Phoenix Tonic (17 page)

She had never tried to make fire on purpose before. But his closet seemed to be the perfect place to practice.

Hailey held her hand up and concentrated, letting all her frustration flow to her finger tips. She thought about heat rising, and her feet staying cool and relaxed. Her fingers advanced from pink to red to crimson. The sleeve on her shirt started to burn, but she wanted flame. Not a lot. Just enough to show she had control, even at that level. When the tendrils of fire began to move over her hand, she grinned. The fire was small, just little peaks reaching into the air. With a steady mind, she dragged that hand slowly along the many garments. Some, like the shirts, she burnt holes or entire sleeves off. Others, like the jackets and slacks, only took on an angry black and brown mark. Even his underwear drawer suffered, though not as much since it embarrassed her. She now knew he wore boxer briefs.

Once finished with her work, she closed her eyes and willed her mind to calm. She used meditation techniques she’d learned at the cancer treatment hospital to slow her breathing and heartbeat. When she opened her eyes again, the fire had dissipated and her fingers had returned to their original flesh tone. Except the right half of her shirt hung charred from her body. She shrugged. The loss of one of her shirts was a fair price against his whole wardrobe.

As she walked out, the acrid smell of burnt fabric wafted after her. She closed the door, hoping the open windows would clear out most of the stench. As she headed back to her room to get a new shirt, she ran into the laundry basket, standing next to the cleaning cart. On the top sat a rumpled white button up, ripe with Markham’s scent.

With a smile, she scooped it up and put it on.

~***~

Hailey spent the day contented with her book in the arboretum. The koalas loved on her, then ate, then cuddled on her some more. The sunset glowed pink on the horizon when she put her book down and stretched. “You guys are gonna get lazy and fat if you just hang around me all day.” As she kissed them and set them in the trees, her muscles tensed. Markham was near.

His luscious scent proceeded quizzical words. “I thought you weren’t supposed to call a pregnant woman fat.”

Hailey turned to look at him in the low light. She hadn’t seen him all day. Acid-wash jeans hung low on his hips, held up by a brown leather belt. A half tucked, gray thermal shirt sported a few buttons undone at the collar. By his cheery disposition, she figured he hadn’t come upon her little practice session, yet. “What do you mean by that?”

He stepped into the arboretum and motioned to the koalas. “Sapphire is with child. We actually have to go back to Eden tomorrow for her sonogram.”

Hailey’s eyes lit up as she looked back at them. “A little baby koala? That’s so awesome.” She reached out and petted the closest koala. “Ian, you little stud, you. And Sapphire, I didn’t mean it. You’re not fat, you’re beautiful.”

Markham stopped just before the tree and let Sapphire nuzzle his hand. For the first time that day, she inspected her handy work. His playful hair sported blond streaks, which she wanted to laugh at. But the shadows under his eyes and the creases around his mouth caused her to hold her tongue. He looked older, haggard even. He really was sick.

Her brow drew together. “What have you been up to?”

His hand moved from Sapphire to Ian. “Just taking care of some preparations. Looks like I might have to go away for about a week. I’m sure you’ll positively suffer without me, but somehow I know you’ll survive.”

She sighed in relief, but then the panic took hold. “But if you’re not here, I can’t see the koalas. I mean, my temper…”

Markham peeled his shirt off, exposing those warm sinewy muscles to the low light of the arboretum. Cedar and ash swirled around her, causing her muscles to clench in anticipation. So close. He stood half naked and so close, she couldn’t stop drinking in those broad shoulders she used to lay her head on. His thick chest radiated warmth, and called for her to listen to the heart beating within. His abs stood out, teasing her with their magnificence. And his powerful arms moved forward, causing her to hold her breath in anticipation. Was he tired of waiting?

“Trade me.” He held out his shirt.

“Huh?”

“Trade me. I’ve been wearing this shirt all day. It should smell more like me than the one you’re wearing, which looks sexy as hell on you, by the way.” His eyes slid down her in a way that brought goose bumps to her skin.

