Page 48 of King of Inferno

“Benefit me?”

“Yes, baby girl. Come, I will show you.”

I follow him to the double doors and watch in awe as a bright-orange glow emits from him before waves of heat begin to pulse off his frame. He holds out his hand and the doors pop open with a hiss. Slowly, they swing open.

Bradan takes my hand and leads me in. Sconces begin to light with fire as we enter. We walk down a long hall, the sounds of our footfalls bouncing off the walls and echoing back to us. After I don’t know how long the hall opens into a larger room. It almost looks like a ballroom or something.

In the center of the room, there’s the same crest that’s over the fireplace in his room—a sword through a crown that has flames rising out of the crown and a chain draped over the sword and crown. I’ve noticed the same design on his shoulder with the chain flowing down his arm. I look around in awe, feeling so tiny in the space.

“You have questions,” he states. It’s not a question.

“Yeah, why so many piercings? Is it because it’s toxic to you guys, so you need it in small increments?”

He laughs and shakes his head. “That’s smart of you to think that way, but no. Each piercing locks down a level of power. The more we have, the more powerful we are. Without them, the stronger the signal would be to find us,” he replies.

“Whoa. Bray, your penis alone has about nine. Are you fucking kidding me? How am I your mate?” I say in shock.

“You and I are equals. You just haven’t awoken your potential yet. In all honesty, the way the ancients explained it to me, you all are more powerful than we are because of your ability to balance us out.”

“Balance you out?”

“Yes, when the time is right, you will take on my power and keep it balanced. You will be able to use my strength as if it were your own.”

I can only shake my head in disbelief. One day, my life was so normal and boring. In all truth, I was struggling with my existence. Now, he’s telling me I will someday have the power of a demigod to use as my own.

“What else would you like to know?” he says as if he’s amused by my reaction.

“You said you have to lock your powers away so you can’t be found. Found by who? Can they harm you?”

“My brothers and I have one true weakness. It’s called blessed iron. That’s what all my piercings are made of.

“If blessed iron were to pierce our hearts, it would allow for a fatal blow. It debilitates our powers long enough to make us vulnerable. A blade through the heart can also cause us pain and leave permanent damage,” he explains.

“Have any of you ever been in that type of danger?”

“You’ve noticed Kendrick is gray. That was a result of someone trying to run him through.”

“Oh no, is he all right? Is the damage permanent?”

“He is fine. Once the iron leaves our body, we begin to heal. That shit ruined all that thick dark hair he used to have, but that was so long ago we’ve all gotten used to the gray,” he says.

“Okay, so let me get this straight. You wear the same type of metal that can kill you to lock your powers in. And there are people who know this iron exists, so you guys keep it hidden from them?”

“Something like that.”

“Okay, so what did you want to show me? This place?”

“I wanted you to see my great hall, but I really wanted you to see my true form for yourself.”

“True form? Oh God, you’re not going to transform into one of those horn-faced guys,” I breathe.

“No,” he laughs deeply.

“Go stand in the middle of the crest,” he orders.

Nervously, I moved to stand in the middle of the room. I rub my hands on my jeans as I lick my lips and nod for him to show me whatever it is he wants me to see. He gives me a smile and folds his arms across his chest.

“Ben kralim,” he rumbles.

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