Page 76 of Reign

Fire cried out her gratitude and flapped her wings, sending sparks into the night. Together we bowed our heads low. It was the only way I had to convey my heartfelt thanks for the risk the angels had taken. Not just for Connor and me, but for our world.

Sophie’s mother embraced her, and I felt a tear slip from my eyes as Connor’s sister clutched the beautiful woman. A male angel lowered himself and gently tapped Sophie’s mother on the shoulder. She nodded, looked at me, and then glanced at Connor before her fingers lightly brushed her daughter’s cheek. She extended her stunning wings and raised upward. I didn’t know where she was going, but it seemed the other angels did. In the blink of an eye, they were gone. Just streaks of light in the night.

Fire faded back a little, happy, now we were safe, to let me take back control. I lowered myself to the ground, but it wasn’t relief that was tightening my belly. As soon as my boots hit the ground, I wrapped the High King of Faerie in a swathe of fire. “You fucking traitor! You tried to kill my baby and me!”

“Ember! What in the Mother’s name are you doing?” Connor yelled as I did my best to burn the silver-haired bastard to death.

Walker fought me, his magic hissing as it hit my flames.

“Ember! Stop!” yelled another voice. “It wasn’t him!”

Alex ran at me, his face twisted and pale.

I snarled. “Yes, it was. I saw him! He shot Lance!”

“No! No, he didn’t! It was Xania! Please. Stop.”

Connor shifted and stood directly in the path of my flames. B’nar leaped, pulling his father away.

“What are you doing?” My mate’s blue eyes were so bright, so beautiful. All I wanted was to hold him, to rejoice at our triumph, but Walker had almost killed me, and by default, our child. He wouldn’t get away with it. Not this time. “He betrayed us again. He shot your friend.”

“Sweetness, no, he didn’t. Look.”

I turned to where Connor pointed. Alex held Xania in some fae cuffs. Her posture was upright, her face furious. My mouth fell open, and I glanced from her to Walker.

“Alex has his sister in cuffs for a reason. I think we should hear him out first.” His mouth tilted up a little. “Before you incinerate our allies.”

My eyes narrowed. “I’ll incinerate anyone who tries to kill our child.”

He reached out and touched my cheek with his fingertips. “As will I. But I get the feeling that it wasn't Walker.”

Walker shook off his son’s assistance and strode towards me. “Whatever you think I did, it wasn’t me. I was in Faerie. Gathering this army.”

For the first time, I took in the sheer amount of people that surrounded the ruined car lot. My gaze still narrowed on him. “Well, it sure looked like you.”

“Ember. Shapeshifter. Remember?” He looked at Xania. His eyes were so cold I thought he might freeze her on the spot.

“That was her? But why? This makes no sense to me.”

The thump thump thump of rotor blades disturbed the air. We had to wait for the helicopter to land before we could speak again. The rotors soon slowed enough to talk again.

“I know it doesn’t. But it will soon.” Walker crossed his arms and looked towards the group of people climbing out of the belly of the SBI gun-ship.

Balthazar quietly stood back to allow a diminutive female to enter our group.

She looked to be about thirty and stunningly beautiful. Her petite figure was curved and flawless, and there was not a single jet-black hair out of place. She was utter perfection to look at, but her grey eyes were cold and shrewd. Despite her tiny stature, there was an air of power about her that prickled against my skin like Connor’s used to. I gaped as all the males nearby stared at her as if unable to tear their gazes away. All except Connor and Walker. Even Alex had relaxed his hold on his sister.

Walker’s brows twitched down minutely, and he flicked the fingers of his right hand. Alex shook his head, blinking rapidly.

The woman smirked and lifted her chin. “High King L’nar Voltair. What is the meaning of this? You requested my presence. I am here. Now explain.” The woman’s gaze fell on Xania, and for a fraction of a second, I swore I saw panic flare in her eyes.

Walker cocked his head, his face blank. “First, let me introduce you.” He looked at me and then Connor before glancing at Owen. “This, my friends, is the Overseer of the SBI.”

I inhaled sharply. “The Overseer?”

I met Connor’s gaze. The identity of the Overseer had always been a secret to the masses of shifters and agents of the SBI.

Walker whispered some words, and all the males who seemed to have been in a daze straightened and shook their heads as if clearing them.

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