Phoenix Found (Brothers of Fire #5)

Chapter 1

Chapter One

“I know there’s a lot going on, but can I catch you about the repairs to the hunting lodge?” Perrin called after Malcolm after following him inside. A lot going on was a bit of an understatement.

The missing phoenix had returned to the castle. Dalmon’s engagement to Lucian had been officially announced, and Kaine now had a fated mate. The last time there’d been as much going on in the castle had been after the Queen’s death, and Everest had been a baby.

Perrin had been ten.

Old enough to understand what was going on. Old enough to be aware that while his father worked in the castle, and he’d grown up with Kaine, who was only a few years older, he wasn’t part of the family. He wasn’t a phoenix. Though there had been plenty of times that he wished he was.

Even at ten, he’d been aware it was best to keep his paranormal status hidden, even from other paranormals.

Malcolm stopped and turned. “How bad is it?”

While control of the repairs had been handed to Malcolm, all that meant was that Perrin needed Malcolm’s approval before he progressed to the next stage. They had discussed the immediate actions that needed to be taken to secure and protect the buildings, but now decisions needed to be made.

He pulled his notebook out of his pocket. “If you want to go through the details, we can, but you’re going to want to set aside a couple of hours. Or you can have a quick rundown.”

Perrin hoped he’d opt for the quick option and approve whatever repairs Perrin suggested without too many questions, as it would make his life easier.

Malcolm didn’t groan, but his shoulders slumped as if he didn’t want to do it but thought he should. “I’ll schedule that for tomorrow. Can I message you?”

“Sure.” Because Perrin had nothing better to do than wait for Malcolm to ask questions when Perrin had already come up with the best option. “Do you want the thirty-second version?”

Malcolm nodded.

“The main house and the hunting lodge are both secure, though if another storm rolls through, I don’t like the lodge’s chances. The damage was extensive, both from the storm and the fire. The main house only needs some window repairs. The internal damage is all cosmetic.”

Malcolm frowned as though he didn’t understand why he needed to set aside a couple of hours. “So fix the main building first?”

“This is where it gets tricky. If you ignore the lodge, then it’s likely to become further damaged. I’ve had a team of guys out there relocating anything of historic significance, but we can’t get a removal truck out there because of the snow.” The snow and the storms were going to make all repairs dicey. Particularly if a storm hit while they were only halfway through a roof. It was possible for all the work to be undone. “I have a plan.” Which Malcolm would no doubt go through line by line. “And if you want the details and input, we need to sit down.”

Or you can leave me alone and tell me to get on with it.

Laughter and squealing rang on the stone walls. A dark-haired little girl wearing a burning T-shirt and track pants ran past them, holding a fireball.

Perrin glanced at Malcolm. Burning three-year-olds was not his department. Malcolm stared at the girl as if he had no idea what to do, and she glanced back, grinning.

“Eva, put that fireball out before you burn down the castle,” a man called as he sprinted past them and caught the child. He scooped her up and extinguished the fireball and her clothes as if fire didn’t bother him. He was not a phoenix.

“No. I want the ball back!” Eva wiggled and squirmed.

“I’m very sorry.” The man ducked his head. He spoke with an Australian accent, which meant he wasn’t the dragon shifter. He was the dragon’s fire witch mate. “We were playing catch, and she…” He was doing an excellent job of not dropping Eva, who seemed to be doing her best to fall out of his arms and land on her head.

“Maybe don’t play catch with fire. We’re going to be having a human guest here. Not only that, but some of the castle staff are human,” Malcolm said with more authority in his voice than on his face.

They were in an older wing of the castle to keep the dragon and his mate away from most humans who’d freak at the sight of Eva on fire. She was a dragon shifter, so fire wasn’t going to hurt her, but try explaining that to humans…or the paranormals who did burn. No doubt Malcolm didn’t want his fur singed.

“Right, sorry. It won’t happen again. It’s one of her favorite games,” the witch said.

Perrin glanced at Malcolm. “There is the…” He glanced at the floor, indicating the basement where the phoenixes so metimes shifted if they really needed to and couldn’t leave the castle. He was, of course, assuming that Malcolm knew about it. He wasn’t sure he was supposed to know about it, but he’d lived his entire life in the castle and had spent the last ten doing repairs, so she didn’t keep too many secrets from him.

Malcolm blew out a breath. “Let me clear that with Gerrit…the King. I think it may be in use.”

“It’s fine. We’ll find a regular ball. It’s just nice not to have to hide, right?” The witch’s gaze stuck on Perrin as if he wasn’t sure what kind of paranormal he was looking at.

Perrin never volunteered the information. “I’m sorry I didn’t catch your name.”

The man juggled Eva with one hand and held out the other. “Aaron, I’m the dragon shifter’s mate. And this little delight is Eva, his sister. If all young dragons behave like this, I’m not surprised there are so few of them.” He smiled, though it was more of a grimace. “And now we’re hatching another one.”

Eva stopped trying to escape and patted Aaron on the cheek. “More fire!”

Aaron blew out a breath. “Why don’t we change your clothes and then find Prys and have some snacks?” He lowered his voice. “And take a nap.”

Before she could argue, he gave them both a nod and walked on.

Perrin waited until the witch was out of earshot. “Did you ever want kids?”

“I never really thought about it.” Malcolm glanced at Aaron’s retreating back. “Until there was the possibility that I might need to help raise a phoenix. You?”

“Family pressure. You know, do the right thing as there’s not too many of us.” Perrin winced because now Malcolm would ask, and so far, he’d avoided saying anything. Although perhaps the king had told him.

Malcolm studied him for several seconds. “You’re not a witch or a shifter of any kind.”

“Correct.” He could see the questions forming as Malcolm considered pressing or walking away. Pushing to learn what kind of paranormal someone wasn’t polite in most situations.

Malcolm shrugged. “Well, at least your kind isn’t down to you and your sister and one mysterious egg.”

“True.” Though, according to his parents, if he didn’t produce a couple of children, that is exactly what would happen to ghouls. Not that they laid eggs. “Text me about the meeting because I need to book trades and such. And we will need to call in extra workers from Switzerland or France.”

“I will…I only need to approve your plan and costings, right?” Malcolm looked at him like he was drowning.

Perrin gave him a tight smile. “I have put together what I consider the path forward. If you have other ideas.” Please don’t have other ideas and make it harder than it already is. “We can discuss them. Once the buildings are watertight, your input on finishing will be required.”

Malcolm nodded. “Is that the polite way of telling me this is a courtesy?”

They considered each other for several seconds.

Malcolm glanced away. “I don’t know anything about building, but I can imagine that it is like arranging a military operation, and you don’t want another officer fucking with your perfect plan and making a mess. Tell me enough to keep Gerrit informed.”

He could work with that. “Then it should only take an hour, and I can email you progress reports and arrange site visits at the most opportune times.”