the heat grows, Valerie’s muscles tense. “I’ve never seen this ritual in real life. I think something is wrong.”

And something is. The phoenix screams as the heat continues to climb, his voice thundering across the lake. The flames rise into the air, the heat becoming unbearable. With a sudden cut of sound, they all suck back into the pyre.

“Get down!” Valerie tackles me to the ground, covering me with her body and a magical shield. A massive explosion of every color erupts parallel to the ground, fire slicing through everything it touches.

Then…perfect silence.

Valerie shakes me. “Are you all right?”

“I’m…fine.” I push myself off the ground. “Are you?”

She slows her heavy breath and dusts herself off. “I’m a fairy. It takes more than fire to harm me.”

I run my hand through my hair. “But…how did you use magic? I thought fairies needed sacrifice to tap into it.”

She balks at me, speechless for a moment. “It—it must have been the phoenix I drew from. I felt a sudden burst, and then I knew what I had to do.” Her eyes cut to the pyre and widen.

Where the elderly man once was stands a youthful glowing figure. His skin has a brilliant darkness, scalp covered in long golden feathers. He has the same piercing scarlet eyes.

He paces toward me and puts his hand on my shoulder. “Thank you, child.”

“You’re welcome.” I take my thermometer out of my pocket and swipe it over his forehead. A toasty three hundred. “Looks like you’re back to full strength.”

He trembles, and his feathers disappear, standing in front of me as a normal human being. “And so are my powers. I’m sorry if I harmed you.”

“You didn’t.” Valerie crosses her arms and stands tall. “I made sure of that.”

He looks at her coldly. “We creatures can’t help what we are, but we can help our intentions.”

There’s an awkward pause as they regard each other, so I do my best to break it. “I’m only glad I could be of help.” I bend down to grab my bag, but he places his hand on mine.

“I don’t have much to give you, but I can give you advice.” He furrows his brow. “Your heart is leading you to the right place. Not all help is out of kindness. Keep trusting your instincts, but know that danger lurks nearby. Closer than you might think.”

I immediately think of Levi. How he intended to help me last night in the woods. How being a demon is part of his nature. It’s something I shouldn’t be afraid of. Part of me was definitely more attracted to him after he saved me. And after I was inside him.

But what about the rest of his advice? Not all help is out of kindness. Is he still talking about Levi? Is it because of our deal? The deepest thought that strikes me, however, is the danger. Maybe Levi isn’t the only one in peril. And maybe this search is getting me into something I shouldn’t be getting into.

With a final nod to the phoenix, Valerie and I walk back to the truck to return to the clinic. Farther down the road, Valerie finally speaks.

“This was too close of a call. If I hadn’t been there to shield you with my magic, things would have gone terribly wrong.”

I nod with a comfortable warmth in my face. “I know. And thank you.”

“If this is something you’re really considering… At least talk to your father about it when he gets back. You’re running out of supplies. That bag looks awfully light.”

And deep down, I know she’s right.

“It’s only temporary. Soon he’ll be found and things will all be normal again.”


Levi