Chapter 3

Sloane's POV

Mom holds Evangeline, her voice soft as a lullaby. "Don't cry, you'll always be our daughter. Your sister coming home doesn't mean we love you any less."

Dad shields me. "Eva's still young. You're eight years older, try to be patient with her."

This should hurt.

After all, these are my birth parents, and the one crying in their arms is a stranger.

But I'm twenty-six now. That girl who used to hide in slum corners, desperate for someone to find her, hold her, say "we're sorry we're late"? She died on some cold winter night years ago. All I care about now are account balances.

I lower my eyes. Tears fall right on cue.

"I understand, Dad."

Acting helpless works.

The monthly allowance goes from five hundred gold to a thousand, then two thousand.

A month later, my parents throw a grand homecoming celebration.

At the banquet, Dad announces he's giving me a precious phoenix egg. "This is the Sterling family legacy. I hope this phoenix will keep you company."

The egg is warm and beautiful, glowing with golden-red light. I place it in the magic warming bed and channel my magic into it every day.

For the first time, I think maybe I matter to this family after all.

That night, Evangeline bursts into my room crying.

"Why do you get one? Mom and Dad promised they wouldn't play favorites!"

"It should be mine!"

She grabs the egg and runs.

The celebration's ruined, the gift's gone. My parents send out search parties while I join in the tears. "I'm sorry, this is all my fault."

A week later, Evangeline comes back carrying the newly hatched baby phoenix, looking like hell.

"Mom, Dad, I'm so hungry... I was wrong."

My parents rush to hold her, all three sobbing together. Once the crying stops, Mom finally remembers me. Her face hardens.

"You're confined to your room for three months. Pull something like this again and you're no daughter of the Sterlings."

After that, Evangeline stops coming at me directly.

She gives the phoenix back, and I start taking care of the young firebird. The best magic crystals, the purest fire stones, the warmest nest.

But the phoenix stays cold toward me.

One morning a few months later, the phoenix takes human form.

Golden-red hair, amber eyes. He stands in my room surrounded by flame-light.

I walk toward him, excited, but he doesn't even look at me. Just flies straight through the door to Evangeline's room.

Evangeline screams. "Tristan! You transformed!"

"I did." Tristan says gently, spreading his golden-red tail feathers for her. "You were the first person to hold me."

My parents sigh and put their arms around my shoulders.

After Tristan learns I'm technically his owner, he goes quiet for a long time. I try everything to win him over until he grudgingly accepts it.

But he still won't spread his tail feathers for me, won't let me touch his plumage, won't sing for me. He only responds to Evangeline's footsteps, only sings for her.

Watching them together, I do feel a flash of loss. But the numbers on the bills smooth it over pretty quick.

Tristan burns through ten fire stones a month, three hundred gold each. Twenty magic crystals at a hundred gold apiece, plus the energy costs for the warming arrays and everything else.

All of it goes on my card.

My parents' guilt keeps flowing into my account too.

Lately though, my body's been changing. The magic physician says my hormones are out of balance. I need release.

Tristan won't touch me, but this wolf showed up right on time.

"Stay with me tonight?" I lead Cain toward the bedroom. "I'll take you shopping for clothes tomorrow."

"Won't he mind?"

I turn back. "Who?"

"That phoenix." Cain looks down. "Magical beasts are territorial."

"He won't. He doesn't like being around me." I smile a little. "He's always in Evangeline's room anyway."

Cain's grip on my hand tightens.

"So tonight... do you still need it?"

"Need what?"

His ears flush. "Your... release."

"I do, but I'm kind of tired."

"That's fine. I'll be gentle."

"Okay then."

Next morning, I step out of my bedroom just as Tristan comes out of Evangeline's room.

He glances at me and frowns. "Why were you making all that noise last night? It carried next door. Pretty loud."

I don't get upset. "Sorry, I'll keep it down next time."

His tone softens, though he sounds awkward. "Did you have a nightmare? I thought I heard you crying."

I'm too embarrassed to explain, so I don't answer.

"If you're having nightmares, you can come to me..."

Evangeline cuts him off.

"Tristan, my magic lamp went out."

Tristan turns right back into her room. He raises his hand to light the fireplace and lamps, then leans down to straighten Evangeline's bedding, using magic to warm the room.

When he's done, Tristan finally heads for the door.

As he passes me, he stops suddenly.

"What's that smell?"

"Hm?"

He walks over, grabs my wrist, nose twitching as he leans in close to my neck.

As he keeps smelling, his grip tightens.

"Why is there wolf scent all over you?"