Chapter 9 Nine

"The vampire curse," I read aloud. "Originated three hundred years ago when the vampire queen tried to steal Phoenix power through a blood ritual. The ritual backfired, creating a wasting sickness that kills vampires slowly, painfully. Only Phoenix blood can cure it temporarily, but the cure requires regular doses. The vampires have been hunting Phoenixes to extinction, trying to find a permanent solution."

"And breeding them," Avalon said grimly, reading over my shoulder. "Creating a captive population."

"That's why they need me," I said, nausea rising. "Not just for my blood, but to create more Phoenixes they can harvest."

"Over my dead body," Zane growled.

I kept reading, flipping through pages of formulas and diagrams. Then I stopped, my blood running cold.

"What?" Avalon asked. "What is it?"

"The cure," I whispered. "The permanent cure. It's not just Phoenix blood. It requires..." I looked up at them with horror written on my face. "It requires a Phoenix to willingly reverse the curse and give their life force to break it."

"So they need you to sacrifice yourself," Zane said flatly. "That's not happening."

"There's more," I said, reading frantically. "My mother discovered something. The curse wasn't just random, it was tied to a specific bloodline. The vampire royal family and the only Phoenix who can break it is..." My voice failed.

"Is what?" Avalon demanded.

"A direct descendant of the Phoenix who created the curse," I finished. "Which is my mother's line. My bloodline."

The room fell silent except for my ragged breathing.

"That's why they came for your mother," Avalon said slowly. "And why they'll come for you."

"And why Father betrayed her," I said bitterly. "He knew what she was and what I'd be so he sold us both to the vampires for power."

"Then we kill him," Zane said simply. "Along with Bron before they can tell the vampires you exist."

"They already know," I said, pointing to a final entry in the journal. "Mother wrote this two days before she died. 'Bruin has sent word to the vampire court. They're coming for me. I've hidden the truth about Zephyr, made them think she's human. But once she awakens... they'll know. They'll feel her power and come for her just as they came for me. I can only pray she's stronger than I was. And her mates protect her where Bruin failed me.'"

I closed the journal, fury and grief rising in my chest. "She tried to protect me and my father still sold her out."

"We need to move fast," Avalon said, already thinking tactically. "If the vampires don't know about you yet..."

"They will soon," I interrupted. "The power I used against Bron and Father, that much Phoenix fire? They felt it and if they're smart, they'll realize what it means."

"How long do we have?" Zane asked.

"Days," I said. "Maybe a week if we're lucky."

"Then we use that time," Avalon said. "We train you harder and fortify the estate. Then we make sure your father and brother can't send word to anyone."

"I want them dead," I said, and the Phoenix fire flared beneath my skin. "For what they did to Mother. For what they tried to do to me."

"And in the meantime?" I asked.

"In the meantime," Zane said, moving closer, "you let us keep you safe. All three of us."

"I can keep myself safe," I argued, but without heat.

"Can you?" Zane challenged, circling me like he always did. "Because from where I'm standing, you just found out the vampires want to breed you like cattle, and your father murdered your mother, and you've got maybe a week before your entire world goes to hell. Forgive me if I think you could use some backup."

He wasn't wrong. As much as I hated admitting it, I was in over my head.

"Fine," I said. "But I'm still killing Bron myself."

"Wouldn't dream of taking that from you," Zane said, then caught my chin, tilting my face up. "But right now, you look like you're about to shatter. So here's what's going to happen. Avalon's going to take the journal and start making plans. And you and I are going to stay here and make sure you don't fall apart."

"I'm not going to..." I started, but the words died when I saw the concern in his burning eyes.

"Come here," Zane said, pulling me into his arms as soon as Avalon left.

I went, and the moment his warmth surrounded me, the dam broke.

I sobbed into his chest for my mother, for the life stolen from her, for the childhood I'd lost when she died. For everything Father had taken from both of us.

"I'm going to kill him," I choked out between sobs. "I'm going to make him suffer the way she suffered."

"I know," he murmured, stroking my hair. "And I'll help you. We all will."

That seemed to fan the mate bond between us and for the first time, I understood why fate had bound me to Zane. Because he understood the rage, the need for violence, the desire to watch your enemies burn.

"Kiss me," I said, surprising myself.

His eyes flared. "Zephyr-"

"I need to feel something other than grief," I interrupted. "Please, Zane. Make me feel alive."

He studied me for a long moment, then crushed his mouth to mine.

The kiss was nothing like Avalon's-no ice, no control. This was pure fire, consuming and wild. His tongue swept against mine as his hands fisted in my hair, and I gasped into his mouth.

The mate bond exploded between us, pleasure and pain and power all tangled together.

"Fuck," he groaned against my lips. "You taste like smoke and fury."

"Good," I panted, nails digging into his shoulders. "Don't stop."

He walked me backward until I hit the desk, then lifted me onto it. Papers scattered as he settled between my thighs, and I wrapped my legs around his waist.

"This is a bad idea," he said, even as his hands slid up my thighs, pushing my dress higher.

"I don't care," I said, yanking at his shirt. "I need this. I fucking need you."

He captured my mouth again, swallowing my moans as his fingers found the edge of my underwear. "Tell me to stop, and I will."

"Don't you dare stop," I commanded, and the Alpha tone in my voice made him grin.

"There's my Phoenix," he said, then tore my underwear off in one sharp movement.

I cried out, more from surprise than pain, but he swallowed the sound with another bruising kiss. His fingers slid through my wetness, and he groaned.

"So fucking wet already," he said against my lips. "Are you wet because of me or the bond?"

"Both," I admitted, because lying seemed pointless when I could feel his desire through the mate connection.

He pushed two fingers inside me, and I arched off the desk. "Zane..."

"Say my name again," he demanded, pumping his fingers slowly. "Let me hear you."

"Zane," I gasped as he added a third finger, stretching me. "Please..."

"Please what?" He curled his fingers, hitting something inside me that made stars burst behind my eyelids. "Use your words, little Phoenix."

"Fuck me," I demanded. "Now."