Page 93 of Wicked Heirs

The supernatural kind.

Specifically, the phoenix kind, as was proven in the next moment when Talon emerged from within them, having used them as a means of teleportation.

“Impressive,” I said, as he extinguished them with a simple wave of a hand, then walked to me.

“Right back at you, firecracker,” he returned, gesturing at my magical creations. “That’s some sweet stuff right there.”

I looked around, searching my surroundings.

“What you looking for?” he asked.

“Orpheus lurking nearby intending to jump out at me. Or maybe to conjure videos of us fucking into your flames any second now.”

He winced. “Sorry. No, he’s not here. I came of my own volition. And I wanted to tell you thatI’mresponsible for it too. Obviously, with the fire element that was involved. He’s not all to blame.”

“He put you up to it and it’s clear you follow him anywhere.”

“Actually, it was my idea. I put it into his head.”

“I appreciate you saying that and trying to absolve your friend, but we both know an idea didn’t need to beput into his head.Besides, he still did it.”

“He was just upset.”

“Yeah, I got that, with him lashing out in anger.”

“Nah, that’s what I came to tell you. It wasn’t really anger. He was upset.Hurt.It wasn’t because he couldn’t get his way, or some pride thing from you turning him down. It was hurt that he couldn’t be near you, that you pushed him away. He’s into you. Really into you. In fact, I’ve never seen him like this with anyone.”

My gut twisted.

He might not be going for the throat with me anymore, but he was certainly going for the heart.

Thinking of such a powerful, immovable force of a man like Orpheus Hart being in emotional pain and anguish was a lot to absorb. It actually had me choked up for several moments, before I was able to respond. “Okay, I hear you.”

Talon arched an eyebrow. “Really? You do?”

“I do, yeah. I get it.”

He came to stand in front of me and he shoved his hands into the pockets of his tight black pants with the twisting orange designs that matched his bright-orange hair. “You know, I actually heard your conversation in class that day after I left.”

I gave him a withering look. “Clearly you mean when youdidn’tactually leave.”

“Sorry, I was curious.”

“Curious?”

“About his thing with you, how it worked, how it really was for him. You might have noticed that it’s like pulling teeth sometimes with trying to get stuff out of Ore. Especially when it comes to anything sentimental.”

I smiled. “I have noticed that. Just a tad.”

He laughed. “Yeah, that’s him. He’s just defensive, locked up tight most of the time. It takes a lot to get him to open up.” He looked me up and down with a little bit of eye-fucking thrown in as he raked his gaze over my black and silver romper beneath my black embroidered tassel jacket, then down the length of my thigh-high lace-up boots.

I snapped my fingers in front of him.

He blinked. “My bad. You’re just… you’re fucking sexy, all right?”

He was certainly direct.

While that was in play, I might as well be too.

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