The attack came on the fourth night while I was in the training room with Osilus, working on controlling the Phoenix fire without letting it consume me. Sweat dripped down my spine as golden flames moved across my palms, and I focused on keeping them contained, controlled.

"Good," Osilus said, circling me slowly. "Now try to..."

The estate's alarm system screamed to life.

The fire in my hands exploded outward, and Osilus barely managed to throw up an earth shield before it would have scorched him.

"What's happening?" I demanded, the flames guttering out.

"There's a serious breach," he said, already moving toward the door. "Someone's broken through the perimeter."

Avalon's voice crackled through the intercom. "Osilus, get Zephyr to the safe room. Now."

"No," I said, following Osilus into the hallway. "I'm not hiding while..."

The window at the end of the corridor exploded inward and three wolves crashed through in a shower of glass. Behind the chaos stood three massive snarling wolves with red bands around their necks that marked them as rogues for hire. Behind them, more howls echoed through the night.

"Zephyr, run!" Osilus roared, shifting mid-stride. His wolf was enormous and brown and he met the first attacker head-on.

I ran, but not away. I ran toward the sounds of fighting, toward where I felt Avalon and Zane through the mate bonds.

The main hall was chaos.

At least a dozen rogues had entered the estate. This wasn't a random attack, someone had paid well for this.

Was it Father? I thought with cold certainty. Or Bron.

Avalon was in the center of the hall in his wolf form which was massive and white as winter, with ice literally forming where his paws touched. He tore through rogues like they were paper, but there were too many.

Zane fought near the entrance, still human but moving with speed it was hard to focus on him. Fire surrounded his fists, and every punch left burns and broken bones.

"Zephyr!" Avalon's voice in my head, sharp with command. "Get out of here!"

"No," I said aloud, and let the Phoenix fire rise.

It came easier this time, responding to my rage and fear. Golden flames erupted across my skin, and the temperature in the hall rose.

The nearest rogue turned toward me, seeing easy prey and thought it was a good idea to lunge at me with jaws open ready to tear out my throat.

I threw my hands forward, and Phoenix fire poured out. The rogue didn't even have time to scream, he was ash before he hit the ground.

Every wolf in the hall froze, staring at me.

"Anyone else?" I asked, my voice echoing with something not quite human.

Two more rogues charged me together, thinking numbers would help.

I pulled the fire inward, condensing it, then released it in a wave that swept across the hall. Both wolves went down screaming as their fur caught fire. The smell of burning flesh filled the air, and I felt nothing but cold satisfaction.

"Zephyr, behind you!" Zane's warning came too late because before I could react, claws raked down my back, and I screamed. The pain was white-hot, and I stumbled forward. The rogue's weight crashed into me, driving me to the ground.

I felt it's hot breath on my neck as its jaws opened to deliver the killing bite.

Then ice exploded across the rogue's face, and Avalon's massive wolf form tore him off me. There was a sickening crack, and the rogue went limp.

"Zephyr," Avalon shifted back to human, kneeling beside me. Blood streamed down his chest from a dozen wounds. "How bad?"

"I'm fine," I lied, even as blood soaked through my training clothes. "There are still so many of them"

"We know," Zane said, appearing beside us. He had a slash across his face, and his knuckles were raw and bleeding. "This is just the first wave. I think they're testing our defenses."

"Or trying to keep us busy," Osilus added, joining us. He was still in wolf form, limping slightly. "While someone else..."

Just then, an explosion rocked the estate.

"The vault," Avalon said, his face going hard. "They're after the Phoenix blood."

"Go," I said, struggling to my feet despite the pain. "I can handle this..."

"You're injured," he cut me off. "And you're their real target. The blood is just a bonus."

He was right. This whole attack was designed to either kill me or capture me. The rogues, the explosions, all these distractions.

"Then let's give them what they want," I said, and saw understanding dawn in his eyes.

"You want to be bait?" Zane asked, grinning despite the blood on his face. "I like it."

"I don't," Avalon growled. "It's too dangerous."

