Page 110 of King of Inferno

“Hello, Seraphina,” he says, ignoring my mother.

I look him over with a sour expression on my face. His blue eyes are so cold. I want to take a step back, but I refuse to.

“Ah, I see. You don’t know your own father when you see him. I will excuse you this time.”

“Hizmetkar, please,” my mother pleads.

He holds a hand up to silence her. “I think the child is right. This should be a family reunion. We will claim victory as a family. I have lost quite a few warriors. Who better than my own daughter to stand in and help me win this war? It is my understanding that our enemies are the same,” he says with no real emotion.

“I think I might be better off on my own,” I grumble.

“You will come with us,” he barks, shaking the room.

My eyes widen and this time I do take a step back. I should be afraid, but as I feel the power coming from my father, I suddenly realize Bradan is going to meet his end. A grin comes to my lips.

“As you wish, Father.”

“Good, now come to me. I will unlock your powers.”

Missing Heat

Iwake suddenly, pressed to something ice cold. Lifting my head, I then look down to see I’ve been lying on Bradan.

I knit my brows. He asked me to lie here with him again as he had done for the past two nights. Seraphina hasn’t returned and I don’t believe she will.

I made Bradan promise we’d go home today. I went as far as making sure he told Ardan we would be there sometime today. As my head clears, I begin to take in the scent surrounding me. It’s Bradan’s mixed with the scent of rotten flesh.

“Bray, babe, wake up,” I say softly.

He doesn’t move, so I get louder. “Bradan, Bradan, wake up.”

Still, he doesn’t respond. I look him over, trying to see if his chest is still rising and falling. I reach for his wrist to find a pulse. A shuddering breath leaves my lips as I find a very faint pulse.

“Bray, baby, please wake up,” I sob and plead. “You promised not to leave me. You promised.”

Not willing to give up on him, I looked around wildly, trying to think and remember my training. I’ve been dressing his wound for the last two days. There’s something wrong. It should have healed or been healing by now.

“This is bad, but I’m not giving up,” I mutter to myself.

Getting up onto my knees, I then straddle his waist and rip his shirt open. With the flick of my wrist, I make the bandages vanish. The entrance wound of the shot looks like it’s festering. Reaching out a hand, I call for the gauze on the medical tray to come to me.

I cover the open wound with it. Then I shift to settle on his stomach. Lifting my arms above my head, I join my palms and call on all my might. Once I feel my powers coursing through me, I bring my hands down on his chest with the force of a hammer.

Bradan’s body jerks and his eyes fly open. At this point, I have tears soaking my face. I swipe at them quickly.

“Enough, Bradan. We need help. I’m taking you back to the clubhouse.”

He doesn’t even have the energy to argue with me. His lids begin to close again and the light color that has come to his face fades from his cheeks. I lay my head on his chest and wrap my arms around him.

“I can do this, Bray. I can get us home,” I whisper.

Closing my eyes, I concentrate. I block out everything around me. The noise, the feel of the cool air brushing my skin, the faint beat of Bradan’s heart. Then I tap into my magic once again.

I target our apartment at the clubhouse and then I push off into the ether to teleport home. I land on my back with Bradan’s weight crushing me.

When I open my eyes, his hair is blocking my view. I blow out a breath, hoping to clear my vision. That doesn’t work, so I turn my head the other way.

Aravos comes into view. He’s looking at me cautiously. I note the moment realization hits.

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