Page 44 of Runt's Haunted Ride
Diesel stopped by around hour twenty, took one look at Kai sitting in the windowsill demanding I hold her water dish, and shook his head.
"Man, that bird has you trained."
"She's healing," I said defensively, placing another berry in the water for her to get. "She needs constant care."
"Uh-huh." Diesel's grin was knowing. "You know Heavy's taking bets on how long before you're sleeping on the floor so the bird can have the bed?"
"Get out."
He left laughing, and Kai made a sound that I swear was a smug little chirp.
By hour twenty-three, I was getting nervous. According to everything I'd read and everything Kai had told me, she'd shift back to human form around hour twenty-four. Which meant I needed to have clothes ready. And privacy. And probably some kind of plan for explaining why my door needed to stay locked for the next hour. Because there was no way in hell any of my club were going to see her naked.
I'd laid out some of my clothes on the bed—a t-shirt that would be huge on her and a pair of sweatpants with a drawstring. I also grabbed a pair of slippers from the main room. A club girl left them here some weeks ago. That was the best I could do on short notice. I thought about going to town to buy a bra and women's underwear, but I had no clue how to do that, so I quickly abandoned it. I positioned a blanket and my zip-up hooded sweatshirt within easy reach, just in case.
Kai seemed to sense that something was coming. She'd grown quiet, settling on the pillow in the sunbeam with her eyes half-closed. I had no idea how she was balancing there. She was back to her actual phoenix size instead of an awkward adolescent bird.
I sat admiring how truly amazing she was. Her long tail hung over the side and draped on the floor. I remembered how it sparked last night, how she blazed, soaring effortlessly through the tent.
"Almost there, baby," I murmured. "Just a little bit longer."
Chapter 14
Kai
I woke slowly, awareness returning in stages. First came warmth—blessed, beautiful warmth after three years of cold captivity. I took a deep breath and blew it out, stretching. The air was warm and felt glorious. Next, the scent of Jack flooded my senses—earthy dirt and tree-filled aroma that made my phoenix sing with contentment.
Then came the realization that I was naked, sprawled on the floor below the window. I was back. Fully regenerated. Human again.
Slowly I stood, keeping myself low enough that I couldn't be seen in the open window. Gazing around the room, I saw Jack sitting in a chair with his feet on the bed. At the end of the bed was a pile of clothes. The t-shirt and sweatpants were huge on me. I tied a knot in the bottom of the shirt and pulled the sweats tight, but tonight they felt like silk against my skin.
My free skin.
I took a moment, closed my eyes, and felt for the bonds. They were gone. I combined with my phoenix, investigating deeper.Nothing. My phoenix wanted to soar, but I kept her inside. I was free. There would be loads of time for flying.
Jack did it. He saved me. My mate. A wave of emotions flooded forward, and I had to gently sit on the bed. The tears—both happy and sad—flooded forward. I couldn't have stopped them if I wanted to. I was thrilled to be free, to have a future with a mate I loved, away from the control Mortis had on me. But it came at an astronomical cost. I heard Mortis' voice from last night:the last of her kind.I thought I'd worked through my grief, but now that my captivity was over, I guess I'd just hidden it away so Mortis couldn't use it against me. My family's faces—both phoenix and human—popped into my head. I loved them, every one of them.
My fingers flexed against Jack's skin, and I felt him fly out of bed.
"Kai," he whispered, then ran around the side of the bed, pulling me into a hug the minute he sat down. "Are you alright? What do you need?" He pulled me back, looking me over. When he saw the tears, his demeanor changed. "What happened? Kai, what's wrong?" He looked over his shoulder to where the door was. "Did someone come in here?"
"No, Jack." I put my hands on his cheeks, my pinkies running through his beard. "It's over. I don't feel Mortis." The tears continued. "It's over."
"Oh, Kai." Jack pulled me onto his lap. "Shh, it's okay." He rocked me back and forth, stroking my hair, comforting me. "You poor, sweet, sweet girl, being with that monster for so long. It's okay." He kissed my forehead.
I didn't tell Jack that I missed my family so much, that I'd never get to introduce them to my mate. That my mother and father would never hold any of my hatchlings. All of that was taken from me. Jack had taken such good care of me. Notwanting him to think any of this was about him, I fought to get control of myself.
"I'm alright." I pushed off his chest. His thick muscular arms made me feel safe, pulled back allowing me to sit up and face him. "Thank you for taking care of me. It took less time because you did such a great job."
"Nothing would have taken me from your side. I'm glad you're here. Are you one hundred percent back?"
"Yes, one hundred percent me."
"Good," Jack growled, causing my belly to flip and flop. His hand slid into my hair, angling my head so he could deepen the kiss. I melted into him, my body molding against his, and for a moment there was nothing but the taste of him, the feel of his hands on my skin. We kissed a deep emotional kiss, not one of passion or need but one representing what we'd been through. Our tongues danced to freedom and a future. When we finally released each other, Jack brought our foreheads together.
"You taste like mixed berries," he teased.
"I bet I do."
