Chapter 10

Chapter

Ten

GRIFF

G riff woke to the familiar feeling of an empty bed, the sheets cool where Phoenix had slept. He wasn't surprised—disappointed, yes, but surprised? No. That was how Phoenix operated, like smoke slipping through his fingers. His hand absently drifted to the handcuff bracelet on his wrist. The metal felt cold against his skin, and a grim smile tugged at his lips as he lifted his arm.

The other half of the handcuffs was empty. Instead, a small note was looped around it. Griff sat up, the morning light streaming in through the windows as he unfolded the paper.

You didn't really think a pair of mortal handcuffs would slow me down, did you?

Griff chuckled, shaking his head. Of course, she'd escaped with ease. Only Phoenix could turn slipping out of cuffs into a playful taunt.

The note continued:

Meeting my sisters at Café du Monde. Be back in a while.

He tossed the note on the bedside table, running a hand through his hair as he stared at the empty space next to him. Well, at least she'd left him a note. She had him tied up in more ways than one, and he wasn't sure how much longer he could play this game of back and forth.

His phone buzzed on the nightstand, pulling him out of his thoughts. The name flashing on the screen made his stomach twist. Captain Moreau.

Griff sighed, knowing exactly why she was calling. He grabbed his phone and answered, already anticipating the conversation.

"Captain."

"Detective Broussard, I need you in my office. Now."

Her voice was as sharp as ever, and Griff knew there was no dodging this. "Be there within the hour."

T he drive to the station was tense. The streets of New Orleans buzzed with their usual hum, but Griff's thoughts were elsewhere, focused on the conversation ahead. He'd been avoiding Moreau's questions about the cult for days, stringing her along with vague updates and half-truths. But now, with everything coming to a head, there was no skirting around the issue anymore.

When he stepped into Captain Moreau's office, she was already standing by the window, arms crossed over her chest. Her steely gaze pinned him in place the second he walked in.

"Close the door, Broussard."

Griff complied, shutting the door and taking a seat in front of her desk. Moreau didn't sit. She kept her eyes trained on him, waiting for him to speak first.

"Look, Captain, I know it's been slow," Griff began, trying to ease into the conversation. "But we've made progress. I'm convinced Councilman Fontaine is involved, and the people he's working with are growing bolder, but we're starting to get a handle on it."

"Starting to get a handle on it?" Moreau's tone was incredulous. "Griff, this isn't some petty crime spree. This is some kind of cult tied to a series of grisly murders, and according to you, tied to powerful figures in the city. You were supposed to have actionable intel weeks ago, and instead, you're dragging your feet."

Griff's jaw tightened. "We're working on it. I've got someone on the inside—someone with ties to that community who's been helping me track their movements."

Moreau raised an eyebrow. "Someone? Is this source reliable, or is this another one of your informal arrangements?"

Griff hesitated, thinking of Phoenix. "They're reliable. They've already helped us disrupt a meeting. Fontaine is getting desperate. We're close."

The captain eyed him, clearly unconvinced. "You'd better be. If you don't start producing results soon, I'll be forced to pull you from the case. We can't afford to waste time on dead ends, Griff."

He nodded, forcing himself to stay calm. "I'll have something concrete soon. Just give me a little more time."

Moreau stared him down for a long moment before nodding sharply. "Fine. But don't push me, Broussard. I'm running out of patience." Griff nodded and stood to leave. As he reached the door, she added, "And Griff—be careful. These people are playing with fire."

The captain had no idea how accurate her statement was.

B ack at his house, Griff paced the living room, running a hand through his hair as the weight of the situation pressed down on him. He was in deep—deeper than he ever thought possible. Phoenix's involvement complicated everything, and the feelings he had for her only added to the chaos.

Phoenix walked through the door not long after, her expression serious. The usual playful spark in her eyes was gone, replaced by a grim determination.

"What's going on?" Griff asked as she entered.

"I met with my sisters. We've been digging into some old fae texts," Phoenix said, dropping a book onto the coffee table. "There's something big coming, Griff. The cult's planning a summoning during the next celestial event—a full moon eclipse in a few days. They're calling something more powerful than any demon either of us has ever faced."

