Phoenix Rising Read online

  Table of Contents

  Note From the Author

  Prologue

  Melody Anne's Titles

  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

  Chapter Forty-One

  Chapter Forty-Two

  Chapter Forty-Three

  Chapter Forty-Four

  Chapter Forty-Five

  Chapter Forty-Six

  Chapter Forty-Seven

  Chapter Forty-Eight

  Chapter Forty-Nine

  Chapter Fifty

  Chapter Fifty-One

  Chapter Fifty-Two

  Chapter Fifty-Three

  Chapter Fifty-Four

  Chapter Fifty-Five

  Chapter Fifty-Six

  Epilogue

  Phoenix Rising

  Phoenix Series — Book Four

  Copyright © 2020 Melody Anne / Phoenix Lynn

  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.

  Printed and published in the United States of America.

  Published by Falling Star Publications

  Editing by Karen Lawson

  Dedication

  This book is dedicated to Allison (Ali) Huff. Your excitement over the series pushed me to finish it and add a new character. I hope you enjoy being a new hero in this series and you are adored!

  Note From the Author

  I originally wrote this entire series at the beginning of my career in 2011. Then I decided I wanted to revamp this series. It has so much meaning to me. I used my own children’s names, along with their friends and other family members. My daughter’s name is Phoenix and she helped me write the final book in the series. I was struggling with how to end this series, as I do with all of my books. I love the characters so much and don’t know how to let them go.

  As for this final book, I’m still not fully satisfied with it. I always have such a hard time letting go and feeling as if I closed all of the loose ends. I have a feeling, this final book will get yet another revamp. I will sit and think about it as I write other stories and then I come back to them. That’s the beauty of a digital age of publishing. We can now come in and rewrite and recreate stories. You don’t just write them and never come back to them.

  My very first book written is “The Billionaire Wins the Game.” I have rewritten it at least four times. And each time I have, I’ve fallen in love with the Andersons again. I am so grateful to have this career of creation and choice. It makes living in the real world difficult sometimes. I hope you all love this series as much as I do. I hope you are all safe and protected in this beautiful world we live in.

  As always thank you so much for your love and support. Take care of each other.

  With Love,

  Melody Anne

  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

  It’s been a week since the night that changed me forever.

  I’m no longer mortal.

  Writing that makes my heart seize, not that I can die from a heart attack, or any mortal disease for that matter, but knowing that doesn’t lessen the fear, the uncertainty.

  I never asked to be a liberator, to be the one to try to save this planet. I know I have a responsibility to my fellow man, but to have so much thrust upon my shoulders is overwhelming. I haven’t had the proper time to grieve the loss of my brother.

  I think it would be easier had he died. At least then I’d know he’s at peace. At least then I wouldn’t hope he’d come back to me, leaving Jessica far behind him.

  Jayden says an immortal death is the end of life — the being no longer exists on any plane — but I choose not to believe that. How can something that once was so vibrant simply cease to exist? There has to be another realm, some way of finding those who shouldn’t have perished.

  Drake Stephenson has turned out to be a savior of sorts. After the train wreck, tornado, and fight against Vyco, he led us to his place. We were all emotionally and physically exhausted and lost as to where we’d go next. Our options were “none” because our cave is gone, since it’s now at the bottom of the sea. My mom had a really hard time knowing she’d never see our home again.

  My dad said we could either dwell on all the bad, or we could focus on the good. We are still alive and together — that was what mattered most. I put on a brave face and followed Drake, along with Sadie’s parents and mine, Jayden, Brian, and the other survivors.

  We were stunned when we arrived at his property. His girlfriend rushed from the house, panic on her face when we drove up in the vehicles Drake, Jayden, and Brian had managed to find in the small town we were in.

  When Drake stepped from his truck she sprinted to him, flinging her arms around his neck, then sobbing and telling him how scared she’d been. Because he’d been helping us, he’d been gone longer than he’d planned.

  Their home is beautiful, an untouched little piece of heaven in the middle of a war-ravaged country. The two of them have been finding survivors for months, building a community. About five hundred people live on the land, with several dozen small houses built around their larger home. They have an impressive garden with plenty of nourishing food growing.

  They’ve offered to let us stay, and most of the people in our group are doing exactly that. There’s safety in numbers. It’s easier to stay alive with the help of others. I want to stay, go back to being a child, have Sadie build a small cabin next to mine, and live out our days, but that won’t happen.

