Ena waved her free hand in a downward arc and flames appeared in midair, opening up into a tear. Scarlet could see another place through hazy air. It looked like pillars and columns.

Ena tugged at Scarlet. “We must leave.”

“No.” Scarlet managed to jerk her hand out of Ena’s hands. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Scarlet tried to step towards Archer, but her feet wouldn’t obey the command.

Archer reached forward and grabbed her hand, refusing to let go as Ena tried to pull her into the rift.

“Be reasonable. You cannot stay on this plane. You are phoenix, no longer of this world.” Ena’s argument seemed so right, but yet Scarlet shook her head, the phoenix playing with her mind. There was no way she was leaving Archer. The mere thought of leaving him caused a pain in her chest that made her refuse to move. She couldn’t leave him.

“Come with me, Archer,” she begged him.

“No! Men are not allowed in the Phoenix realm.”

“Then I’m not going anywhere.” Scarlet dug her heels in and tried to pull away from Ena.

Scarlet turned her face to Archer, her eyes pleading and he stepped forward, wrapping his arms around her.

“Enough. I will not keep with this tug of war. You will return with me, because that is our way. Archer, you will let her go or…” Ena let the words trail off as she filled her palm with fire.

“You may pray for death if my burn finds you. My fire is strong.”

“I don’t care. Burn me, but I’m not letting Scarlet go. She is mine.”

His words made Ena pause. “The deed is done?”

Archer nodded in reply.

Scarlet watched as Ena sagged, only to straighten her shoulders. “It matters not—she will come with me now. That is our way. Let her go, or I will burn you to ash.”

Scarlet saw Archer’s decision in his eyes. There was no way the stubborn male was going to release her, but she also didn’t want him dead.

She noted he was distracted with Ena and wiggled out of his grip. Scarlet bolted past Ena, and dove through the rift. She wouldn’t have Archer die because she wanted to stay with him.