I recited a spell, one that I’d just thought of after watching Az step through the fire.
Fire walker.
The spell was one that was about indulging the flames instead of fighting them. Once, my father had set a trap, and the only way out of it had been across hot coals.
I’d nearly burned off my feet before he’d given me the damn fire walker spell.
Reciting it now gave me mixed feelings. I hated how much I used the things I’d learned from my father. So much of my childhood had been a battle and a literal fight for survival.
But in his own way, he’d been trying to prepare me for what he’d known was coming.
Bet you didn’t know it would end up like this, though,I thought.
Still, it would be stupid not to make use of what I had learned. If I ever found my father, I would give him a piece of my mind and show him exactly what I thought about his deal with Lucifer.
One more reason to stay alive.
The fires crept closer as I recited the words, making my skin ache with its intense heat. I adapted the fire walker spell to consume my whole body and allow my skin to swallow the flames.
A cool breeze rushed over my skin when Ajax countered it with a shield spell. I stopped chanting and opened my eyes to look at him.
“No, let the fire come,” I told him.
The Phoenix grinned, showcasing a row of straight white teeth.
Yes, that’s my good girl,Az praised.You’re learning.
My teeth ground together at his use ofgood girl, but I was too focused on the fire to chastise him.
Ajax frowned beside me, but his protection spell dropped a moment later.
I knew he was trusting me, and I hoped like hell this didn’t get us both killed.
But I also knew Az wouldn’t let that happen. He was trying to teach us something.
And he’d said himself that his Phoenix’s soul was now intertwined with ours. Killing us would hurt his own animal, something I doubted he’d ever allow to happen.
Heat flared all around me, becoming unbearable.
I gritted my teeth.
Agony raked up my legs, then my hips, as the flames grew.
“Az!” Ajax shouted, a warning bite in his tone.
The Black Phoenix joined us as he stepped through the fire. He rested one hand on Ajax’s shoulder, then another on mine.
Accept it,Az instructed, confirming what I’d thought would finally help us put these fires out.
The only way to end them was toconsumethem.
Digging my nails into Ajax’s palm, he gave me an encouraging nod, one I could barely see, obscured as it was by the billowing air.
Setting my jaw, I tried to accept the burn, but it felt as if my skin was blistering and unfurling against the flames.
Fiery daggers scraped up my body, ruthlessly spearing into my skin, and the fire entered me. A scream erupted from my throat as I threw back my head.
I was burning alive.
