Klutz: Phoenix Heat (But Did You Die?, #2)

by Sedona Ashe

“My kind does not share mates. But you are mine, and nothing will stop me from claiming you. I will learn to adjust to these men. However, I must warn you. From what little you have told me and the pain I see in your eyes and posture, I am not pleased with them. I will not tolerate them mistreating you. Emotionally, or otherwise. They will need to decide on whether they wish to be mates and treat you as a treasure or be removed from our nest.” I beamed at him. He was right.

My palm turned white hot, and without turning around to look, I knew without a doubt I had marked Trevor. That was confirmed when I heard the pop and confetti rained down on our heads. “Is that confetti?” Trevor asked in wonder. Jackson literally face-palmed himself. “My cousin is definitely going to kill me.”

“You are trying to tell me not to panic if my mate gets murdered in front of my eyes?” We didn’t have time for this. I needed to focus on my magic and convince Imp to help me. “Exactly! I’ve already died ninety-seven times in the past month. It will be fine.”

Absolutely. No. Confetti! Instead of acknowledging me, Imp beat her wings and screeched a long, menacing battle cry. The fire inside me responded with a roar of its own, becoming an inferno that exploded from my body. This was going to be a royal flustercluck…and I was looking forward to it.

“Light him up, Ryls,” I whispered.

“Yeah, the weak little human you left in the jungle did that.” She met his gaze, hers glittering with laughter and hurt. “How do you like me now?”

She stopped breathing, and then her face lit up like it was Christmas morning. “And I am falling in love with you, my sexy angel.” I choked. “Angel?” She gave a little shrug. “That’s what you looked like to me the first time I saw you.”

I closed my eyes at her words. There were no words to describe the devastation I felt over my failure to be there for her when she needed me. I had utterly failed her as a mate. She had thanked him for trying to ‘ease the pain’ of dying. Now her words repeated over and over again in my mind. One look at the other members of my shadow, and I knew we all felt the same way. “I tried to help.” His voice was a hoarse whisper.

needed, just to have had your love. To have been loved by the shadow. You would have had my undying love… And for a Phoenix, undying is a very literal concept. Instead, you did everything in your power to push me away and break my heart, and you nearly succeeded in both.” I tried to sound strong, but I knew he heard my voice crack at the end.