Griff's chest tightened. "More powerful than the last one?"

Phoenix nodded. "A demon lord. If they succeed, it'll be unstoppable. The city… maybe even the world won't stand a chance."

Griff's mind raced. "And Fontaine's involved?"

"More than involved," Phoenix said, her voice low. "He's leading it. The councilman isn't just a pawn—he's orchestrating the whole thing. And with the eclipse, the barriers between realms will be weak. If we don't stop them?—"

"We will," Griff said firmly. "We'll find a way."

Before they could plan further, the door opened again. Griff turned to see Maeve Duvall, Phoenix's aunt, stride in, her presence commanding as ever. She was a striking woman, with an air of ancient power that radiated from her like an aura. Maeve didn't need to speak to make an impression, but when she did, her voice was like ice.

"You're playing a dangerous game, Detective," Maeve said, her sharp eyes locking onto Griff. "Getting involved with our world, with Phoenix, it's going to get you killed."

Griff squared his shoulders, meeting Maeve's gaze head-on. "I can handle myself."

"You think so, but you have no idea what you're up against," Maeve continued, stepping closer. "The fae world is not kind to outsiders, especially dragons. Phoenix's fate is tied to ours, not yours. If you continue down this path, you'll find yourself consumed by powers you can't control."

Phoenix moved to intervene; her jaw tight. "Aunt Maeve, stop. He's helping us."

Maeve's eyes flicked to Phoenix, softening only slightly. "I'm warning you, Phoenix. He's not one of us. This will only end in ruin."

The tension in the room was palpable, but Griff stood his ground. He wasn't going to back down—not from Maeve, not from anyone. His feelings for Phoenix were growing stronger, but his duty to protect the city, to stop the cult, came first. He wouldn't ignore either.

As Maeve turned to leave, her final words echoed in the room. "Be careful, Detective. You're on dangerous ground."

The door clicked shut behind her, leaving Griff and Phoenix alone once more.

Phoenix crossed her arms, her face a mask of frustration. "I'm sorry about her. She's protective, but she doesn't understand."

Griff shook his head. "It's fine. I get it."

But as the weight of Maeve's words settled in, Griff knew he had a decision to make. He couldn't just sit on the sidelines while Phoenix and the others faced this threat head-on. He had to do something—something drastic.

Phoenix watched him, her eyes searching his. "What are you thinking, Griff?"

He took a deep breath, the plan forming in his mind even as he spoke. "I need to go undercover. In the cult."

Her eyes widened, fear and anger flashing across her face. "Have you lost your mind? It's too dangerous. Fontaine knows you, and some of the others have seen you and will know you're a cop."

"It's the only way," Griff said, stepping closer. "Don't you have some kind of fae magic that will disguise me long enough to get inside? We need to gather evidence that will hold up in court, and if we get lucky, maybe we can sabotage their plans from within. I'm the only one who can do it."

Phoenix shook her head, stepping back. "Griff, Fontaine knows you…"

"What's to know?" he teased. "They all wear robes with hoods over their heads to obscure their identities, and with your help, mine will be even more obscure. These kinds of groups thrive on secrecy. I doubt very much that any of them could pick one of the others out of a lineup."

"You don't know what you're getting into. If they find out who you are, they'll kill you—or worse. I'll do it."

"You can't. They'll know you're fae. I can handle it," he insisted, his voice firm. "We don't have time to argue. If we're going to stop this summoning, we need every advantage we can get."

For a long moment, Phoenix stared at him, her chest rising and falling with each breath. Finally, she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "You're risking everything."

"I know," Griff replied, his heart pounding. "But what choice do we have?"

The air between them crackled with unspoken tension, the weight of their growing connection hanging heavily in the room. Griff knew the risks, but he couldn't turn back now—not when Phoenix was involved, not when the city's fate was on the line.

Phoenix closed her eyes, her voice thick with emotion. "I hate this."

Griff reached out, his hand gently cupping her cheek. "I know. But we'll be okay."

She leaned into his touch, her eyes meeting his with a mix of concern and longing. "Be careful. The spell to hide who you are won't last for more than a couple of days, especially if threatened by other magic."

