Beauty in Ashes (Phoenix Rising #7)- Harper Wylde Page 0,61

for which your blood could be used, but its effectiveness is directly related to how much of it we’re exposed to.” Theo nodded toward my bleeding knuckles. “That, for instance, will hardly do anything to us. You’re human right now, it’s such a small amount, and it’s not like we’re going to lick your hands. Ryder just wants to heal it. If he got any blood on his skin, he wouldn’t suffer any ramifications.”

I blew out a breath and nodded, extending my hands sluggishly for Ryder to cup in his own. Blue magic illuminated between his cupped palms, and he knit my skin back together again, healing my self-sustained injuries.

“There.” He inspected his handiwork. “All better.” He sacrificed his shirt and wiped away the sticky blood before placing a soft, sweet kiss over my newly healed knuckles.

“Thank you.” I popped up on my toes and kissed his cheek. “For always healing me, and for not being afraid.”

“You’ve always had faith in me and were never afraid of my darker magic, even when I was terrified of myself. I could never fear any part of you, including your blood,” he whispered, and nipped at my ear before sliding behind me to wrap his arms around my shoulders. I held onto his forearms, and my Phoenix cooed, content now that the rage had subsided and I had more answers than I’d started with.

“The problem with all of my testing is that I’ve been using too much blood. I realize now how potent just a few drops can be, and if used right, your blood could be used as an effective weapon rather than an uncontrollable bomb,” Theo mused, his eyes alight with that intelligent gleam he always got when he had a good idea he couldn’t wait to investigate.

“I don’t know,” I hedged, worried about trying more tests, but also instantly curious at the idea that my blood could help protect the people I cared about the most. The image of Molly’s lifeless body was already burned into my memory the same way Gaspard’s and Damien’s parents were.

“The idea has merit,” Damien spoke up, finally entering the gym from where he’d been observing us this whole time. “But only if Nix is alright with one last bout of testing. I’d also need to see the results before approving it for use amongst our group, but if it would help give us an edge, even the slightest advantage over Stepanov, Rahal, and Maldonado, it’s worth exploring one last time.”

“What do you say, Nix?” Theo’s attention settled over me like a warm blanket, and I found myself nodding. If nothing else, it would help give Theo a task to focus on as we awaited Molly’s recovery and the looming deadline of our final battle.

“If you think it will help, I’d bleed a thousand times over to help us win this fight. We don’t have a future without it, so yes. For Emy, for Molly, for all of you and the life I dream about having with you long after this war is over.”

Theo beamed proudly, and it was the most life I’d seen in his eyes since our mating day just over a week ago.

My heart ached for the mating ceremony we’d lost, for the sister who almost died, and for the pain and suffering that had been inflicted on so many of the warriors who’d stood by our sides and fought against the opposing forces. And the truth was, the real fight hadn’t yet begun.

We still needed to battle death and come out victorious on the other side.

And there was one thing I knew for sure, beating Stepanov was going to take a miracle.

Or perhaps, just some of my blood.

Fourteen

Hiro

“I’m supposed to be resting, you know. Theo’s orders after my blood draw last night.” Nix’s giggle reached my ears, and a smile quirked up the corner of my lips as I considered the semi-closed door to our bedroom. Apparently my little Phoenix had been up to mischief while I was away today and hadn’t heard me come in. The question was, who was helping her disobey the Kraken’s orders?

“Ah, mikró poulákí. This is resting.” Ryder’s teasing voice had my grin spreading wide. Well now, wasn’t this going to be fun? I shot off a quick text to Theo, making sure Nix would be safe to share in some playtime with me now that it had been almost twenty-four hours since he’d taken his last blood sample, and my smile grew when he gave