Sofia: Phoenix Rising - Fire Within! Book 1
Chapter Eighteen

My breakup with Blake left me confused. Not about how I feel about him but on how he took the news that I was ending things with him. I pulled him away from his friends and found a quiet place for us to chat. I told him that I felt like we would be better friends than as we would a couple. He in turn wrapped me up in his arms, hugging me, kissed me on the cheek and said, “I understand.” That was it. Beyond baffled and in a complete daze, I make my way out to the parking lot running the breakup over and over in my head as I walk.

Drawing myself out of my thoughts, I find I am standing in the middle of the black sea of pavement. I look around curiously for Lori but instead find myself locking eyes with Ash. “Lori told me you were going to need a ride and that I should be out here in the parking lot, waiting for you.”

He looks absolutely ravishing as he leans against his red Jeep Renegade, his tux jacket flung over his shoulder hooked by his index finger. I smile at him shyly as our shared kiss comes fluttering back across my mind. “She did, did she? Funny, I could have sworn I asked her for a ride…” His grin is earthshattering as he shrugs his shoulders in a ‘what can I say’ kind of way.

I had not even realized I had neared his vehicle until I see him walk around to the passenger door, opening it for me. “Your chariot awaits.” God, his smile is going to be the death of me! I slide onto the black leather seat and when he is confident that no body parts would get smashed, he shuts my door then slides into the driver’s side. “Wait a minute, I totally forgot; didn’t Lori come with you?” I ask, turning in my seat to question him. “Shouldn’t we wait for her?”

“She said not to worry about her, she would find another way home,” and with that, he pushes a button, his car reviving to life and then he speeds across the parking lot.

The whole drive home we sit in a comfortable silence, the only thing he did that caught me by surprised was to clasp my hand within his, entwining our fingers. My body floods with happiness and I smile back at him and then he turns his focus back to his driving.

Ash pulls into my driveway and puts his car in park. I place my hand on the door so I can open it and get out but then I hesitate, dropping my hand onto my lap, I turn to look at Ash, so many questions running through my head. While I am trying to figure out what I should ask him first, I notice he is getting out of the car and in the blink of an eye, my door is being opened. His movements remind me of that of a cat, no, a panther!

I stare at him quizzically now wanting to question him on how he moved to my door so quickly on top of everything else that is running through my mind.

I see a strong tanned hand in front of my face and realize Ash is trying to be a gentleman and help me out of his car. Seriously, what century did he come from. I have never met anyone like him before in my life. “Who are you, Ash Dritan?” I ask him teasingly, but his eyes seem to go dark at the question.

In almost a whisper I hear him say, “one day I will tell you.” I tilt my head so I can get a better look at him in the moonlight but it’s as if he never said the words and his eyes are no longer cloaked in darkness and he is once more smiling at me. I realize my hand is still being held by him and go to release it, but Ash tightens his hold and tugs my arm a little indicating he wants to walk me up to my door.

He releases my hand once we are in front of my door so I can unlock it. Turning back to him, I want to thank him for bringing me home and the walk up to the house, but I don’t get a chance to do so. Ash has closed the slight distance that had separated us when I had gone to unlock the door and as I turn to thank him, his lips land upon mine and before I know what is happening, we are kissing.

I sigh against his lips for I am truly happy at this moment. Placing my hands against his chest, I gently push away from him and look into his blue eyes that are as dark as the midnight sky. “I-I, should go inside.” I hesitate at saying these words because the last thing I want to do is go into my house, but I have so many things running through my head that I feel the only way to begin to sort the thoughts out is to be by myself. Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ Findɴovel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

He nods his head, leans towards me placing a sweet kiss against my forehead before saying, “I will see you tomorrow, ok?”

Giving him a smile, I nod my head yes, and then I go in.

^^^

All night long all I do is toss and turn. Sleep, as much as I want it, evades me. When I finally fall into darkness, dreams quickly turn into nightmares. Blake stands before me, telling me how I must join him. He shouts that I am of the same entity as him and then I watch as his body shifts and turns into an eagle, moments later he screeches and flies off leaving me standing alone on some cliff, the wind beating against my body, my hair flicking across my face causing me to blink as I stare into the night sky.

As I am left looking at the stars, I hear rustling from somewhere behind me and turning my head slowly, I see a set of sea-blue eyes watching me silently. Slowly a very large black cat emerges from the edge of the woods that have materialized, stalking towards me. Fear takes hold of me, and I begin to back away from the animal. Unfortunately for me, there is nowhere to go. My feet are now against the edge of the cliff, and I have no idea what I should do. Realizing the creature before me is a panther, I make my choice quickly and jump into the darkness. Instead of plummeting to my death though, I have transformed myself into the fiery bird of past dreams!

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