"Everything is dangerous," I shot back. "But at least this way, we control the situation."

Another explosion happened, closer this time and the chandelier above us swayed dangerously.

"We don't have time to argue," Osilus said, shifting back to human. "If they reach the vault..."

"They won't," I said. "Because I'm going to draw them out. All of them."

Before Avalon could protest, I pushed past him and walked toward the main entrance. My back screamed with every step, but I forced myself to move.

The night air hit me like a slap. The estate grounds were crawling with rogues with at least twenty more waiting in the shadows.

And standing at the treeline, watching with cold calculation, was Bron.

"Hello, sister," he called out, his voice carrying across the lawn. "Enjoying your inheritance?"

"Bron," I said, and Phoenix fire flickered across my hands. "I should have known you wouldn't have the balls to face me yourself."

"Why would I?" He stepped forward, and I saw the silver blade in his hand. "When I can pay others to do it? Though I must admit, I'm impressed you survived this long. Father said you'd die in the first wave."

"Father's here too?" I asked, scanning the treeline.

"Watching from a safe distance," Bron said with a smirk. "He's very interested to see if the rogues can take you alive. The vampires are paying a fortune for living Phoenix specimens."

I stood there stunned and unable to move . "You sold me to the vampires?"

"Of course," he said, like it was obvious. "Just like Father sold Mother. It's nothing personal, Zephyr. Just good business."

The Phoenix fire roared to life, and this time I didn't try to contain it. Golden flames erupted across my entire body, turning night into day.

"You're going to die," I said, and my voice was layered with something ancient and furious. "Both of you. Tonight."

Bron's smirk faltered. "Attack!" he screamed to the rogues. "Fifty thousand to whoever brings her down!"

They charged as one, twenty wolves against one Phoenix.

I threw my arms wide and let the fire explode outward.

The wave of Phoenix flame swept across the lawn like a tsunami. Rogues screamed as their fur ignited, and as the fire found them no matter where they tried to hide.

"Zephyr!" Avalon's voice was sharp with concern. "You're burning too hot!"

He was right. The fire was feeding on my rage, growing beyond my control. The grass beneath my feet turned to ash, and the air shimmered with heat.

"I can't stop it," I gasped, even as more rogues fell. "It won't stop"

Cool hands grabbed my shoulders and the shock of it broke through the fury, and I gasped.

"Breathe," Avalon commanded. "Channel it and don't let it control you."

I focused on his touch, on the mate bond tying us together. Slowly but painfully, I pulled the fire back in.

When I opened my eyes, the lawn was scorched black. At least fifteen rogues lay dead or dying, and the survivors were fleeing into the forest.

Bron had also disappeared.

"Coward," Zane spat, appearing beside us. "He ran the moment you started burning."

"He won't get far," Osilus said. "I can track him."

"No," I said, swaying slightly. The fire had taken more out of me than I'd realized. "Let him run. Let him tell Father I'm coming for them both."

"Zephyr," Avalon said gently, supporting me as my knees buckled. "You're bleeding badly. We need to get you inside."

I looked down and saw that the claw marks on my back had soaked through my clothes, and blood pooled at my feet.

"I'm fine," I started to say, then my vision doubled.

But before I fell, strong arms caught me and the last thing I heard before darkness took me was Avalon's voice.

"Find them. Find Bron and Bruin Chance. I want them alive."

I woke to pain.

Every breath sent fire through my back, and I groaned before I could stop myself.

"Easy," Osilus's voice was soft. "Don't try to move."

I forced my eyes open to find myself in the master suite, lying on my stomach. Osilus sat beside the bed, one hand resting gently on my shoulder.

"How bad is it?" I asked, my voice rough.

"Very bad," he said. "The rogues had somehow used silver claws so it'll take longer to heal."

"How long was I out?" I tried to hold my head.

"Six hours," Avalon said, and I turned my head to find him standing by the window. "Osilus has been healing you, but silver slows everything."

"What about the estate?" I asked.

"It's safe for now," Zane said from the doorway.

