Page 14 of King of Inferno

“Why now? What’s going on?”

“Your guess is as good as mine. I can only hope that whatever is going on has a trickle-down effect. I’m tired of being alone.”

Reilly snorts. “When are you ever alone?”

“You know what I mean. Even with the fire fairies, I have to hold back. That shit gets tiring, you feel me?”

“I do. I can’t remember the last time I tried,” he replies with a distant look in his eyes.

I know exactly where his thoughts are. I still hurt for my little brother. This life has been cruel to us at times. More so for some of us than others.

“When you find your mate, all of that will be a thing of the past, then you can finally let go,” I say and pat him on the shoulder.

I don’t miss the momentary flash in his eyes. I’m not about to get into a fight with him about this. I’ve never backed down from Reilly. I’m well aware of what he’s capable of.

I also know I’ve gotten a few flames off before he’s been able to strip my powers in the past. We’ve given Kendrick a handful to deal with over the years. I think I used to provoke Reilly the most when we were small.

Especially as boys before we understood his powers. My little brother is a force to be reckoned with. I just happen to love a challenge.

However, tonight, I have other challenges on my hands. I need to get my work done and clear my head. I’ve felt the pull to the diner all day.

I’ve reached a point where I’m tired of being led around by the nose. I don’t know what’s drawing me there and I hate the fact that I want that little human I can never have.

It’s best I stay away from her and that place. If only the gods loved me enough to somehow make her mine. I tighten my jaw as that thought comes unbidden.

I asked the ancients who used to look after us if our father would give us mates. I was told that he would someday, and they would be made just for us. Perfect in every way. I never shared this with my brothers.

Although I’ve held out hope for centuries that one day I would find her, and she would be just as I imagine. Small in height with a great ass and pretty face. The little human fits all my desires for a mate.

Shaking my thoughts off, I toss Reilly a salute and continue for my office. My thoughts are lost in the documents I sign and send to their destination with magic. I’ve managed to ignore the pull to leave the clubhouse, getting the feeling to come to a low hum.

Suddenly, it’s like a box is blown open and the feeling is so strong I think my stomach is going to pitch. I grab the edges of my desk and try not to set the thing on fire.

It’s like I’m hit in the gut with a sledgehammer. The room begins to pulse around me as it comes in and out of focus. I can feel my powers humming against my iron as if it will force its release.

“Holy shit. Motherfucker,” I bite out against the pain.

I’ve never been hit with anything like this. Trust me, going up against Reilly can be painful and Kendrick has knocked me on my ass a time or two, but nothing like this. Not even being iced or drowned by Ardan can compare to this feeling. My vision blurs for a moment.

After blinking a few times, I glance around me and can see the heat waves coming from my desk. I release my tight grasp before I set the entire thing ablaze.

I take a deep breath for clarity and that’s when I understand what’s happening. I can see her face clearly. I know where I’m to be.

I roar in fury and will myself to my bike. I don’t know what awaits me. I may need to transport her by human measures although I will not use such to get to her.

Once straddling my hog, I follow the pull to the little human I believe to be my mate. That is the only way this could be happening. My magic does all the work to get me to her.

I bounce out onto the street less than a block away. I can taste her fear in the air. I waste no time riding the short distance to the parking lot up ahead.

Inhaling the air, my fury rises. It’s the same scent we found in the area around where Kendrick found Ray. I will kill them all.

It’s Him

It all happens so fast. One minute, my heart is racing as Ferg stands before me with a tight grasp on my arm. The next, Big Red pulls up, looking like he’s about to tear him apart.

The moment when I feel like I’ve lost my mind is when my heart begins to race faster than when I thought I was about to be attacked. Almost ten times faster. I look into my biker’s eyes, and I swear there are flames glowing inside them.

However, when he opens his palm and a flame rests in it, I know I must be dreaming. I tear my arm from Ferg’s grasp and stumble back against my car.

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