Page 84 of Fire Bound

“If you think I’m ever letting you out of my sight again, you’re wrong. Knowing what it feels like to have our bond break...” He shakes his head and swallows hard as emotion clogs his throat. “That can’t ever happen again. I won’t survive it a second time.”

I hold his face between my hands as I vow, “It won’t. We’re safe now.” Gently turning his head, I point at where Sterling’s body is still in flames. There’s barely anything left of it at this point. “See? He’s gone. We won, Jax.”

Jax looks at his dad’s remains. The orange flames reflect in his eyes as he stares. He takes a minute before he says anything. It’s as if he needs a minute to come to terms with what’s happened. “Killing Sterling was my only goal for a very long time. I didn’t allow myself to imagine the future because a part of me always assumed I wouldn’t survive facing Sterling. I was okay with that fate because I knew no one would miss me. I wasn’t leaving anyone behind.” My heart breaks for the lonely boy Jax was for most of his life. “But now I see nothing but a beautiful life and future for us. I’m going to make you so happy, Remington Weylyn.”

“I already am, Jax.” I dip my head and press my lips to his. It’s not a heated kiss, but it holds so much emotion behind it. It’s a silent promise that what we have and what we are will remain. That together we will build a big, beautiful life, and we’ll do it all at each other’s side. “I do need you to do something though,” I tell him against his lips.

“Anything.”

“I need you to rein in the flames, hellhound.” I can’t help but smile at the nickname I gave him as a joke only to discover it’s true. “You’re burning down my home.”

Having everything you’ve ever wanted when you’re accustomed to having nothing is like finding yourself in a dream after living a nightmare for most of your life. I keep expecting to wake up and find myself back when Remington was dead and Sterling was alive.

I think that’s why I haven’t let go of Remi since we left the cliff and the ashy remains of Sterling and William behind. I’m afraid if I let her go, I’ll lose her again. It’s going to be a long, tough recovery before I’m able to move past the trauma of watching her die. I thought what happened with my mother was the worst thing I’ve ever witnessed. I was so wrong. Watching the other half of my soul parish will forever be at the top of that list.

While I extinguished the hellfire burning around us, I’d made her stand directly in front of me where I could see her at all times.

Calling the hellfire back to me was a lot easier than letting it go. All I had to do is picture it flowing back into my palms and safely back inside of me. It took less than a minute for the roaring flames that covered hundreds of acres of pack territory to return to me.

The deviation that it caused is severe. What was once a lush forest with trees taller than buildings is nothing but a smoldering black wasteland. I feel terrible that my power did this to the land that Remington’s pack calls home, but I’d burn it all down if it meant I got the same outcome.

I care about the pack, but at the end of the day, Remi is my mate and only priority. I’m not sure there aren’t any lines I won’t cross to ensure that she’s safe.

Remi doesn’t know or understand just how horrific that experience was for me, and I pray to whoever might be listening that she never has to know. I told her I wouldn’t survive it if it happened again, but I would bear it again if I could ensure she’ll never feel it.

As we walk down to the lake where everyone should be waiting, I explain to her how we were able to trap a good portion of Sterling’s hexed creations. Without the roar of the flames, the night is now eerily quiet. There are no signs of any distant battles or fighting going on. The remaining group that didn’t make it into the binding circle is either dead or found a way to escape. Remington asks me what we’re going to do with the ones we trapped in the circle, and I tell her the truth. I don’t have the slightest clue right now, but we’ll figure it out. The ones that can be saved deserve a life outside of captivity and experiments. How we’re going to make that happen is unclear, but between all of us, we’ll figure it out.

When we are close enough to the lakeshore to hear the voices of her pack and family, Remington’s face lights up and that breathtaking smile I could stare at forever appears.

As we come through the tree line, someone shouts, “There they are!”

The crowd of pack members erupts into a symphony of relieved sentiments and cheers.

A pair of sweats are thrown at my chest from some unknown person in the crowd while someone I don’t recognize walks up to Remi and hands her a large T-shirt to slip on. The garments are barely on our body before there’s a flash of white-blonde hair and we’re almost tackled to the ground as arms hook around both of our necks roughly.

“I’m so happy you’re okay,” Pruitt cries as she continues to hold us in the choke-hold-like hug. “I think I aged fifty years and now have a thousand gray hairs because of you two, but I don’t care. You’re both okay.” Pru finally releases us and wipes at her eyes. “I could lie and say that they’re just pregnancy hormones, but what’s the point? I thought you were both dead.”

Remi smiles reassuringly at her best friend and helps clear the tears from her face. “What? You thought I could leave you here to deal with my family alone? Not a chance.”

Ryker comes up behind his mate and wraps his tattooed arms around his little sister. When he’s done, he shocks me by turning to me. He gives me one of those quick man hugs where he hits me on the back once before pulling away. He then shocks me by saying, “I’m really glad she has you,” before returning to stand by his mate.

I really might be dreaming. Ryker Weylyn just said somethingniceto me?

Each of the family members takes turns greeting us. Isabeau even breaks down and hugs both of us. Margot is a blubbering, sobbing mess, but we can understand what she’s saying in between her choked cries.

Winslow, leaning against Ranger’s side, pipes in after all the greetings are finished. “So, it’s really over? He’s dead?”

“Burned into nothing,” Remi confirms. “He’s never going to be able to hurt another person. Same with William.”

“And just like that, we’re the only ones left,” Pruitt tells me with a soft smile. “The rest of our family is dead.”

Our family.

It’s still hard to wrap my head around the fact that Pruitt and I are related by blood. It does explain why I was able to trust and open up to her so fast.

Ransom laughs somewhere behind us. “Remi just had to one-up you, Pru. You mated her brother, so she mated your uncle.”

Whisper shakes his head. “Oh my God, your family tree is going to be so fucked up. Your children’s school projects should be fun. Honestly, I would tell the teachers that everyone is dead. It’s easier to explain than this intertwined nonsense.”

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