Page 10 of A Seduction Of Death (Umbra Hunters #4)
TEN
Creed
V ictor starts barking orders at Hunters, who suddenly appear at the top of the stairs, while I blink at Nox in surprise before rounding on Valen, who holds Lemon Drop close to his chest. I ignore the painful lurch of my heart, trying to convince me to tear her out of his arms, the mate bond thrumming with a possessiveness I’m not used to feeling.
I’m the chill one in my family. The one who likes to share and convinces the stubborn idiots, who I call brothers, to play nice. But that all went out the window the moment my teeth sunk into Meyer's pretty little neck. The need to have her in my arms every second of every day is almost crippling.
“No... Father wouldn’t leave Versipellis.” I shake my head, my mind reeling. “Why the hell would he leave?”
“Obviously, he deemed our situation worse than the one at home,” Nox snaps in frustration, moving to Valen and tugging Meyer from his arms. Valen sighs as he watches her go, his hands balling into fists at his sides as he no doubt smothers the need to snap at Nox. This is not the time or place to fight between ourselves, and if I’m being honest, I’m surprised one of us hasn't gotten a knee to the balls with our crazy, over-the-top behavior. Meyer typically puts us in our place pretty quickly, but I think this whole mess with Jesthren and Elaine’s death shook her up as much, if not more, than us. It seems like she’s seeking our comfort as much as we want to provide it.
Meyer stands on steady feet as Nox places her on the ground, looking up at him with a concerned frown. “I thought he couldn’t leave the Demon realm?” she asks, and I frown and nod. I mean, technically, he can. He’s the King and can do as he pleases. But with the attacks on the city and the internal war against him, it's not something I would expect him to do, even with Jesthren’s betrayal.
“He can and has. How long until he’s here?” Nox asks, looking at Valen, who frowns and then shakes his head a bit. Magic curls around him as he tries to figure out where our father is on the mountain, the heavy feeling of his magic intensifying with every breath. Dammit, he’s so much stronger than I’m used to feeling. I have no idea what happened in those years he was held captive, but whatever it was seems to have magnified his power.
“ Shit,” is all he manages to get out as the battle horns sound, announcing someone approaching the wall.
“I’m guessing that’s him?” Victor asks dryly, not looking remotely concerned or worried that the King of Hell is on his doorstep.
“Lovely,” Nox grumbles, running a hand down his face as he stomps down the remaining stairs, Victor following on his left. He stops when he reaches the bottom, looking over his shoulder to Lemon Drop, who grimaces when he gestures for her to step to his side.
“I don’t think me being with you is the best idea. Pretty sure I’m not your Dad’s favorite person, and considering what happened with Jesthren is kinda my fault…” she trails off, looking a little pale, and I scowl at her. What the hell is she talking about?
“How in the world is it your fault that Jesthren betrayed our family?” Nox asks, equally confused.
“Mi Sol, that isn’t on your shoulders. Our brother made his choice and has been working against us since before we knew you existed,” Valen whispers, reaching out and lacing his fingers with Meyer’s.
“I know that. But it was because of me that… well, all this came to light. If I hadn’t–”
“If you hadn’t followed Elaine up that mountain, we would have no idea that it was Jesthren behind all the attacks,” I cut her off, frustrated that she didn’t see what’s plain to everyone else. “If it weren’t for you, Theo and Cali wouldn't have been able to give their mother a proper funeral, and you would probably be locked up somewhere to be used for whatever Jesthren is planning.” Meyer winces and nods in agreement as I step forward and cup her cheek. “If anything, our Father will be thanking you, Meyer,” I rasp, leaning close so I can kiss her soft lips.
“Feelings, especially hurt ones, sometimes cloud reality, Creed,” she mutters, and I frown. “If it were my child who had betrayed me and a stranger was the one making the claim, I don’t know what I would think or believe. I know it’s not my fault, but maybe he needs to talk with you guys to understand the situation. I know that sounds… fuck,” she sighs and closes her eyes, pressing her forehead to mine. “I'm not scared that he won’t believe me, but I’m already the least favorable choice as a mate for you and Nox. I don’t want to fuck it up any more than I may already have.”