  Jayden, Brian, Sadie, and I will leave soon. We have a world to save, and as much as I don’t want to be the one called, I have been, and I won’t let those I love down.

  Chapter One

  Phoenix

  Phoenix and Jayden stood on the beach looking out at the endless blue water, watching as the waves crashed against the new shoreline. Not far behind them was Sadie and Brian, who were silent as they fought a sense of loss.

  “I can’t believe it’s all gone. So many more lives lost, so much land. When will this come to an end?”

  “I honestly don’t know, Phoenix.”

  “It just seems unreal to be looking at the ocean when this used to be a desert.”

  They were standing at the border of Idaho and Washington, but Washington was no longer there. An entire chunk of the United States had fallen into the ocean, buried underneath the dark, swirling waters. Bodies, houses, and animals were forever entombed within the mountain that had caved in on them. So much history was now drifting out to sea.

  “I thought I could handle this, but I’m not ready,” Sadie said as she stepped up next to Phoenix.

  “How can Josiah think I’m the one to save us? I can barely stand. I feel so lost. How am I supposed to go on when John’s gone, not just dead, but living in the dark, now fighting against us? I can’t battle my own brother. I love him.”

  “He won’t fight you, Phoenix. He still loves you far too much to ever go against you. He just needs time to grieve,” Sadie assured her quickly.

  “You didn’t see the look on his face, Sadie.”

  “He actually might not be able to come back from this. Losing your soulmate is like an eternity of torment — most immortals can’t survive it. You need to consider this, even though I hate having to bring it up,” Jayden said as his arm wrapped around Phoenix’s shoulders.

  “We need to get home. We promised we wouldn’t take too long,” Brian reminded them.

  “I’m done here. Let’s go,” Phoenix said, turning her back on the sea and placing one foot in front of the other. It was all she could do at this point.

  Chapter Two

  Phoenix

  “I can’t believe this is really happening. That we are leaving our family,” Phoenix murmured as she leaned into Jayden’s chest.

  Telling her family goodbye had nearly broken her. She’d never been without them for long, and now it felt as if she might never see them again. It was worse because they were already heartbroken over losing John.

  “You can’t dwell on the bad, Phoenix, or it will eat you alive,” Jayden told her. “If we’re successful . . . no, when we’re successful, the world will be back to the way it has always been with good and bad, and the biggest headache will be who does the dishes after dinner,” Jayden responded, trying to lighten the mood.

  “Oh, darling. That will always be your job,” Phoenix said, a hint of a smile appearing.

  “Wow, I never thought I’d bend for a woman,” Jayden told her, grabbing her quickly and pinning her arms behind her back. “But it seems I’ll do anything to make you happy.” A growl rumbled from his throat, and he leaned in to kiss her. But then the sound of a twig snapping stopped them as they went on instant alert.

  Sadie and Brian approached from the edge of camp, Sadie toting a grin. “Need a cold shower?” she mocked. “Because it looked as if things were just about to heat up.”

  “I’m sure you can tell me all about things being heated, Mrs. Sanders,” Phoenix shot back, raising her eyebrows, causing a deep flush to spread over her best friend’s cheeks.

  “Pick on the blonde, why don’t you?” Sadie mumbled.

  “You know it,” Phoenix responded, wrapping an arm around Sadie’s waist. She knew they were walking down a tough path, but if they walked it together they could accomplish anything.

  And, because her day had hurt so much, it felt good to smile, it felt good to find humor in a small moment. That might not be so easy to do over the next few months.

  But that was something they could dwell on later. For now, they had each other and there was nothing they couldn’t accomplish together.

  Chapter Three

  Johnathan

  “My liege,” Jessica purred, as she entered the chamber. With steps specifically calculated to emphasize her assets, she moved toward John.
It frustrated her that his eyes barely acknowledged her. Instead, he was focused on the wall.

  She was even more frustrated that she hadn’t been able to seduce him into her bed yet, but she knew no one could resist her charms forever. She’d win this battle. She wanted him, and she would have him.

  “What do you want, Jessica?” Johnathan asked, still gazing at the wall.

  Nothing but cold, dark emptiness filled him, and he wasn’t sure if he wanted to feel alive again.

  At least being in this underworld of darkness helped. He didn’t have to feel the constant oppression of the light above, and the emotions that went with it. There were no reminders of his Cassidy in the darkness. Those reminders were too much for him to bear.