Tasting Darkness

Read Taming Darkness By Jessica Hall Book 3 Chapter 33 – “We need them. Aleera sent them back to us for a reason. She meant for them to help us. If we can get them to open a portal, and get the recruits here.” “We still won’t have enough power,” Lycus grumbles. “We will if we convince her Phoenixes to charge us,” I argue. “I can break this veil, but I need magic!” I growl at them, scooping up a rock. I tossed it in the air, catching it, looking for the giant f**ker.

Ryze hissed at me, Tobias and Lycus both backed up simultaneously as Ryze opened her wings. Spotting Spark flying into the center, hovering as he commanded his flock, I took aim before throwing the rock, blasting it with what power I did have, to push it high enough to reach him. However, Spark moved, and it missed him. The bird didn’t even notice the sk*pping rock. Seconds later, talons tore into my back.

Ryze squ*wked in rage, thinking I was attacking her father. I swatted her, holding my hand out as she tumbled off my back, and I am thrown forward as she jolted me. “F***k!” Tobias hissed. He waved his arms and rushed at her when she went to pounce on me again. “Bl**dy bird.” I snapped. I point to Spark, only to find him peering down at his daughter. Ryze screeched, the sound making me clutch my ears.

Tobias waved his arms, warding her off, trying to calm her down. “Settle girl.” Tobias cooed and she huffs while Tobias calms her. Not that it mattered, her screeching drew the attention of her father.

He stared down at us before tucking his wings to his body and dived straight toward us, using his body like a torpedo. Spark was going at a speed faster than lightning, it was hard to focus on him.

His body pulled up just feet from the ground as he landed, impressively, on his feet with his wings outstretched. I backed up as he hissed at me, and Tobias turned. Ryze was one thing, but Spark was no juvenile Phoenix.

Spark stalked me and I held my hands up. “We aren’t hurting her, just trying to get your attention!” I yelled at the beast of a bird, Ryze hopped away to his side while Spark cawed loudly, and I cursed when he dropped his head and charged at me with wide open beak and wings open.

Yet before he reached me, Kalen tossed himself between me and the bird. His hands were outstretched, glowing black with the shadows. Spark reared back, and he snapped at Kalen’s trembling hand, his fear writhed through the bond and I gripped his hips, readying myself to toss him aside if needed.

hesitant step toward Spark, his shadows slivering up his arms and dancing between his fingers. ” We don’t want to hurt her.” Kalen tells Spark. Spark snapped his beak mere inches from

name seemed to get his attention. Spark c**ked his head to the side and Ryze nipped at her father’s tail feathers, his wing batting her back, telling

Tobias repeated Kalen’s words. Spark turned his head as Tobias stepped forward. He held up his wrist. “We need magic!” Tobias stressed to him, tapping his wrist.

down before I could stop him and smashed Spark in between his shoulder blades with a rock. His wings opened instantly, and the bird pivoted, rearing up. I

of turning away, Kalen ran at

sharp claws. Kalen rolled away and Spark tried to stab him with his beak. Kalen grabbed the bird by the beak, and the Phoenix jolted as the shadows touched him. He tried to blast Kalen back with his own power, but Kalen gripped the feathers on either side

bird’s face. Spark rustled his feathers, his eyes glowing, and the animal backed

instantly, dragging him up while Lycus’ growled, stalking the Phoenix in his wolf form as the creature backed up before he took

huffed when he shifts back. “F**king d*mn near sh*t my f**king pants

him for being stup*d.

unison, the Phoenixes sang to his chorus,

my attention darted to him to find his eyes

his eyes returned to normal when I was blasted with a surge of electricity, and magic by Spark then Ryze. The force making me stumble back only