Fire Danger by Claire Davon Read Free Book Online Page B

said, and the clipped words left no doubt he meant to be insulting. The words were followed by a growl, one echoed by the other wolves. The clearing filled with the low hum. “You are not welcome here.”
    “Your welcome is not needed, Fenley.” Phoenix said. “Your were-cubs attacked my mortal. It is my right.”
    The rest of the wolves assumed human form, and the crunch that accompanied the transformations echoed in her ears. The ones who attacked her had to be among them, but she could not pick out the culprits. Even if she had been alert and not in a fugue state the night before, she doubted she would remember anything except terror.
    “She is no mortal.” Fenley’s voice rose on a yip. “She is dangerous.”
    Phoenix said nothing. His hand squeeze warned her to stay silent. In truth, her mouth was so dry she wasn’t sure words could have formed anyway. The giant man folded his arms in front of his enormous chest.
    The standoff continued for a few minutes, with neither large man moving, just staring at each other without blinking.
    Fenley dipped his head. His skin rippled and tufts of fur poked out, as if he was barely controlling his wolf. His nails alternated between human nails and the beginnings of claws, and there was movement under his face. He drew a deep breath, and the wolf vanished.
    “I accept your claim, but the woman is unsafe. You must know what she is.”
    If Phoenix knew, that was news to Rachel. What was she if she was not human? The idea, which would have seemed outlandish yesterday, didn’t seem so strange now. The echo of Phoenix’s flame answered a deep compulsion in her. What would it be like to control fire?
    She could feel emotion coming off the other wolves. Their glares and barely concealed snarls let her know she was not welcome here. She dared to look at one briefly and saw the same anger, hatred and odd fear that she remembered as if in a dream from last night.
    Do not show emotion.
    “She is my concern.”
    Out of the corner of her eye Rachel could see a slender boy with a shock of black hair move fractionally forward. With his free hand, Phoenix pointed in the pack’s direction. A fireball erupted out of his hand and landed near the boy, setting the grass and the leaves on top of it ablaze.
    Cool.
    The wolf yelped and began stomping at the flames. The others watched as the boy put the fire out with his feet. Dark hair fell into the boy’s eyes as he gave Phoenix a baleful look and then slunk into the group of people. Singed leaves now joined the forest smells. The burned smell in the air was familiar. Rachel’s hands itched.
    Neither Phoenix nor Fenley had moved. Finally, Fenley blinked, and there was a hint of yellow in his eyes. The werewolf alpha shook his head.
    “We have had a cordial relationship these last seven years, Phoenix. But make no mistake, this is our city. It is time for your Challenge, and we want no part of it. That is between you and the Demonos. This woman is connected.”
    A mix of emotions danced across Fenley’s mobile face. The woman, who appeared to be his mate, blinked slowly. Rachel recognized the gesture as something JT would do.
    “Char and burn. You are correct. Challenge is upon us. However, it has nothing to do with Rachel.”
    “Char and burn?” Rachel asked. “Is that a Phoenix thing?”
    His lips twitched.
    “ It’s a me thing.”
    Deciding it was one of those things, like her old guardians saying “what the tarnation”, Rachel let it go.
    The female spoke for the first time. “Are you sure your Challenge has nothing to do with Rachel?”
    Insects and birds chirped. The leaves on the sturdy trees rustled, and the sun glinted through their branches. Rachel’s pulse was pounding so hard she was sure the others could hear it.
    Part of his Challenge? What were they talking about? She needed to find out, and fast. Once again her palms itched in a sensation so fierce she wanted to throw them up and…what?
    Phoenix inclined his head at