Page 15 of Feathers and Scales

“Why did that one attack you?” Daxton asked.

Izzy hesitated, fear grabbing her by the neck, and her voice shook when she said, “The Fallen are the genesis of the Archfiends.”

Sarah gasped. “What?”

The link clogged with a thick stillness and froze the breath in Izzy’s lungs. She coughed and bolstered the barrier in her mind to dampen Daxton’s emotions. She resented the link that forced her to feel even in her spirit form. The sooner she could get away from him, the better.

“Explain,” Daxton said.

“Archfiends were once Fallen who killed their own kind and siphoned off their power to become stronger.”

“Is that why you had to come back here?” Sarah asked.

“The Archfiend will search for my human body to destroy it and take my energy since he believes my spirit is in Limbo. I can’t afford to lose my body. Simon took it to a random hospital as it’s in a coma and told no one where I am.”

“Why didn’t you go straight to the hospital then?” Daxton asked, frustration lining his being.

She stared Daxton down as he was the reason she hadn’t. “We need to talk. Privately.”

As comfortable as Izzy was around Sarah, the idea of discussing the link between her and Daxton around Sarah caused her cheeks to heat.

“I’ll excuse myself for a bit then,” Sarah said, standing and sliding the dragon journal closer to Daxton. “I saw a sub shop just a short walk away. Does anyone want anything?”

“No, thank you,” Daxton said.

Izzy shook her head, and Sarah left the apartment. Without Sarah’s presence acting as a buffer, Izzy’s mind fizzled with electricity and yearning. She was familiar with the concepts of sexual attraction, hormones, and evolution, so she didn’t doubt that a male with his physique attracted women. She’d met men worthy of calling a mating partner, but none had such a composed manner while hiding such raw power inside them. And none of them had attracted her.

Each time he’d stared at Sarah on the private jet, his awareness caressed Izzy’s spirit. She’d never met a man whose gaze penetrated straight to her spirit. Under his metallic-eyed scrutiny, she shivered.

She’d never experienced such attraction. Would this be a new learning experience for her? A smile grew in her mind.

Quit pining. This attraction will onlyweakenyou. Your goal hasn’t changed. You need to find a way to collect your feathers within one lifespan.

“What…do you want?” She tried to sound strong through her wavering voice.

“To help you with your Tattered One problem.”

“Well, I want to get rid of this link,” she said. “So, please break it.”

“I can’t.” His jaw ticked. “I don’t even know what it is. Maybe if we learn about each other, we can find a way.”

“I’ve never heard of a link like this, nor has it been spoken of among my kind. You’re the one who needs to share.” She crossed her arms, fingernails digging into her spirit flesh.

“Stop acting like I was the only culprit here,” he said, tone flat.

Heat spread across her cheeks. Her energy had reached for his, but why?

“Look, we need to work together to…” His voice was hoarse on the last word. He coughed on what sounded like a growl. “To break the link. And kill the Tattered One.”

He was right on both counts. She could lock down and hide from the Archfiend, but this would not defeat him. But the idea of spending time with Daxton roiled dread in her stomach.It’ll be okay. You just have to keep your distance. Your psyche will be strong if you don’t allow emotions into the equation.Which was easier said than done when he influenced her like no one else could, and she felt his warm breath down her neck along their link.

She sighed. “Given how strong I know Archfiends are, I find it hard to believe something like you would be capable of destroying them.”

His fingers drummed on the table, drawing her attention to his hands. Faint white scars traced the knuckles in diagonal slashes, too straight for brawls, to careless for crafts—quiet evidence of a man who built things to last. The pads of his fingers were worn smooth, subtly flattened by years of gripping tools. A construction worker perhaps?

“You’re right,” he said. “We can’t.”

Can’t what?She brought her mind away from the distraction of his hands and focused on the question she’d asked. “Then what do you do when you hunt the Archfiends?”