Page 46 of Reign of the Beast

“Your phone calls with him over the months we were searching for Mia weren’t strictly about her. They evolved to you querying about his life and interests, joking with him, growing closer. Your lingering looks at him since you’ve been here in close quarters. My biggest clue was during the events of thephantasmal planewherein you allowed him to touch you even through the intensity of your attempted claim on Mia. That place brought out our true and repressed sexual desires.”

“Does he… uh… does Ryker know?”

“I doubt it. He’s not as perceptive as I am. Moreover, he’s been focused on handling Draco’s overarching threat. He’d likely be open to it, though.”

“He would?”

I smirked. “He likes wild things.”

“You’re sure? What about Mia?”

“He’s explored a lot with me, things that he, too, had repressed.”

Jaxon ran a hand through his hair, sighing heavily. “All the power we hold and we’ve never been free, you know?”

“Very few are. At least you’re recognizing it now.”

“Yeah, I guess,” he murmured.

Before more could be said about it, a flash of green light erupted, startling the both of us.

Ryker materialized in the bedroom, assuming a fighting stance, his magic at the ready trained on Jaxon.

“Are you alright?” he asked me urgently.

“Yes, I’m fine. Why?”

“The door was locked. I felt the stake move from its usual location and I tracked it to our bedroom.”

“Chill,” Jaxon said. “I gave it to him for safekeeping.”

Ryker eyed me for confirmation.

“A peace offering,” I told him.

He pulled his magic back and stood down, relaxing his arms down by his sides. “Oh. Well, good. That’s unprecedented, but great news.”

“How’s Mia doing?” Jaxon asked.

“Hurting, but she’s doing better. She’s in the kitchen getting something to eat if you want to catch her before we get back to her training after a short break.”

Jaxon’s eyes lit up. “Yeah, thanks.”

“No worries.”

Jaxon took off and Ryker came to me.

He fondled my hair and gazed at me lovingly.

Then he startled me as he called his power again. “Let’s get you out of those chains.”

“Never have sweeter words been spoken.”

10

~Jaxon~

Come the fuck on!

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