Page 43 of Reign

I smiled as widely as Owen. “That’s right,” he said, nodding.

“Listen, man. I’m going to take Ember back now. She’s been out long enough and should get some rest. You good on your own?”

Owen nodded and checked his phone. “Yeah, I’m going to meet up with Kawan. He’s been in Chinatown the last couple of hours and has a few more places to check out up there.”

“Sure thing. See you for the meeting at five.”

“ ‘Kay. See you later, Em.”

Ember smiled at Owen, and he jogged in the direction of the underground station.

Squeezing Ember’s hand, I turned us back to where I’d parked the SUV.

“Are you tired?” I asked as she stifled a yawn. Her hand then dropped to her stomach. Shit, I should have taken her back earlier…

“I am a bit. And I’mstarving. I guess I’m not used to staying awake all night. But I don’t want you to leave me behind.” She added quickly.

I smiled and wrapped an arm over her shoulders, turning her into my kiss. Her arms wrapped around me, winding under my jacket with no hesitation as she kissed me back. Gods, I’d never get enough of this. Of her. When she pushed against me, I groaned and pulled away. Her response to me got stronger each time we touched, making it harder to restrain myself from taking her. And out in the street, up against the nearest wall, wasn’t where I wanted that to happen. “Come on, sweetness, let’s get you fed and to bed.”

A sassy smile curled her lips, making my stomach squeeze. It looked so much like the old Ember. “Maybe I don’t need food, just a bed.” She came up on her tiptoes and brushed her lips against mine. “With you in it.”

I swallowed hard and smiled back. “I can do that.”

She stilled, looking unsure again, and that band that had loosened around my heart tightened again. My Ember was still in there, but this wasn’t her, not yet. “Really?”

I held back my sadness. I loved this Ember as much as I always had, I desired her as much, but a part of me would always grieve for the missing piece of her that remembered us. She didn’t need to know that, though. “Damn, Em, can’t you tell how much I want us to be together?”

She smiled, and another sexy little smile curved her mouth. Her small hand rubbed my hardness through my jeans. “I’ve got an idea,” she quipped as she gave me a squeeze, then let go and grabbed my hand, pulling me along.

I grinned, hope warming me. Oh yeah, she was still in there. Maybe she would come back to me soon.

As we approached the shiny black Range Rover, the air temperature dropped, and the stench of demons hit my nostrils. Prime burst through my skin. “Behind me.”

Ember didn’t argue. She knew the drill by now and shuffled away from the squad of demons that approached from the shadows in front of us.

“Connor, there’s some behind us.” Ember’s voice shook.

Eight demons approach from the front. I glanced behind me. Eight more approached. Normally even those odds wouldn’t faze me, but having my pregnant mate by my side changed things. Fear spiked through me, and for once, I let my fae side join Prime, dropping to all four of my clawed feet. My bones stretched further, and blood lust hit me.

Ember’s eyes widened.

“Pull that gun, Em,” I growled. “You know what to do with it. Let your instincts out to play. Stay alive. When I’ve dealt with these fuckers, I’ll deal with what’s left.”

Her face paled, but she nodded. Drawing the gun with one hand, she unclipped the sheath of the long bladed hunting knife I’d strapped to her leg with the other. “Okay,” she said. Without pause, she raised the gun and squeezed the trigger.

The demons moved swiftly, pulling their own weapons. Bullets didn’t harm me, but Ember had to duck behind a metal dumpster.

I roared. This was an organised attack. They'd waited until we were alone. I rushed the demons nearest to me, ripping and shredding.

Behind me, Ember shrieked as the demons worked together and dragged the dumpster away from her, exposing her.

My heart thundered, all of my spirits burning with rage as we saw how vulnerable our mate was. I kicked a demon across the street and ripped another in half before I changed direction.

Within seconds, I was engulfed in fire. Stunning multi-colour flames licked around me. I could feel Ember’s fury and the comfort she sent my way. She wanted me to know she was okay. I stalked closer to my mate, whose back was against the wall, her eyes full of iridescent flames.

“They tried to kill me—and you,” she said, her voice full of power. “I won’t let them hurt you.”

I shifted back, my body naked. I reveled in the touch of her flames as much as in her words. I lifted a hand and cupped her cheek, my heart squeezing. “I know, baby. But you have to stop now. You’ve killed them all. We are safe. Your flames are bright enough and powerful enough to draw attention from other supernaturals.”

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