The fire in her eyes when she returned to the dining room made me proud. We had all been bloody worried that she would freak out at the news. I hadn’t known what to expect when we started this conversation with her, but her laughter hadn’t been it. Still, there she was, ready to take on the world and win.
“Theo… I want to know about the markers or my heritage or whatever it is you know. Tell me everything.”
Picking up my glasses, I slid them onto my nose as I retrieved the file I had in my laptop bag sitting next to my chair.
Nix came to stand behind me, leaning over my shoulder to see the paper. I knew this wasn’t the time to notice such things, but she smelled amazing. A mixture of soap—a sweet, fruity smell that was all girl—and the wonderful aroma of bonfires in the fall. I couldn’t get enough of her, and I had to clear my throat and focus past her to get the words out.
“You obviously have all the markers of a phoenix. I was able to identify your avian markers, which explains your alternate form. There aren’t many Egyptian bird shifters—the benu, it’s a relative of the phoenix, and, if you stretch a little, the griffin. Since we’ve seen you shift, we already knew your alternate form. We assume your mother was a full-blooded phoenix shifter from what you’ve told us.”
“She looked like me, from what I remember.” Her voice was soft as she spoke near my ear. I could feel her breath caressing my cheek as she looked at the paper in my hands.
“Your Phoenix could have been primarily Greek or Egyptian, but the markers show your roots are from Egypt, which explains your beautiful long, black hair and deep brown eyes.” I turned into her slightly, my nose grazing her cheek before I quickly turned back to the report.
“So you’ve confirmed I’m of Egyptian descent?” The awe in her voice made me smile.
“It explains all that golden skin,” Hiro spoke up from across the table, looking at Nix with heat in his eyes. Damn him, couldn’t he see that Nix and I were having a moment here? Did he have to pipe in?
He chuckled in my head. Yes.
I narrowed my eyes at him while I spoke to Damien telepathically. Damn it, Damien.
Share nice, boys. His amusement came through the line crystal clear.
“And my… father?” She nearly choked as she said the word. Poor girl. I knew this was all a lot to take on. Damien had been trying to get a read on her, but her walls were flying up and down like crazy during the whole conversation. We were getting jumbled pieces in the process. I’m sure that’s what she was feeling. Confused and raw. She had every right to cry, to rage, to mourn the terrible childhood she’d had.
“Your biological father is a little tougher for me to figure out. There are avian markers there as well, which led me to believe your father was also an avian shifter. Unfortunately, I’m having trouble narrowing down which kind and there are extra markers that I’m not familiar with. I’ll continue working to categorizing them, Nix, and get you more answers.”
“But I don’t have his form or his powers?”
“No. Only those of the phoenix, although we think you have much more power than what has manifested thus far. Your power pours off of you…”
What I left unsaid was that her power called to mine. I felt my Kraken stir under my skin in agreement. It was a constant battle to tame him, to keep him from scaring her with his intensity.
“Thank you, Theo.” She turned and placed a light kiss on my cheek, stunning me. Her skin grazed mine as she stood and started pacing.
“How did Michael have me?” It seemed like she was talking more to herself, but Killian growled. He was having a hard time containing his outrage at the man who had escaped our grasp, and he was beating himself up for missing out on the chance to put the man in the ground. I, personally, wanted to see him paraded in front of the Council for his crimes. I wanted to watch him sweat as they doled out his punishment. It might not be as instantly satisfying as burying the guy six feet under like Killian wanted, but it would be sweet justice to see the panel of powerful shifters bring the man to his knees. No, they would not be pleased that he had kept such an important shifter away from them. Purposely hid her away for his own gain. Such a slight against mythologicals would never go unpunished. They would make an example out of him, and I wanted to see that happen. I wanted Nix to never have to look over her shoulder again.
“I know you weren’t specifically asking, but I promise you we are going to get you answers.” The reassuring words came from Hiro, but sounds of agreement and assurance came from all of us.
Rolling her shoulders, Nix let out a puff of air. “I want to know more about my father. Is there any chance I have a birth certificate somewhere? A real one? Obviously, the one we had was forged.” Scoffing, she scrubbed a hand over her eyes as she tried to process.
“I’ll get right on that. Should be easy enough to track down if everything was done legally.”
“Legally? Like I might not technically exist on paper?”
I pulled my glasses off as I looked at her. I wouldn’t sugar coat things for her—it wasn’t in my nature—and I knew that Nix was strong. “It’s a possibility.”
“Fuck. I don’t think I can take any more tonight. Is there any other life-altering news you have for me? Or can I go upstairs now?”
I knew she wasn’t upset with us, but I also knew she needed her space. “Nothing else, Nix.” My voice was gentle, and I tried to pour compassion into it. I wanted her to know that I was here for her.
“Ok.” She headed for the stairs but turned around before she started up them. “Thank you, for being so transparent and not hiding shit. I don’t do well with secrets… so… just… thank you.”
We nodded and smiled as she started heading upstairs.
She’s had enough tonight. Let’s get her settled upstairs. I can feel her tiredness taking over, but she hasn’t eaten yet and barely had anything to drink either. Damien started gathering her food as Hiro grabbed a tray from the kitchen. Ryder headed up the stairs after her, and I heard her screech.
“Ryder! I’m going into the bathroom. Why are you following me?”
“I… uh… just needed my… uh… toothbrush?” He stammered unintelligibly.
Really, your toothbrush? I had to laugh through the link that Damien opened up for us.
I didn’t know what to say! Shut it!
“Oh. Well, here.” I heard a rustling sound and laughed at Ryder. We could tell that Nix had just handed him what he’d said he was looking for. “All set?”
“Um, yes. Thanks.” Ryder staggered down the stairs, fancy spinbrush in hand. Well, that went over like a ceraptor without his wings.
You mean a unicorn? I laughed out loud.
Fuck! No! Theo, not you too! Ryder’s forcefully enunciated his words mentally, and I couldn’t help but to quirk my lips to the side. Bloody hell, teasing Ryder was fun.
You walked right into that one. Hiro chuckled.
You should have been more casual about tailing her. What did you expect? Following her into the damn bathroom… Kill’s amusement slide through the line.
Damnit. Real smooth, Ryder. He chided himself. Obviously, I’m not on my game tonight.
It’s alright. It’s been a rough night, and we all just want to make sure she’s not afraid. Hiro soothed him.
Let’s try to be more inconspicuous about following her around, alright? Damien finished talking as he reached the stairs with the tray.
Good luck. Hiro smiled as he sent the thought to Damien.
Looking behind him, he realized we were all firmly planted in our spots. Cowards.