Page 31 of A Phoenix Reborn at Christmas

“He’s a phoenix,” Leo said in case Grady had missed that fact.

“How did you die?” Uzoth asked in his deep, rumbling voice. He stepped forward, assessing Percival.

“I don’t know.” Percival glanced around at all the people in the room. “I don’t remember anything.” His shoulders hunched forward.

And Leo realised Percival was nervous. Which of course he would be with four people suddenly appearing and firing questions at him. Especially when two of them were almost naked. At least their erections seemed to have gone down.

Leo placed a hand on Percival’s shoulder. He didn’t miss the way Percival leaned into his touch.

“So you could have been attacked?” Uzoth asked.

Percival shrank in on himself. “Maybe.”

“We have no idea what killed him. It could have been a heart attack or something else.” Leo squeezed Percival’s shoulder. “When I found him, he was just a chick. But I could see no one around. Ebony, that’s my raven, led me to Percy.”

Ebony walked along Leo’s arm and then onto Percival’s shoulder.

“Grady was attacked by thieves last year. I saved him.” Uzoth lifted his chin. “Perhaps something similar happened to Percival.”

“Maybe.” Leo glanced around. “But he’s lost his memory. He doesn’t remember anything before being reborn. Do you know if that’s normal for a phoenix?”

“I don’t know,” Grady said.

Kit shrugged.

“I have encountered phoenixes over the years. But I do not know the details of what occurs after a rebirth,” Uzoth said.

Percival sagged.

“Perhaps Briar or Avery will know,” Lachlan said. “Surely someone must.”

Leo nodded. “We’ll find out more tomorrow, Percy. And we’ll find where you live, and we’ll find your family.”

Percival gave him a hesitant smile.

“It’s going to be okay.” Then Leo turned to Grady. “He’s going to stay here tonight. He will sleep in my room. I’ll sleep in Jasper’s room and?—”

Percival gripped Leo’s hand and squeezed. “No. Please!”

Leo looked at him. “What’s wrong?”

“Please don’t leave me,” Percival begged. “Please! I don’t want to sleep alone!”

Chapter

Fourteen

“Idon’t want to sleep alone.” Percival gripped Leo’s hand.

Percival didn’t want to be without Leo in a strange room. Not when he didn’t know who he was and his memories were just a blank, gaping void.

“I don’t want to be alone in the dark.” Percival could feel everyone in the room staring at him, but he focused on Leo and his soft brown eyes.

After a second, Leo gave a single nod. “All right.”

“Thank you.” Percival sagged. “Thank you so much!”

Leo gave him a half-smile. “It’s fine.” Then he glanced around. “This is my family, by the way. Or some of them. But we’ll save the proper introductions for tomorrow. We should go to bed.” He stood.