“So, you weren’t going to try to use it against us or use it to escape?”
“No, I wanted to heal him so I could let him go. I didn’t want him trapped here.”
“You aren’t letting the bird go, Aleera,” Tobias said, staring at Ryze.
“I have no choice. You said yourself Darius would kill him.”
“Good luck because the way he is with you, he has bonded to you. You can try, but he will keep coming back,” Tobias said, and I looked down at him.
“And you just saved him, and he got used to you?”
I nodded, and he sighed. “So peculiar,” he muttered, shaking his head before tossing him another mouse. Tobias chewed his lip thoughtfully.
“If given a chance, would you escape?” Tobias asked me.
“You know I would, so why ask questions whose answers you already know?”
“Maybe because I hope your answer would change, Aleera,” Tobias said. “It’s okay, I won’t tell them you have him here, but you will have to figure out something. Maybe the attic might be better. There is a hole in the roof, and he can get out and fly around when he wants. You can’t keep him locked down here.”
“And how would I get him up there?”
“I could portal you up, but tell me something else first.”
I nodded, wondering what else he wanted to know.
“Did Darius force himself on you?”
I looked away, and he cursed before shocking me with his next question.
“Are you okay?”
My head whipped toward him, and he seemed genuine. I raised my eyebrows at him.
“I mean with what he did, Aleera. I don’t mean in general.”
I nodded, my face heating with embarrassment.
“Are you embarrassed because he did it or because he made you cum?”
Why would he ask that?
He put his hand up in mock surrender. “Just a question. I could smell how aroused you were.”
“Both,” I mumbled.
“I’m sorry for defending him. I thought you tried to run, and I was mad.”
“Is that why you are helping me?” I asked him.
“No. I hate phoenixes. When I found him down here, I was going to tell Darius, but I knew he would kill him. Just because I hate something doesn’t mean I believe it should be killed.”
“But torture is alright and abuse?” I scoffed.
Tobias observed me for a few seconds and hung his head. “I don’t hate you. I used to, but I realize we need you after seeing you with Kalen,” Tobias said.
“But not enough to stop Darius?” I asked.
He sighed. “He is our mate. It will get better. You just have to earn his trust, Aleera.”