She unbuttoned the dressy white shirt slowly. Not because she was trying to be sexy, but because she was holding back from attacking him. Still, she couldn’t stop staring at his body, and he noticed.

When she pushed the last button through the hole, the shirt slipped from her body to catch on her fingertips. She took his gray thermal in one hand, while exchanging the white one with the other hand.

His brows peaked at her burned tee underneath. With a half-smile Markham pulled the shirt over his bare skin and began buttoning it up. “Have you heard of a clothing designer named Berlin Perri?”

Hailey swallowed. “Wasn’t he like, on one of those clothing designer reality shows?”

Markham took a step back, and she did the same. Her mind cleared a little. “He won season five for his beautiful wedding gowns.”

“Oh.” She clutched the bundle of gray fabric to her chest.

“Do you know how often he makes men’s clothes?” He buttoned the sleeves.

Hailey shrugged.

“Never.”

“Never?”
What was the point of this conversation?

“Well, almost never. This shirt,” he said, while tucking it into his jeans, “is the only thing left of the suit he made for me.” His tired eyes winked at her. “Thanks for saving me at least one thing.”

He turned and left her standing in the arboretum. In her hands she held his shirt, in her heart she felt shock, and in her mind she knew that he’d forgiven her long before she’d destroyed his belongings.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Hailey took the seat across the aisle from Kallian in the plane. She’d been acting different today. She wasn’t angry or unkind, just quiet. As if she had a lot to think about. Perhaps he was finally making a dent in her iron wall?

His phone sang its familiar tone of forest animal calls. As he reached for it, he noticed how much slower his muscles reacted. His bones ached, almost painfully. But the fever hadn’t begun, so he had time.

Kallian put the phone to his ear as the plane doors closed. “Hello?”

Malachi’s voice filled the line. “Kallian, I need you here right away. There’s been a development.”

He raised his brows. “We’re taking off right now. We’ll be there in about an hour for Sapphire’s sonogram. Is there something new with the, uh, vitamins?” He knew his brother understood he didn’t mean the vitamins. He just wanted to cover his butt in case there were any eavesdroppers on his plane or over the phone.

“No, no. It’s nothing like that.” Malachi paused. “But it would not be wise to bring your wife.”

He glanced across the aisle to Hailey. She fed Ian eucalyptus leaves through the carrier while whispering soothing words. “Sorry, not gonna happen.”

Malachi cleared his throat. “Then perhaps you could convince her to go with the koala to the sonogram, while we talk boring business matters?”

Kallian’s chin dimpled. His brother never referred to business matters as “boring.” “I think that can be arranged.”

Malachi sighed. “Very good. I’ll see you in an hour.”

Kallian closed the phone and tucked it away.

“Problems?”

He looked over at Hailey, who held tightly to the animal carrier. “No. Malachi just wants to discuss some boring work stuff.”

“Oh.” She sat back and stared at the ceiling. “That’s okay. I’ll go find Dawn to do the sonogram, and you can do your meeting.”

Well, that worked out effortlessly.
“Make sure to get pictures for me. I want to see the little guy.”

She nodded and the roar of the take-off engines drowned out any further conversation.

When they arrived at the facility, Dawn was there to greet them. She bounced on her toes as they approached. “Adam and Eve have returned to Eden.” Dawn giggled and blushed like a little school girl. Kallian smiled at the joke, but Hailey’s annoyed sigh ruined the moment. “Oh my. Mr. Markham, you look terrible. Are you sick?”

He waved it off. “It’s just a little bug. Nothing I can’t handle.” He gave the carrier to Dawn and stuck his finger through the wire door. “You guys be good.” He scratched the top of Ian’s head. “I’ll see you in a bit.” With a nod to Hailey, he headed to the opposite end of the compound.

“Love the new hair,” Dawn called after him. Hailey’s muffled snicker filled the air behind him.

Kira sat on the leather couch while Malachi waited for him on the edge of his seat. “Good Lord, what have you done to your hair?”

