All Chapters of Rise of the Phoenix: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

I don’t know what the fuck is going on, but I’m pissed. Both of my parents seem to know, Ajax seems to know, the other elementals seems to know, and no one thought it was a good idea to let ME know?The thing I thought was the danger, the Phoenix, wasn’t, and I wasted valuable time focusing on her when I should have been focusing on the real danger, these fucking witches.They’re after my kids and my mate!I’d heard my mother’s cry for Iniko. I’d hear Eliane call out to me, but it was her panicked scream that had finally cut through my anger. Then, her quiet voice in my head, calling me to her that sent a wave of icy fear rushing through me.When I’d rushed back, I’d found her unconscious, buried under a tree. By then, the witches and warlocks had started appearing out of thin air. I couldn’t spare much time for them as I bellowed for Everett.I lifted the tree off my mate and shifted. “No, no, no! Eliane! Eliane, open your eyes. I’m right here! I’m right here!”I felt my dragons figh

I knew Emmi wasn’t ready for my power, but we couldn’t wait any longer. Her fear had flooded through the bond between us, then burned off with my fire. There is no room for fear now. The witches are here and it’s why I am here.While the others were fighting, I’d been protecting the babies. Each time one got sucked into the tunnel, I would fight to pull them back out. But there were a lot of witches trying to get to the babies and I knew I hadn’t pulled them all back.When I saw the powerful witch who had been fighting with Zephyr take off running, I knew she was going to close the portal. I had screamed my anger and gone after her, burning through the remains of the tunnel so the dragons could get to the witches that I hadn’t gotten to yet.I could hear the screams of pain and fury all around me, feel the pain of the others as they fought to protect the hatchlings and each other. This Academy, this place, has become a home to many of these dragons and hybrids who had no where else to

Three Days LaterThere is so much pain, so much loss. I’m overwhelmed by it, but I have to keep going. The students here, those who are left, are depending on me.Yhendorn, Kenna, Merethyl, and Avani have taken all of the dead elves back to their troupes for a proper burial. Cedric and Tana have taken the dead wolves back to their packs to be burned so their ashes can return to the Moon Goddess’ realm.Tonight, the dragons and hybrids will lay Sena and Dion to rest. They hadn’t been with us long enough to learn how to fight and use their elements and they had been the casualties on the dragon and hybrid side of this war.I walk to the nursery, checking on the young. There are so many of them and they are all frightened, especially since their parents have been gone so much lately.Aithne, Ehrendil, and Daijaro are struggling the most. All of them are under three. Their dominant gene isn’t dragon, which makes their development slower. Tana, Cedric, Merethyl, and Avani have spent every m

Life slowly started getting back to normal. After Kenna forced me to start getting up and interacting again, I realized how much had truly happened while I’d been mourning the loss of Phoenix. The entire Academy was in a state of mourning.After everything that happened with Phoenix and the hatchlings, I felt a special bond to them. I started going to see them the day after Kenna dragged me out of bed. Raina was thrilled to see me, nuzzling me with her snout. I learned the names of the other four dragons that were there as well, Gemma, Blaze, Skye, and Azure; earth, fire, air, and water. All dragons seemed to be named after their element. Even the hybrids, like Ajax, chose names that relate back to their element.I stay close to Ajax and he seems to feel the same need to be near me. Our grief is still overwhelming, but we’re finding our way out of it together. I didn’t realize how much I’d miss Phoenix if she were gone, but I do.There’s a hollowness inside of me, a vacancy that I know

I’m pregnant?I turn and look at Ajax. “We’re going to have a baby?”Ajax stands, holding me in his arms and spinning me in a circle. “We’re going to have a baby!” he shouts before his mouth covers mine. I return his kiss as happy tears stream down my cheeks.When he finally releases my mouth, he puts his forehead against mine. “We’ll all be one big, happy family, Emmi. You’ll see,” he says. I put my hands on his face and realize that he, too, is crying. We’ve both been so devastated by losing Phoenix that this is almost too much to hope for.“Dad,” he says, pulling away and looking at his father who has moved away to give us a few moments of privacy. “What’s next?”“I’d like to do an ultrasound. I’m curious about why Phoenix’s fire isn’t getting close to your belly, Emmi. It’s like there’s a protective layer around the fetus. I’d like to see if I’m right about that and if so, if there is any cause for concern during your delivery.”“How long will she be pregnant, Dad?” Ajax asks.“Wel