Page 64 of Inflamed By an Incubus

“Aryanna,” Rosalind murmured. “What do you know about her?”

“I know Archangel have her according to a note someone left for a dragon called Brink, and I spoke with Talon and Kyter about her at Underworld. Talon’s brother left the note. Went to Hell for Talon after he dug up info on her from a covert mission they performed at Archangel HQ in London.” Fenix followed as Rosalind gestured at him and started towards the rear garden.

Vail trailed after her, his gaze constantly locked on her, as if he couldn’t bear to look away from her for a second. Fenix knew how that felt. Gods, he needed to see his mate again.

And he would.

As soon as he was done here, he would check in on her and make sure she was safe.

Someone had set up a circular wooden table on the patio near the cottage and four matching chairs encircled it beneath the shade of a large cream cantilever parasol. Rosalind picked a chair with its back to the garden and Vail slid into the seat beside her. Fenix took the one opposite her and Hartt sat to his right.

“I need to get my mate away from Archangel as soon as possible.” Fenix leaned forwards and rested his elbows on the teak table. “Aryanna was the sorceress responsible for cursing the dragons and banishing them to Hell. If Archangel do have her—”

“They have her.” Rosalind’s words hit him hard, had him leaning back in his chair. “Our intel says they have her, but we don’t think they can reach her or access her or something like it. It gets sketchy there. We only know a mage we fought wanted access to her, and he believes someone else is going to beat him to her now.”

That didn’t sound good.

“Someone not Archangel?” He glanced at Vail and then Hartt.

Both elves shook their heads.

“We think someone is working on the inside to reach her. We’re not sure why they want her, but… it can’t be good… just like it isn’t good that Archangel have her.” Rosalind cast everyone a worried look and then settled her gaze back on him. “It’s why we wanted to get in touch with you. Hartt told us that your mate works for Archangel now.”

“She does.” He nodded and then it hit him. “You want me to convince her to find out where they’re holding Aryanna. Rosalind… it’s too dangerous. I’ll get in there. Hartt can help me. I’ll go and I’ll find her, but I’m not getting Evelyn involved.”

“Evelyn?” Vail frowned at him and sat up straighter. “You said she had called herself Evelyn before her latest death.”

“Latest death?” Hartt’s brow crinkled as he looked between Vail and Fenix.

“Apparently, she didn’t die. She survived, but I was sure that she had died.” Fenix was still convinced he had felt it happen.

“How much did you see?” Vail said and held his hand up when Hartt went to speak, silencing the male.

“I followed her and her group across the Fifth Realm, observing them from a distance. Didn’t want to get too close. It looked like they were scouting the land, charting it before the other team joined up with King Thorne for the battle against the forces of the Fifth Realm. King Frayne hadn’t left yet. Part of me felt maybe they wanted to take him out and end the war before it really kicked off.” Fenix shrugged and shook his head, no longer feeling that had been the case. Archangel had started documenting Hell the moment they had learned of its existence. Evelyn’s team had been there to do just that. “When they were caught by the demons, I got myself caught too. I had to protect her. I thought I would have a chance to get her away via a teleport, but the shackles they placed on me… well, you know.”

Rosalind glowered at him. “I do know. I can’t stand that my powers were taken from me like that.”

Her mate cast her a sheepish look and then lowered his gaze to his knees, and her features softened as she noticed. She reached over and patted his knee.

“I’m not angry with you, silly. You did what you had to do and it probably kept me safe.” She smiled for Vail when he finally looked at her and his face crumpled, his brow furrowing, and he seized her and pulled her onto his lap.

Rosalind didn’t fight him as he petted her hair, as he kissed her cheek and murmured things to her with an earnest edge to his expression and a lot of love in his eyes. She wrapped her arms around him and got herself settled, shifting to face Fenix and Hartt, as if it was perfectly normal to hold an intense conversation while being fussed over.

The gods knew it probably was for her.

Vail was ridiculously protective of her after all, probably didn’t let her out of his sight around males, was driven to stamp his claim on her and ensure everyone knew she belonged to him.

Fenix fought the smile that wanted to curl his lips, one that lightened the weight on his heart for a moment, because it was nice they were happy. There was a marked difference between the Vail he had known in the cells of that dungeon and the one sitting beside him now. It was good to see Rosalind had been working her magic on him, coaxing him back from the darkness.

An ache formed in his breast and he rubbed his sternum through his black shirt, trying to soothe it. He would have his mate at his side again soon enough.

He looked at the trio around him, a small group of warriors who had all been tested in battle.

This time, he wasn’t alone.

This time, he was going to succeed.

Chapter 19

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