Page 57

Orvak charges and before any of the three other Bohnari can stop him, his arm’s wrapped around my neck and he has the bloodied knife at my throat. Everyone stops moving, me included.

“This isn’t how it was supposed to go,” the older male screams in my ear, spittle dampening my cheek. “How is this possible? The madness is uncontrollable.”

“I am a prince of Bohna and the beast does not control me. I am the beast,” Alik says in a deeply guttural voice that vibrates through my chest. “Release my mate, and I may let you live.” Plumes of smoke billow from his nose.

Orvak laughs. The maniacal sounds makes my blood run cold. If anyone in this room is under the influence of the madness, it’s him. “You can’t touch me without harming her.”

With the knife far too close to my jugular for my liking, I try not to antagonize my captor who slowly moves backwards toward the door, all while dragging me with him. For every step we take, Alik takes one forward, not letting the distance between us grow.

“Stop where you are,” Orvak snaps. “All of you. Or I slit her throat.”

Alik’s eyes grow a brighter red. As if whatever flames that are burning inside him are closer to the surface. What happens when they reach it? My captor keeps us moving, but when he stumbles and the knife nicks my neck Alik breathes out a fucking stream of fire. The wall to the right of us goes up in flames.

He turns slightly the other way and directs the same breath of fire to the neighboring wall until we’re surrounded on all sides with red-hot flames that lick at my skin and sear my flesh. Orvak must panic, because he shoves me toward Alik and takes off running through the burning doorway.

“We have to go,” Horek shouts.

Before I can process what’s happening, I’m wrapped in my mate’s arms and he’s sprinting out of the room as well, with his cousin and brother directly behind him. We race through the abandoned building until Alik crashes shoulder first through a door and we escape outside. We’re in a massive clearing surrounded by trees but not ones that make up the rainforest outside Preska. When we’re away from the flames, he sets me on my feet and practically pushes me into Janik’s arms.

“Watch her.” He takes off running after Orvak.

Oh, hell no. I chase after them, dodging trees, and leaping over bushes, cursing every step of the way. This is bullshit, but I’m not letting Alik out of my sight. I nearly lost him once. I’m not doing it again. A flash of movement up ahead spurs me on. I come out into another clearing where Orvak faces my mate.

Before I can call out to him, Alik speaks. “You dared to touch my heart’s fire, and for that alone you will die.”

He breathes in and roars out a spray of flames. They engulf the older Bohnari, who screams in agony and swats at his body, trying to douse the fire that consumes him. Unable to take the sight or sound any longer, I clap my hands over my ears and spin around, hunched at the waist.

Warmth surrounds me as I’m wrapped in Alik’s embrace. He guides me away from the area. We don’t stop until we reach Horek and Janik. A broken sob falls from my lips, and I throw myself into my mate’s arms.

“Don’t let me go,” I manage through my gasping breaths.

“Never.”

I’m vaguely aware of him scooping me in his arms and carrying me somewhere. The rumbling sound of an engine starts up, and then I’m breathing in a combination of fuel, metal, and circulated air. Still, my eyes are too heavy to open. I let sleep take me.

When I wake, I glance around the dimly lit room in fear. It takes me a second before I realize I’m lying in my own bed at the palace with Alik’s arms wrapped around me. I slow my breathing and nestle into his embrace feeling safe once more.

Chapter 29

Alik

Devon wakes screaming. I hold her tightly even as my heart breaks. She’s seen the beast I truly am now. I’m not sure she’ll ever look at me the same way again. Not after what I did to Orvak. Is this the consequence of the curse? For my heart’s fire to turn from me in fear?

Only she turns toward me and buries her face in my chest soaking it with her tears. Devon clutches at me as though her life depends on it. I hold her until her sobs quiet and she takes in a shuddering breath. Every muscle in my body is braced for her rejection when she remembers. If I don’t speak, perhaps she’ll allow me to keep her close a moment longer.

“I knew you’d find me,” she whispers, her breath hot against my flesh. “I never worried, because I knew you’d find me.”

Devon’s words confuse me. Is she not terrified of me? Of the beast?

“You do not fear me?” Dare I hope?

Slowly she lifts her head. The creases between her brows are deep as she stares at me. “Why would I be afraid of you?”

I swallow and can no longer meet her eyes. “You saw what I did to Orvak.”

“Hey. Hey.” Devon palms my cheek and turns my head her direction once more. “What you did was protect me from a dangerous criminal who wanted you and your brother dead. One who’d already killed someone. One who’d already hurt me multiple times and would have done so again. You saved me. I could never fear that male. I could never fear you. I love you.”

Emotions swell within me like a rising tide. I hold Devon tightly, desperate to believe her. Our lips meet in a fiery clash of passion, but she hisses in pain and pulls away. I taste her blood on my tongue.