Free Incendiary by Amy A. Bartol

how?” I murmur with growing panic .
    “If he can dominate me, then he could open the door between you bo th. S ince he is your soul mate, he has an equal bond with you ,” Reed admits in an even tone. “It’s a n equal claim to you. I’m not going to just step aside an d allow that to happen, so don’ t ask it of me. I will fight for you whethe r it angers you or not.”
    “Y ou’re saying I’m intruding on some male ritual between the two of you?” I ask .
    “Yes,” he replies , frowning.
    “But, that’s— why can’t I just te ll everyone who I want?” I ask in frustration .
    “Because you may change your mind when you see how powerful on e is v erses the other,” he replies . “I’ ll neve r give him the upper hand. I’l l never let him defeat me. W hen I’ m challenged, I’ ll accept it and I won’t lose.”
    “Brennus is ri ght, I am pretty poison,” I mutter , pulling away from Reed’s chest and l ying back on a pillow.
    “He’ s wrong. His words were spoken in the bitterness of jealousy and l oss. He knows what you are. It’ s why he cannot let you go,” Reed says .
    “What am I?” I ask .
    “Unforgettable,” Reed replies . “You’re art that cannot be concealed…danger that cannot be tamed…love that cannot be measured…a new law that denies a probable outcome.”
    “An d you’ re my heart,” I whisper .
    Reaching over, Reed pulls me back to his chest. “I want to discuss something with you , Evie,” Reed says , toying with a strand of my hair.
    “Hmm? ” I manage to reply.
    “I had some i ntel from Dominion,” he says . “Molly w as truthful when she said that Dominion has been engaging the Gancanagh.”
    “Did you tell them where we are?” I ask , knowing that Dominion has not been let in on our location because they want to seize control of Russell. He is a fascinating weapon to them. He attracts evil to him, just as I do, and th ey want to use him to lure the F allen and any other prey they want to snare.
    “I haven’ t given up our loca tion. We don’ t want them here, but there’ s a complicat ion…they ha ve something we want,” Reed says .
    I become alert , sittin g up against the pillow, I ask , “What?”
    “Tau has arrived at Dominion,” he states .
    “He’s at the chateau? My fath er is at their chateau?” I ask for clarity.
    “It would seem,” he replies .
    “Why?” I wonder .
    “H e’ s looking for you,” Reed says softly.
    My eyebrows pull together. “He’s a little late, wouldn’t you say?” I ask sarcastically, feeling the heat of anger creep to my cheeks .
    “No, I’d say he’ s right on time,” Reed counters .
    My eyes widen at him. “You think t his is good news,” I say accusingly.
    “Yes,” Reed replies .
    “How do you know he’s not here t o rip out my evil heart?” I ask , crossing my arms over my chest.
    “Yo ur heart is not evil,” Reed says , frowning. “And I know because he just about tore down the walls of the place looking for you.”
    “That doesn’t prove anything other than he wants me for some reason,” I counter .
    “He d emanded his daughter,” Reed says calmly.
    “Oh, so because he’s claiming me as his daughter, you think that means he’s on my side?” I ask , narro wing my eyes at him as I bound out of the bed and begi n pacing in front of the fire. “Maybe he just hea rd I was there and felt curious— ”
    “No one storms in an d threatens to annihilate an entire city of angel s if they don’t produce his daughter o ut of mere curiosity,” Reed says , sitting forward on the bed and watching my every move before the fireplace like a cat watching a mou se. A slow, sensual smile forms at the corners of his mouth , and I swear, if he had a tail, it would be swishing. “When he heard that the war council put you on trial for your life, he challenged each of them to combat.”
    I stop dead. “He did?” I breathe , feeling a deeper blush rush to my face.
    “He did,” Reed nods