Page 54 of Reign

As the demon stalked closer, more footsteps echoed at my back. There was no point in turning to look; I knew exactly where they were. I could sense their malevolence. The demon closed in enough that his ashen skin and black eyes were obvious. He chuckled darkly. “Oh, he’s offering nothing in return. You belong to him, and he wants you back.”

My brows twitched up. I had no idea who his master was, but I sure didn’t intend to find out. “Really? Hm, well, too many men have tried to control my life recently, and you know what? I’ve about had enough of their bullshit. So how about you run along home and tell yourmaster,whoever the fuck he is, that I’m busy doing my hair.”

The grin dropped off the demon’s face. He let out a weird screech, and they all ran at me at the same time. “Whoa!” Instinctively, I let the heat in my body explode outwards. Wings sprouted from my back, my body wreathed in flames, and I incinerated them on my way into the air.

Another kind of power hit me. Wind dragged all the loose debris towards its source, including the ash of what had been the demons. I stared at the portal. Where it came from was just one more thing I didn’t understand, though part of me felt like I should. Unsure, I stayed in the air as a man with long white hair, a perfectly beautiful face, and impressive armour stepped onto the ground below me. He looked up and quirked one brow.

“Ember? Why are you up there?”

I peered down. Great. Another sexy, supernatural man that I should know but didn’t. I sighed. When would my life get easier to understand?

I cocked a brow. “Why are you down there, Mr whoever you are?” I allowed my fire to burn hotter. A warning.

He merely raised his other brow to match. “I prefer to talk to you face to face, phoenix.”

I tilted my head and studied him. This guy had pointy ears like B’nar, and his magic felt similar, just as powerful, only far more ancient. He was dangerous, but whether he was a danger to me remained to be seen. Did I trust him? Fatigue tugged at me. I decided I wasn’t willing to take the chance. I needed to get out of there before Fire needed to rest. It was hard to appear nonchalant and strong when my energy levels were falling fast. “Nah, you know what, I'll just stay up here. Who are you?”

For a moment, surprise registered on his face. “You don’t remember me?”

“No. Should I?”

“Yes, child, you should.”

“I’m not a fucking child. Who are you?”

“I’m a friend.”

My smile widened, and a bitter laugh escaped me before I could stop it. “Yeah? Well, I’ve had a father, a fiance, a mate, and a whole pack of friends who have lied to me recently, so why should I believe you? Come to think of it, maybe I’d be better off with whoever they were going to take me to.” I pointed at the piles of ash.

He didn’t like that comment. His white brows dipped, and he narrowed his eyes, considering me.

I didn’t mean it, of course, but he didn’t know that. He opened his mouth to answer when another voice cut him off. “Firecracker?” Connor’s voice was rough, almost broken, as he tentatively murmured my name.

My wolf whined. I understood her joy at seeing him; my own heart squeezed. But I wasn’t going to let him know that I’d decided to forgive him. Not yet anyway. He needed to know overriding my life wasn’t going to happen again.

“Connor.” I stared at the newcomer, then back to Connor, and even though Fire flickered, I stayed floating above their heads.

“Ember? Please come down. We need to talk.”

Even from twenty feet away, I felt my mate’s regret and pain. My whole being wanted to give in to the pull between us and the brush of reassurance he sent my way. I swallowed hard as he opened his arms.

“Firecracker, you don’t have to speak to me until you’re ready, but please, come back to the compound where I can keep you safe.”

Gods, I wanted to, so badly. But I needed at least one answer first. My stomach churned. “Was I raped? Is that why you hesitated about who the father is?” I almost choked as the terrifying words left my mouth.

The white-haired guy turned his head to study Connor before his icy attention fell on me. I didn’t look at him. Connor was the only one I was interested in.

Connor rushed forward and stared up at me. Without breaking my gaze, he changed into Prime. Fully upright on his back legs, he was not that much lower than me. As he neared, Fire stuttered, or rather my hold on her did. His clawed hand reached up and brushed my leg, his voice echoing in my mind, which was a bit disconcerting. He hadn’t done that before...that I knew of.

No. You weren’t. I thought you could have been. Rex. He spun me some lies. I’m sorry I let him poison my thoughts with his words.

My insides turned cold but I nodded. It was as I thought. “Rex? That evil bastard said he’d touched me?”

Connor nodded but didn’t even let me take another breath before he reassured me.He didn’t, sweetness. Jed confirmed neither he nor Rex forced themselves on you. Jed wouldn’t let anyone but him near you, especially Rex. He protected you as best he could.

Connor had explained how Rex had treated him as a child. Rex must have gotten into his psyche in the Count’s club. Even though Connor had escaped when he was young, I knew psychological and emotional damage had already been done. Rex had tried to manipulate his son again. And it had worked. Or almost.

Movement caught my eye. Owen and Jed stood shoulder to shoulder behind the fae. Jed met my eyes and nodded. I returned his nod, thankful that he had put any lingering doubts to rest for both Connor and me.

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