Page 48 of Fallout

I sit back hard at her words.

I’m powerful.

I never thought I would hear those words directed at me. I don’t feel powerful.

“Thank you,” I tell her, then turn my attention back to King Basilicus. “Is that all you know about phoenixes?”

“What I told you is all that was passed down through history. And, as I said, it may not even be all true.” He taps the shut book. “To be honest, I thought this book was all a big joke until I heard about you.”

I feel every single eye on me, so I look down at my lap. I adjust my weight, wanting to be anywhere but here. It’s like we all just found out unicorns are real and I’m a unicorn. I don’t even know what to make of the situation.

Parker’s hand finds mine. He laces our fingers together and I shoot him a grateful smile. No matter what, I know he will be at my side. That’s all the comfort I need.

Holding his hand gives me the courage to look up and meet King Basilicus’s eyes from across the table. “So, I’m supposed to be dangerous, but other than being difficult to kill, what makes me so dangerous? As far as I’m aware, there is nothing special about me. I don’t have the strength or speed of a wolf or the fire of a dragon.”

King Basilicus gives me an amused look. “Teleporting beats the speed of a wolf shifter any day. And from what I hear, fire is involved.”

I nod, confirming.

“This is so cool. You’re a real phoenix.” Evander sits up straighter.

“I admit that I am quite intrigued myself.” Wisteria studies me with furrowed brows. “It makes me wonder how many other supernaturals we’ve believed to be extinct are simply hiding out of fear.”

“Supernaturals have a bloody history,” Parker says quietly to me, though I’m sure every shifter at the table can hear him. He once admitted that he could hear my heart beating, which was embarrassing at the time.

I chew on my bottom lip, looking up at him through my lashes. “Do you think the other supernaturals will think I’m too dangerous and want me dead?”

Parker’s eyes flash gold. “I will kill anybody who tries to harm you.”

King Basilicus clears his throat. “I know you need to speak with Alpha Devin about this, though I know you will have his support, especially when it comes to soulmates. But the dragons will support the wolf shifters on this. I will be calling an Alpha Council meeting and I’m certain the council will back you as well.”

I have never heard of the Alpha Council, but I assume it’s a council made up of alphas.

“The Alpha Council is a group of all the alphas and pride leaders. The council was formed about two hundred years ago to try and stop the fighting among various shifters,” Parker explains. “But even the dark fae queen and the vampires have joined the council recently. No supernatural could stand against their joint power.”

So having them on my side would be a very good thing.

Still, the thought that I could come from a potentially dangerous line of people is scary. What if Parker’s pack decides I’m too big of a risk and they ask me to leave? I know Parker will always believe in me, but he’s my mate. He has to. If his pack turns against me, will he still fight for me?

It takes me quite a few moments to realize that nobody is talking. When I look up, everybody has their focus on me.

Evander sits up straighter. “You should see her wings. They’re very pretty and are nearly as big as a female dragon shifter’s wings.”

King Basilicus’s eyes light up as he studies me. “I’d love to see them.”

“I would as well,” Mr. Thorne says. “I’ve only ever seen you when you’re flying above pack land.”

That’s because Parker is usually the one who does with me when it’s time for me to shift. I’m not ashamed of my wings, but it feels weird to have everybody coo over them.

Still, everybody looks expectantly at me.

I glance around the room. “It’s too small in here. My wings wouldn’t fit.”

“Later then,” King Basilicus says as he casually changes the topic. He talks about something that is going on with the vampires. I only half pay attention as Parker slips his arm around me. I lean into his side, taking in everything that King Basilicus said.

I’m a phoenix. I finally know what I am. But I still don’t fit in. There is no group of people for me to talk to about my powers. Nobody can teach me how to block out the voices. Somehow, knowing what I am only makes me feel lonelier.

Phoenixes are believed to be extinct and have been for over two thousand years. My existence disproves that, but if phoenixes have stayed hidden that long I doubt they will reveal themselves to me—not when my soulmate is a wolf shifter.