Page 31 of Dewitched

“Something tells me the means of our arrival wasn’t your doing.” He cast a sideways glance at his baby sister. “Besides, we’re family, and we take care of each other.”

Erus cleared his throat to get everyone’s attention. “To be clear, what exactly are you asking of me?”

“Take it away, of course,” Iliana responded.

Fenix’s heart sank to the pit of his stomach when the god shook his head.

“I’m sorry, Princess, but that’s not within my ability.”

“But—”

“Not withinmyability,” he emphasized.

A cocky smirk tugged at one side of Orrin’s mouth. “But I can do it.”

As the newly appointed Guardian of Lost Souls, and in possession of all the powers that came with it, he should have been the obvious choice from the beginning. Owen’s soul might still be connected to his body, but Fenix had never met anyone more lost.

“Well?” Iliana demanded. “Get on with it.”

“Apologize.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Apologize for being a right brat, and I’ll consider it.”

“You lied about having a sister!”

“I didn’t lie. I just never mentioned it.”

“Same bloody thing!”

“Okay, okay,” Erus interjected with an indulgent grin. He wound an arm around Orrin’s waist and pulled him back to his side. “That’s enough.” Once he had them settled, he turned his attention to Fenix. “Where is your young mate?”

“In our cabin.”

“Lead the way.”

“Just so you know,” Orrin muttered to his sister. “I’m doing this for Fenix. Not you.”

Iliana made a disgruntled noise in the back of her throat. “Oh, piss off.”

Normally, Orrin was the epitome of a doting brother who spoiled the princess beyond reason. They were still siblings, though, and when they did get into it, their arguments could last for days. Since there had always been an undercurrent of affection to their bickering, Fenix often found it amusing. Maybe a little endearing.

At that moment, he had neither the patience nor the humor for it. Too bad he couldn’t exactly do anything about it. He was already pushing his luck by asking for their aid, and telling theirRoyal Highnesses to shut the fuck up probably wouldn’t lend itself to his cause.

And this could be his only chance to save his mate.

Chapter ten

Owen knew Fenix hadbeen worried about him, but surrounding their cabin with Guardians seemed a bit excessive. Add the Nightstar siblings and a literal fucking god, and the guy had clearly lost his mind.

On the bright side, his despair had vanished the moment the front door had swung open—only to be replaced by overwhelming fear and intense embarrassment. Fenix probably thought he was being irrational, but Owen couldn’t be around anyone, and not just because he hadn’t showered in days.

For the love of everything holy, he was still wearing the bathrobe they had taken from the pool house. He couldn’t even imagine what he looked like, and he probably smelled even worse. Mostly, though, being that close to other people scared the hell out of him.

Ever since he’d lost control, he felt like a ticking time bomb. It wasn’t a matter ofifhe caused another disaster, butwhen.No one was safe around him, not even his mate, and he would never forgive himself if he really hurt someone. In his mind, isolation had been the only solution.

Not sitting on the end of the bed surrounded by two people he cared about and two complete strangers.

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