Page 37 of Realm of Flames (Reborn 3)
Maya
I wasn’t particularlygood at knowing how to react to situations, but now more than ever I felt extremely confused and uncomfortable. There was absolutely no denying the fact that the woman across the room looked exactly like me. I knew I wasn’t the only one who recognized it either, because the entire room broke into low, murmured conversation. I couldn’t look away from the woman up front though, her eyes widening as I stared back into the same exact gold shade that mine had turned recently. It was way more than that though. The similarities were enough that I was trying to find differences other than the fact that she appeared older than me—not by much—but there was an angular element to her face that I didn’t have.
I needed to say something, ask something, but I was unable to because of the shock radiating through me.We even had the exact same color hair. Her nose was rounded on the tip, like mine, and covered in freckles. Like mine. The only difference was the way she held herself, a gold crown covered in blue stones sitting on top of her head, which was held high and with confidence. There was a power and elegance to her that I could never myself contain, but I wanted to. I wanted to have that strength. Looking at her was like finding an idealistic image of yourself—both painful and fascinating.
“What is this?” A man’s deep voice rang out from nearby, clear and strong, as my eyes darted around to the six men that seemed to surround her. All of them were wearing gold and blue uniforms that matched her own dress in style. They had crowns as well, but they were simple gold bands, and I wasn’t positive if that meant they were kings or if they were simply a reflection of their relationship with her. Honestly, it was a bit difficult to focus on that element of it right now.
The man speaking seemed to have a similar magic signature to Atlas, his dragon apparent from here. The shadows on the edges of the room grew in response to the defensive energy that radiated off him. His dark hair and eyes were such a drastic contrast to the lightness of the room around him, and it only seemed to amplify the danger he exuded. I nearly stepped back, my hands shaking, but I managed to keep my ground. Luckily, Doctor Bates spoke up and pulled their attention away from me briefly, straightening from a curtsy that was echoed by my mates’ bows.
Was I supposed to have curtsied as well? Crap. I was already messing this up.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty.” Her apology was authentic, but there was an urgency to her tone. “I couldn’t wait. I knew that there was no way to possibly explain this situation. It is one you had to see for yourself.” The rambling nature of her words was such a stark difference from her calm, calculated attitude before, and it had me staring up at her in confusion. She almost looked excited?
“This is impossible,” the woman at the front of the room said softly, but her voice traveled through the space, drawing my attention back up. Her large gold eyes were still completely focused on me, filled with an emotion I couldn’t place but had my heart racing nervously. My eyes almost felt as though they were stinging, and emotion I didn’t understand caught in my throat, making me feel almost choked. There was no way to hide how I felt, and my hands tightened on my dress, wanting desperately to turn into one of my mates. They were so close, yet there felt like there was a distance between us, and I was hesitant to look away from this moment, afraid that I would find I was imagining it.
The room grew louder, confusion filling the air with tension as the queen stepped down from the front. Well, tried to. The man from before stepped in front of her, his massive frame shielding her from the rest of us. I made a noise in my throat, frustrated that I could no longer see her, and immediately she stepped out from the man’s space and offered him a look.
“Cyra.” His voice held a softness that surprised me as his hand on her waist tightened.
“Con, look at her. Really look.” Her voice was almost pleading.
The man turned to look at me briefly, and I noticed pain flash across his face before I was distracted by another man stepping forward, his gaze far more clinical and a bit cold. Honestly, the man appeared a bit younger than the others, and he was very unique-looking, his golden skin almost the same exact shade as his hair and eyes, almost creating an effect where he seemed to be made of gold. I couldn’t tell you what type of dragon he was, but there was a cool, even energy to his magic that attempted to reassure those around him.
“I think she may be right,” he murmured, his eyes darkening before looking back at the other men, all of them staring between Cyra and me in a mixture of surprise and pain.
“We checked everywhere, Haco,” a red-haired man determined, his eyes flashing with a fiery energy despite them being dark in shade. “Fucking everywhere.”
“Everyone out,” the man next to him snapped. The room came back into focus, people fleeing towards the door, leaving us with just the seven up front and some guards.
“Calm down,” another man drew in response to the man who snapped out the order. His eyes narrowed on my mates, making me feel defensive. I almost stepped back to block them, but Cyra stepped forward again, and this time, no one stopped her.
I swallowed nervously as she looked back momentarily at the man sitting on the edge of the throne, his gaze completely focused on me. He didn’t seem angry, though. Rather the opposite, a level of sadness in his gaze, mixed with both hope and surprise that I could have never expected and didn’t fully understand. He met Cyra’s gaze and offered a small nod, making her let out a sound of both happiness and surprise that had my phoenix fluttering in my chest.
“She doesn’t know.” His voice was filled with emotion. “But her phoenix… it’s the same. Her magic is the same. I think it’s her.”
“If I may,” Doctor Bates said, attempting to interrupt the moment. I inhaled sharply, realizing I had been all but holding my breath in fear of what each one would say next. Marco wrapped an arm around my waist and I leaned back into him, needing that touch of comfort to ground myself. Instantly, I felt far better, and I tried to not lock my knees, feeling suddenly dizzy.
“Explain,” Cyra ordered softly, a flash of vulnerability skirting her face with her eyes still glued to mine. “I don’t understand how this is possible.”
“I don’t know,” Doctor Bates admitted before stilling the room with her next words. “She’s a Blue Phoenix. Confirmed. She shifted moments ago back in my office, so we came here immediately. I mean, the resemblance alone would have been enough to warrant an investigation, but the fact that she is a Blue Phoenix? I mean, the chances—”
Heat pricked my skin at everyone’s range of emotions that seemed to be filling the space.
“Stop.” The same man who ordered everyone out looked like he was in immense pain. Cyra’s jaw tightened as she nodded, ignoring the others behind her and looking far less surprised about the news than the men.
A sound left her throat, resonating through the space, as a similar one left me and had tears breaking down my lashes and cheeks before I had a chance to stop them. Marco brushed one away, gently kissing the top of my head, as Cyra closed the gap between us. I could feel unadulterated shock surging through my mating bonds, and even Marco seemed to be treading hesitantly. Unintentionally, his action also gained the others’ attention.
“Commander Moretti,” the red haired man’s sharp voice rang out. “What is the meaning of this? Our briefing was for tonight—”
“They are here with me. My mates brought me here to the Dreki Realm.” I blinked away tears as Cyra inhaled sharply at the sound of my voice, the sound seeming to make everyone pause as it echoed through the silent hall.
Before I could blink, she was in front of me, staring at me from almost the exact same height. My eyes widened as her hands wrapped around my shoulders and everything jolted inside of me. A blast of sonic power, scorching with heat, hit my own magic, and my heart stuttered at the connection between us. The one that was almost unbelievable yet undeniable. Emotion crowded everything, making me dizzy enough that I couldn’t focus on anything but the ringing in my ears. Unimaginable pain and loss slammed into me as a heartbreak that had been long buried exposed itself.
“Sol.” Her voice was broken. “Baby, is it really you?”
The name ran over me with familiarity as I found my voice. “I… how is this possible?” I just couldn’t believe it.
“What’s possible?” Sai’s voice brought me back as I turned my head to look at them, even Marco who had removed his arm despite staying in my space.
