Page 36 of A Phoenix Reborn at Christmas

She nodded.

“Can you take us to them?” Percival wrung his hands.

She hesitated. Then nodded again. “Of course, my lord. Follow me.” Then she turned and walked briskly down the street.

Percival and Leo followed.

“You were right, Leo.” Percival clapped his hands together. “We found my family! We found them! Everything will be all right now. They are phoenixes. They will know what to do.”

Leo smiled back. But his gut twisted as they followed the servant down the street.

When they found his family, would Percival get his memories back and return to how he’d been before? Would they return to their mutual hatred? Was he about to lose the sweet man beside him?

It was ridiculous to be unhappy about that. They hadn’t even spent much time together. Just one night and one morning.

Still, Leo couldn’t help but wish that Percival would remain the phoenix he was now.

Chapter

Sixteen

Percival and Leo walked down the corridor which overlooked the glass factory. Percival clasped his hands in front of him. Looking around, he still didn’t feel any sense of familiarity.

Half an hour ago, that would have bothered him. But he was about to see his uncle and cousin, his family, his own flesh and blood! They would know how to help him. Then everything would be all right.

Leo whistled as he looked through the glass down to the factory below. “Pretty impressive factory your family owns.”

“It looks like it.” But Percival glanced at it.

Ines stopped a few steps away from a closed door. “That’s your uncle’s office.” She gestured and stood to the side, allowing Leo and Percival to continue without her.

Holding his breath, Percival took a step forward. Then he paused and looked at Ines. “What is my uncle’s name?”

Her eyebrows lifted. “Lord Ignatius Everflame.”

“Thank you.” Percival straightened his shoulders and approached the door. He took a deep breath, trying to prepare himself mentally to reacquaint himself with his uncle, trying to calm his racing heart.

No need to be nervous. He is family. He is my uncle.

He knocked.

“What is it?” a voice barked.

Percival startled. He glanced at Leo.

Leo stared at the door. His eyes narrowed. Swallowing, Percival turned the handle. An older man sat behind a desk. This must be his uncle. Another man sat facing him. His cousin?

“Percival!” His uncle stood. “I heard you were missing!” Then his gaze flicked up and down Percival’s body. He scowled. “What the fuck are you wearing?”

Percival looked down at himself. He was wearing clothes he had borrowed from Leo. What was wrong with them?

“And who is this?” his uncle barked, looking straight at Leo.

Percival opened his mouth. But he couldn’t find his voice. Was this really his uncle? He hadn’t expected to be greeted with so much…anger.

“I’m Leo,” he said, voice tight in a way Percival wasn’t used to. “Your nephew died and was reborn last night. He has lost his memories and needs help.”

“You died?” It sounded like an accusation. “How exactly did you die, Percival?”