And absolutely a blaze of gold, red, and orange flames that only highlighted the intoxicating blue and purple inferno that seemed to surround her. The woman I loved was by far the most unique and glorious shifter I’d ever seen.
When I looked back to the doctor, I could see pure shock radiating over her, and I steadied myself… Somehow I knew that this was about to get ten times more complicated.
10
Maya
Exhilaration. Excitement. Pride. Everything seemed to morph into one moment of pure and untamed joy as I once again connected with the creature inside of me, feeling our bond solidify into something absolutely amazing. I had a feeling the more I shifted, the stronger our connection would become and it’d be easier to shift like this. For just a moment, it was easy to ignore everything else.
Doctor Bates.
The Dreki realm.
My insecurities and questions.
None of it mattered, and I could feel my mates’ energy in the room as I let out a sound, desperately wanting them to join us. The sound was crisp and clear and immediately had Atlas standing as I swept downward, gliding while leaving an inferno-like trail in my path.
As I glided past one of the large windows, I nearly circled back in order to see my reflection once more. I had never seen myself shifted before, and I found myself momentarily shocked. Not just because of the stunning array of reds, oranges, purples, and blues that decorated my large avian frame but because that gorgeous creature was… me. That concept seemed unreal. For the first time in my life, I felt a sense of pride and worth that radiated from within myself, not from others, and it vividly contrasted the concern I had about the doctor’s reaction to how I looked.
Doctor Bates seemed like a nice woman, but she also left me feeling a bit uncomfortable. Not because of anything she was doing, but because of the truth she could represent. And based on her expression? I was going to guess that I truly wasn’t a normal phoenix.
That realization gutted me.
I desperately wanted to be normal for my mates. I wanted to be what they assumed I was, but the shock on her face left me feeling as though there was something drastically wrong with me.
I didn’t want to burn any of the furniture, so I landed on a metal shelf, looking over my three mates and the doctor. A sad sound broke from my throat as Croy’s fists tightened, his wolf attempting to surge forward. I knew my phoenix and I were pulling on our bonds with them, and Sai was gripping the couch in an attempt to not shift. I wanted him to shift though—the only thing holding me back from demanding it was that he so clearly was trying not to. I didn’t understand why.
Didn’t he want to fly with us?
A disappointed sound almost left me at the concept of him not wanting that.
“I don’t understand how this is possible,” Doctor Bates demanded, looking at them. “Locked up? Where was she locked up? Outside of the crown, we haven’t had a Blue Phoenix in nearly two decades. You said Maya is eighteen, correct? I mean, the chances of that being a coincidence is extremely unlikely, and if that’s the case, then—”
“I understand what it would possibly mean,” Croy responded, looking more tense than before as I felt confusion run over me. Recognition as well, because the term ‘Blue Phoenix’ sounded familiar… possibly because I was shifted, but I couldn’t for the life of me remember why it was familiar. I racked my brain, trying to pull that term from the conversation I’d had with Croy.
“Then you understand we need to go see the queen immediately, correct?” The doctor’s face was filled with passion. “We absolutely cannot wait. In fact, with the calls she is letting out, I’m surprised the queen hasn’t shown up herself.”
Calls?
Queen?
The story Croy told me was jostled from my subconscious, turning my mood darker as I recalled the heartbreaking tale of the Dreki realm queen, who was a Blue Phoenix, and her mates losing a child. A pulse of pain went through my chest, nearly causing my phoenix to let out a sound of distress and sadness.
“Maya.” Sai stepped forward, his eyes flashing with heat that both enticed me forward and worried me because I got the distinct feeling that he wasn’t particularly happy with any of what the doctor was saying. “Can you change back, kitten?”
I left the metal shelf and flew down towards him before landing on another hard surface, feeling as though I couldn’t fully shift back yet. My phoenix was thrilled to be out, and I could tell she wasn’t fully ready to disappear again. I let out a soft warble that almost sounded like a coo before he reached, running a hand along my feathers. His dragon let out a deep rumble from his chest that had me moving closer to him.
“This is only her second time shifting?”
I cued back into the doctor’s voice, realizing that she looked once again a bit more clinical and confused. Maybe because I couldn’t shift back? Or had yet to? I wasn’t positive. Last time I had only done so in exhaustion, so I wasn’t positive how to do so in a controlled setting.
When the door opened suddenly, my attention turned and a happy sound pealed out of me, thrilled to see Marco, Henry, Anani, and Ledger. All of them seemed somewhat surprised to see me shifted, but when I flew over, Marco let me land on his shoulder. He reached up a hand and I nipped it, a soft affection running through our bond making me nuzzle against him.
“She won’t shift back,” Atlas explained softly.
Won’t? No, it wasn’t that we wouldn’t… well, actually it was a bit of that. My phoenix let out a screech of frustration at him as his lips pressed into a small amused smile. I liked that smile far too much. I felt my frustration soften, but I stayed by Marco, loving the way his hand felt on me.
“Baby girl, how about you shift back?” His voice was commanding and had my phoenix pausing, seeming to consider his words. I waited for her to make a decision on how to proceed, wanting to work together with her, before she decided that this time we were going to listen to him unlike earlier. We took off from his shoulder and soared towards the ceiling before diving back down.
That same feeling of fiery heat on my skin returned, but instead of feeling as though it was exploding out, it almost felt like an implosion, my eyes shutting as everything went from gliding to a sudden stop of heavier limbs. I let out a small scream as I fell from the air, only for my fall to be stopped by two large arms that had me sighing happily. Atlas.
“You may want to try to shift closer to the ground next time, angel,” he purred, his voice a soft hum that felt heated as I realized his rough hands were against my bare skin. I flushed, noting that I was naked and wondering what had happened to the pretty dress I’d been wearing. Before I could question it, a blanket was wrapped around me as Anani looked down at me, his eyes flaring with lust despite me being in Atlas’s arms. I reached out and ran my hand through his hair, wanting to kiss him but wondering if that was a bit much considering I could feel the doctor still staring at me.
My relief and relaxation diminished when I began listening to the conversation taking place between Doctor Bates and the others.
“I think it is of vast importance that we see the queen immediately. Not only is she a phoenix, but a Blue Phoenix. Her age range and the fact that you found her on Earth… the coincidence is far too likely. The crown needs to be notified immediately so we can at least confirm her identity.”