Chapter 32

32

M ikhail reluctantly released Jinx’s hand once they were back on palace grounds. He knew the biology between fated mates ensured the sex would be mind-blowing. But he had a feeling that it was Jinx—the woman—that had caused their sex to be a holy experience. He was still drained, both physically and emotionally, and he was by no means done.

“I should go and shower,” Jinx said. “And so should you. Anyone will take one look at us and know we’ve banged.”

“Banged? How romantic,” Mikhail joked. She did look delightfully ravished, he decided, with her hair a mess, red marks all over her neck, and a glassy look in her eyes. His dick made a valiant effort to twitch. Wanting one last kiss, he reached for her, only to frown. “What’s this?”

Jinx looked at the reddened, oozing skin on her arm. “I bit myself so I wouldn’t bite you. It’s nothing. It will be completely healed by morning.”

He rubbed the broken flesh with his thumb regretfully. “I didn’t even notice. I’m sorry.”

“Hey …” Jinx placed her hands flat on his chest, gazing up at him. “It’s fine. Truly. We scratched the mother of all itches, and I didn’t claim you. That’s what’s important.”

Mikhail knew she was right, but he didn’t like it. “I don’t like seeing you hurt, no matter the cause. Next time, bite a pillow.”

“There’s going to be a next time?” Jinx asked coyly.

He groaned, moving his hands down her back and over her butt. He pulled her against him, demonstrating just how ready he was for next time. “I have a feeling there’s going to be a lot of next times.”

“I think you could be right,” Jinx mumbled, rising onto her toes to kiss him.

The kiss spun out until a familiar, exaggerated cough met their ears. When Jinx went to jump back guiltily, Mikhail steadied her. He understood the reaction. A part of him felt the same way. But he also knew they had nothing to be ashamed of. He glared at his brother. “What?”

Brax grinned at them, his eyes darting back and forth between them. “I see I’m interrupting something. My apologies.”

Jinx harrumphed. “You don’t look sorry.”

Mikhail concurred. In fact, his brother looked a little off. “You okay?”

“I’m fine. But I think I should be asking you that.” Brax’s amber eyes roamed over Jinx from head to toe. “I thought Mikhail wasn’t your mate. Isn’t that what you said? Yet, here you are, spreading your legs for him.”

Mikhail blinked, positive he’d misheard. “What the fuck did you just say?” he demanded, pulling Jinx close.

Jinx looked at Brax with confusion. “We’re not mated, not that it’s any of your business. What’s going on with you? Did you and Sabre have a fight?”

Brax snorted and shook his head. “Sabre is the least of my worries. It’s you two I’m concerned about. You’re off playing hide the salami while people are being killed.”

Jinx paled, leaning into Mikhail’s side. “Someone’s dead? Who? Not Gage or Eric or …”

Brax slashed an angry hand through the air, cutting Jinx off. “It’s none of your friends from the slums. A family of fox shifters. Three whole generations. Wiped out in one fell swoop.”

Mikhail’s stomach felt like lead, guilt making his legs wobbly. Jinx was the only reason he was still standing. No wonder Brax was fired up. Still, he’d better dial it back, or he’d be getting a fist to the face. “How many?”

“Sixteen. Five of them were kids,” Brax stated evenly.

Mikhail closed his eyes, the weight of the numbers crushing him. Sixteen lives snuffed out because he wasn’t able to catch his baby brother. “I’ll leave immediately and head to the crime scene. Are the Horde investigating?” They acted as the human version of police as well as soldiers.

“They’re on site,” Brax confirmed. “As was I. I waded through the blood while you were getting your dick tickled.”

A growl rumbled in Mikhail’s chest as he stepped forward, staring down Brax. “I know you’ve had a rough day. But that’s the last insult I will let slide. Get out of my sight, Abraxis. Before I take you out.” He’d thought they were back in sync. But clearly, he was mistaken.

Brax stomped forward, going toe to toe with Mikhail. His expression was one of disgust as he spat on the dirt next to Mikhail’s shoe. “I’ll leave. I can’t stand to look at you anyway. But there’s one last thing. You will never injure or kill Zagan. Ever.”

