Page 24 of A Phoenix Reborn at Christmas
Lord Everflame dropped his gaze. “No.” He let out a shuddering breath. “No. I can’t.”
Leo hesitated. “Fine. Well, then you can stay with us. And I should be able to find you some clothes too.” Leo could put the phoenix in his room. He could share with Jasper for one night. They could work out what to do tomorrow.
Hopefully it would all seem less overwhelming when he’d had a decent night’s sleep. “This way.” Leo started home. He couldn’t wait to be in his bed. He didn’t need any more chaotic nonsense with phoenixes who couldn’t remember where they lived.
Lord Everflame walked beside him, hand still gripping Leo’s wrist. Leo stared at the phoenix, perplexed why he hadn’t let go of Leo. Was he really so nervous? Perhaps phoenixes felt unbalanced after rebirth.
I’m too bloody tired for this shit.
The raven hopped along beside them, clicking. At least she seemed happy.
“I should tell you, though, our apartment isn’t fit for a lord. No doubt it will be far below your standards.” And if His Lordship dared to complain about Leo’s home when Leo had taken him in out of the goodness of his heart, Leo would have some choice words for him. Some choice, sweary words.
“Am I… Am I a lord?”
Leo stumbled and stopped. “What? Of course you’re a bloody lord! That’s what you told me! You called yourself Lord Percival Everflame!”
Lord Everflame shrank back. “I’m sorry… I… Okay.” He paused. “I’m Lord Percival Everflame.” He said his name slowly, sounding out the syllables…as if they were all completely new to him. As if he’d never heard his own name before.
Bloody broomsticks!Leo gentled his tone. “Do you not know who you are?”
“I don’t remember.” Lord Everflame’s gaze flicked from side to side. “I don’t remember anything.”
Cold washed over Leo’s body. “You don’t remember anything? Anything at all?”
Lord Everflame shook his head, gaze on his hand that still gripped Leo’s wrist.
“You don’t remember who you are? What about family or friends?” If Leo could find out who they were, that would be something.
Lord Everflame stared blankly at him. Once again, he shook his head.
“Nothing?”Cauldrons and clusterfucks!Leo let out a slow breath. The phoenix had forgotten everything.
This was bad. Really fucking bad.
Or was this normal? Did phoenixes forget everything when they were reborn? But surely there must be a system so they didn’t end up naked, defenceless, and with no idea where they’d come from or where to go. Like what was happening to Lord Everflame right now!
Anyone could attack or take advantage of the phoenix in this situation.
Leo held in a groan.Fuck!He rubbed at his eyes. “Look. It’s late. We’ll just go home. We can deal with everything else tomorrow. Okay?”
“Okay,” the phoenix said, but Leo could hear the tremor in his voice.
Leo lifted his free hand and placed it on Lord Everflame’s shoulder. “It will be all right. I’ll take care of you. I promise.” Leo couldn’t quite believe he was promising to take care of the phoenix he disliked, but here they were.
And for the first time, Lord Everflame smiled.
Leo’s breath caught. For a second, he remembered his first impression when Lord Everflame had walked into the bakery. He’d been the most gorgeous man Leo had ever seen. Then Lord Everflame had opened his mouth and revealed what a colossal arsehole he was.
But for the moment, anyway, Lord Everflame wasn’t behaving like a prick. Actually, could Leo drop the whole lordtitle, since the phoenix couldn’t remember who he was? “Mind if I just call you Percival?”
“Percival? Yes. That would be fine,” Percival answered. “Whatever you want.”
That was surprisingly amenable and definitely out of character for the phoenix.
The raven crowed. Then hopped onwards.
“You’re right,” Leo said. “We should get home. It’s late. We all need to sleep.”