Phoenix raised her hands, closed her eyes, and began to murmur a spell that would disguise Griff so that Fontaine and his followers wouldn't recognize him.

Griff's heart ached at the vulnerability in her voice, but he kept his resolve. He would go undercover, he would face whatever dangers came his way, and he would protect Phoenix—no matter the cost.

PHOENIX

T he streets of New Orleans were a blur as Phoenix raced through them, her heart pounding in her chest. Griff had been undercover for days, his communication growing more sporadic until, finally, it had gone silent. She'd waited, telling herself that he was fine, that he was simply doing his job. But deep down, she knew something was wrong. Very wrong.

She skidded to a stop in the middle of the street, her chest heaving . Dammit, Griff, where are you? She fumbled with her phone, staring at the last text message he had sent her.

Getting close. Don't worry about me.

That had been two days ago. The spell she'd used to obfuscate his identity had to have worn off.

She cursed under her breath, knowing that waiting any longer was not an option. The celestial event—the full moon eclipse—was fast approaching, and she had a sinking feeling that whatever the cult was planning, Griff was now directly in the crosshairs.

She'd tried to work alone, tried to handle this without outside help or that of her family. Her sisters, Savannah and Catalina, had been picking up the slack, keeping the other demons at bay while she and Griff focused on Fontaine and his cult. But as the hours ticked by, she knew she couldn't do it by herself. She needed someone who could keep up with her, who could fight just as fiercely, who would understand the risks.

Which meant she had to team up with Ash.

" I told you it was a terrible idea to let Griff go undercover," Ash said, his voice casual, as if he hadn't just been summoned out of nowhere. He leaned against a lamppost, the smirk on his face unmistakable even in the fading light of dusk. "And yet here we are."

Phoenix shot him a glare, her fists clenched. "This isn't the time, Ash. Griff's in danger, and I need your help."

Ash shrugged, his smile fading as he saw the seriousness in her eyes. "All right, all right. I'm in. What's the plan?"

She swallowed hard; her throat tight. "We're going to infiltrate the cult's main gathering. It's tonight. They're planning to summon a demon lord during the eclipse, and… my fear is that they've figured out who Griff is. As a dragon-shifter, he'd make a powerful vessel for them to use."

Ash's expression darkened instantly, his usual playfulness vanishing. "A demon lord? They'd need an incredibly powerful vessel to host something like that. You think Griff's?—"

"I don't think—I know. He's a fucking dragon, Ash. You can't get a much more powerful vessel than that," Phoenix's voice cracked, and she hated the vulnerability that seeped through. "He's in over his head, and I need to get him out. Before it's too late."

Ash nodded, his jaw tightening. "Then we need to move fast."

T he location of the cult's main gathering was an abandoned cathedral on the outskirts of the city, its gothic arches rising like dark sentinels against the stormy night sky. Phoenix and Ash moved through the shadows, keeping low and out of sight as they approached the entrance. From inside, they could hear the faint murmurs of chanting, the unmistakable hum of dark magic in the air.

Phoenix's heart pounded as they slipped inside, careful to avoid the cultists patrolling the outer corridors. The cathedral was vast, its once-sacred halls now corrupted by the sinister energy radiating from the summoning circle in the center. In the distance, Phoenix saw the cultists gathering, their black robes billowing as they moved in unison, chanting in their guttural, ancient language.

And there, at the center of it all, was Councilman Fontaine, presiding over the ritual like a dark king. His arms were raised, his voice commanding as he led the cult in the summoning. But Phoenix's gaze locked on something—or rather, someone—else.

Griff.

He was bound to an altar, his shirt ripped open, blood smeared across his chest in intricate, demonic symbols. His head hung low, and though he was conscious, Phoenix could see the strain in his body, the way he trembled under the weight of the dark magic trying to consume him.

Her breath caught in her throat. No. No, no, no. This was worse than she'd ever imagined. Why had she let him go? If he lived through this, she was going to kill him.

"We have to stop this," she whispered to Ash, her voice trembling with urgency. "They're going to use him to bring the demon lord into our world."

