Changed by Fire (Phoenix Rising #6) - Harper Wylde Page 0,183
his head. The animal stepped toward us, its head cocked to the side.
“It’s a Qilin,” Hiro whispered, awe filling his voice. “It’s a real Qilin.” Cries of shock filled the room and, one by one, the rebellion members began to drop to their knees.
“Can someone please explain this?” I gasped out, heat gathering in my hands. What the hell was it doing to people to knock them down? Was this something I could beat?
“Don’t hurt him,” Joshua yelled, frantic as he stepped forward. “It’s okay, Nix. It’s Tao.”
Tao? I tried to jog my rattled brain. Hadn’t Joshua said something about him being a Qilin? “I, um, I thought Tao couldn’t shift.” The animal huffed before leaning forward in a deep bow.
“Oh, fuck,” Theo murmured.
“Someone want to explain?” Killian grumbled. “I mean, I’ve heard of qilin before, but I didn’t know Tao could take that form. And why now, after all these years?”
The air hissed with heat and Tao reformed. I shot my eyes to the ceiling as Ryder chuckled at my aversion to Tao’s nudity. “Here,” he called, tugging his shirt off and tossing it to the other man.
“Thanks,” Tao’s voice cracked as he wrapped it around his waist. “Sorry, I didn’t expect to shred my clothes.”
“Nix, there was a reason the Council wanted to keep an eye on Tao,” Damien spoke up. “Your Phoenix is incredibly rare, but so are qilin. You see, qilin only ever shift into their alter when there is a worthy ruler, an honorable ruler, in their presence. It acts as a catalyst.”
“The Council has attempted to draw my alter out for years,” Tao explained. From the grimace on his face, I doubted that those attempts had all been peaceful. His dark eyes were kind as they met mine. “You and your mates have been inciting something in me for some time now. I assumed, at first, that it was a reaction to being here amongst the rebellion. But just now…” He trailed off, shaking his head. “When you all touched and let out that spark of power, my Qilin could no longer be suppressed. It needed to greet you. All seven of you,” he said purposefully, looking into each of my mates’ eyes.
“Wait.” My voice shook, and without my mates’ reassuring hands, I doubted I would have been able to stay on my feet. “Are you—are you saying your Qilin thinks we’re rulers?” I turned frantic eyes on my mates. “This is crazy, right? I mean, we aren’t rulers.”
“Not purposeful ones,” Tao replied. “Yet look at what you are. You all have the various skills needed to be a strong governmental body. Nix, you inspire everyone around you. Damien, you have a solid understanding of how governments function and what our people need. Joshua, you have the same training.” Damien made a sound deep in his throat, and Tao let a small smile curve his lips. “Killian, it’s been easy to see that you are someone people seek out when they need training. Theo, your mind is second to none, you always have a thought or a strategy. Hiro, you have a way with people—you can calm and comfort anyone.” Ryder snorted softly, and Tao chuckled as well. “Ryder, you have an unparalleled gift for healing.” The smile dropped from Ryder’s face, but Tao pushed on. “All of you work with each other to build those talents which are innate to you. You strengthen each other, support each other. You temper your knowledge, even your rationality, with compassion.”
“But that’s not what’s supposed to happen!” I objected anxiously. “We’re supposed to help, to get rid of the Council so we can be together.” I looked at my mates one by one, trying to understand what was hiding behind their shocked and serious gazes. “It wasn’t supposed to be forever. I wanted to be with my mates. I… I wanted to do what was right.” The last word broke from my lips on a cry.
“And that is why you were chosen,” Tao told me gently. “If you had sought this, sought to a conquer, to relish the power, then you couldn’t have possibly drawn out my Qilin. But because you want to make the world better, and truly have it set as your heart’s desire, my alter answered the call.” He executed a careful bow. “I am now, and will forever be, at your service.”
I opened my mouth, another objection on the tip of my tongue, when the windows of the ballroom shattered in an explosion