Page 83 of A Phoenix Reborn at Christmas

He sighed. He had far too many questions.

He changed, but he still reeked. Unfortunately that couldn’t be helped. He walked to his desk and drank the tea. He looked around his office. His nose wrinkled. Why did it all feel so wrong?

Tap. Tap. Tap.The noise on the window caused him to turn.

A raven tapped her black beak against the glass.Tap. Tap. Tap.

He sipped his tea. He knew this raven. He’d saved it with his tears when it had been injured on his window ledge. Percival frowned.

Then the raven had saved him. The ice sorceress had trapped him within the sigil. She would have permanently killed him.

He took a step towards the window, sipping the last of the tea.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Then the raven had swooped down and attacked the ice sorceress. The raven had managed to get one of her eyes. It had allowed him to shift and fight back.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Percival took another step towards the window.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Ebony. That was the raven’s name.

Because then she’d saved him again. When Percival had been reborn. He’d been scared and hiding behind a crate. She’d led a man to him.

She’d led…Leo to him.

Leo.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

The teacup fell from his hand. It shattered.

Shards of memories slid into his brain like glass. He fell to the floor. Ash filled his lungs as he silently screamed. Flames licked along his body. He clutched at his head, nails digging into skin as the pain swallowed him.

His vision burned gold. Then flickered. Flickered with images of Leo.

Warm sheets, legs entangled, Leo grinning as his eager hands stroked Percival.

Leo kissing his cheek as Percival cut pastry into strips.

Leo climbing on Percival’s back, in phoenix form. Flying together.

“I love you.” Leo smiling at him. “My firebird. My phoenix. My Percy.”

Tap. Tap. Tap.

The pain receded. His memories settled. He panted, staring at the window.

Tap. Tap. Tap.Ebony’s beady black eyes watched him.

He sat up. Smoke lingered in the air. Flames surrounded him. Lifting his hand, he calmed the fire.

“Leo,” Percival rasped.

I have to go to Leo! I shouldn’t be here.