4. Sweet Child of Mine

She ran through the dense underbrush, uncaring of the snags and tears it created in clothing, skin and hair. She leapt over a fallen log and paused, scenting the air. She spared a glance behind her, then was off again.

Devin McKenzie loped after his wife with a sure, soft stride. He’d seen Kat like this only once before – shortly after she’d healed completely from the wounds suffered at the hands of her first triumvirate, she’d taken off on a run across the moors of his homeland. His mother had told him to let her run her grief and anger off, but to follow her, just in case. Only then, Kat’s face hadn’t looked so feral nor her eyes that wild.

*It’s the bonding, Father.* Angel’s voice sighed in his mind.

*Are ye mindin’ yer mam, then, Angel mine?* he sent back.

*Of course. That and trying to placate The Morgan. The familiars are up to something. Khan and Cricket are in the middle of it. Let her run herself out. The Sidhe bond will keep her mostly sane.*

Devin faltered, stumbling over a root. Before he could ask just what ‘mostly sane’ meant, Angel’s presence in his mind was gone.

He nearly ran into Kat as he entered a lush meadow. He side stepped just in time, then slowed to a stop to regard her warily.

Kat ignored him and walked almost sedately to the center of the meadow. Slowly, she began to bend and twist, her feet skipping gracefully, her arms stretching wide. Devin felt a sense of foreboding, but didn’t move to interfere. His eyes widened as fire began to dance in sparks across her body.

“Oh, Fuck me sideways.” He muttered and stepped forward to stop her.

There was a sudden whooshing, thumping noise and a blast of hot air knocked him backwards onto his ass. He scrambled to his feet, eyes wide.

Kat stood, engulfed in the fire of the Phoenix, arms wide, and feet still. The cherry red fire cooled to a soft blue color as the Phoenix tucked wings back against her body and stepped back away from Kat. Devin stared, agog at the thick pulsing silver rope that ran from Kat’s chest to the Phoenix’s. The great head lowered and Devin was startled to see deep emerald eyes open and stare into Kat’s face.

*Katarina McKenzie, what have you done?* A clear musical voice rang in his mental ears.

“I don’t know.” Kat’s voice was anguished. “I don’t know! What am I? Please, tell me! What. Am. I?”

*Silly girl child. Silly question.*

“What am I?”

Devin felt tears falling from his eyes at the anguish in Kat’s scream. He heard an exasperated snort that held an underlying affection.

*You are mine. I am yours.* The voice said gently. *I am Shi’ahani Wolfsdaughter and the Phoenix. I am awake, and you, Sweet Child of Mine, should know no foolish rules can bind me.*

“The histories of the Sidhe . . .” Kat began but the Phoenix let out a whistle of amusement.

*Histories are subject to interpretation and tampering.* Shi’ahani snorted again. *You will learn. This was extremely foolish of you, Child.*

“I need to know!”

*Then you will need to learn patience and how to meditate properly.*

“You can talk to me now!”

*No, Youngling. This burns your body out at a dangerous rate. Already, there is damage. Do not let your clouded judgment rob your daughter of her mother.*

Kat gave a frustrated scream and flung her arms wide again. Shi’ahani rose to her full height as if about to strike prey and literally dove into Kat.

Devin raced forward as Kat slumped to her knees, vomiting violently. He was alarmed to see blood mixed in with the bile.

“I don’t feel so good.” She moaned and fell over in a dead faint.

“Ach! Ye bluidy stupid idget!” Devin swore and gathered her up gently in his arms. “I’ve half a mind to spank ye silly! Ye best not die on me, Wee Little Witch!”

He rose up to his feet then froze. They were surrounded by several pissed off human warriors and no less than five lions, all larger and meaner looking that Tom and Sylvester. Devin swallowed hard.

“Um, hello?” He cleared his throat. “We come in peace? Take us to your leader?”

One of the lions gave a chuff that sounded rather disgusted and sat back on its rump, tail lashing. One of the warriors, a red-head, lowered his gun, pinching the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger.

“No, we can’t feed them to the crawdads!” He snapped out with a glare. The lion chuffed again. “Oh, fer cryin’ out loud, Nial! We’re not feeding them to the centipedes, either! I don’t care if you do smell Death in the Grass on her! We don’t know if they’re enemies or not!”

“Wait, what?” Devin stared. “I can honestly tell you Kat’s not had any death in any grass. May be tequila, but no death. Well, at least not lately. Uh, what was the question again?”

*Tom, Dad.* Angel’s voice was in residence once more, and this time, from the reactions of the strangers, they heard her too. She sounded very weary and sad. *Play nice for me, Okay?*

“Shit!” Someone gasped. “The Queen of Dragon’s Reach! Hey, she called him dad!”

“Gods, I need a drink!” Both Devin and the read-head chorused at the same time, then stared at each other, aghast.

Angel’s peal of tired laughter rang in his ears, then the connection was gone.