Ash's eyes darkened as he took in the scene. "Yeah, well, we're about to make sure that doesn't happen. What's the plan?"

Phoenix's mind raced. She couldn't just storm in—they'd be overwhelmed by the cultists in seconds. But there was one thing she could do. One thing that would change the odds in their favor.

"I'll reveal myself," she said, her voice steady but filled with tension. "I'll use my fae magic."

Ash's eyes widened. "Are you insane? You know what'll happen if you?—"

"I know." Phoenix cut him off, her gaze hard. "But it's the only way. They're expecting a mortal sacrifice, not a fae. If I disrupt the ritual, it'll cause chaos. You get Griff, and we get out."

Ash hesitated for only a second before nodding. "All right. Just… don't die, okay? Your sister would never forgive me, and if you die and he lives… well, he'll roast me without a second thought."

Phoenix managed a faint smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "That is not the plan."

With a deep breath, she stepped forward, drawing the attention of the cultists. She could feel the dark magic in the air, thick and suffocating, but her own power hummed just beneath the surface, waiting to be unleashed.

"Fontaine!" Phoenix's voice rang out, cutting through the chanting like a hot, sharp blade through butter. Every head in the room snapped toward her, their eyes wide with shock and confusion.

Councilman Fontaine's gaze landed on her, his face twisting with surprise before it morphed into a cold smile. "Well, well. What have we here?"

Phoenix stepped into the center of the room, her presence commanding as she let her fae magic rise to the surface. The air around her shimmered with golden light, her wings unfurling behind her in a brilliant display of power. The cultists gasped, several of them stumbling back in fear and awe.

"I won't let you use him," she said, her voice steady, though her heart was racing. "This ends now."

Fontaine's eyes narrowed, his smile fading. "A fae. I didn't expect you to be so bold." He glanced at Griff, still bound to the altar, then back to Phoenix. "But you're too late. The ritual is already in motion. He's already marked."

"Maybe," Phoenix said, her magic crackling around her. "But you won't survive long enough to finish it."

The room erupted into chaos.

The cultists surged forward, but Phoenix was ready. She unleashed a blast of fae energy, sending them flying back, their bodies crashing into the stone walls. Ash moved in a blur, cutting down those who tried to get close, his blades flashing in the candlelight.

Phoenix's focus was on Fontaine. She advanced on him, her magic swirling around her like a storm. He raised his hands, dark energy pooling at his fingertips, but Phoenix was faster. She blasted him with a wave of golden light, sending him stumbling back.

"You can't win," Fontaine growled, recovering quickly. "The demon will rise, and your dragon-shifter lover will be nothing more than a vessel."

Phoenix's rage flared, and her magic surged in response. "Over my dead body."

As the cultists scrambled to recover from her attack, Phoenix reached the altar where Griff was bound. His eyes fluttered open, barely conscious, but when he saw her, something flickered in his gaze—relief, recognition.

"Phoenix…" His voice was hoarse, weak.

"I'm getting you out of here," she said, her voice tight as she worked on freeing him. But the demonic symbols burned into his skin pulsed with dark energy, resisting her magic.

Ash appeared beside her, his face set in grim determination. "We need to move, now."

Phoenix nodded, her hands shaking as she tried to release the final bonds. The air around them crackled with the energy of the summoning, the ground beneath their feet trembling as the demon lord began to stir.

Once he was free, Phoenix said, her voice strained, "Get him out of here; I'll hold them off."

Ash hesitated for only a second before nodding, lifting Griff's half-conscious body over his shoulder. "Don't take too long."

Phoenix watched as Ash carried Griff toward the exit, her heart pounding in her chest. The celestial event was happening —she could feel the magic shifting, the veil between realms growing thinner by the second.

Fontaine was on his feet now, his eyes burning with hatred. "You can't stop this, fae. You'll only doom yourself."

Phoenix's eyes narrowed, her power blazing as she prepared for the final fight. "Maybe, but if I do, I'll take you with me."

With a furious cry, she unleashed her magic, the golden light exploding around her as she charged toward Fontaine, determined to end this once and for all.

No matter the cost.