Chapter 10
Chapter
Ten
“What the fuck happened to you?” Leo dropped his hand from the man’s shoulder.
No doubt His Lordship wouldn’t tolerate Leo touching him with his dirty baker’s hands. He forced himself not to sneer.
Why did it have to be Leo who’d stumbled upon Lord Percival Everflame? Because even though the man was a complete prick, Leo couldn’t just leave him naked and vulnerable in the street until he was certain the man was all right.
But seriously, what had he just witnessed? Had that been a phoenix rebirth? He had lots of questions. He doubted the arrogant man would condescend to answer Leo though.
He looked younger than before. Previously, Leo would have guessed the phoenix was in his early thirties. Now he looked to be about twenty.
The orange eyes of Lord Percival Everflame, which were the same in human and phoenix form, stared into Leo’s. “I… I don’t remember. I don’t remember what happened to me.”
“You don’t?” Leo asked.
Lord Everflame shook his head. “I don’t remember… I…” His brows furrowed. He stood on shaky legs. His gaze darted around the dirty alley before returning to Leo. “What… What happened to me? How did I get here?”
Leo frowned. Lord Percival Everflame didn’t seem his usual composed, stuck-up self. In fact, he appeared rather nervous.
“I don’t know what happened to you.” Leo held out his hands in what was hopefully a calming gesture.
It felt strange. He was used to mocking the phoenix, not treating him with gentleness.
But maybe something bad had happened to him. After all, to be reborn, you had to die, right? He was pretty sure that was how it worked. He glanced around the alley. He’d not seen a sign of an attacker. Maybe the man had had a heart attack or some sudden phoenix illness had killed him.
“You were a small bird when I found you, like a chick. Then you grew into a large phoenix. Then you transformed into…” Leo gestured at Lord Everflame’s human form. His very naked human form. “Are you cold?”
Lord Everflame blinked. Then he stared down at his body.
Leo glanced down at the man’s bare toned chest. He kept lowering his gaze, tracing the trail of red hair below his belly that went southwards.
Leo forced his eyes back to the phoenix’s. It was not appropriate to be ogling the man’s body in this situation.
“Well, I think you should head home. It’s late. That’s probably where you should be,” Leo said. “No doubt you have family or…someone who could assist you there. And then you can get dressed or do whatever it is you need to do.”
And although Leo had seen no sign of danger, that didn’t mean there wasn’t something lurking around. Could be thieves nearby. Best they both leave.
Lord Everflame didn’t respond, just stared at Leo, brows still furrowed. Leo really didn’t know what to make of the phoenix’s new manner. He acted so differently from what Leo was used to.
“I’ve had a long day. So I’ll head home too.” Leo pointed in the direction of his home. “Goodnight.”
Lord Percival Everflame didn’t move. He just stared at Leo, his hands clasped tightly in front of his bare stomach.
“Well, I’ll see you later.” Leo gave a somewhat awkward smile, turned, and began to walk away.
He’d barely taken a step when a warm hand wrapped around his wrist and squeezed.
Leo looked back into wide orange eyes.
Lord Everflame leaned towards him. Then Leo noticed that towards the edges of his orange pupils were flecks of dark brown. In fact, a brown ring surrounded the whole orange pupil.
“Where do I live?” Lord Everflame whispered.
Leo let out a shocked laugh. “What? You can’t be serious.” But as he stared into those wide eyes, he saw the terror lurking in their depths. “You really don’t know where you live?”
Lord Everflame shook his head. “No.”
“How do you not know where you live?”
Lord Everflame swallowed, Adam’s apple bobbing. “I… I don’t remember.”
Leo stared around the alley. The fire burning the barrels and crates had died down greatly. The raven hopped up beside Lord Everflame’s foot, glancing between them.
“I’m sorry. But I don’t know where you live.” Leo had only ever seen Lord Everflame in the bakery. He had no idea where the man went after. Or where he’d come from before.
The phoenix’s warm hand, gripping Leo’s wrist, trembled. “Can I come with you?”
Leo’s eyebrows raised. He stared at Lord Everflame. He must be really desperate to ask to go with Leo to his apartment.
“You really can’t remember where you live?” Leo asked. “Not the street or district?”
Lord Everflame dropped his gaze. “No.” He let out a shuddering breath. “No. I can’t.”
Leo hesitated. “Fine. Well, then you can stay with us. And I should be able to find you some clothes too.” Leo could put the phoenix in his room. He could share with Jasper for one night. They could work out what to do tomorrow.
