Rise of the Phoenix (Return To Avalore #2) (9 page)

When he faced her again, the firm set of his jaw and determined look in his eyes gave her courage. He, of all people, understood duty and loyalty. Surely, he wouldn’t begrudge her those very traits. “When I left Avalore, I had nothing. I know you don’t trust the Erritrols, and I didn’t either at first, but they took me in and kept me safe when I had no one else.”

“You could have had me,” he replied through clenched teeth.

“How was I to know? You said you didn’t want to be joined. What was I supposed to do? Force you into being with someone you didn’t want? Make you stay in Avalore and be miserable, while others searched for Rhiannon?” She rubbed her hands up and down her arms again. “I should have listened to the Elders and waited until the queen had returned to ask for my mate, but I was desperate.” She regretted the words the moment they left her lips. Why in Goddess’s name did she tell him that? He didn’t need to know how low she had gotten and how close she’d come to succumbing to the darkness.

“I shouldn’t have said the things I did. If I could take them back, I would. It wasn’t you that I didn’t want. How could it be? I didn’t know you.” Shaking his head again, he sighed. “We can’t change the past. Come, we can talk while I heal my leg.” He hobbled over to the bedroll, sat with his injured leg stretched out before him, waiting for her to join him.

“I’d rather stand, if you don’t mind.” The nervous energy building inside her needed release. She would never be able to sit still, especially not with him so close.

“Suit yourself.”

Already, deep purple energy surrounded his hands. He made it look so effortless. Maybe she really should have paid more attention during healing lessons.

“You were telling me about the Erritrols…”

Did he even realize his entire body tensed every time he spoke of them? “The day I left Avalore, I didn’t know what I was doing or where I was going. I thought I’d be gone from this world before nightfall.” His gaze shot to her, but he didn’t interrupt. “Somehow, Goddess only knows how, I held on.” She didn’t want him knowing her moment of weakness, but he had to know the truth. “I’d travelled far and hadn’t paid attention to where I was going.”

She hung her head, heat creeping up her cheeks. “That’s a lie. I knew the moment I crossed the dark border. I just didn’t care anymore.”

She waited, expecting chastisement, but when Evan remained silent, she continued. “When I woke in the Dark Lands, I was afraid, so I hid. I was going to go back to Avalore, but then I heard a flock of Grondas devouring their prey, and I couldn’t make myself leave the cave I had slept in. Days later, Argram found me.”

“Argram. That’s the one you rescued along with me?” He didn’t stop his energy infusion, or even look in her direction, but his shoulders stiffened, and if she wasn’t mistaken, he was holding his breath while awaiting her response.

“Yes. We thought he had died during the battle. We didn’t expect to find him there with you. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw him hanging there.”

Evan’s gaze met hers for a second before dropping back to his leg. “Okay, go on.”

“They took me in and fed me. They kept me safe. You don’t trust them, and I can’t blame you after all that’s happened, but I do.” She paced away from him, then turned and came closer again. “There’s so much more to the Erritrols than you can imagine. We know so little about them, yet we condemn them.” Raising her hand, she stopped his protest before he could utter it.

“I can’t deny the evil plaguing their species, or that the acts committed against our people were not brutal and merciless, but not all Erritrols are evil. The new order is looking for change.” Taking a deep breath, she plowed forward, wringing her hands before her. “They need to break a curse.”

Evan raised his eyebrows, but didn’t speak. It sounded crazy, but she had seen the difference her presence had on the beasts. Her pack was changing, and breaking whatever dark enchantment hung over their species would take them the rest of the way.

“They need
me
to break the curse.” Holding her breath, she waited for his reaction.

“Is that right?”

It had taken her a long time to get her mind past her preconceived notions. She couldn’t expect Evan to fall in line just because she had. “I don’t expect you to believe me, but hear me out before you make up your mind.”

“Fine. Tell me why you, or any other Avalorian, should give a damn about those animals.” A muscle ticked in his jaw.

“They’re not animals, at least, no more than you and I.” She wouldn’t stand for him disrespecting her pack without knowing their characters.

Evan looked as though he wanted to say something more, then he sighed and flexed his leg a few times, testing the healing he had done. “I’m listening.”

“Okay, well, it’ll sound implausible, but I’ve seen the changes my presence brings to some of my packmates.” There was no turning back, she had to tell him what she knew and let him make his own decisions. “A couple of centuries ago, the Goddess Masita was angered and cast a curse upon the Erritrols. Back then, the beasts were much like you and I. They did not have fur, nor did they look the way we know them. I’m not sure what they did to anger her, but she sentenced the entire species to this existence until someone came along to break it.”

“And
you’re
this someone?”

She ground her teeth. “Yes, I’m that someone. The only way for them to be able to shift to their natural forms is to break the curse. For years, they’ve not been able to process or feel anything but anger and hatred in their current forms. It’s no kind of existence for anyone.”

“And, so you decided to not only trust them, but live with them? How does this make sense?” Evan stood, bouncing on the balls of his feet a few times.

“Let me finish. Things started to change when I came along. At least it did for my pack. The females changed first. They feel joy now, and love, but the males were a lot slower in changing. The dark curse is stronger in them somehow—more tenacious.” When he remained silent, she pressed on. “Argram’s emotions have been restored for the most part, and a couple of the others now have small glimpses of joy. Like when a cub is born, they feel it, but the joy is short lived. None have shifted to their humanoid forms yet, but we’re hopeful.”

“Okay, let’s just say for an instant that this is correct, not that I think it is, but let’s pretend for a moment. How are you purported to be able to break this curse?”

His blasé tone grated, making her want to roar.
Patience, Brie. He doesn’t have all the facts.

