We walk through the heavy doors, the air thick with tension. The furniture is draped in white cloths, a ghostly reminder of something hidden. He leads me to a barstool in the kitchen, and I plop down, staring at him with a blank expression, waiting for him to speak. He's clearly stressed, sighing deeply as if wrestling with his thoughts.
"So… are you going to tell me what the hell is going on, Alex, or am I supposed to guess why I almost got fucking murdered?" I ask, my voice shaking with frustration.
Alex meets my gaze with a hard stare, his eyes silently demanding that I let him explain. "Rose, for me to tell you what's happening, I need to start from the beginning. I have to tell you about me… and everything that's been happening up until now."
I nod, feeling a knot of anxiety tighten in my chest. He takes a deep breath before continuing.
"A long time ago, there were many different kinds of creatures—Lycans of howls, phoenixes, birds of fire, dragons of war, vampires of decay and death, elves of light and purity, demons of chaos, angels of saviors and love… but that's not all," he pauses, searching for the right words.
I stare at him, confusion and fear mixing inside me. "And... you're telling me this because…?"
He doesn't answer right away, his eyes flickering with something unspoken. Finally, he turns to me and says, "Rose… I'm a phoenix."
My heart drops, and I can feel my body go numb. "What?"
He takes my hands, his voice steady, but his eyes are filled with concern. "Please, calm down. I swear, I would never hurt you. I'm your mate, and I'll explain what that means. But you need to understand, we're connected. A mate is for life—we're soulmates. We love and protect each other, through everything, good and bad."
I blink at him, struggling to grasp the weight of his words. "But why me? I'm not… I'm not special. I don't have any power."
"You do, Rose," he says, his voice earnest. "I can feel it. There's something inside you, something I can't even explain. That vampire who attacked you? He knows it too, by the taste of your blood."
My mind is spinning as I try to process everything. But then Alex drops the bombshell.
"I'm also the prince of my people—the next in line to be king," he says, his gaze distant. "My parents were killed by a dragon, and I can't take the throne without my mate. So, until I find you, I'm… stuck. And I'm searching for the one who killed my parents. I think he's here, in this world."
I can't hold it in any longer. My hands fly up in frustration. "Alex, what the fuck! I can't be a queen!"
He looks at me, disappointment shadowing his face. Then he turns toward the window, his voice softer. "I'm sorry, Rose. Please… forgive me."
But I can't. I feel betrayed. I run after him, my thoughts racing. "Wait, where are you going?"
"I'll be back," he growls, his voice harsh and unnatural. "Stay inside. Don't leave this room."
Confused, I back away, my heart pounding. What the hell is going on? I sit under the counter, trying to catch my breath, but the air feels too thick.
Suddenly, I hear a voice, a deep growl coming from outside. "Where is she?"
I freeze, my breath catching in my throat. It's him—the person I've been dreading.
"Where is that bitch?" The voice is cruel, demanding.
"She's not here. Leave," Alex yells, fury in his voice.
But the response that follows sends chills down my spine. "She is here. I can smell her, you worthless phoenix. Now give her back!"
My heart skips a beat. He can smell me? How?
I cover my mouth with my hand, trying to hold back the tears. Why are my adoptive parents here? They shouldn't know where I am. They shouldn't even know about Alex.
"She belongs to us," my mother sneers, her voice laced with venom. "Her mother gave her to us, and we'll do as we please with her. You know this."
My mind is spinning, but I'm too scared to move. I listen as Alex confronts them.
"What about the vampire that attacked her? Do you know anything about that?" His voice is dark with anger.
"Vampire? What vampire?" My mother feigns concern, but I can see my father's face twist in rage. "You mean that bloodsucker came after her?"
Suddenly, Alex moves so fast that my eyes can barely follow him. He's standing between them, his form flickering with orange and red fire, his expression grim. "He'll destroy humanity if he gets ahold of her."
There's a moment of silence before they exchange a look, and then they disappear into a swirl of black smoke.
"What the hell?" I whisper to myself.
I crawl out of my hiding spot and peek through the curtains in the living room, trying to make sense of everything. My heart is racing—Alex is a prince, my parents are dangerous, and I have no idea what I really am. I need answers.
And I'm determined to get them, no matter what.