Changed by Fire (Phoenix Rising #6) - Harper Wylde Page 0,108

for breathing or healing. I was protecting myself, not accepting what she did, just like you protected yourself. Your mind and body protected you the only way it could. You’re here with me, with us, now, and that’s the part that matters.”

Slowly, so slowly, she nodded. “I’m glad she’s dead though,” Nix muttered. “I wasn’t at the time, I felt so guilty for it, but if I’d known the full extent of everything then that I do now, I probably would have killed her myself when I had the chance.”

“That’s my girl,” Killian murmured with approval, earning a surprised laugh from Nix. She shot me a guilty look, but I smiled and shook my head.

“I’m with Kill, here. I like that you’d protect me. You’re not going to hear me scold you for wanting to hurt her to keep me safe.”

“You won’t hear that from any of us,” Joshua assured her. His eyes were sad when they met mine. “I did hear about some of that, but I didn’t know the extent of it. I’m sorry I didn’t do more to put an end to her poisonous rumors.” Ryder shifted slightly, grimacing at the words.

I shrugged. “It wouldn’t have mattered if you tried. Someone would have always listened, always spread the gossip. You know that as well as I do.”

Nix scoffed, “You’re one of the sweetest men I’ve ever met in my life. How anyone could think you’d hurt a female just because you like to be in control in the bedroom is absolutely beyond me. That’s like saying that just because a boxer likes to box in the ring, he’d go around beating up everyone around him since he enjoys the sport. It’s asinine. It’s like they wanted to find something bad about you so they could feel better about themselves.”

“Thank you for telling us, Hiro.” Damien’s gaze moved around the circle. “Killian? Joshua? Ryder? Who wants to go now?” The three shared a look, assessing each other.

Nix leaned over, brushing her lips across my cheek. “Thank you for telling me,” she whispered, her words just for me. “Thank you for showing me how strong I can be.”

I tapped her nose. “You’re stronger than I’ve ever been. Never forget that.” She leaned her head against my shoulder, breathing deeply as my Kitsune yipped his agreement. Damien was right about this making us stronger. Now, we just had to see if the rest of our family would be willing to open up as well.

Twenty-Four

Damien

It had been a relief, in a way, to finally share my secret with all of them. The pain was still there, still throbbing in my chest, but alleviation and acceptance had joined in. If all of my brothers could manage the same thing, there was going to be nothing that could stop us. I had kept the link closed during our little game, not wanting to intrude and see pieces they weren’t willing to share, but it was definitely a struggle. My Gargoyle wanted to reach out to all of them, to feel what they were feeling, to know they were okay exposing these pieces of themselves. Ryder, Killian, and Joshua were eyeing each other warily, unsure who would be the next to share.

“I’ll go,” Killian finally offered. He fidgeted slightly as all of our eyes turned to him, rubbing his hair and ruffling the copper strands. “You all know how I feel about my Puca.” I opened my mouth, about to scold him. We were supposed to share new secrets, not old ones. “I’m not saying that’s my secret, so just be quiet for a minute,” he snarled. I saw Nix cover her mouth, and I knew she was hiding a smirk at Killian’s surly behavior. She wasn’t the only one either, several of us hid smiles behind our hands as we waited for the Puca to blurt out his thoughts. “I was sick of feeling weak, like I’d gotten the short straw in the genetic lottery. I just didn’t want to pass it on, I didn’t want to punish any future children the Council may have wanted to force on me. It’s not like I wanted a mate anyhow, and I couldn’t stand the Council’s games. So I decided to get a vasectomy.”

Nix gasped, her eyes going wide, and I swore. “Kill, you know how risky that was.” Fear flashed through me, sharp and cold, and my Gargoyle hissed madly at his recklessness. “The Council would have killed you if they found out. You