“Okay, that's a lot to unpack that we don't have time for, and some of it will probably have to come from Nox, not me,” I say as I reach up and tuck a stray piece of blonde hair behind her ear. “But first off, you’re not a stranger to this family. You are already Nox’s and my mate, and even if our parents disapproved, which they don't, it wouldn’t matter.” I grind out, emphasizing the last part, trying to show her that she is our first and only choice. “And secondly, this situation sucks, yes,” I agree, as I stand to my complete height and reach out, tapping the end of her nose and earning a soft smile. “But Father isn’t going to hold this problem over your head. Unlike some Royal Demons you may know,” I side-eye Nox, who glowers at me as he crosses his arms over his chest and huffs in annoyance. “Father’s level-headed and intelligent. He has centuries of ruling under his belt; unfortunately, this isn’t the worst thing he’s had to endure. No one will blame you.”
“He’s right, Little Demon. It’s far better to be in the know than running around with a traitor we thought we could trust. And as my mate, you will be by my side, even if Father disapproves. He’ll get over it,” Nox says with a shrug as he holds his hand out and waits patiently for her to descend the remaining steps and place her tiny hand in his.
“It’s true,” Valen says, stepping behind Meyer protectively. “Besides, we have a secret weapon on our side that even the King of Hell is scared of.” I move around him, stepping next to my girl and clasping her free hand in mine as I give him a puzzled look. “Mom,” Valen grins and winks as I snort and nod.
“What’s the protocol here?” Victor interrupts, adjusting his many throwing blades strapped to his chest as he looks up at the double doors in front of us.
“You stay at my side, and I’ll introduce you as the head of the North American Seniorem. It will be similar to when you greet a high-ranking Umbra Hunter,” Nox instructs as the horns continue to blare outside.
“Right. And do we need the little one here?”
“Little one?” Meyer asks in confusion as the doors burst open, Jordan and Theo running through them with wide eyes and… swollen lips. Ha! I knew those two were at a breaking point. Their sexual tension made me want to thump them over the head. They’re as stubborn as some of my brothers at times. I grin at that thought when I remember they’re practically family.
I now have two new little brothers to torment and since I’m such a good big brother, I have to do my duty of embarrassing them just a little. Wiggling my brows at them, I grin as they sprint toward us, earning a sharp glare from Jordan as he stops in front of us.
“Having fun out there, you two? It must have gotten cold since we came in, with how red your cheeks are,” I tease, reaching out and tweaking his cheek like one would a baby. Jordan bats my hand away with a bone-chilling glare, and Theo scowls, grabbing Jordan and moving him closer to him.
“Hands off,” he snarls, and I chuckle. Oh yeah, this is going to be fun. It’s about time I get payback for all the things these little shits put me and my brothers through. Their constant flirting and touching of my Lemon Drop drove me absolutely mad! Now, it looks like it's my turn to have some fun.
“That’s the little one,” Victor grumbles, gesturing at Theo, making Meyer burst into peals of laughter.
“Theo isn’t little,” she disagrees, and I take the time to size up the young man as he throws Victor an annoyed look. He’s tall and broad, well-muscled and handsome for a Hunter. For a kid his age, sure, he’s not small, but when you put him next to Lennox, who makes anyone look small, and the oddly large behemoth of a Hunter that is Victor Drakos, yeah, I can see why they call him little.
“Where is Senior Regalis ?” Victor mutters, looking over his shoulder for the stern, reserved Russian Senior.
“Outside on the wall. Pretty sure she’s the only Hunter in the castle who actually enjoys being in Razar’s company,” Jordan responds, stepping closer to Meyer and handing her a few throwing blades and something else I can’t quite make out. Lemon Drop grins, and Jordan winks as she brings the item up and unwraps what looks to be a protein bar, taking a big bite out of it.
