My skin grew cold, and I was met with the same aching hole in my chest that I had dealt with in life. Upon opening my eyes, I found the ground scorched black around me. My clothes were strewn in a pile of ash outlining my body. I slowly lifted my head and covered myself with my hands. The governor was being lifted off the ground as water from someone’s canteen was being poured over his burnt hand. A stain in the shape of a sword sat a few feet away.

Nobody moved. Nobody spoke. They all simply stared. I tried to move, but remaining upright alone was taking all my strength. I was a monster to them. Everyone had seen my power. I was done here. They’d never let me stay.

A firm, steady clap echoed through the ravine. A hushed whisper spread as people moved out of the way of the cloaked man.

He continued to clap with a smile showing on his half-hooded face. “My, my,” he said lightly. “My sparrow has sprouted his first wings.” He lowered his hood, revealing black hair and fair skin. His features alone exuded power. This was Zoran. His deep voice fit his appearance. “Beautiful.” He walked forward and stopped at the governor’s side. “Simply beautiful.” He gave him a grin. “Thank you, Edgar. You raised him well.”

“He’s not eighteen,” snapped Lockhart. “The boy must die. That was the arrangement. The moment he let his power be known, I could kill him.” He cradled his burnt hand. “That was the deal.”

Zoran grabbed his charred wrist. “If you’d like to try again, you still have another good hand. Maybe this time with your fist, so you end up like your sword.” The governor’s skin started to sizzle and the man’s knees buckled. The governor howled in pain as steam rose from his flesh. But once Zoran released his grasp the governor’s flesh had been repaired and he was unscarred.

“There, now I don’t feel as bad about lying.” The stranger turned to me. He folded his arms in front of him like a proud father. “Look at you. At last, my sparrow has hatched.” He undid his cloak and slipped it off. “I had to wait eighteen years for this moment. I couldn’t be happier. So many failed, little firebird.” He walked over and laid his coat over me. “Your kind is one of the stupidest shapeshifters. They always end up burning something down before they turn eighteen.” Stooping down, he fussed for a moment with the cloak. “Always getting themselves killed.” He lifted my chin. “But don’t worry, you’ve finally matured.” He patted my cheek. “Now you’ll just blow up anyone who tries to hurt you.” He stood and faced the gathering. “And you all should remember that.” He locked eyes with the governor.

“He’s not eighteen,” spat Lockhart. “This shouldn’t have happened.”

Zoran grabbed my arm and sent a jolt of warmth through my body. I gasped but had the strength to stand. Once on my feet, I was pulled against his side. I didn’t fight it. My body was reacting again, and the close proximity kept it hidden.

“Just because you pulled him from the rubble on a certain day doesn’t mean he was born on that particular day.” Zoran hooked my chin and lifted it before running a finger along my jaw. “Firebirds have a two week grace period before they enter the mortal realm.” He looked away from me. “Comes in handy when you burn an entire town to the ground when you’re born. If they didn’t, Fin’s kind would never make it past the first day.”

“What do you mean?” I whispered. “I didn’t burn anything.”

Zoran gave me an unimpressed look. “Unless you’re going to sing me a tune, then I don’t need to hear your voice.”

I pushed back against his chest. A blast of warmth hit me and I went limp in his arms.

“Still a wild animal in need of taming.” He shook his head. “Well, I have the rest of eternity”—his hand went to my neck—“to mold my little sparrow into an obedient little songbird.” He gave my throat a firm squeeze. “Thanks for keeping an eye on him, Edgar. Gail is yours.” Zoran waved his hand toward the town. “I’ll continue to protect your little city as long as you mind yourself.”

Lockhart wouldn’t make eye contact, and people around us were giving him suspicious looks.

“Who are you?” asked Mr. Haywood. His wife was clinging to his arm. “What have you done to Fin?”

He released me and I crumpled to the ground. I quickly arranged Zoran’s coat to keep myself covered.

