Page 3 of Phoenix Chosen 3
Zona stands at a table on the other side of the room, mixing up some concoction in a clay bowl.
“I was convinced I would never see your face again,” she says to me. “For a while, I thought you were dead until I heard rumors about a thief in the north who uses a black cat to make scores. What happened to your little pet, anyway?”
Zona never knew Alyx’s true identity and had only ever seen him in cat form. She doesn’t know we’re Phoenikos.
“My partner, not my pet,” I correct. “I lost him.”
She laughs. “You lost him, or he ran away?”
“Remind me, how long has it been since you and I last saw each other?”
I don’t know how much time has passed since Tyler and I were taken to Gaea. Have we been returned to the instant we left? Has the same amount of time passed that we spent in his world? Or…more?
“Since you disappeared without paying me?” she says. “You’ve forgotten?”
I shrug apologetically. “A lot has happened.”
“It was just after the winter harvest festival.”
Nearly a year, just as I remember it. So, at least I know we haven’t been thrown far forward in time.
“You know,” she continues, throwing a stabbing glare at me. “When the Keresians showed up looking for you, they stole three horses from the stables next door. I’m adding those to your debt, too.”
“Why are you helping me?” Tyler asks weakly. “Not complaining, by the way,” he adds quickly.
“Because I’m not heartless,” she says. “What kind of healer would I be if I didn’t take in a pregnant omega?” She looks at me. “Now, if it’d just beenyouwith another blade wound, I might’ve just let you bleed out on my doorstep.”
“You’re a good person Zona,” I say. “A damn good person. And the best healer in Athenos.”
“Just in Athenos?”
I bow. “All of Circeana.”
She smirks and chucks a sheepskin bladder at me. It’s filled with a pleasantly hot liquid.
“Put this against Tyler’s belly.”
Xanthe and Xanthos move away from Tyler to help Zona with whatever potions she’s preparing. They glance sideways at me in that curt manner that many of the feline Aylourosi clan seem to possess, their slitted yellow eyes glinting in the shadowy light.
“How do you feel?” I ask Tyler as I put the bladder against his bare skin.
He takes a long breath and slowly exhales. “Honest answer? Like I have a fucking watermelon wedged up my asshole, and I might rip in half trying to get it out. I just want this to be over, Kalistratos.”
I snort and squeeze his hand. A smile cracks through his scowl for a moment—but it’s quickly wiped off his face as he lurches forward with wide, startled eyes. The way he screams raises the hairs on the back of my neck. It’s the kind of scream you only hear from a man suffering the worst kind of pain possible–when they’ve been cut down in battle. His forehead is suddenly drenched with huge globules of sweat. He looks at me, and my heart breaks seeing the fear in his eyes.
“Out of the way!” Zona says, elbowing past me. “It’s coming. Xanthe, the talismans.”
I stumble backward. “W-what can I do?” I say. “How can I help?”
“You need to leave,” Xanthos says.
“No!” Tyler cries. “He’s not leaving.”
“He’s an alpha, he’ll only interfere,” Xanthos protests.
“I don’t give afuck!” Tyler shouts.
“Enough!” Zona says, waving her hand. “He stays. Tyler, come.”