Page 38 of Princess Avenged

“The vampires who attacked Crusher and me on that roof,” Phil says blankly, “they came at us like zombies. They ambushed us, even though we were on high alert.”

“Shit.” Crusher steps out of a shadow.

Everything inside me clenches. With all that’s been going on, I didn’t realize he was in the room, but it was Crusher I sensed when I first came in.

“We should have been able to detect them,” Crusher says. “Can this demon mask heartbeats and scents too?”

“That is one theory,” Zuben answers.

Phil nods toward Crusher, and more fury rises inside me—all of it directed at Crusher.

“You told me Phil was dead.” I glare at him. “You left him behind, and then lied to me about it. Lied to me about the most important thing in my life.”

Phil sucks in a sharp breath.

“I believed he was dead.” Crusher raises his palms toward me. “I just found out that he’s not,” he says. “And from the second I found out, I wanted to tell you. We’ve all been trying to tell you.”

“It’s true,” Flame says against my ear. “It was Phil who didn’t want you to know.”

Standing, I step toward Phil’s image on the screen. “You wanted me to think you were dead?” My voice comes out as broken as I feel.

“My love.” He reaches toward the screen, then looks down. “I would give anything to be with you. I would give my life to be with you.”

“Then what are you waiting for?” My chest heaves. “Get on a plane. This minute!”

“I can’t.” He shakes his head. “The one thing I won’t give is your life.”

“That doesn’t make any sense. Why are you making excuses?” Hurt stirs the quagmire of joy and fear inside me. Doesn’t he want to be with me?

Phil won’t make eye contact.

Crusher steps forward, drawing the camera’s attention until he fills the screen instead of me. “She needs to know.”

I punch his arm. “Know what? Are you guys lying to me—again?” I glare at Crusher, wishing my look could actually kill him.

On the screen, Phil glares ahead, clearly aiming his warning eyes at Crusher. “Don’t you fucking dare.”

“What’s going on?” I turn toward Blade, and then to Flame.

“Phil’s afraid for you,” Flame says. “We’re all afraid for you. Blade and Zuben have discovered a ton about this demon, but until we’re certain how to kill it, it’s best if you and Phil stay apart.”

Flame is clearly terrified that something bad will happen if Phil comes.

“Ana needs to know,” Crusher says. “She deserves to be the one to decide.”

I can’t believe that he’s the one supporting my position.

“Ana.” Crusher’s voice vibrates deep in my bones. “Phil and Zuben told you that the demon found a new host, but they didn’t tell you who that host is.”

“So, who is it?” I step toward the screen. Zuben and Ember are looking down, and Phil is glaring so hard his look would literally kill Crusher if he were in the room.

Phil turns toward me, and his expression softens. “Ana. My love. Do you trust me?”

“With my life.”

“Then you need to be patient. And you need to believe me that it’s too dangerous for us to be together right now.”

“Why?” My heart is pounding so loudly, I can barely hear anything else. And worse, now I’m angry with Phil too.

---