Hopefully it would all seem less overwhelming when he’d had a decent night’s sleep. “This way.” Leo started home. He couldn’t wait to be in his bed. He didn’t need any more chaotic nonsense with phoenixes who couldn’t remember where they lived.
Lord Everflame walked beside him, hand still gripping Leo’s wrist. Leo stared at the phoenix, perplexed why he hadn’t let go of Leo. Was he really so nervous? Perhaps phoenixes felt unbalanced after rebirth.
I’m too bloody tired for this shit.
The raven hopped along beside them, clicking. At least she seemed happy.
“I should tell you, though, our apartment isn’t fit for a lord. No doubt it will be far below your standards.” And if His Lordship dared to complain about Leo’s home when Leo had taken him in out of the goodness of his heart, Leo would have some choice words for him. Some choice, sweary words.
“Am I… Am I a lord?”
Leo stumbled and stopped. “What? Of course you’re a bloody lord! That’s what you told me! You called yourself Lord Percival Everflame!”
Lord Everflame shrank back. “I’m sorry… I… Okay.” He paused. “I’m Lord Percival Everflame.” He said his name slowly, sounding out the syllables…as if they were all completely new to him. As if he’d never heard his own name before.
Bloody broomsticks! Leo gentled his tone. “Do you not know who you are?”
“I don’t remember.” Lord Everflame’s gaze flicked from side to side. “I don’t remember anything.”
Cold washed over Leo’s body. “You don’t remember anything? Anything at all?”
Lord Everflame shook his head, gaze on his hand that still gripped Leo’s wrist.
“You don’t remember who you are? What about family or friends?” If Leo could find out who they were, that would be something.
Lord Everflame stared blankly at him. Once again, he shook his head.
“Nothing?” Cauldrons and clusterfucks! Leo let out a slow breath. The phoenix had forgotten everything.
This was bad. Really fucking bad.
Or was this normal? Did phoenixes forget everything when they were reborn? But surely there must be a system so they didn’t end up naked, defenceless, and with no idea where they’d come from or where to go. Like what was happening to Lord Everflame right now!
Anyone could attack or take advantage of the phoenix in this situation.
Leo held in a groan. Fuck! He rubbed at his eyes. “Look. It’s late. We’ll just go home. We can deal with everything else tomorrow. Okay?”
“Okay,” the phoenix said, but Leo could hear the tremor in his voice.
Leo lifted his free hand and placed it on Lord Everflame’s shoulder. “It will be all right. I’ll take care of you. I promise.” Leo couldn’t quite believe he was promising to take care of the phoenix he disliked, but here they were.
And for the first time, Lord Everflame smiled.
Leo’s breath caught. For a second, he remembered his first impression when Lord Everflame had walked into the bakery. He’d been the most gorgeous man Leo had ever seen. Then Lord Everflame had opened his mouth and revealed what a colossal arsehole he was.
But for the moment, anyway, Lord Everflame wasn’t behaving like a prick. Actually, could Leo drop the whole lord title, since the phoenix couldn’t remember who he was? “Mind if I just call you Percival?”
“Percival? Yes. That would be fine,” Percival answered. “Whatever you want.”
That was surprisingly amenable and definitely out of character for the phoenix.
The raven crowed. Then hopped onwards.
“You’re right,” Leo said. “We should get home. It’s late. We all need to sleep.”
They walked on.
“What should I call you?” Percival asked.
Then it hit Leo. Because of course Percival had forgotten Leo, since he’d forgotten everything! That explained why Percival didn’t dislike him, would be willing to trust Leo, and was still gripping his wrist.
No doubt when he got his memories back, he’d remember his hatred of Leo. Then they’d go back to how it had been. But for now, he’d try to be nice to the terrified reborn baby bird.
“My name is Leo.” He wasn’t sure what else there was to say. He didn’t think it would be helpful in their current situation for him to tell Percival that they pretty much hated each other.
He wondered how long it took for phoenixes to get their memories back after being reborn.
They did get their memories back, didn’t they? His gaze flicked to the phoenix. Surely they must! But then again, he barely knew anything about phoenixes.
What the fuck am I going to do if he doesn’t remember anything?
Leo closed his eyes and took a breath. His brain had turned to sludge with exhaustion. He couldn’t work this out tonight.
They walked through the lanes and alleys. No other person could be seen this late at night. Leo yawned. His eyes drooped as he imagined snuggling down into his bed.
Percival turned and stared at him. “Are we lovers, Leo?”