The Wolf Prince's Rejected Mate Was the Last Phoenix

orched grass, and

The voice had been so deep and so warm that it seemed to come from t

lips were dry, and her throat felt

and gently, like someone sp

e slept for eighteen years, and I h

o not understand. I have n

f, little one. You were never meant to have one. Something else was always sleeping insid

sea

o last forever. The pain of the rejec

r question, a sharp, bright

scre

en light burst from her body and rolled outward across the clearing. The trees shook. The wind ru

e flame

t once, from her arms and her shoulders and her hair. Within a few heartbeats, Ser

the agony. She

ever

e the arms of someone who loved her. They flowed over her skin and through her ha

dy glowed. She held her hands up in front of her face and w

softly, and she was surprise

ile in it too. "It is. It is also very dangero

t am

l understand soon." The voice grew quieter. "But I will t

t tears slid down her ch

was not strong, not special, and not worthy. She had bel

was stronger than shame. It was not quite joy, and it was not q

u," she w

thanking, but the fire seem

beyond the clearing,

here! Do you s

eyes fl

heard the jingle of armor, the snap of branches, and the

," she b

voice. "Do not let f

and sharp, and the flames around her surged upward in answer

red desperately. "

only gr

form of the Moonfall border patrol, with swords at their hips and bows across their backs. Bes

their horses to

of the flames and the wild breathing of the horses. One of the h

a young soldier. His face ha

man in a shaking voice. "Ther

His name was Captain Brannock, and Sera recognized him. He had sometimes come to the castle kitc

. That is the kitchen girl. The one who was..."

one?" asked th

ced herself to speak. "Please. I am not going to hurt anyone. I d

ightened on his rein

e and back away, and their tails dropped between their legs. Their ears lay flat ag

," said one of the sol

ver afraid," m

at t

moved with her. The soldiers all flinched. One of

again. "Please do

ed the young soldier, and hi

ache twisted in her chest. "My name is Serap

rider lifted his head. He was a thin, hard-faced man in a black cloak who had not spoken until now. He did

ly. "Do you not know wh

rned. "No,

shone strangely in the firelight. "The king gave an order long ago. If this fire ever appeared

r ran down S

d King Alaric know

ptain Brannock said uneas

ck lifted one gloved hand. "Bring th

r,

Capt

nodded to his men. Two soldiers swung down from their horse

went cold, even

her heart hammered painfully against her ribs. "P

shouted the

ers rushe

a blinding tower of gold. The heat blasted outward, and the soldiers fell back, shieldin

Sera heard the tw

time to see an arrow flyin

to run. She had

anches of the tree above her. It landed in front of her w

in two and fel

nd the hunters. He held a long, curved sword in o

ound, he spoke in

r being late,