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“No,Mariah. It’s a promise.”
My heart plunged into my stomach, and a tingle rolled up my spine. Absently, I realized we were the only ones left on the beach. “How did you learn my name?”
“I listen,” he said calmly.
Fury had me clenching my fists. “If you ever use that to control me, thefemale brotherconnection we have will end.”
I felt eyes on my back, and Ervo’s jaw clenched. “Your hellhounds have arrived.”
Of course they had.
“Will you ride me, or will you walk at my side?” The phoenix asked me, his voice still level.
I fought the urge to knee him in the damned balls. “I’ll ride on your back, but this is the last time. Understand?”
He didn’t answer me—instead, he tugged me up onto his strong, feathery back as he took off from the ground, hauling me into the sky with him.
Adrenaline had my heart pounding in my chest as I leaned against his neck. Though he wasn’t on fire, I was pretty sure that even if he had been, it wouldn’t burn me.
He hung back behind the rest of the group, but followed them steadily as we flew. My fingers dug into the soft, golden feathers on his neck, my eyelids lowering a bit at the warm comfort of the contact. I hadn’t realized how stressed I was until I was relaxing against his literally-hot body.
It didn’t register for me as we flew, that we were getting further and further behind the other group, until we were nearly at the Stronghold.
He waited until the others had begun landing and everyone was distracted, before veering off smoothly to the right.
I sat up, but he began weaving around the tallest trees so rapidly that it made my heart pump. The man was silent, his movements so sharp and controlled that it made my head spin.
If I thought he’d give me an answer, I would’ve asked him where we were going.
Instead I remained quiet, gripping his feathers.
He and I didn’t agree on many things—if any—but I definitely didn’t fear for my life with him. I’d never trusted anyone to keep me safe the way I did Ervo.
If anything, the further we got from the new Stronghold and the fae women, the calmer I felt.
Another few hours passed,and night engulfed us completely by the time Ervo finally slowed.
We were at the top of a tall mountain that was absolutely covered in trees, and my exhausted eyes traced the view slowly.
It was gorgeous, just like the rest of Vevol.
Ervo dove toward the trees, then shifted suddenly. A shriek escaped me as we plummeted—and cut off completely when his feet hit the ground.
When I realized I had been held firmly in his arms the entire time, I let out a huff. “Where are we?”
“My home.”
I looked around the place while still in the man’s arms.
It was wide and open, with bookshelves lining every inch of the walls other than the small kitchen, and a bathroom. The corners of the home were made up of tree trunks, and I realized I could see the forest around and below us from the patio we had landed on.
A monster-sized mattress was the only piece of furniture other than the bookshelves, and it sat in the middle of the room.
“Why are we at your house?” I asked him, as he carried me toward said mattress. My stomach rumbled angrily, and I grimaced.
His jaw set, and he placed me carefully on the bed before striding toward the kitchen.
“You can’t haul me away to your treehouse and then ignore me when I ask you why,” I argued, standing up.