Kallian ignored his brother’s quip and turned his attention to Kira. “What are you doing here? I thought you were back in Sandpoint.” He cocked a brow as he took a seat on the couch.

Kira closed the door before answering. “I left last night. You sent me to get you more clothes, since that
woman
...” She cut herself off as her gaze flashed between Kallian and Malachi. “I remembered you had left one of your favorite suits here before flying to Idaho. I came to retrieve it when we encountered
the problem
.”

Kallian raised a brow, “And what is this “problem?”

Kira looked to Malachi, who stood solemnly. In his hand he grasped a magazine. It was just an inoffensive gathering of pages, until he set it on the desk.

“We found these laying all over the facility this morning.” Malachi’s gaze fixated on Kallian, giving him the hint that something heavy was about to go down.

Kallian leaned forward and took the magazine. On the cover was a guy with wet hair, which he assumed was an ad for shampoo, and he read the words on the cover out loud. “Man Candy speaks out about bedroom myths. What sign is he giving you? Take the quiz; are you ready for romance? Cover Model Kallian Markham Bares It All…page fifty-four.”

Cover model?
Kallian’s eyes darted back to the shampoo model under the waterfall and recognized the all-too-familiar features of his own body.

He dropped the magazine like a hot rock. “What the—?”

Malachi heaved a sigh as Kira picked the offending pages back up.

“I guess that means you didn’t send in that article.” Malachi sat on the edge of his desk and steepled his fingers. “Now we need to know who did it, and why.”

Kallian’s mind worked as he studied the picture of himself on the cover. When had paparazzi gotten to him? It must have been after the incident with Redding. He tried to think back, but the few women he had come to the house were regular staff. Except for the tree crew… But his hair had already been bleached out by then. In this photo his hair was its old shade of dark brown. And the marble behind him was from his Sandpoint house....

“I told you, it’s Hailey Simmons,” Kira said simply. The magazine moved from his view as Kira crossed her arms.

Malachi shook his head. “I’m telling you, there is no way a phoenix would do something like that to the one they’re mated to. It had to be someone else.”

Kira’s brows dropped. “Shall I prove it was her?”

Malachi waved his hand. “Please do. But it’s not her.”

She marched to the door and looked over her shoulder at the brothers. “Follow me.”

Kallian struggled to get off of the couch. His body simply did not want to move. But he had to see her evidence, even though he knew the truth.

Kira adjusted her gait to his slower pace, stopping when they got too far ahead of him. His heart hammered from the exertion of the simple walk to the garden side. She motioned for them to wait outside the woman’s locker room.

Malachi’s features softened as he looked down on his little brother. Kallian propped his weakened body against the wall and tried to ignore his brother’s stare. “I don’t know how you do it. Once every sixty-three years is enough for me.” He placed his hand on Kallian’s shoulder. “How much longer until your burning?”

Kallian shook his head. “A week, I think. You know how these things go.”

His brother nodded as Kira poked her head back out and urged the men inside. Malachi sighed heavily.

“Embarrassed to go in the woman’s locker room?” Kallian chuckled. “You know Kira would never let you walk in if there were any women. You’re safe.” He pushed past his brother, eager to see the proof Kira had against Hailey.

Her dark curls bounced as she led them to the back of the room. She stopped before a mural sized wall-scroll hanging from the bricks of the rear wall. There, on the printed fabric, Kallian’s bare wet muscles flaunted themselves. His head kicked back, water streamed down his shoulders and chest. With eyes closed, steam caressed his waist and arms. His lips curled up in a gentle, mocking grin. He remembered that grin. He couldn’t help himself once he knew Hailey was watching. And–oh crap—you could even see the tan line at his waist. Thankfully, the massive wall poster cut off just inches below.

“This appeared here this morning.” Kira explained. “The women won’t tell me who did it, but I found this in the garbage.” She held up a brown delivery tube. She shook it and a hand written note slid out. She unrolled it and read it for all to hear. “Ladies, so you can remember who you work for. Love, Kallian Markham.”

