Stealing Phoenix by Joss Stirling: An Extract

Today I have a special treat for you all, thanks to OUP.  I have an extract from Joss Stirling's upcoming novel Stealing Phoenix...  I hope you all enjoy it!

 

Stealing Phoenix by Joss Stirling

Published: 1st September 2011

Published By: OUP Oxford

Synopsis From Goodreads:

Yves' story.
This is about getting you out...I'm stealing you.
Phoenix belongs to the Community - a gang of thieves with paranormal powers. Yves Benedict - an American student visiting London - is her mark. But Yves turns out to be more than just a target. He is her destiny. Her soulmate. But the Community owns Phoenix's past and it wants her future too.

Enjoy the extract....

 

A tap on the door. ‘Phee, are you OK in there?’ Yves.

I banged my head softly on the wood behind me.

‘Look, sorry I came out with it like that. I tell my brothers everything—we’re really close. I should’ve thought what you might think.’

Yeah, you should’ve.

‘He won’t mind if I don’t mind—about the stealing thing.’

Well done him. God, I was so tired of all this. Yves had clearly not smoothed out his rough edges when it came to handling girls if he thought this excuse for an apology would sweeten my sour mood.  A trickle of flame poured under the door then spun to form a little ball of fi re. Was he trying to burn me out? I yelped and scurried backwards, but then saw that the carpet was not even singed.

‘For you,’ said Yves quietly.

The ball began to spin faster, then split in to three different spheres, flame-yellow, white-hot and blue like a gas ring—three little planets revolving around each other. Suddenly, they flared open, forming into the shape of flowers in bloom. They came to rest at my feet like lilies on a pool before snuffing out of existence, leaving only a faint smell of smoke behind. Nothing was damaged; not even a soot mark on the floor where they had been.

I was stunned: no one had ever given me flowers before. That had been awesome; I’d never thought to create something beautiful out of my powers but Yves must have spent a long time honing his skill to do so.

Like what you read?  The rest of the book, well, it's even better...