Page 40 of Inflamed By an Incubus

The elf with the shorter blue-black hair stepped forwards and moved in front of the other one, as if he was trying to block Fenix’s path to him, a feeling that only grew when he folded his arms across his chest, causing his black knee-length tunic to tighten across his shoulders and over his arms.

“I would be the male in charge here.” The male’s deep baritone had Fenix fixing his focus on him, but he still kept tabs on the other one with his senses, not trusting him.

Relief began as a slow trickle in his blood as he walked towards them, their familiar scents setting him at ease and taking some of the weight from his shoulders as he finally felt as if he could dare to hope that they could and would help him.

That he was one step closer to saving Evelyn.

As he neared them, their expressions shifted, their eyes widening slightly as recognition dawned in them.

“I know you,” the leader said as he regarded Fenix with a frown now. “You were there the night we broke Harbin out of the hunter facility.”

Fenix guessed Harbin was the silver-haired shifter he had seen. He looked between the two elves, not missing how the one that felt more dangerous to him had a distant look in his violet eyes now, as if he was miles away. Probably a good thing. Something about him set Fenix on edge, and he wanted to ask the leader if they could speak alone, but his gut said that the other male wouldn’t allow that.

They both seemed very protective of each other.

“I need your help. I’ll pay whatever it takes, and I know the job I’m offering is dangerous, but you’re the only ones who can help me.” Fenix tried to tamp down the need that roared in his blood, that rose to the fore to flood him with a desperate desire to make them help him, to force them using his charms and to leave for Evelyn now.

He sucked down a steadying breath. Pushing the elves to help him would most likely backfire on him, and he couldn’t rush this either. As much as he wanted Evelyn away from Archangel, he needed to stick to the plan this time.

“Who do you need us to kill?” The leader ran a hand over his wild hair, tousling it and drawing Fenix’s hand to the shorter, choppy lengths of his own hair.

He rubbed the back of it, just above his nape, still finding it strange. He had cut it more than a fortnight ago, after another failed attempt to reach Evelyn. He had been angry with himself, and with her rejection, and some part of him had been convinced that if he changed some things about himself that she would be more inclined to listen to him.

Or maybe he had been pathetically hoping that she would find him attractive.

It was only after he had cut his hair that he had realised it matched Archer’s style.

“I don’t need anyone killed.” Not true. He wanted that male dead and buried, but killing her partner wouldn’t exactly make Evelyn like him, so he bit his tongue. “I need to break into somewhere.”

The elf’s eyes darkened. “Break into somewhere?”

“Archangel,” Fenix whispered, his brow furrowing as he thought about Evelyn. What was she doing right that second? Did she ever think about him? Did she feel anything for him? He shut that down, not wanting her to soften towards him. She couldn’t. Not yet. It was too dangerous. If she felt something for him, she would end up dead and this whole, horrible cycle would start over again. “My mate now works for them… and I need to get her away from that wretched place. It’s poisoning her mind and making it impossible for me to make her see the truth.”

“The truth?” The male frowned.

“That she isn’t mortal.” Fenix raked fingers through his scruffy hair, still hating the style and the male he had copied it from. “I just need to get her away from them, but her partner has too tight a hold on her… the whole damned organisation has brainwashed her on top of the spell she’s already under.”

The other elf tuned back into their conversation and slid his partner a look that was equal parts wariness and concern.

“Your name?” the leader said and took a step towards Fenix.

“Fenix.” He offered his hand.

The elf took it and gave it a hard shake. “We will help you, Fenix.”

The second elf curled his lip and lost himself in thought again, drawing a worried glance from the leader.

“My name is Hartt. We can discuss terms in my office.” He swept his free hand out towards the door.

Fenix shook his head. “Later. I have a few things I need to finalise before I can move ahead with this. I’ll return once everything is in place… and as I said, whatever it costs… I don’t care. I just need to get her out of Archangel undetected.”

Hartt nodded. “Very well. We shall discuss terms upon your return.”

Fenix released his hand and stepped back, satisfied that at least one part of his plan was in place.

Now he just had to do the hard part.

Chapter 12

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