Page 172 of Iris
I’m about to close the door when I spot Xav running over, and I know… I feel it deep in my bones…
Something is very, very wrong.
CHAPTER
FIFTY-TWO
Xavier
Killian is terrified of fire.
I have my demons, like the bastard who tried to slit my throat with wire, but I had conquered that demon long ago; I got my revenge.
But Killian never overcame his past. His life changed in flames, and fire is a beast that twists and turns and can flare out of control and devour everything, everyone in its path.
Fire often refuses to take prisoners.
He never touched the pain of losing his sister and the memories. Instead, they tormented him for years, hardened him. It’s way he ditched his last name and left Sabine in the first place.
I sign to him frantically, my fingers not seeming to move as fast as I want them to. My heart is pounding loudly in my ears.
He shakes his head. “Everything’s still down,” he says. “Does anyone know he’s responsible for this?”
“You’re kidding.”
Killian growls. “Where did you last see them?”
“Of course they were,” he says. “Fucking cowards.” Killian lifts his nose to the wind and sniffs. I do, too, but the air is so congested by smoke and ash, other scents can’t filter through. “We need to get our hands on them before they do anymore damage.”
I nod.
“Lead the way.”
We’re about to sprint off, when thunderous footsteps draw near.
“Black! Black!”
Killian and I spin at the familiar voice and are shocked to find Danvers running over to us as fast as his old legs can take him. He’s breathing hard, his eyes wide with terror, and my stomach flips.
When he finally reaches us, he almost falls from pure exhaustion and Killian snatches him before he can collapse. He holds him steady.
“What? What is it?” he asks. “What’s happened?”
Danvers sucks in breaths, wheezing so hard, his next words come out as a broken rasp. But I hear them as clear and deadly as a gunshot.
“It’s the Black Briar… It’s on fire!”
CHAPTER
FIFTY-THREE
Iris
