Page 70 of Ruin

“Ember!” Connor’s bellow faded as a hot vortex of air swallowed me.

I closed my eyes and smiled.

Now.

And I let my phoenix fly.

Chapter 23

Connor

Pain toreat my soul as my mate was dragged from this world into the depths of Hell.

“Ember!”

A clawed hand thrust into my back. I barely felt the pain, the agony of losing my soulmate was far worse. I twisted and grabbed the Were’s arm, yanking his claws from my flesh. Before I could kill the evil fucker, a wolf snarled and landed on his back ripping his neck out.

Shannon snarled at me before she changed back, standing naked as the day she was born in front of me.

Stone made quick work of the remaining Were and changed too. “What the Motherfucking Hell happened?” he snapped. “Why did Ember lock Kawan and the others out? I had to unbind the doors with magic to get in here.”

“She wanted to stop the others from getting hurt. I should have known she’d never let them, or me, near Berith! Dammit, Ember!” I bellowed. I didn’t need my mate to keep me safe, I was the godsdamned King of Shifters, a beast born in the fires of Hell, and I would not leave her there…

I looked between Stone and Shannon. “Where are the others?”

“I sent them to help Owen. The warden isn’t planning on letting any of us out of here. He had an army of Weres and demons waiting deeper in the forest. They attacked while we were down here. Owen was nearly overrun.” He ran a big hand through his mussed silver hair, his eyes glowing. “We were played, Connor. He knew we’d come…”

“Yeah? Well, get back up there and help our pack. They need you more than I do.” I pulled on my inner beast, feeding from his fury. I grew even taller, even more monstrous. I stomped over to the fire, peering into the flames before throwing my head back. I released a howl that echoed down through the rift into Hell itself. An answering roar echoed back at me.

That’s right, you fucker. I’m coming for my girl…

“Hey! Where are you going?”

I looked back at Stone’s grim face. My voice was nothing but a low growl, my words distorted by my long jaw and teeth. “I’m going to get my mate. Leave. Now. Or you’ll die, because when I’ve destroyed Berith, I’m going to destroy this place.”

Stone nodded once and looked down at Shannon. “Shift. Now.”

For once Shannon didn’t argue. She shifted and bounded from the room with Stone close behind her. There was a stuttering sound. Slowly, I twisted back to the fireplace and for the first time ever I saw the flames die. I huffed out a breath, peering into the dark abyss beyond. I ducked my head and shoulders and stepped over the grate. I had no idea what the flames going out meant, but it didn’t matter, all that mattered was finding Ember. Berith would never get her soul, she was mine!

“Mine!”I roared down into the rift.

One step in and I saw the flicker of flames in the distant darkness. Before I could process what the light was, it was almost on me. A rush of hot stinking air hit me, making me stagger backwards.

Run!

Ember’s voice was in my head. I didn’t question it. I turned and ran. I leapt over the couch and sprinted for the door, skidding out into the hallway. The explosion of heat and flames knocked me off my feet. Bricks and rubble fell, pinning me to the floor as the breath was crushed from my lungs. My ears rang, but there was one thing for sure, Ember needed me. I shoved the heavy debris from my back and pushed to my feet. The corridor was alight with the most stunning flames I’d ever seen, and right in its centre, as if she was protecting me, was Ember. A deep and ominous rumble came from inside the warden’s room.

Shit…

“Ember! Let’s go…”

She looked back over her shoulder at me, and shook her head. “No, not this time. You have to go. The pack needs you. They are losing. Please, go and save our friends, our brothers.” She smiled sadly. “This is my time to fight for you. Please…go…” Her pleading hurt my chest, but I shook my head.

“Connor! Leave! Now!” It was pretty much the order I’d given Stone and Shannon, which by the growl I heard behind me, knew they hadn’t followed either. I looked at my brother, who shifted.

“She’s right, brother, we need to leave. I can feel him coming…and with the army already up there on the surface, we are going to lose if you get yourself killed now.”

Stone was right, something was coming. “Oh shit, Ember destroyed the rift, but Berith has followed her back...”

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