Page 80 of Reluctant Rebel

Brax slashed an angry hand through the air, cutting Jinx off. “It’s none of your friends from the slums. A family of fox shifters. Three whole generations. Wiped out in one fell swoop.”

Mikhail’s stomach felt like lead, guilt making his legs wobbly. Jinx was the only reason he was still standing. No wonder Brax was fired up. Still, he’d better dial it back, or he’d be getting a fist to the face. “How many?”

“Sixteen. Five of them were kids,” Brax stated evenly.

Mikhail closed his eyes, the weight of the numbers crushing him. Sixteen lives snuffed out because he wasn’t able to catch his baby brother. “I’ll leave immediately and head to the crime scene. Are the Horde investigating?” They acted as the human version of police as well as soldiers.

“They’re on site,” Brax confirmed. “As was I. I waded through the blood while you were getting your dick tickled.”

A growl rumbled in Mikhail’s chest as he stepped forward, staring down Brax. “I know you’ve had a rough day. But that’s the last insult I will let slide. Get out of my sight, Abraxis. Before Itakeyou out.” He’d thought they were back in sync. But clearly, he was mistaken.

Brax stomped forward, going toe to toe with Mikhail. His expression was one of disgust as he spat on the dirt next to Mikhail’s shoe. “I’ll leave. I can’t stand to look at you anyway. But there’s one last thing. You will never injure or kill Zagan. Ever.”

Mikhail shook his head, trying to relieve the sudden pressure in his head. It felt as though he was wearing a heavy hat. He also swore he could hear a slight buzzing in his ears. “What are you talking about?”

Brax grinned cockily, leaning in close enough that his breath bathed Mikhail’s face. “You heard me. You will never, so long as you live, be able to hurt, maim, or kill Zagan.”

The pressure intensified just as he heard Jinx shout, “That’s not Brax!”

Mikhail acted immediately, swinging his arm up to deliver a violent blow. Only his arm wouldn’t move. No matter how hard he tried, his arm wouldn’t hit Zagan. It felt locked in cement. “What have you done?”

Zagan laughed. The sound was cruel and nasty coming from Brax’s lips. “I’ve simply given you an order you cannot refuse. Forever. Sorry, brother, but my life is no longer in your hands. Nor Brax’s, for that matter,” he added with a smirk. “You commanded him not to just a few minutes ago. Poor Braxy-boy was very confused about why his doting big brother no longer trusted him to lead the Demon Horde or catch a killer.”

“You fucked with his mind?!” Mikhail shouted, reaching into his pocket for a weapon. But the moment he thought about using it on Zagan, his hand dropped it.

“I sure did. And I loved every second of it. You can’t touch me,” Zagan crowed.

“Maybehecan’t. ButIcan,” Jinx snarled, grabbing Mikhail’s discarded blade and lunging at Zagan.

Zagan dodged and clucked his tongue. “Now, now. Don’t start this again. It didn’t end well for you last time.”

“Like hell, it didn’t. I beat you. I escaped,” Jinx replied, keeping her eyes trained on Zagan.

Fear for Jinx’s life overrode his own, and he jumped in front of her. He may not be able to harm Zagan physically, but all his other faculties appeared to be working just fine. “Jinx, stay back.”

“So noble,” Zagan mocked.

Before Mikhail could respond, Sabre was striding across the garden towards them. She was smiling until she took one look at Zagan disguised as Brax. Her expression shifted into assassin-mode, and she whipped a pistol out, barely aiming before firing.

Zagan yelled, falling to a knee and cursing up a storm. He opened his mouth, but it was too late; Sabre was upon him. She kicked him directly in the bullet wound on his lower leg. Zagan howled, falling back onto his arse.

“You dare use Brax’s face?” Sabre snarled, lifting Zagan by the front of his shirt. She pounded her fist into his nose. Blood sprayed everywhere. “You fuck!”

Zagan’s arm shot out, hitting Sabre in the solar plexus. She grunted but didn’t release her hold. Mikhail figured nothing short of cutting her arm off would get her to let go. But just then, Zagan opened his mouth and said, “Release me.”

Sabre’s hand opened, dropping Zagan. She jolted as if trying to move forward but couldn’t. “Oh, I’m going to give you so much pain when I catch you,” she vowed.

“No,” Zagan shouted as he hopped backwards. His form started to shift, causing his last words to be distorted. “You won’t.”

The three of them watched as Z shifted into an eagle before flying away. Mikhail could hardly fathom what had just happened. “He really can control minds.” Even the thought of hurting Zagan felt foreign and unfathomable to him now.

Sabre opened and closed her hand, studying it intently. “Yeah. He can.” She scrutinised Mikhail next, followed by Jinx. “Are you both okay?”

Mikhail wrapped an arm around Jinx, relieved she was unharmed. “We’re fine. Not hurt. But Zagan has just thrown a big spanner in the works.”

“He sure has,” Jinx concurred, gripping Mikhail’s waist.

Sabre’s eyes narrowed on them, shock taking over her features. “What is this? Are you two hugging?”

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