Phoenix Ashes Master Read online

  Phoenix Ashes

  Phoenix Series, Book Three

  Rewrites Copyright © 2020 by Melody Anne

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Editing by Karen Lawson and Janet Hitchcock

  Table of Contents

  Phoenix Ashes

  Melody Anne Books

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty One

  Chapter Twenty Two

  Chapter Twenty Three

  Chapter Twenty Four

  Chapter Twenty Five

  Chapter Twenty Six

  Chapter Twenty Seven

  Chapter Twenty Eight

  Chapter Twenty Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty One

  Chapter Thirty Two

  Chapter Thirty Three

  Chapter Thirty Four

  Chapter Thirty Five

  Chapter Thirty Six

  Chapter Thirty Seven

  Chapter Thirty Eight

  Chapter Thirty Nine

  Chapter Forty

  Dedication

  This book is dedicated to my brother-in-law, Jeff. Thank you for your faith in me. Thank you for my three incredible nephews and niece who truly make my world a better place. Most importantly, thank you for what a wonderful man you are to my sister. You are truly a one of a kind — a real hero! My life is better for having you in it.

  Melody Anne’s Titles

  Click on any title to go directly to the books Amazon page

  Romance

  BILLIONAIRE BACHELORS

  *The Billionaire Wins the Game

  *The Billionaire’s Dance

  *The Billionaire Falls

  *The Billionaire’s Marriage Proposal

  *Blackmailing the Billionaire

  *Runaway Heiress

  *The Billionaire’s Final Stand

  *Unexpected Treasure

  *Hidden Treasure

  *Holiday Treasure

  *Priceless Treasure

  *The Ultimate Treasure

  BABY FOR THE BILLIONAIRE

  *The Tycoon’s Revenge

  *The Tycoon’s Vacation

  *The Tycoon’s Proposal

  *The Tycoon’s Secret

  *The Lost Tycoon

  *Rescue Me

  THE BILLIONAIRE ANDERSONS

  *Finn – Book One

  *Noah – Book Two

  *Brandon – Book Three

  *TBA – Book Four

  *TBA – Book Five

  BECOMING ELENA

  *Stolen Innocence – Book One

  *Forever Lost – Book Two

  *New Desires – Book Three

  FINDING FOREVER SERIES

  *Finding Forever

  TAKEN BY THE TRILLIONAIRE

  #1 Xander – Ruth Cardello

  #2 Bryan – J.S. Scott

  #3 Chris – Melody Anne

  #4 Virgin for the Trillionaire – Ruth Cardello

  #5 Virgin for the Prince – J.S. Scott

  #6 Virgin to Conquer – Melody Anne

  SURRENDER SERIES

  *Surrender – Book One

  *Submit – Book Two

  *Seduced – Book Three

  *Scorched – Book Four

  UNDERCOVER BILLIONAIRES

  *Kian – Book One

  *Arden – Book Two

  *Owen – Book Three

  *Declan – Book Four

  FORBIDDEN SERIES

  *Bound – Book One

  *Broken – Book Two

  *Betrayed – Book Three

  *Burned – Book Four

  HEROES SERIES

  *Safe in his arms – Novella

  *Baby it’s Cold Outside

  *Her Unexpected Hero – Book One

  *Who I am with you – Book Two – Novella

  *Her Hometown Hero – Book Three

  *Following Her – Book Four – Novella

  *Her Forever Hero – Book Five

  BILLIONAIRE AVIATORS

  *Turbulent Intentions – Book One (Cooper)

  *Turbulent Desires – Book Two (Maverick)

  *Turbulent Waters – Book Three (Nick)

  *Turbulent Intrigue – Book Four (Ace)

  TORN SERIES

  *Torn – Book One

  *Tattered – Book Two

  7 BRIDES FOR 7 BROTHERS

  #1 Luke – Barbara Freethy

  #2 Gabe – Ruth Cardello

  #3 Hunter – Melody Anne

  #4 Knox – Christie Ridgway

  #5 Max – Lynn Raye Harris

  #6 James – Roxanne St. Clair

  #7 Finn – JoAnn Ross

  Thrillers

  CONFESSIONS

  *Dance in the Dark – Book One

  *TBA – Next Book in the Series

  Young Adult / Fantasy

  PHOENIX SERIES

  *Phoenix Falling – Book One

  *Phoenix Burning – Book Two

  *Phoenix Ashes – Book Three

  *Phoenix Rising – Book Four

  **All links are part of Amazon Affiliate program

  Prologue

  The tension began ebbing as Phoenix Light sat in a rocking chair and tried focusing on nothing other than the warm wind blowing across the deck. It had been a long day, a seemingly even longer night, and she enjoyed the quiet. The brewing storm rose in front of her as the wind picked up speed and began blowing the low-hanging tree branches toward the ground.