Mikhail shook his head, trying to relieve the sudden pressure in his head. It felt as though he was wearing a heavy hat. He also swore he could hear a slight buzzing in his ears. “What are you talking about?”

Brax grinned cockily, leaning in close enough that his breath bathed Mikhail’s face. “You heard me. You will never, so long as you live, be able to hurt, maim, or kill Zagan.”

The pressure intensified just as he heard Jinx shout, “That’s not Brax!”

Mikhail acted immediately, swinging his arm up to deliver a violent blow. Only his arm wouldn’t move. No matter how hard he tried, his arm wouldn’t hit Zagan. It felt locked in cement. “What have you done?”

Zagan laughed. The sound was cruel and nasty coming from Brax’s lips. “I’ve simply given you an order you cannot refuse. Forever. Sorry, brother, but my life is no longer in your hands. Nor Brax’s, for that matter,” he added with a smirk. “You commanded him not to just a few minutes ago. Poor Braxy-boy was very confused about why his doting big brother no longer trusted him to lead the Demon Horde or catch a killer.”

“You fucked with his mind?!” Mikhail shouted, reaching into his pocket for a weapon. But the moment he thought about using it on Zagan, his hand dropped it.

“I sure did. And I loved every second of it. You can’t touch me,” Zagan crowed.

“Maybe he can’t. But I can,” Jinx snarled, grabbing Mikhail’s discarded blade and lunging at Zagan.

Zagan dodged and clucked his tongue. “Now, now. Don’t start this again. It didn’t end well for you last time.”

“Like hell, it didn’t. I beat you. I escaped,” Jinx replied, keeping her eyes trained on Zagan.

Fear for Jinx’s life overrode his own, and he jumped in front of her. He may not be able to harm Zagan physically, but all his other faculties appeared to be working just fine. “Jinx, stay back.”

“So noble,” Zagan mocked.

Before Mikhail could respond, Sabre was striding across the garden towards them. She was smiling until she took one look at Zagan disguised as Brax. Her expression shifted into assassin-mode, and she whipped a pistol out, barely aiming before firing.

Zagan yelled, falling to a knee and cursing up a storm. He opened his mouth, but it was too late; Sabre was upon him. She kicked him directly in the bullet wound on his lower leg. Zagan howled, falling back onto his arse.

“You dare use Brax’s face?” Sabre snarled, lifting Zagan by the front of his shirt. She pounded her fist into his nose. Blood sprayed everywhere. “You fuck!”

Zagan’s arm shot out, hitting Sabre in the solar plexus. She grunted but didn’t release her hold. Mikhail figured nothing short of cutting her arm off would get her to let go. But just then, Zagan opened his mouth and said, “Release me.”

Sabre’s hand opened, dropping Zagan. She jolted as if trying to move forward but couldn’t. “Oh, I’m going to give you so much pain when I catch you,” she vowed.

“No,” Zagan shouted as he hopped backwards. His form started to shift, causing his last words to be distorted. “You won’t.”

The three of them watched as Z shifted into an eagle before flying away. Mikhail could hardly fathom what had just happened. “He really can control minds.” Even the thought of hurting Zagan felt foreign and unfathomable to him now.

Sabre opened and closed her hand, studying it intently. “Yeah. He can.” She scrutinised Mikhail next, followed by Jinx. “Are you both okay?”

Mikhail wrapped an arm around Jinx, relieved she was unharmed. “We’re fine. Not hurt. But Zagan has just thrown a big spanner in the works.”

“He sure has,” Jinx concurred, gripping Mikhail’s waist.

Sabre’s eyes narrowed on them, shock taking over her features. “What is this? Are you two hugging?”

Mikhail chose not to answer. He wasn’t sure how Sabre would feel about him sleeping with Jinx. She may want them to be mated and live happily ever after, but he had a feeling sex was going to be an entirely different matter. “Come on,” he ordered. “It sounds like Brax has been whammied, too.”

Sabre swore ripely but didn’t run off without them. She wouldn’t, Mikhail knew. Not with him here and in possible danger. So, he walked as fast as he could, praying Z hadn’t hurt Brax. Or worse.