A few months have passed, and I can say it is the first time in my life when I have felt truly happy. Solarys helps me control my fire; she teaches me how to take his flames in and how to wield them. Every morning, we meet at the cliff's edge where he first kissed me, where my wings first burst forth in their crimson glory.
The other phoenixes still watch me warily—some with awe, others with resentment. But I no longer care.
Because now, when I look up at the sky, I don't just watch the others fly.
I join them.
And Solarys?
He flies beside me, always.
His laughter rings in my ears as we dive through the clouds, our flames intertwining in the dawn light. His fingers brush mine midair, sending sparks skittering across my skin. His voice, low and teasing, murmurs in my ear when we land—
