The Phoenix Prophecy

THE PHOENIX PROPHECY: FIRE BIRD BOOK SIX CARA CLARE Copyright © 2023 by Cara Clare & Plume Noire Books All rights reserved. Plume Noire Books is an imprint of Bewick Press Ltd. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. Cover Design: Beautiful Book Covers by Ivy CONTENTS The Phoenix Prophecy Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34 Chapter 35 Chapter 36 Chapter 37 Chapter 38 Chapter 39 Chapter 40 Chapter 41 Chapter 42 Chapter 43 Chapter 44 Chapter 45 Chapter 46 Chapter 47 Chapter 48 Chapter 49 Chapter 50 Chapter 51 SPECIAL THANKS SNEAK PEEK: BOUND (CORRUPTED CLASSICS BOOK ONE) End of Fire Bird Love Fire Bird? About Cara TRIGGER WARNINGS THE PHOENIX PROPHECY When above turns to darkness And below breaks free A witch born to humans Salvation shall bring Fated to five who are not what they seem The Phoenix will rise and become Earth’s Queen Into the embers One Two Three Devoured by Flame The Phoenix is She 1 KOLE My face burns, but I can’t turn away. The flames dance higher and higher, stretching from the basin of the fountain up toward the ever-darkening sky. I’m aware of Eve and Ragnor shouting at one another. She’s waving her arms, he’s putting his hands on her shoulders and shaking her, but I can’t bring myself to look at them. All I can see is Nova. Her arm hanging over the edge of the fountain. Her face when she said goodbye. But she is no longer there. Devoured by flame. She is leaving me. Leaving us. With every flicker of the bright orange fire, she slips further away. My chest tightens and my gut twists violently. I lurch forward and grab the nearest tree so I don’t fall to my knees. What if I was wrong? What if she doesn’t come back? What if I just sent the woman I love to her death? * * * The moon is high in the sky by the time the flames die down. I am still holding onto the large oak tree beside me. It feels my pain. Thin, winding branches have wrapped themselves around my arm, holding me upright. The oak’s heartbeat matches my own. Only earth mages feel the rhythm of the trees. Usually it is comforting. Now, here, it brings no solace; just a reminder that I am still breathing, and Nova is not. Despite the hours that have passed, she is still not here. She has not risen. She did not stand and walk through the flames back into my arms. The Phoenix has not returned. A crowd has gathered around the fountain. Werewolves in their human form stand, salivating over what is happening before them. It took Ragnor and Eve only seconds to turn their confusion at what was happening into victory. “We did it, Ragnor,” she cooed. “We did what he asked. We captured The Phoenix. We bottled her blood, and now…” She turned and splayed her arms out to her sides, “she is no more.” “We should put them out,” Ragnor replied, his dark eyes reflecting the dance of Nova’s final flames. “No.” Eve hugged herself, smiling. “Let the witch burn.” Finally the flames seem to be putting themselves out. Stopping their relentless attack on Nova’s beautiful body. Leaving her in peace. Ragnor claps his hands and calls for silence. He strides toward the fountain. As he draws nearer, blood rushes to my ears and throbs in my veins. The thought of him touching her brings white-hot bile to the back of my throat. I swallow it down. At the same time, I try to squash the magick inside me; I want to rip up the ground beneath Ragnor’s feet. I want to hang him upside down from the oak above my head and choke the life from his sick, ruthless body with my bare hands. He grips the rim of the basin and peers down into it. I can barely breathe. I want to see her, but I’m not sure if I can. This part, I’m not sure if I can watch. For several long, quivering moments, Ragnor is still. His shoulders rise and fall with the movement of his breath. I narrow my eyes and tug my arm free from the branch that has been holding me up; I need to get closer. Stepping sideways, I move into the shadow just inside the treeline. Still out of sight, but only just. Ragnor dips a hand into the fountain, then rights himself slowly. Eve is watching him too, ticking her head from side to side and bobbing on the soles of her feet as if she can barely stand the anticipation. “Ragnor?” she asks when he turns to face her. Everyone else is silent. Ragnor looks down at his closed hand, then a smile twitches his lips. It stretches across his face. Eyes sparkling, he raises his fist. When he opens it, ashes fall to the ground. “She’s gone,” he barks loudly. “The Phoenix is no more!” He looks up at the moon and raises his hands toward it as if he is praying. “In five days’ time, when the moon is full, we will use the Phoenix’s blood to raise The Shadow King.” His voice grows darker and louder. “We will end humanity! Supers will reign supreme! We. Will. Rule!” Cheers break out. The werewolves start baying and howling, even though they’re still in their human