Page 76 of Inflamed By an Incubus

Her mind got stuck on that small fact, using it to distract her from the bigger problem—the fact she had liked how vicious Fenix had been in dealing with the younger incubus.

“How many other incubi live here?” she said, her voice lacking strength as she flicked a glance at the imposing granite building.

Fenix bit out, “You’d better not be thinking about telling Archangel about this place.”

Apparently, his protective streak wasn’t limited to her. He was protective of the people who lived here too. Because they were his family, and he cared for them despite the fact one had just tried to come on to her?

“I’m not.” She froze, feeling as surprised as Fenix looked by that. “It… it never even crossed my mind. I just wanted to know how many other men I have to be on my guard against.”

Which shocked her too.

Because it made her realise she wasn’t planning on running and escaping this place. She was planning to stay.

What was wrong with her?

“Four,” he grunted and then his tone softened, turning reassuring. “None of them will hurt you, Evelyn.”

She believed that.

He folded his arms across his chest and huffed as he looked away from her, glancing over his shoulder at the mansion. She stared at the markings on his forearms, watching the gold, blue and pink churning.

Was he in love with her? Mort had implied she was Fenix’s mate.

Her gaze lifted back to meet his again and there was no mistaking that softness in his eyes as he looked at her. She had never had a man look at her as if he loved her before, but she felt sure that was the emotion she could read in his eyes, and in his markings.

Evelyn corrected that thought.

She couldn’t remember a man ever looking at her the way Fenix did anyway.

For all she knew, he might have looked at her like that for the decades he swore they had been together. She might have been wildly in love with him too.

“Is there a way to unlock her memories at least?” Fenix cast a hopeful-but-worried look at the witch. “Maybe it’ll help.”

“You want to risk that? If she falls for you, she’ll die and forget you.” Those words were said in a bright tone, but they hit Evelyn hard, drawing her gaze to the witch. The blonde gave her a sympathetic look. “He’s telling you the truth, you know? You’re not human. A little spell would prove it.”

Evelyn backed off and lowered her hand to her gun as an urge to lash out flooded her. “No one is casting spells on me!”

Fenix held his hands out again, his palms facing her, and his tone was soft as he murmured, “No one is going to cast a spell on you, Evelyn. I swear. No one will use any magic on you. No witch, warlock or mage will ever hurt you again.”

He slid the witch a black look.

The blonde shrugged. “Fine. No magic. There has to be a way to make her see what she is though.”

Evelyn had gotten stuck on the word mage. Just thinking that word roused a powerful anger inside her, one that struck her out of nowhere and had her restless, wanting to pace and lash out at anyone who stood in her way. Why? What was wrong with her?

The shorter of the elves stepped forwards. “I have an idea.”

And then he was gone.

The witch looked at the other elf. “How about we take a turn around the garden and poke around a bit while the two love birds argue it out? Maybe we could find the witch the barrier spell is meant to keep out?”

The elf was quick to dip his head and hold his hand out to her, and Evelyn didn’t miss that his armour was in place beneath his clothing, transforming his fingers into sharp black talons. Despite the danger, the witch slipped her hand into his, lacing their fingers together, and began walking with him, tugging him away from Evelyn.

As they drifted into the distance, she caught the witch saying, “I was only suggesting a little spell. I knew he wouldn’t go for it… given their history. I thought it might prompt her to remember.”

Evelyn studied her feelings, frowning as she thought about how she had reacted to the mention of a spell. It hadn’t been fear that had gripped her in that moment. It had been anger, a rage so deep it had startled her, and she wasn’t sure where it had come from, but some part of her felt as if she’d had a bad experience with magic in the past.

With a mage.

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