“That's because Senior Regalis is as fucking scary as he is. They probably enjoy glaring at each other and then swap friendly tips on their favorite way to dismember annoying Rangers who piss them off. If I didn't know better, I would say she’s a Demon, not a Hunter,” Theo says with a fake shiver.
“Are you hungry?” Valen asks in alarm, watching Meyer happily munching on her protein bar.
“Angry girl is always hungry, which then makes her hangry, and since we have the King of Hell outside, we figured we should feed her,” Theo mutters, smirking at Nox, who watches Meyer in confusion. “Maybe take some tips from those who know how to avoid a blow to the balls for future reference.”
“Does she also have irrational thoughts while hangry?” Nox asks, surprising me when he seems genuinely interested in accepting Theo's help. Meyer takes another big bite of her food and slowly raises her middle finger at Nox in response.
“Nope. That's just Meyer in general,” Jordan reassures him, chuckling when she shoves the rest of her protein bar in her mouth and licks her fingers. “Logic has little room in that brain of hers.”
“What?! I have plenty of logic!”
“You just choose not to use it,” Theo teases, and Meyer shoots him a cold look.
“I will stab you,” she hisses under her breath, hand falling to some of the blades Jordan supplied her with. Theo’s eyes widen in alarm as he looks from her to Jordan.
“Quick, give her another bar. She’s hungrier than we thought.”
“Fuckers,” Meyer grumbles.
Nox chuckles and threads his fingers through hers, tugging her forward as the doors in front of us open. I watch several of my Father’s high-ranking soldiers filter through the doors, walking in formation, their black, scale-like armor shining under the bright candlelight streaming from the wooden chandeliers above.
The horn sounds a final time as Father's towering frame fills the doorway, his shoulders back, chin held high, a gleaming crown of silver adorning his brow and twisted in his long black hair. His heavy booted feet echo in the now silent entry of the castle as Nox stands straight and then stiffly bows his head. At his movement, the rest of us follow, everyone bowing low, my brothers and I bowing at the waist rather than the slight head dip that Nox can get away with.
Another twenty soldiers follow my father in, keeping his back protected at all times as he strides towards us, magic rolling off him in waves. I watch the Hunters beside Victor stiffen at the blatant display of power, their eyes widening in terrified shock as they wait for their signal to rise, and I almost chuckle. These poor saps have no idea what they’re in for now that Orcus is here. They all think Lennox is powerful and terrifying, but they’re about to get a wake-up call.
I wait for my signal, watching him from the corner of my eye, seeing his tense jaw, stiff shoulders, and furious expression and grimace. This is about to get so fucking messy.
“Son,” Father says, voice clipped, his anger bleeding into his tone as he stops directly before him. Nox looks at our father, ready to greet him and introduce Victor and Theo when Father turns, effectively dismissing everyone as he looks at my Lemon Drop. Meyer’s eyes narrow just the slightest amount, and I watch as her chest stills, no doubt with unease, as she looks up at my father. I have to give her credit; she doesn't look scared, and if it weren’t for the mating bond thrumming through me with unease from her close proximity, I wouldn’t know she was nervous.
“King Orcus,” she greets with a steady voice, head held high, shoulders square as she holds Father's heavy stare like a fucking Queen. Her blonde hair cascades down her back, and I long to stand up and run my fingers through the soft strands.
“My dear,” Father greets her, holding his hand out and beckoning her to hold it. “I need a word. In private.” A growl breaks from my chest while Nox snarls and tries to step between our mate and Father. Magic wraps around Lennox, binding him in place and rendering him useless so quickly I don’t understand what's happened until Father slowly turns and glares at Nox, a disapproving look on his face. “In private . ” he reiterates, pinning Nox in place with his glare as he shakes his head, the crown on his brow glinting with the gold candlelight. “And alone.”