Unleashed: The Cursed Trilogy, Book Two by Betty Legend (little bear else holmelund minarik .TXT) 📗

“What’s in it for me?”

“Help him, and I won’t pummel you with hellfire. How’s that?”

Phoenix moves with unnatural speed, crosses the floor, and slams me into the railing behind me. Fisting my hair, he bares his fangs at my neck. The railing creaks, and my heartbeat freezes.

“Don’t let the power of your magic give you false confidence.”

Magic coils in my palms, and I throw him back, the turquoise glow keeping him in place.

“I don’t like you, and you clearly don’t like me, but Emeric needs your help. If you have an ounce of feeling in you or care about breaking the curse, help me, please.” I lower my arms, releasing the magic, and Phoenix’s fangs disappear.

“Fine, but you’ll owe me, witch.”

“The hell I will. You owe me, remember?” I point to my neck, where the marks of his fangs remain.

He licks his lips. “You did taste luscious, darling.” Red flashes in his eyes. “Promise me another taste, and I’ll help him.”

“Fine.” My body cringes at the thought. “Let’s go.”

Phoenix joins my side as I create another portal, and the two of us walk through it into Emeric’s bedroom. Shock fills the faces of Cyrus and Griffin. Killian has his arms crossed, a watchful eye on every movement Phoenix makes.

Phoenix takes one look at Emeric and grimaces.

“You want me to remove the demon venom? That’s going to cost you much more, witch.”

“What do you mean, cost her?” Killian growls.

“Shut it, wolf, that’s between Selene and me.”

“I don’t care. Do it.”

Specks of red flash in Phoenix’s eyes as he smirks in triumph.

“When I’m finished, you’ll do as I say?”

“Selene,” Griffin warns.

“Yes. Now stop wasting time.”

“You heard her, gentlemen. When I’m finished, she goes with me, no arguments, and none of you can follow.”

“Not a chance,” Killian comes off the wall, and Phoenix throws his hands in the air.

“Then I’m wasting my time here.”

“Stop! I’ve had enough. Phoenix, help him now! I’ll go with you after.”

“All right, darling.” Phoenix’s cruel smile curves his lips. “A service for a service.” He sits next to Emeric with his fangs bared, leans down, and pierces Emeric’s neck. A purplish-red glow swirls around Phoenix as he drinks from him. Anticipation bundles in my stomach as I wait. Killian comes to me, putting a comforting arm around me as we watch Phoenix drain blood from Emeric. Moments later, he pulls back and licks his lips clean. The dark color in Emeric’s veins is no longer there. It worked.

“What a disgusting taste,” Phoenix complains, his lip curled.

“Thank you.” I breathe in relief.

Phoenix stands from the bed, passes a glance over the others, then focuses on me.

“A deal is a deal. It’s time to go.”

“Now?”

“Yes, now.”

“I want to be here when Emeric wakes up.”

“He’s not going to wake until tomorrow. He’s lost a lot of blood.”

Running a hand through my hair, I sigh. “Fine,” I force the word through clenched teeth. Looking at the other guys, I frown. “I’m sorry. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“She’s not leaving.” Griffin raises his hands, magic filling them. “You can’t be trusted alone with her. We know what happened last time you were.”

Phoenix clicks his tongue. “You think Selene can’t handle herself?”

“She shouldn’t have to.” Cyrus steps forward, creating a portal behind me and Phoenix. “It’s time for you to go… without her.”

Phoenix glances behind me, and I see the thought a second before he does it. His body slams to mine, and just as Killian’s arm reaches for us, we crash through the portal. My back and ass hit a hard floor as the weight of Phoenix’s body crushes my chest.

“Get off me.”

Phoenix stands and extends a hand for me to take. I do and look around the space. It’s a dark studio apartment without a single window.

“This is where I sleep, not upstairs.”

“We’re under your house?”

“Yes, and Cyrus won’t be able to portal here. I had it shielded from magic, and he doesn’t know it exists. You can only portal to places you’ve seen. I assume you know that.”

“I do. How did you have it shielded from magic?”

“You’re not the only witch who exists, but you are the only witch who can wield the magic of all five elements.”

“That means I can’t portal out.”

“Correct. Only I know the code to get out, and I’m not letting you out until we’ve satisfied our deal.” Phoenix walks away from me toward a bathroom.

I follow, anger filling me.

“So, you’re keeping me as a hostage so you can feed on me? What happens when you can’t control yourself and kill me?”

Stopping at the bathroom door, he leans against the threshold.

“I won’t kill you. I know what to expect, and I’m not severely wounded like I was.”

“What you’re doing is reckless and dangerous. If you do lose control, you don’t just kill me, you kill every supernatural.”

“I know what I’m doing.” With a click of his tongue, he rolls his eyes. “Now, take a shower. I want the wolf’s scent off you.” Pushing off the wall, he stomps away.

Stubborn asshole.

Killian

“Where did he take her?” Rage boiling over, my fangs pinch my bottom lip.

“I don’t know.” Cyrus paces across the floor, his glasses hanging in his hand as he pinches the bridge of his nose. “I already checked his house and the few places I know he visits.”

“He has her somewhere,” I growl.

“Stop your bickering.” Emeric grimaces as he moves, his eyes blinking open.

“How are you awake?” Griffin glances from him to me, his lids dropping knowingly.

“Apparently, Selene already bonded with Killian.” He swings his legs off the bed and glares at me. “That was fast.”

“I’m a wolf shifter. We skip courting and get right to the fucking.”

“Well, I owe your overzealous dick a thank you.” Emeric presses a hand to his wound, his mouth contorting. “Your regeneration magic helped me. Selene was releasing her magic into me. She felt distant but there.”

“Glad I could help. Selene was broken up about your injury. She’ll be relieved, except we can’t find her. Phoenix took