  She wasn’t worried — not about the tempest, at least. She’d watched many storms in the years since the war had started, always enjoying the fury of Mother Nature. No matter what man threw at them, Mother Nature could always do more — and often did.

  Without warning, something shifted. Unsure what it was, a subtle change had her trembling in her seat. The frenzy of the wind was no longer soothing, the rejuvenation of the warm night air now lost. She froze in fear as the bamboo screen attached to the porch’s eave fluctuated, casting shadows in the bright moonlight.

  “Hello?” she called, trying to sound more coura
geous than she felt about the sense of an unknown presence. Maybe she was misinterpreting the storm — a natural side effect from another stressful day in a slew of them.

  A limb snapped, raising goosebumps on her flesh. What was wrong with her? She didn’t fear the night; she certainly didn’t fear Mother Nature inflicting her wrath.

  A presence.

  Something . . . or someone . . . was out there. Please don’t let it be Vyco or one of his many followers . . .

  “What’s the matter, Phoenix? Are you afraid?” whispered an eerie voice, barely audible above the howling wind.

  Squeezing her eyes tightly closed, Phoenix almost believed she’d imagined the voice.

  Gazing intently at the bamboo screen, she strained to see what, if anything, was behind it. Her heart thundered when the screen suddenly ripped free and soared through the air. The woven fabric floated downward, hovering about six feet above the ground for several seconds before blowing away with forced energy. Soon, the small barrier of protection was out of her vision and she felt exposed and vulnerable to the unseen eye she knew was upon her.

  The light streaming from the moon’s reflection made visibility easy, but in a less-than- comforting way. In the blink of an eye, the storm clouds shifted and the wind howled — then she was blanketed in pure blackness, and her arms were pinned against the chair. She struggled to rise on her paralyzed legs. She wanted to go inside — needed to be in the safety of the house.

  No matter how hard she pushed, she couldn’t stand. Frantically, her movements became more urgent as dampness broke out on her brow, and chills ran down her spine.

  “It’s your fear holding you down. You can, and will, rise,” she told herself, pushing for all she was worth.

  Nothing.

  She wasn’t going anywhere.

  “Troubles, Phoenix?” a voice asked — closer than before.

  With a growing dread, she knew that voice. She should, as it often came to her in her nightmares. Its pleasantness was only deceit — she’d learned that long ago. The demon behind that voice wanted nothing less than her soul.

  “I’m not afraid of you, Vyco. You can stop your games and come out of the dark!” Phoenix challenged.

  The slight wobble in her voice betrayed her words. She was afraid — terrified, in fact. After everything she’d already been through, she was fragile, an easy target for the leader of the dark world who was so much closer than any mortal realized.

  Making her situation more catastrophic, John, Cassidy, and Jayden were gone. It was just her — and a roomful of innocent children. Why couldn’t Jayden feel her fear and come back to her?

  “Our time has come, Phoenix. It’s just you and me now — how it was always meant to be,” Vyco said as he materialized, walking from the mist that covered the cold, hard ground; a light appeared out of the darkness, marking his entrance.

  He was dressed as black as the night, his eyes glowing red, shooting sparks as anticipation stared back at her through their evil depths. This could be her end. Was she ready? She’d always known her life was temporary, but to face death now was scarier than she’d thought it would be. Vyco was so evil. To die at his hands risked her very soul.

  “Take my hand and you’ll be saved,” Vyco offered, suddenly only two feet away from her, his hand within reach of her own.

  Desire filled her — a desire to do as he asked, to take his hand and let it all be over. She looked behind him and watched as the moon reappeared, and the clouds siphoned down, creating a perfect funnel.

  “Save yourself, Phoenix. Aren’t you tired of this war? Don’t you want it to be over? Jayden’s gone — he won’t return. Take my hand, child — and you’ll be free.”