"And Bron?"

"He was gone before any of us could find him," Avalon said, his jaw tight. "But we found something interesting on one of the rogues." He held up a piece of paper. "A contract and payment for your capture."

"Does it say who signed it?" I asked, though I already knew.

"Bruin Chance," Avalon confirmed. "Your father ordered your death."

The words should have hurt, but they just made me angry. "I need to find out where he is now?"

"That's the interesting part," Zane said, coming to sit on the edge of the bed. "We tracked him to the old Chance estate. He's barricaded himself inside with Bron and about a dozen guards."

"I need a car," I said, trying to sit up and pain went through my back. I groaned until Osilus gently pushed me back down.

"You're not going anywhere until you heal," he said firmly.

"The hell I'm not," I argued. "They tried to kill me. Again. I'm not waiting around for them to try a third time."

"Zephyr," Avalon said, and there was something in his voice that made me look at him. "The rogues we captured... they talked... Your father has been in contact with the vampires. He's offered you to them in exchange for territory and power."

"When?" I demanded.

"They're coming in three days," he said. "Your father plans to hand you over personally."

"The only person I'm handling over is his dead body" I said flatly.

"But, you can barely move," Osilus pointed out gently. "Give it at least..."

"No, I'm so close to having my revenge,I couldn't sleep." Just then Emma ran inside holding a letter. I took it from her hand and as my eyes saw the first word, my heart stopped beating. It was from the Council members.

We'd spent the next day preparing, setting traps, positioning ourselves, going over every possible scenario. Now, as midnight approached, I stood in the master suite dressed in bloodied bandages that told of how injured i was.

"They're here," Avalon's voice came through the mate bond.

"Wait, I can sense twenty of them?" I said aloud, tension coiling in my stomach. "Did they bring an army?"

"They are scared," Zane's voice replied through the bond. "They should be."

I positioned myself on the bed, arranging my body to look weak and vulnerable. The claw marks on my back had healed enough to move, but they still hurt like hell.

I heard the front doors open downstairs. No forced entry which means someone had unlocked them from the inside.

"We have a traitor," Osilus's said in anger.

"We'll deal with it later," Avalon commanded. "Take your positions everyone while you wait for my signal."

I closed my eyes and steadied my breathing, listening to the footsteps echoing through the estate. They sounded like marching army.

Then I heard his voice.

"Search every room," Father ordered. "Find her."

My fingers curled into the sheets. Almost...

The footsteps grew louder and closer as they climbed the stairs. I forced my body to relax, to look like someone barely clinging to consciousness.

The door to the master suite slammed open.

"Well, well, well," Bron's voice, but there was something was different. He sounded more confident. "Look at you now, sister. Not so powerful after all."

I didn't open my eyes, or react. I wanted them to think I was too weak to respond.

"Is she even alive?" I heard my father say. "The message said she was badly injured, but..."

"She' still breathing," Bron said and I felt him approach the bed, and the air around him felt like I was surrounded by a burning building. "I can hear her heartbeat, smell her fear."

That made me open my eyes.

Bron stood over me, and I couldn't believe what I was seeing. He looked different, his eyes had a reddish tint, his muscles were more defined, and when he smiled, his canines were too long and sharp.

"Surprised?" he asked, tilting his head. "You're not the only one who got an upgrade, sister."

"What did you do?" I demanded, sitting up despite the pain.

"What I had to," Bron said. "Father made a deal with the vampires. They gave me their blood which made me stronger." He smirked at me. "I can kill you now, without breaking a sweat."

My life flashed before my very eyes. "You let them turn you into..."

"Not turn," he corrected. "Enhance. I'm still a wolf. Just better. And you..." He moved, faster than any werewolf should be able to, and his hand closed around my throat before I could react. "You're mine."

I tried to summon the Phoenix fire, but his grip was too strong. I clawed at his hand, gasping.

"Bron!" Avalon's roar shook the walls as he emerged from the shadows, ice already forming.

