Page 58 of Bellamy

Castor worked his jaw as he glared at the floor. “You’re right. Thatisfucked-up.”

“You think I want this?” My throat squeezed. “I fought for as long as I could. But I can’t do it anymore.” Tears sprang to my eyes. “It’s not my fault fate chose him for me.”

Alastair stood frozen at the window, not looking at me. Not saying a word.

“I feel for you, Bell,” Castor said. “I really do.”

“But?” I pressed, knowing there was more.

“But Phoenix is the enemy,” he continued. “He’s hurt Simon, Kyo, Mason, and me. How can we be okay with this? Mate or not, he’s not someone you can trust.”

“He won’t hurt me.” If I knew one thing for certain, that was it. “I think that extends to all of you too. Hurting you would hurt me. So whether he likes you or not, he won’t do anything to screw us over.”

“You don’t know that for sure,” Raiden said, adjusting his hat with a sharp exhale. “This is our family we’re talkin’ about. Not only that, he’s commanded legions of demons and attacked us. He’s fought beside Asa to destroy the world. His views don’t align with ours at all.”

“I know, but this connection isn’t one-sided. If I feel this strongly, he does too. I have to believe that’s enough.”

“You’re willin’ to risk everything on a whim?” Raiden asked.

“I don’t have a choice.”

“You always have a choice,” Galen said. “And you chose that goddamn demon over us.”

“If that’s really what you think, you don’t know a damn thing about me.” Anger boiled in my blood. “I’ve been fighting this since last summer, and it’s fucking torn me apart on the inside. I marked him, for fuck’s sake. It’s too late for me to walk away from him. Not without tearing my heart from my goddamn chest.”

“Then I suggest you learn to live without it,” Galen said.

“Well, that’s harsh.”

I spun toward the doorway, where Phoenix had materialized. His auburn hair had a sexy bedhead look to it, and he wore a pair of my joggers and one of my tees. Both hung off his leaner frame. My body hummed when I caught my scent wafting from him.

“Mine,”Lust rumbled in my chest.

“So we’re letting demons freely wander around the mansion now?” Castor asked, glaring at me. “Al’s right. You’ve lost your goddamn mind.”

“Lay off him, Cas,” Daman snapped. “I don’t like this, same as you. But I’d be a hypocrite if I asked Bell to throw his mate away when I’d never leave mine. I damn sure wouldn’t put War in chains.”

“Warrin isn’t our enemy though,” Castor countered.

“And if Warrin was our enemy?” Alastair asked, his voice softer than usual. “What if it was Kyo? Would that change your feelings for him?”

Castor didn’t answer.

Alastair turned to Phoenix. “You’re still here even after both Galen and I threatened to kill you. You could’ve left the moment you were released from the cage, but you didn’t. It could be because you’re sticking around to find Light Bringer. A likely reason. Or… what Bellamy says is true, and you feel the same pull he does. Whether that means you can be trusted? I’m not so sure.”

“It’s foolish to trust anyone,” Phoenix said, keeping a distance from everyone. Including me. “However, I admit I have no interest in Lucifer’s sword.”

That came as news to me. “You don’t?”

“I told you why I stayed,” Phoenix said, his whiskey eyes meeting mine. “It has nothing to do with this silly war.”

“The war is silly to you now?” Alastair asked.

“It’s always been eye-roll inducing.” Phoenix walked farther into the room. “A conflict between good and evil, blah, blah.” He flicked his hand. “It’s given me nothing but a headache.”

Galen snarled. “You’ve sure gone out of your way to partake in thissillywar. I think you’re a lying piece of shit.”

“Think what you will, Wrath, but my motives have always been selfish. Quite frankly, I don’t give a damn about humans. I don’t necessarily want to have them at my feet either though. That’s always been Asa’s vision. I much prefer how it was in the old days when it was just Belphegor and I ruling the underworld. Life was far less of a nuisance compared to now.”