Page 29 of Ruin

“Fuck me, I’ve not had to deal with Prime like that in a long time. You okay, Ember?” Owen ran his hand through his hair and got to his feet. “That bastard’s still as powerful as ever. I’d kinda hoped you’d be able to control him, like your other wolf, but I guess he’s not letting you have control? At least not of him?”

I swallowed and resisted the urge to cover my breasts and lady bits. “He’s not pushed before, not until we came back here. He never forced a shift on me in Faerie.”

“Yeah? Well, it would have been areallygood idea to tell us he can do that.” Stone snarled as he stood and began to pace. He looked pale and a little shaky despite the irritation in his tone.

Prime pricked his ears up and inhaled. I tensed. The last thing I needed right now was him wanting to discipline one of his brothers for his bad attitude. But he sent me a ripple of reassurance. He sensed his brother’s shock and respect and that was what he’d wanted—for them to realise he was still there, and still as powerful, and to not challenge me—and by default- him.

“Stone, if you don’t want him to come tearing out of my body to rip you a new one, then I suggest you shut up, and listen to what I have to say.”

“There she is.” Drake leaned back in his chair, crossed his arms over his chest and smiled, his vivid green eyes sparkling. He winked, and I couldn’t help but smile at him, relieved he was there, and in my corner.

Stone turned and glared at me before scowling at Drake.

“Hey, scowling isn't a good idea, either,” Alex pointed out unhelpfully.

“Nope, he’s right, it isn’t. Play nice.” Drake smirked at Stone who gave him an even darker scowl, a snarl curling his lip.

“Stone, it’s okay. I have him back under control for now. But if he wants out, no matter how hard I try, I can’t keep him contained. He just wanted you to know he’s here and he’s as strong as ever.”

“So are you our Prime now?” asked Myles, his beautiful face marred by deep lines across his forehead. “How is that even possible?”

My stomach clenched. Everytime I looked at him I was reminded that I had killed his mate; had just driven my fist into Reed’s chest and ripped his life away.

I thanked Owen as he pulled off his t-shirt and handed it to me. I slipped my arms through the sleeves and let the cotton fall to my mid thighs, covering my nakedness.

Prime relaxed further, so I took a deep breath and steadied my nerves. It had been easier to contain him in Faerie because he hadn’t wanted out; other than on the turn of the two Faerie moons when the pull to run and hunt had been too much for him to ignore. Here and now, he had his own agenda, one which I couldn’t control unless he let me.

“No, Myles, I’m not your Prime. Like I said before, I’ve been carrying him since the prison breakout, and it’s possible because I am not just a shifter, I am a phoenix. My body can hold more than one spirit because of her.”

“A phoenix? But they’re just legends and fables…”

I snapped my attention towards Kawan. “What? Like humans always believed werewolves and vampires were? Yeah, that turned out well for them, especially when supernaturals were revealed and they began breaking human laws. That’s why we have the SBI...or had you forgotten?” I called upon Fire and ignited the air over my palm. “Why do you think I can turn into a living torch and not turn to ash?”

“Hot dayum, sugar, I knew you were special; all that gorgeous red hair and green eyes.” Drake grinned.

I shook my head and rolled my eyes at him. He just winked. I pulled Fire back inside and walked over to Owen, looking up into his handsome face. “We need to keep this just between us, or at least our pack, Lionel and Shannon included.”

“Why?” Owen’s stare was intent.

Prime grumbled.

Owen’s eyes moved to my clenched jaw, and he cracked his neck, reluctantly looking up at the ceiling. It was a wise move.

I dragged my bottom lip between my teeth, biting on it, trying to hide the pain that lanced my heart at admitting out loud that Connor had never really returned to me. “I don’t…” My voice was thick, my throat tight. I swallowed hard and tried again. “Connor isn’t...Connor. That thing out there is not my mate. It’s why I can’t feel our connection, and why Prime has made no move to try and get back to him…” I hesitated and took some big gulping breaths. There I’d said it. My worst fears were out in the open.

Owen’s big shoulders rose and fell, his jaw tightening. He rubbed his face with his hands. “I know. I sensed it, too.” His eyes met mine. “I’m so sorry, Ember. I can’t imagine how hard this is for you. I honestly thought he was dead. I had no idea he was still in the prison all this time, or I would have smashed that place to the ground to get him out.”

“I know you would.” I placed my hand on his arm, trying to reassure him that I held no one to blame but myself. If I hadn’t waited so long to get back, we might have stood a chance of saving him. Now it was probably too late. The floor creaked under my feet as I walked towards the table at the centre of the room. I couldn’t stand still any longer, my body was coiled tighter than any spring.

“So does being a phoenix help you be a vessel for more than one supernatural spirit?” Myles asked curiously, perching on the edge of the table.

Blueprints of the prison adorned the center of it.

“It must. Fire, my phoenix, gifts me immortality, but if someone takes my life, she demands their soul in payment. So, if it was a human they would die. If a shifter kills me, she takes their spirit animal in payment.” My legs were wobbling so I sat on the edge of a chair and pulled the tee down to ensure my lady bits were covered.

Drake smirked at me, his gaze lingering on my legs. Gods, he was such a flirt, but then again he was a wolf, and a very hot alpha. “Damn, Ember, that’s some power to hold in that small, and perfectly formed body.” He grinned and waggled his brows.

I rolled my eyes at him, but was thankful for his lightheartedness and harmless flirting. It lessened the weight of the situation just a little. “I think having two spirit animals, one of which is immortal, is the only reason I can hold Prime at all without him ripping me apart. How Connor contained and controlled him, I’ll never know.”

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