Page 95 of Phoenix Falling
“There are some things I simply can’t answer, King.”
“Can’t or won’t?”
He stepped down from the dais and began to pace. “You are unlike him in many ways, but you and your father are equally stubborn.”
As if I didn’t already know that.
“As I said, I know many things. Some of what I know, I hope to share with you.”
“Why?”
“It’s what I do.” His hands moved, and I swore I heard the jingle of keys or change in his pockets. The sound was incongruous on any shifter, but one of this power? I shook my head.
“About your father…”
His pause grated on my nerves. “What about him?”
“My apologies for your loss.” He gave me the slightest bow. “The phoenix chooses whether or not he will return to this life when he dies. Your father did not. Maybe that was for the best. His rule was often shortsighted. I’m glad to see you’ve been more proactive.”
He’d have done better not to remind me of his push into my mind, and yet his assessment of my father was spot on. It didn’t soften me toward him.
“I’m sure the women you’ve rescued are equally grateful, including the two new ones. Is your mate still in a cell?”
My teeth clenched so hard I was afraid they’d break. “How the hell do you know about my mate? Do you want to die, is that it? Why else would you come in here and throw around intel that’s likely to get you killed?”
He didn’t answer my question, simply continued pacing. My mind raced, trying to figure out the puzzle. So few knew Rissa was my mate. The Warrior’s Council only. And our prisoners, thanks to my spectacular loss of control yesternight. But they would not have had contact. How could he know?
And what did he plan to do with that knowledge?
“Relax,” he huffed. “I have no plans to harm your mate.”
Fucking hell. “Stop reading my mind.”
He waved a hand at me. “I wasn’t truly reading it. Sometimes thoughts just find their way to me. You should be more worried about your mate cutting your balls off for locking her in a cell.”
“She’s an unknown.”
“She’s the one who led you to the females you now hold.”
I did a double take. “What?”
“She tipped Arik off to Maddox’s location. She knew you were located somewhere nearby thanks to Cale— That warrior isn’t as careful with his tongue as he should be. She was trying to bring you together in hopes of getting the females out of Maddox’s camp.” He stopped moving, turned to stare at me. “You didn’t know this?”
“No.” Because I’d been too busy worrying about her intimate relationships to look at the rest of her life when I’d been in her mind. And I’d hurt her far more than this shifter had hurt me when I’d done it, probably for the same reason.
Christ, I didn’t deserve her. She was right; I was an asshole.
The shifter chuckled. “Keep working on her. She’ll take you back in time. Risk is all bark and no bite when it comes to those she cares about.” He resumed pacing. “Not that I know her firsthand. I’ve simply observed.”
Something in my gut uncoiled, making me even more of a dick. And then his words registered and I grew more uneasy.
This male, if he was on the Anigma side—and his connection shouted that he was even as his presence here hinted that he wasn’t—could be a far bigger threat than even Helios. How could I get the information I needed to find out where he stood?
Maybe the question I was asking was the wrong one.
“Why are you here?” I asked. Then, “And give me a name, because I am sure as hell not calling you ‘the Source.’”
He laughed at that. “It is ridiculous, isn’t it? Unfortunately I didn’t give it to myself.”
