Page 8 of Phoenix Chosen 2
4
TYLER
Not even a fucking tank could’ve kept the two of us from each other at that moment. We run to each other and I throw myself onto him like an octopus, wrapping my arms and legs around his body. I can’t keep myself from making the most ugly, embarrassing squeal ever heard. I don’t care if he breaks my ribs all over again, the pain is worth feeling the tightness of his embrace.
The absolute relief I feel having him in my arms might be better than sex. He touches my cheek and then squeezes the nape of my neck as he pulls my face into his chest. His other hand grips my ass, and I clamp my thighs even tighter around his waist. I just want to be sure he’s real.
“Hey!” I hear a voice shout over the intercom. “Briefhug and kiss!”
I peel myself off of Kalistratos, then take his face in my hands and kiss him.
“We have to behave,” I say. “Or else they’ll take me away from you.”
“You’re hurt,” he says, touching my side. “Tyler… The baby?”
I squeeze his arm. “When I found myself back here, I wasn’t pregnant anymore. It’s like I’d never left. Don’t worry. I’m hurt, but it’s not bad. You should’ve seen me yesterday. Are you okay?”
He nods slightly. “This is your world?”
“Yup,” I sigh. “I guess someone didn’t want me sticking around Circeana, just when I was starting to like the place.”
“I know, it’s very inconvenient,” he replies.
“Do you have any idea who or what it could’ve been? The soul reaver?”
“No. A reaver has no such powers. But it was under the command of something that does.”
“Alyx and Airos are in danger,” I say.
“They can take care of themselves. We have us to worry about. Why am I imprisoned here?”
“Well, Kalistratos, on Earth, you can’t really just beat the shit out of anyone you please. Even if they are dressed like a frog.”
He shakes his head with disgust. “Your world is bizarre.”
“Yeah, it is. And the police really don’t like it when they have a guy they can’t identify in custody. They almost refused to let me see you because I couldn’t say who you are or where you came from. They think you’re here illegally, or something. I mean, I guess you kind of are.”
“Speak plainly, Tyler,” Kalistratos grunts. “Some sorcery has attuned my ear and tongue to your speech, but there’s still so many words that are nonsense to me.”
“It just means you’re not allowed to be here. And that’s not good. We need to figure out how to get you out of here.”
“Can you pick the lock?”
I can’t help but laugh. “This isn’t like the swamp cage you found me in. We have…well, magic. Strong magic. Some of these doors open remotely, like, from far away. And…” I lower my voice. “They have eyes everywhere.”
Kalistratos looks around. “Can they hear us?”
“I think so.”
“There is nothing to worry about,” he announces loudly. “I will wait patiently in the cell. There will be no attempted escape.”
I give him a funny look.
He smiles at me. “Don’t worry, Tyler. I have a plan, but I need to be at my full strength.”
I realize he’s talking about his powers and remember how they failed to work in the moments before I was pulled back to Earth.
A phoenix’s powers come from one place…and from that place, they can be regenerated.