Ignite by Kara Swanson

Author:Kara Swanson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Science Fiction, Christian
ISBN: 9798886051377
Publisher: Enclave Escape
Published: 2024-06-04T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

I finally lean away from Eli. Jude and I both stare transfixed as Eli slowly pulls himself into a sitting position. His face is no longer ghostly pale, it’s now flushed a deep chestnut, the tone of richly-churned earth, like the day I met him.

Their father lets out a long sigh and slumps to the side. Jude is there in an instant. “Hang on, Dad. Let’s all get inside.”

My chin is propped on my knees drawn to my chest, panting. My body is completely sapped of energy, but I can’t stop staring at Eli. At how . . . renewed he looks. Eli lifts a hand, palm up, and kindles a perfect, flickering flame reminiscent of the one he showed me only earlier today when he revealed his unique parentage. But this time, the fire seems to burst out of his skin, smooth and languid, like it belongs there. Like it’s a part of him that has remembered how to burn. How to glow.

The fire is reflected in Eli’s coppery-brown eyes, and for a moment, I think it’s the continued reflection of the flame in his hand, but then I realize there is fire in his eyes. Something seething and vibrant and him that flashes across his irises and gives them a gold tint.

He scrambles to his feet, reaching for his exhausted father. Both brothers heft the bent, older figure up and carry him toward the cabin. I step back to hold off the seren until they’re inside.

I reach up to gently touch her muzzle again. “I’m safe. All is well. I’ll be just inside.”

She seems to understand and slowly pads several feet away to sink down into the snow, watching me at a distance.

At least she won’t attack Eli again.

I watch her for a stretching moment. It feels like it’s been an eternity since I was the girl, hiding in that magma tube, terrified that this seren had snuck in to steal our stores. Five years may have passed while I was asleep, but in the past day—I’ve lived a lifetime.

I give a final fond tussle of the seren’s tapered ears when she dips her head low enough for me to reach and murmur a thank you, then I turn toward the cabin.

I arrive in time to hold the door for the brothers as they carry their father in. I give them some space as they gently help Haven past the entry room, avoiding Jude’s scattered hunting gear, and through the second doorway into the main chamber. They aim for the padded cushions beside the fire. Jude offers him some of the leftover stew.

Before he takes it, the phoenix tilts his head toward me. “Thank you, Mara. I’ll be restored to full strength soon, and then will answer the many questions I’m sure you have.”

I shouldn’t be surprised he knows my name. He could have caught it from one of his sons’ thoughts, but his voicing of it lingers in the air.

Eli helps settle his father near the warmth of the fire, and quietly sits beside him.

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