Zoran flicked his wrist and a black flame appeared. My eyes grew wide. I wanted it. I’d die for that.

“Zoran.” He gave an exaggerated bow. “The third God of Fire, Keeper of Dragons, and forever trapped in the realm of humanity.” He said the last section with disgust in his voice. “I’m the one who happily accepts all your tributes, which in turn helps keep my hoard of dragons fed, so I don’t let them eat you instead.” He gave them a smirk.

The word “dragon” filtered among them. Lockhart started to sink into the crowd but didn’t get far before the townspeople blocked his path.

“One of the younger dragons slipped out a couple weeks ago.” He let out a deep breath and glanced at me. “But do not worry, he has been punished for the problems he caused.”

“We’re sending our herd to this demon,” said a voice from the group.

“Filthy shapeshifter,” scoffed an old miner, shaking his pickaxe.

A flame shot from Zoran’s hand and in seconds the miner was no more than black ash fluttering through the air as it formed a pile on the ground. “I am no demon, and being called a shapeshifter, though not as degrading as being too referred to as human, is still insulting.” He wandered along the front line of the crowd and stopped in front of Lockhart. “It’s really not a smart thing to do to a god. Right, Edgar?” Zoran folded his arms.

“The man is who he says he is,” announced the governor. “Zoran, Third God of Fire, Keeper of Dragons,” breathed Lockhart. “Please accept an apology on behalf of the town. We did not mean to offend you.”

“I accept it.” He wandered back to where I sat and helped me up. He didn’t give me that shot of warmth like before. “You did tend to Fin for me, but you really should be asking for his forgiveness. You were trying to kill him just now.” He brushed back my hair and continued touching my face.

I kept trying to pull away, but he was persistent.

“I have a gift for you,” he whispered. “To celebrate the only birthday that has ever mattered in your short pathetic life.”

“I don’t want anything from you,” I said with no power in my voice. I wiped my face with his coat.

“Oh, you will like this one.” He pulled me close. “I saved it for you.”

His hand slipped beneath the cloak and around my waist. I felt the heat of flames and then something hard pressed against my back. He pulled the object out. A red design glowed across the surface of a box. I recognized it from the first time we’d met.

“You have two choices, Fin. One, you can stay here and live whatever miserable life these people give you, which most likely will involve living in some sort of prison or cage.” He shrugged. “You won’t be allowed to move about freely, knowing Edgar. Or,” he said as he gave me a smile, “you can come with me, and I will show you what potential your powers truly have.” He tucked a stray hair behind my ear. “Maybe even let you meet some others who are just like you.”

“Like me?” I bit my lip. I didn’t trust him. As much as I loved the warmth he gave me, I’d take my chance with them, even if I was locked up. At least I wouldn’t hurt anyone. This man didn’t care for human life.

“The other firebirds will love you. Welcome you right into their little flock.” He forced a smile.

I just stared at him. His offer was tempting.

“And not to mention, I’ll let you have my box—oh, and this.” His free hand went back around my waist, and more intense heat than ever before filled my body.

Closing my eyes, I let my head roll back.

“You want this?”

I nodded. “Yes. Yes, I want it.”

He pulled me closer. “This is only a small taste of the sensations I can give you.”

“I want it,” I breathed. “I’ll go with you.”

“Good.” He pressed the box into my hands. “Open your present.”

I ran my fingers along the first latch before popping it free. The heat started to escape. I looked to Zoran, who gave me a nod.

“Go on.”

Undoing the other, I held the lid shut. “What’s going to happen?”

“Open it and see.” He slipped behind me and gripped my shoulders. “It’s time they learn not to touch what is mine.”

I flipped open the lid and the black fire erupted from within. I felt into Zoran and dropped the box. It felt so good. Finally, the cold was truly gone.

I heard screaming, and flames growing all around me.

“It’s time to go, Fin.” Zoran slipped an arm around my back and the other beneath my knees before picking me up.

I didn’t care what he did with me. I was surrounded by fire, and I couldn’t have been more at peace.