Page 170 of Cursed Heirs

“Talon, don’t listen to him,” Alena urged me. “He’s done this to provoke you. He wants you to erupt. Don’t let him win.”

I gritted my teeth as the urge grew ever stronger, the struggle through my upset and rage becoming almost unbearable.

“I won’t,” I growled. “I won’t.”

“Wow. I really thought that would work. Since I had Callum manipulate you, you’ve clearly found a way to hold onto your control a lot better,” Constantine said, coming close to me. “No matter. There are other methods to ensure you give me what I want.”

He gestured at Alena with the Orb in hand. “Should I fuck her right in front of you? Would that do it?”

I snarled and fought against my binds.

“Lucky for you, I don’t have time to degrade her the way I would like, the way in which would get the desired response from you—and her. I have another way that’s much more efficient.”

“Constantine, stop! It’s over! This whole thing is done!” Alena cried as the bastard brought theHellbornreally close to me, so close I could feel the heat from the hellfire.

“Not to worry, darling princess, a phoenix can hold off hellfire.” He looked at me. “Did you know that, baby phoenix?”

“Yes,” I ground out.

“Hmm, well, the thing is, in order to do that, you have to call your phoenix fire forth. And that will mean burning your love.Unlessshe calls her power too.”

“Don’t. Don’t do this,” Alena cried.

“Too late,” Constantine said, gesturing out in the distance. “They’re already here.”

I looked out and focused, able to see a magical lightshow taking place, a battle raging. I reached out with my phoenix hearing and could make out the sounds of screams and shouts, thuds, and hell knew what else.

They’d come for us.

They’d come to take him down.

“It’s okay,” I told Alena. “Don’t give him what he wants.”

Constantine sneered and then touched the flames of the Hellborn to each of my binds, including the chains banded across my torso.

In moments, I felt the hellfire melting through the metal and into my skin, driving deeper still, headed for bone, determined to destroy me and burn me to ashes.

Alena screamed, trying to reason with Constantine.

I gritted my teeth against the searing pain.

“I’m a phoenix,” I rasped to her. “I’ll resurrect.”

“Will you?” Constantine cut in. “I have an iron weapon on hand and the means via thisHellbornto destroy your ashes. And, so we’re clear, even with those binds melted, my magic will keep you bound in place. You can’t escape this.”

“Oh my God,” Alena gasped. “Talon, call your flames!”

“I can’t… I can’t hurt you. I… I love you.”

Despite everything, her eyes lit up, a smile spreading over her face.

And then she spoke the words that were sweeter than any I’d ever heard.

“I love you too, Talon. So much.” She turned away then and muttered, “That’s why I can’t let you do this.”

In the next moment, she called her angel magic forth, her golden glow emanating from her, forming a shield.

“Use your fire. Now!” she yelled to me, her desperation and upset killing me. Especially as she spoke her next words, “Please don’t make me watch you die. Please don’t leave us.”