Malachi snatched the note from her and she produced another from her pocket. “This is a list of items Hailey asked me to get her the first day she was at the Sandpoint house. You can clearly see it is the same writing.” She handed it over for Malachi’s inspection. “If you compare the “e” in bleach, which she dumped in his shampoo, and the “c” and “a” in camera, which she used to take these pictures, it’s definitive proof.”

Markham’s face burned as he pointed his finger to Kira. “That magazine… what audience is it for?”

Kira read the title again. “Man Candy, Where women find
real
men.”

Kallian let loose a gusty sigh. “Oh, thank goodness. I thought it was Lick.” He could just see Cristoff screaming about his promise. If he were ever featured in a gay man’s magazine, Cristoff’s would be the first. Kallian should have never played poker with that man….

Kira’s brow went up. “Yes, that would have been... interesting.”

Malachi shook his head. “I don’t understand how she could do this. A mated phoenix would never… It doesn’t make sense.”

“Yes, a
mated
phoenix would
never
do these things.” Kira’s gaze locked onto Kallian. “Why is that, my Lord? Why is it she burns your closet of clothes when her fire ability should be under control now? Or damage your hair? Or ask for Syrup of Ipecac so she could poison you?”

Malachi’s eyes narrowed at him. She had obviously produced enough evidence to get him on her side. “Kallian?”

Kallian squared his shoulders at the growl in Malachi’s voice. “I told you before, Malachi. I will not rape her. She must choose me.”

Malachi’s jaw clenched. “That was not the plan, brother.”

“That was not
your
plan,
brother
.” He stepped forward. Even in his weakened state, he stood toe to toe with Malachi. “I have always made my intentions clear when it came to Hailey.”

“That’s enough.” Kira’s words echoed loudly through the locker room. So much emotion from her in two words caused the brothers to back off. “You are putting all three of us in danger, my Lord. You had
my
father marry you. What will it look like to the rest of the community if they knew that he didn’t follow the old law to make sure you mated before leaving? What do you expect The Indigo Phoenix to do? Sit idly by while his daughter continues to protect the iniquitous? Not to mention the shame you’d bring to your father. The Ancient Orange laid down these laws long before we were born.”

Her voice quieted to a low, level tone. Somehow it was more frightening than any words he had ever heard her speak before. “And the danger you have put Malachi in is unacceptable, my Lord. I am nothing but an eight-lifetime-old child. You could kill me with your little finger. Which is what you will have to do if you continue to put Malachi in harm’s way.” She held her petite body in a way that challenged him. “I will put myself between him and any danger that presents itself. And you are that danger right now, my Lord. Coercing him into assisting you with this animal facility is cold-blooded. The experiments are drawing the eyes of all races, including ours. Not to mention that foolish human who can’t see the precious gift I have longed for all my existence.” She paused. The weight of her words made it clear what Malachi meant to her. “She hates you, my lord. Forget the animals; she’s putting all of us in danger. Our entire race.”

She held her head high as power pulsed in her eyes. “It’s time to get rid of her.”

Malachi put his hand on Kira’s arm. Her glowing eyes immediately diffused. She bowed her head and curled her fingers over Malachi’s. “Forgive the straight-forwardness. I only long to protect you both.”

He nodded. “We understand, Kira. Forgive me for the stress we’ve place you under.” Malachi’s soft words hardened as he looked to his little brother. “It’s time to mate her, Kallian. Now. If you do it today you should have enough strength to—”

“No.” His voice was deep and unwavering. “I will not take her choices from her. And I will not “get rid of her.” She is my wife. She is a fledgling phoenix, and she deserves respect from the two of you. She has only attacked me, and I deserve it. I will take any punishment she gives me. I love her.” He swallowed and eyed his brother and Kira. His voice raw from the anger he held at bay. “But you are not required to protect me any longer. I set you both free from the shame of standing by me.” He turned his back on his family and stalked out of the women’s locker room.