“No, you werenever meant to.” Selene took aim and hurled the energy ball acrossthe kitchen.
In a splitsecond, Kat ducked behind the table for cover. The blast missed herbut struck the table, demolishing it into smithereens and sendingher coffee cup hurtling through the air.
Toby ran in,barking.
Selene’sblackened glare focused on the dog, another energy ball forming inher palm.
Without athought for her own safety, Kat dived for Toby and scooped him intoher arms. Selene had never liked her dog, and Toby hadn’t liked hereither, but surely she wouldn’t hurt him? “You’re crazy!” sheyelled at Selene. “Why are you doing this?”
Selene tookaim, directing her dark magic at the dog. “You were never meant tofind out who you were.”
But instead ofthrowing the ball, she hesitated, holding it in her hand, itsflames glowing and pulsating, awaiting Selene’s command.
Beads of sweattrickled down Kat’s spine. Every fiber of her being wanted to run,get the hell out of there, but she had to know what happened toSelene, once a friend, to make her behave like this. “Whatdifference does it make to you if I know what I am?”
She had nodoubt Selene could have killed her with a flick of her wrist, butby the maniacal grin on her face, she appeared to be enjoying hernew power, like she was revelling in using it to taunt her. Katedged towards the door. “Who are you?”
“You stilldon’t know?” Selene released a scornful laugh. “How ironic.”
Kat shook herhead. She’d had enough of her games. The woman clearly thoughtnothing of their friendship. “What do you want, Selene?”
“Phoenix,” shereplied, her tone dripping with conceit, as though it should beobvious what her evil plan was. “I want Phoenix.”
ChapterTen
“End of?” Egansaid, his tone incredulous. “What happened last night? Did Katarinanot show up?”
“Yeah, sheshowed up.” He scooped a spoonful of coffee from the canister. “Wehad the most amazing night. Katarina was sexy and beautiful and asheadstrong as she always was; perfect, in fact, but—” Phoenixswallowed the lump in his throat.
“But what?”
The spoonknocked the side of the cup and scattered granules over theworktop. “I can’t do this to myself anymore.”
“Do what?” Eganelbowed him out of the way and finished making the coffees.
“Live withfalse hope.”
His brotherregarded him for a moment, a frown furrowing his brow.
Nix couldalmost hear his thoughts; Mr. Doom and Gloom is backagain.
He hated layingthis on his brother, but he had no one else to turn to. Maybe if hegot it off his chest once and for all, he could finally get on withhis life.
“Come on,” Egansaid, carrying the mugs into Nix’s lounge. “Tell me everything, anddon’t leave anything out.”
Nixbegrudgingly followed. “She recognised me, or I thought shedid.”
“Sit,” hisbrother instructed. He placed the mugs on the side table.
“We came backhere, and I showed her the picture.” He sat, expelling a longsigh.
Egan glanced tothe wall where the picture used to be. “Why would you show herthat?”
“She kepttalking about déjà vu. I could feel the magic between us, and Isomehow convinced myself the curse was weakening. I suppose Ithought showing her the picture would help jog her memoriesfurther.”
“And didit?”
“I took herupstairs, and we made love.” His heart ached with a pain he knewwould never cease. How could he even think he could forget her andmove on? “And then I scared her, and she ran off.”
Egan’s mouthmade an O shape.
Nix glowered athim. If his brother passed comment on how foolish he’d been, tryingto force Katarina to love him, he’d thump him.
“So where isshe now?” he asked. Wise man.
“I don’t know.It doesn’t matter. None of it matters now.”
“Why?”
“I thoughtKatarina remembered our life together, but she doesn’t even knowshe’s a dragon.”
“How can shenot know? You said—”
“I’m a fool,”he interrupted. “I’ve spent centuries searching for her, waiting tosee a glimmer of recognition in her eyes, and maybe there was for amoment, but I’m beginning to think it was just wishful thinking onmy part.” He held his head in his hands. “I don’t know anythinganymore, Egan. I can’t live another day with the hope that our lovewill be strong enough to break the curse.”
“What are yousaying? You want to give up on her?”
“That’s exactlywhat I’m saying.” Am I?
Out of theblue, Egan punched him. “Wake up, Phoenix!”
Nix fell backonto the sofa and rubbed his jaw. “What the hell did you do thatfor?”
“You can’t giveup on her.”
“I can. I have.It’s time to move on.” But could he?
No, no, NO!
“Keep talkinglike that, and fearsome dragon or not, I’ll punch you again.”
Flames burnedat the back of Nix’s throat. “Try it, and you’ll come off a lotworse,” he said through gritted teeth.
“I don’t care.If I have to beat you to within an inch of your life, I will.”
He’d never seenhis brother so vehement. He calmed the flames and glared at himinstead.
“I will not letyou give up, Nix. If she kept experiencing déjà vu, it has to be asign.”
Nixsnorted.
“Don’t yousee?” his brother continued. “This is the closest you’ve ever beento breaking the curse.”
“Maybe, buteven if she did remember something, the way she looked at me beforeshe left…” His heart crumbled. “She was terrified of me.”
“Why would shebe scared of you?”
“I showed hermy dragon eyes. It was our thing we used to do when we made love,right before we—”
Egan held uphis hands. “Whoa, too much information, mate.”
He had a point.“Yeah, okay, but her eyes became that of her dragon, and I thoughtshe knew, so I showed her mine. She couldn’t get out of here fastenough, which proves she doesn’t know she’s a dragon.”
“And you lether go?”
“I did, and itbroke my heart…” He swallowed. “Then I thought about how afraid shewould be if she was morphing into her dragon for the first time, soI went looking for her. I know I ruined any chance of us beingtogether, but I wanted to be there for her. To make sure she wassafe.”
“There’s youranswer.”
“Whatanswer?”
“You love her,and you always will. You can’t give up on Katarina; she needs youmore than ever now.”
Slowly, hisbrother’s words sank in. Yes, he could live with hope, howeversmall, because without hope, there