  Phoenix looked into his eyes as she listened to the rumble of the tornado hitting the ground. She knew what he was saying. Taking his hand meant she’d live. Refuse him again and the twister would consume her, along with all of the children on the other side of the wall.

  The house couldn’t offer them protection.

  It was the end of the road with nowhere to hide. Nothing left to fight for. She reached out her hand . . . her decision made.

  What came next . . . it wasn’t at all what she’d thought it would be.

  Chapter One

  Six months earlier

  *** Phoenix ***

  We’ve been in our new home for three months. It feels like just yesterday we battled Vyco and his evil minions along with the enemy soldiers. We won, and in that victory we secured our base of operation.

  For the first time since this war began, I’m starting to feel hope. I know that’s a dangerous emotion to feel as nothing has really changed. Horrible men are still out there who won’t be satisfied until they’ve wiped out the entire population of America and the people they feel are unworthy to live. They might retreat, but they haven’t given up.

  What's even more frightening than men with guns and hardened hearts are the demons that are continuously emerging from the depths of the earth. They don’t even try hiding themselves anymore. It’s still too much for many of our people to comprehend that magic is real — that good and evil forces really do exist. For others, it offers them a sense of peace. They know if their time on earth ends, they won’t just cease to exist, but will move on. I think some of the people want the option of an afterlife, as they need to find their family members who were taken from them.

  I don’t want death. I’ve been lucky in keeping my small family together and finding true love, as well. I honestly enjoy life, but I miss laughing for no reason at all. I miss shopping and not worrying about anything other than a stain on my new Sunday dress. I miss so many things from my past life — but still, I don’t welcome death.

  The dreams come more steadily — at least three times a week. Jayden and John have done everything they can think of to intercede, but the nightmares continue to haunt me, over and over again, making me afraid to shut my eyes.

  Vyco wants me. I don’t understand what appeal I have to a powerful demon like him — I don’t want to understand. All I know is he hasn’t given up. When the rest of our camp members sleep, unaware of any danger that could strike them during their most vulnerable unconscious hours, I thrash against my bed. I fight against him — constantly — but I grow so tired at times.

  He makes it all sound so . . . so . . . peaceful. If only I’d take his hand, all of this would be over . . .

  I won’t do it — don’t worry. I couldn’t leave my family or Jayden. Speaking of Jayden — the so-called cat’s out of the bag. He had to explain the supernatural monsters trying to kill us all the night of the battle with Vyco and that he can move at superhuman speed, doing things no mortal could possibly do. It wasn’t taken well by anyone, at least not at first, that he wasn’t mortal. My dad was really unhappy. Jayden and I have barely had a second alone since that night. I don’t know why my dad’s so upset. It isn’t as if Jayden has suddenly changed or anything.

  When Dad found out John was now an immortal too, he wept. John promised him he was the same son he’d always known, just sort of invincible now. Of course, John felt the need to throw in a joke about his looks being forever immortalized, like he’s something hot.

  Where John is light, except for his now midnight eyes, Jayden is dark with his permanently tanned skin, dark hair, and stunning eyes. I still melt every time I look at him, let alone get to touch him. My dad makes extra sure that doesn’t happen often, which is why I’m not on Jayden’s team anymore. I won’t write about that right now since I have to go to dinner soon, and it would take my entire journal.

  I miss Jayden all of the time, and I’m filled with anxiety. I know it’s ridiculous to worry, considering he’s virtually impossible to kill, but then again, Vyco did get his claws into him once, and I never want to relive that anguish again. Mom calls me a worrywart, whatever that’s supposed to mean. If it weren’t for Sadie, I’d go crazy mad waiting while Jayden played the all-American hero.
/>   Oh, I can’t believe I almost forgot the biggest thing of all. If I hadn’t been so busy helping set up our new home, I’d have made time a lot sooner to write in here, but that’s another subject. We have electrical power! I’ve never been so happy as I was during that first shower in a real stall. The cave was wonderful, but thrust back into a war-ravaged world with no running water had been horrid torture.

  The first month at the base we had no electricity. When the power finally come back on, it was a time for celebration. We had full use of the kitchen, bathrooms, and vehicles again. I don’t know how my ancestors got by with none of the luxuries of this life, but I don’t want to be thrust back into the Dark Ages.