Page 3 of Fated to the Phoenix

I locked my arms, fearing she would injure herself. With at least a foot in height difference, her legs dangled, but then her feet kicked out, striking my shins as she continued to squirm. When her rounded backside rubbed against my erection, a thunderous roar echoed in my ears, my blood pumping at hyperspeed along my veins.

Now rock-hard and dizzy, with her scent surrounding me, my phoenix released a high-pitched squawk. The thing that I’d begun to believe would never happen—happened.

The woman in my arms was my mate.

Cradling her, I had so many questions, the least of which was how she came to be here and why was she fighting me?

Again, she stilled for a moment, as if she’d read my thoughts. “I’m going to ask nicely this time. But if I have to repeat myself a third time, prepare for a battle. Please put me down.” My mate's words were filled with frustration.

Relived she no longer fought me, I was reluctant to let her go, even with her warning. If she was in my arms much longer, the need to claim her as my mate would soon overtake, but I had to see her face before I released her.

“Now why would I want to do that, mate?” Shifting her so she now faced me, I peered into her flushed face.

The color of her eyes struck me first. Vivid green, full of defiance and something suspiciously like sass. The prophesied shape of her right pupil, key shaped, was just like my brothers Quinn and Keir’s fated mates were.

In awe over her arrival, I nearly missed the subtle sign of impending escape as her luscious body suddenly went lax at the same time she raised her arms in an attempt to slide from my grip. She was smart, but I was determined to keep her close until we went inside, where it’d be less likely she could run from me.

“Although I commend your efforts at escape, there is no need. You seemed eager to get inside, so allow me to assist you into our headquarters. I need to deactivate the alarm you set off and figure out where my brothers are.” With her still in my arms, I strode over the twenty-foot doors and placed my hand over a sensor.

At my touch, the heavy wooden double doors opened. Once over the threshold, they shut behind us. The clatter of the locking mechanisms engaged, but again I was reluctant to release her. As far as I was concerned, she was where she belonged, in my arms.

“Wait, my bag is still outside. If you put me down, I can go grab?—”

“And make another attempt to run from me? No, it can wait. First things first. Tell me your name.”

Locked in a silent stare off, her dimpled chin lifted, and her full lips thinned out into a mutinous line. The fact she wasn’t screaming her head off at the sight of my fully unfurled wings tipped me off that my mate was no mere human. She would know enough about our location to understand we were more than an average family, and definitely not mortal. Probably.

Her presence on our property meant that her purpose was beyond that of a lost and confused tourist. Hopefully.

“Please, could you turn off that alarm? My ears feel like they're bleeding,” my mate shouted with her hands over each ear.

Using my left wing, I stretched it out, pressing it against the flashing square display mounted on the wall. Much as one would with a fingerprint, the device’s sensor recognized me and the squealing was silenced.

Huffing out a thank you, she looked around the castle’s great room, then started wiggling in my arms again.

Tightening my hold on her, I said, “I’m still waiting for a name.”

“Well, you’re gonna have to wait until never. There’s no need to exchange names since I’m leaving. Wrong house and all.” Pausing, her defiant gaze ran over my face, as if she was searching for something. Then, for a brief moment, her pupils widened before she quickly narrowed them in an attempt to hide her reaction from me. “Wrong everything. My driver must have dropped me off at the wrong address. I am not your mate, not your friend, not your anything. Please put me down.”

Ignoring the request, I reveled in the feel of her. So tiny, but her curves were perfect. My talons itched to descend. I barely managed to keep them hidden so as not to scare her. I could not have imagined a more lovely or desirable mate.

“I’m not ready. But I will tell you mine. My name is Trace Smythe. Whether or not you already knew that no longer matters. You obviously felt the mating bond and were drawn to this castle. I’m guessing you possess powerful skills to break the cloaking spell. Now, do you wish to tell me your name?”

My little mate’s eyes widened, and her stubborn chin fell, causing her lips to open in the most tempting way. Her unique scent surrounded me, and my phoenix chirped happily as it recognized her as ours.

“Deny that you don’t feel it and I’ll set you down.”

Tense seconds passed and when her gaze dipped to my lips, her pink tongue darted out, licking her bottom lip.

A low rumble erupted from me. On edge, I growled, “Last chance.”

She mouthed, “Oh, my.” Biting her bottom lip, then releasing the sweetest sigh I’ve ever heard, was permission enough for me.

I claimed her lips in a kiss I’d never been able to give another female in my almost millennia-long life.

Sweet ambrosia.

I’ve lived without the ability to touch any female who was not my mate and that meant I’d never kissed anyone either.

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