Bron didn't even flinch. He threw me across the room with supernatural strength and I hit the wall hard enough to crack the plaster, and pain exploded through my barely-healed back.

"Avalon Cary," Bron said, turning to face him. "I've been looking forward to this."

Avalon launched himself forward, shifting mid-leap into his massive white wolf but Bron was ready. He met Avalon head-on, and when they collided, it was Avalon who went flying.

"What the fuck?" Zane breathed, emerging from his position. "How is he..."

"Vampire blood," I gasped, struggling to stand. "It enhanced him."

"Correct," Father said, stepping into the room with smug satisfaction. "The vampires were quite generous with their gifts. Though it cost me a fortune to secure enough blood to make it permanent."

"You made your son into a monster," Osilus said, appearing beside me to help me up.

"I made him into a weapon," Father corrected. "One specifically designed to kill Phoenixes. The vampires have been hunting your kind for centuries. They know all your weaknesses."

"Then they should have told you about this one," I said, and let the Phoenix fire explode.

Golden flames erupted from my hands, but Bron moved through them like they were nothing. He grabbed my wrist, and I screamed as his grip burned worse than anything I felt before.

"Vampire blood makes us resistant to Phoenix fire," Bron said, twisting my arm until I heard something crack. "Did Father mention that?"

Tears streamed down my face from the pain, but I refused to beg. "You're going to die tonight, Bron."

"No," he said, throwing me down. "You are... But first, you're going to watch me kill your mates."

He moved toward Avalon, who was still recovering from being thrown. Zane intercepted with fire in his fists, but Bron was faster. He caught Zane's punch and broke his arm by twisting it.

Zane screamed.

"Stop!" I shouted, trying to stand. "Fight me, not them!"

"Why would I do that?" Bron asked, kicking Zane in the ribs and that sent him skidding across the floor. "This is more fun."

Osilus rushed him, earth magic erupting from the floor, but Bron just laughed. He ripped through the stone bindings like paper and grabbed Osilus by the throat.

"You're the weakest one," Bron observed. "I think I'll kill you first."

"No!" I screamed, and this time when the Phoenix fire came, it was different. Hotter. Wilder. Fed by pure desperation.

The flames hit Bron, and for the first time, he flinched. The vampire blood might make him resistant, but it wasn't immunity.

He dropped Osilus and turned to face me. "There she is. The real Phoenix. Not the broken little girl playing pretend."

"I'm going to burn you alive," I promised.

"Try it," he invited.

I threw everything I had at him, wave after wave of Phoenix fire. The room became hotter than hell as the walls turned black but Bron kept coming, walking through the flames like they were nothing.

When he reached me, his hand closed around my throat again.

"You're weak," he hissed in my face. "Just like Mother. She begged too, at the end. Begged Father to spare her. It was pathetic."

Rage exploded through me. "You were there? When he killed her?"

"Of course," Bron said. "I'm the one who held her down while he administered the poison. I watched her die, Zephyr. Watched her choke and convulse and cry for her precious daughter."

Something inside me broke.

Not broke, completely shattered. Every piece of control, every restraint, every bit of humanity I'd been clinging to, it all burned away in an instant.

The Phoenix fire changed. It had been gold before. Now it burned white-hot, so bright it was blinding.

"What-" Bron started, then screamed as the fire finally got to him. He released me, stumbling back.

"You held her down," I said, my voice cracked. "You watched my mother die?"

"Zephyr-" Father shouted, "Control yourself-"

"CONTROL MYSELF?" The Phoenix fire exploded outward, consuming everything. The walls, the ceiling, the floor-all of it burning with white fire. "YOU KILLED MY MOTHER!"

The door exploded inward and through the flames stepped a figure wrapped in dark leather, face hidden behind a silver mask carved with ancient runes. The fire parted around him like he was immune.

"Phoenix," the figure said, his voice like gravel. "Stand down."

"Who the fuck are you?" I demanded.

"Someone who's killed dozens of your kind," he said calmly, pulling silver chains from his belt. "A Phoenix Hunter and you're coming with me."