Page 22 of A Phoenix Reborn at Christmas

Leo stumbled back. The raven cried out and hopped away.

The great bird lifted its head, eyes wide. It opened its red beak. Fire shot upwards.

Leo gasped.

Suddenly the wings flapped open. Bursts of flame shot out from the bird.

“Pissing potions!” he cried out as he dodged.

Then as quickly as they’d started, the flames shooting from the bird stopped. The bird held completely still, as if frozen in place.

Leo glanced around. A few of the barrels and crates had caught on fire. With a cry, he dashed towards them. He dragged them away from the buildings and other debris, piling the burning crates and barrels into a single pile so they could burn out without burning down the whole bloody alley!

He turned back to the bird, who remained completely still.

Then the bird collapsed onto the cobblestones in a heap. Immediately, it began to convulse.

Fucking frog guts! Now what is going on?

Leo moved closer but kept his distance. He didn’t want to be hit with fire. The raven hopped up beside Leo, watching the other bird.

The orange and red feathers disappeared. The wings and neck retracted. Limbs shifted.

A naked man lay face down on the cobblestones.

Leo dashed towards him and placed a hand on his back. “Are you all right, mate?”

The man slowly pushed up onto his hands and knees. Leo wrapped an arm around him and helped him up.

Leo glanced up at the pile of burning crates and barrels. That fire had come from the bird. His mind turned as things slid into place.

Firebird. The bird was a firebird. A phoenix.

He looked back to the man, watching as deep-red hair sprouted from his head.

This man is a phoenix.

His stomach tensed as a certain inevitability settled in his gut.

The phoenix lifted his head.

Shit.

“Lord Percival Everflame.”

Chapter

Ten

“What the fuck happened to you?” Leo dropped his hand from the man’s shoulder.

No doubt His Lordship wouldn’t tolerate Leo touching him with his dirty baker’s hands. He forced himself not to sneer.

Why did it have to be Leo who’d stumbled upon Lord Percival Everflame? Because even though the man was a complete prick, Leo couldn’t just leave him naked and vulnerable in the street until he was certain the man was all right.

But seriously, what had he just witnessed? Had that been a phoenix rebirth? He had lots of questions. He doubted the arrogant man would condescend to answer Leo though.

He looked younger than before. Previously, Leo would have guessed the phoenix was in his early thirties. Now he looked to be about twenty.