Page 109 of Reluctant Rebel

Mikhail looked around, taking stock. The number of beings still fighting was now less than a dozen. “This battle is won, at least,” he muttered.

“But not the war,” Brax added, looking pissed.

Before Mikhail could respond, a sinister hiss echoed throughout the cemetery, followed by, “Ssssstop!”

Mikhail's breath caught in his throat as Z's command invaded his mind. An icy chill ran down his spine, and his muscles seized up instantly as if flash frozen. He tried desperately to move, to take even the tiniest step forward, but his body refused to obey. It was as though invisible chains had wrapped themselves around every inch of him, binding him in place with unbreakable force. Sweat beaded on his forehead and trickled down his temples, but he couldn't lift a hand to wipe it away. The sensation of utter helplessness washed over him in nauseating waves.

Only his eyes retained the ability to move, darting frantically around as panic rose in his chest. To his left, Sabre stood motionless, her hand frozen in the act of reaching for a weapon. Her eyes, wide with shock, stared back at him. Brax had been caught mid-stride, his massive frame tilted at an impossible angle, defying gravity in his suspended state. Mikhail strained to catch a glimpse of Jinx, desperate to see if she was okay. But she was nowhere in his line of sight.

The silence was deafening, broken only by the thundering of what had to be his and Jinx’s hearts beating desperately in unison. Z slithered closer, his forked tongue flicking out and tasting the air. His head was otherwise back to normal, explaining how he’d managed the one-word command. His long,thick body shrank, sprouting arms and legs until all evidence of the basilisk was gone.

Z rubbed the pink, shiny skin on his throat. “Basilisks are amazing healers. Did you know that? They can survive and repair almost anything. And so quickly!”

Mikhail’s mind raged. He strained against the unseen force holding him, but it was as if his very atoms had fused in place.

Z walked closer, stepping around the frozen bodies of friend and foe. He leaned in close to Mikhail’s face, all but snarling, “You tried to kill me! You failed. Do you see now, brother? Do you see how powerful I am?” He turned his head, cupping his ear. “What’s that? I can’t hear you,” Z said with a laugh.

Mikhail wanted to rip his throat out.

Z studied him for a moment before waving his hand. “Oh, why not? Mikhail, you can speak.”

“You sick fuck, I’m going to kill you,” Mikhail spat, his words tumbled out before his brain could play catch up.

Z raised an eyebrow. “And how do you propose to do that? Even if youcouldmove, you still couldn’t harm me. You’ve already failed, Mikhail. Despite your rather impressive new legacy.” He strolled to Brax, both hands clasped behind his back. “Yours is very cool, too, Braxy-boy. If my car ever needs a jumpstart, I know just who to ask for help. Now, say thank you. Go ahead, Brax.”

“Thank … you.” Brax sounded like he was chewing glass.

Z laughed at his brother’s obvious discomfort. “Good boy,” he praised, patting Brax on the head.

“Stop it, Zagan!” Mikhail screamed. “Leave him alone.”

Zagan looked between Mikhail and Brax. He tapped his chin thoughtfully. “Do you think his armour will still work automatically if he’s frozen?” Z asked Mikhail. “I mean, it didn’t magically pop out when I told him to stop. I’m thinking he’sjust like us for the first time in his life: susceptible to injury, to physical pain … and death.”

Mikhail’s panic reached new heights. The look of fear and despair in Sabre’s eyes almost broke him. “Don’t! Zagan, please!”

Z closed his eyes, inhaling deeply, his body shuddering. “I do love that, the sound of you begging.” His eyes snapped open, blazing with a manic intensity that spoke of unhinged delight. “Do it again.”

“Please, Zagan, I’ll do anything! Just don’t hurt Brax. He’s your brother!” His raw plea only seemed to fuel Zagan’s dark enjoyment.

Z stepped away from Brax, leaning in closer to Mikhail again. “What does being brothers have to do with anything? Blood means nothing other than the power it can give when it spills. Father was my blood, yet he scorned my ambitions. He said my hunger for power would be my downfall. But look at me …” He spread his arms wide. “It’s notmydownfall. It was his. And now it will be yours.”

“Za—” Mikhail began.

“Quiet. No more speaking for you.” Z looked over Mikhail’s shoulder. “Jinx … oh, Jinx! Come here, my dear,” he purred, his voice dripping with false sweetness.

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Though every fibre of her being screamed in protest, Jinx found herself stepping forward. Her gaze locked on Mikhail's anguished face as she approached Z, her mind screaming a thousand apologies she couldn't yet voice.

“Kiss me,” he ordered, his tone dripping with malice.

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she pressed her lips to Z's cruel smirk, her heart shattering when she heard Mikhail's pained gasp. She pulled away, her lips burning with the betrayal.

“Mm-mm-mmm, delicious.” Z smacked his lips together. “I’m not surprised you’re so good at that. You’re used to taking orders in the bedroom, aren’t you?”

His words slashed at her like a whip, dredging up memories she had fought so hard to bury with the help of Mikhail’s new love. But instead of allowing the images to break her, she used them to fuel her rage at the man in front of her. She wasn’t worried about herself. She was not so easily shattered now. But she hated that his words would have surely hurt her mate.

“Why don’t you go ahead and turn around.”

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