“I don’t know yet. They tell me that the curse is complete, but it makes no sense. I have memorized and analyzed the verse, but something is missing. I need to find the original scroll.” She bit her bottom lip between her teeth. “I… I need the scymin.”

“You need the scymin?” He tried to breathe through the fury, clenching and unclenching his fists at his sides. Brienne was a traitor. She wanted to leave the scymin in the hands of the beasts who murdered his mother and so many others without mercy. Now that Rhiannon was back and their people were starting to rebuild their lives, she wanted the monsters to have the very thing needed to kill them all.

He didn’t need to see the small licks of flame flashing up and down his arms. Her gaze darted to them before widening, her mouth gaping open at the sight. He vied for control.

She swallowed again, stepping back from him. “Yes, I need to locate the scroll to figure out the curse.”

“Like hell you do.” He stalked her across the cave, reminding her of a predator. “The creatures you’re trying to save used the scymin to murder my mother, and you think I would allow you to find it only to hand it over to them again?”

Her eyes rounded and she gasped. “I don’t intend to hand it over, only to use it to find the scroll. I wouldn’t put our people or our queen at risk.” Her chin lifted a fraction, and her bottom lip trembled. She lowered her gaze, but not before he saw the anguish in her eyes.

He stopped only inches in front of her. Her heat-reflected image shivered before him. Gritting his teeth and digging deep, he threw his iron will at the phoenix, demanding its submission. Now was not the time to lose control.

Was it possible she was telling the truth, or was she that great of a deceiver? He needed to find out. Her sweet scent curled around him, making him almost dizzy with want. If she was a traitor, it would kill him, but he would protect his family and their people by whatever means necessary. But if she wasn’t, she had better be ready for him. He would be damned if he’d let her go this time. She was his whether she liked it or not.

Evan groaned, and Brienne had to keep from screaming. What did he want from her? She had told him the truth, yet he wanted more. Did he think asking her the same questions, even rephrased, would change the answers? After an hour of pacing, she had given up and sat next to him on the cold, hard stone. Her butt had long since gone numb, and she would have a hard time standing, but there was no way she would ask him for help.

“Tell me again. Why are you the one who needs to help them?” Evan, who had taken up where she had left off, paced toward her again; his icy stare more uncomfortable than the cold rock beneath her.

“I. Don’t. Know. I just know that the changes happening within the pack since I’ve joined them are real, and they’re good.” She stretched her legs in front of her, careful not to put them in his path.

“And this is without breaking the curse. So why do you need the scroll if things are happening without it? Have you thought that perhaps those animals are manipulating you? That they don’t really need you at all?”

Closing her eyes, she counted slowly. Surely, no one would blame her should she
accidentally
maim the man… just a small injury, nothing permanent. When she opened her eyes again, he stood there waiting, expecting an answer.

“Does it matter what I say? Will you believe any of it?” Bracing herself, she stood, ignoring the pins and needles rushing to her feet and toes. “You’re determined to hate them one way or the other.” She wasn’t going to let him bully her. He was her mate, and mates were equals, not one superior to the other, and it was high time he remembered that.

“Of course it matters. Why else would I be asking?” His strong, muscular arms flexed as he folded them, covering up the hard expanse of his chest.

She stepped closer, unafraid. Mates never willingly hurt one another. Any physical harm she might have contemplated was pure fantasy in the aftermath of his annoying behavior. “I’ve answered your questions, yet you keep asking the same ones.” Her exasperation shone through in her words.

Something akin to a growl rumbled through him, sending a warm rush flowing through her that spread like wildfire. The display of masculinity and power stroked a visceral chord and fuelled her dragon.
She
liked his virile, dominant nature, while Brienne wanted to stuff it down his throat.

“I keep asking, little spitfire, because I’m trying damned hard to figure this out before I do what my instincts are pushing me to do.” He looked at her through lowered lashes as he stepped up to her, his arms dropping to his sides, allowing him to get so close her breasts brushed against his chest.

His energy, deep, vibrant hues of blue and burgundy, slid around her, caressing her, tempting her to tilt her head and take what she wanted. His hot gaze held her captive. “What are your
instincts
pushing you toward, Evan?” Heat sparked between them. Until their respective beasts were sated, they would both be fighting the same primitive urges.

Her nipples pebbled against the soft fabric of her shirt as they rubbed up against his hard chest with every breath. She should not tempt fate. If she knew what was good for her, she’d turn away before she wound up doing something she’d regret, like falling for the other half of her soul—him. The self-preservationist in her screamed to pull back, but the other, the larger part yearned for a small taste of what she had left behind, what should have been hers. Instead of retreating, she found herself pressing closer. Her gaze locked with his, daring him to take what he wanted, begging him to do it.

His breath fanned against her lips. “Don’t make promises you don’t intend to keep, Brienne.”

“I always keep my promises.” Wetting her lips, she held her breath.

Heat flared in his eyes, then before she could take another breath, his mouth descended upon hers in a wild and frenzied kiss, making her moan soft and low. His hands were everywhere at once, pressing her into the hard length of his body, molding her to him. He stroked callused fingers down then up again to inch the long shirt higher, exposing her backside to his exploration. The warm caress of his fingertips against her heated skin had her eyes fluttering shut and another moan slipping past her lips.

Tomorrow would be soon enough for doubts and duty, but right now all she wanted was him. Blood rushed through her veins, blazing a trail to the sensitive flesh throbbing between her legs. She didn’t know at which point her hands had come up, but they were stroking the wide expanse of his chest, pausing to brush her fingertips over his hard nipples.

When he tried to pull his mouth from hers, she brought her arms up around his neck to keep him in place. “
Please, don’t stop. Not now.”
She didn’t want to beg, but if he stopped now, she feared she just might.