Page 45 of The Phoenix Inheritance

His blue eyes, now dark as a restless ocean, meet mine. “I knew the rumors were false. As soon as I heard they held you captive, I found a way to sneak into the dungeons. But out there…” Horror still animates that vivid look of his. “All hell broke loose, Dane.”

I drop my gaze to the floor as I ready myself for the most difficult part. “I guess I should go before they find me.”

I hear a sharp intake of breath as Warwick somehow gathers the full meaning of my words.

“You’re not just talking about leaving until this whole mess calms down. I can hear it in your voice.”

I was able to confront him on a battlefield, yet at this crucial moment I can’t even look Warwick in the eye. “You’re right. That woman I’ve been seeing all this time… It’s Isobel. She’s human. Forget the fact that taking her as my wife is illegal. I can’t be with her in this country without fearing some beast will track her down out of pure spite.”

“That woman on the fields this morning?” He rasps in a rough tone that has nothing to do with its usual playfulness. I nod briskly. “She’s not your mate. Or else I wouldn’t even have been able to lay a claw on her.”

I summon my last shreds of grit and lift my gaze. “I know. But I love her. I want to live with her.”

Warwick studies me in stunned silence for a few moments, as vicious cries and deafening blasts roar beyond the dungeons.

“That’s just about the most foolish plan I’ve ever heard of.”

My hopes plummet as I’d secretly wished my brother would accept my decision, even if it’s utter madness even to my own ears.

“Sign me in on it.”

I stare at him in confusion as he fiddles with the lock. “Huh?”

The door swings open and he wraps his arms around me – not an easy feat, given that I’m quite wider than him.

“I don’t care if you had a whole honeymoon planned just for the two of you. I’m third wheeling along.”

My jaw drops. “Warwick. Father is gone, I’m fleeing the country and Uncle Thorsten is dead. You can become King.”

“And you’re all I have,” my older brother points out huskily, as if it’s reason enough to step down the throne.

My heart breaks, because for a while Warwick was all I had as well. Until Isobel came along, tearing me apart between the two most important people in my life.

But maybe I don’t have to choose. All thanks to this recklessly loyal brother of mine.

“The whole of Sowilo already adores you,” I counter weakly. “It wouldn’t be hard for you to take the crown.”

“But I don’t adore Sowilo,” Warwick mutters as he breaks apart, nailing me to the spot with a solemn gaze. “Not anymore. I hate the side of me that was unleashed this morning in the arena.. I practically ripped out one man’s eye, and then I nearly killed the woman you love.” His lids drop and he shakes his head, turmoil written all over his usually jovial features. “All along, the crowd was cheering me on. I don’t want to go down that path.”

Admiration rushes through me for this man who could readjust his beliefs in one day, while I needed weeks and one headstrong human to set me on track. I nod gruffly, feeling like I’ve finally won hours after my victory at the tournament.

“Let’s go and set Isobel free then,” I mutter as I slip through the gaping door.

My brother’s footsteps never follow too far behind.

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