Page 17 of A Seduction Of Death (Umbra Hunters #4)

SEVENTEEN

Meyer

T he fire in the large hearth behind me suddenly ignites to life, flames springing high and filling the dark room with golden light. I watch Archer, taking one step back with every step he takes closer to me, never taking my eyes off his movements as he stalks me through the dining hall. His cloak is pulled low over his brow, only allowing the slightest shine of red eyes to peek through as he studies me with an amused smirk on his lips.

“What did you do to Valen?” I ask, my voice coming out weaker than I would like as I try to figure out what to do next. I have Razar’s traitorous brother armed and in front of me. The last time I saw him, Jesthren instructed him to find me and bring me to him, so I knew I had to stay out of his hands.

“Nothing. He’s simply asleep,” Archer says, voice cracking with a growl as he flips the knife in his hand in the air, letting it spin in a full arc before catching it again.

“And the others?” I ask, needing to know they’re okay before this all goes to shit.

“The same. I have no intention of killing my brothers,” he says, nodding his head once like he’s some hero for not trying to kill his family immediately. “They are safe from harm.”

“And why should I believe that? You did try to kill them once already. Razar–” I gasp and twist, ducking out of the way with only a second to spare as the knife Archer had just been holding flies over my head. My feet slide across the cold stone of the floor as I fall on my ass, watching the deranged man as he snarls at me, lips drawn back like a feral animal ready to attack.

I slowly press back up to my knees, eyes moving to where his blade now lies on the ground on the far side of the room. If I move fast enough, I may be able to grab it before he can reach me.

“Don’t,” Archer warns, and I glare at him, watching his blank, emotionless red eyes stare at me. “Come with me willingly, and I won't hurt you. Resist, and I’ll kill those Rangers you always keep around.” My body locks up with fear at the mention of Theo and Jordan. Does Archer already have them? Does he know where they are? Shit, what if Jesthren’s here and is trying to get to Nox and the others?

“You sound like Jesthren. I didn't listen to him; why do you think I would listen to you?” Archer scowls, but his eyes don’t even flicker when I take a small step toward the blade.

“I will kill them, Meyer. Your little friends and my brothers eventually. I warned you! I told you this would happen, and you still didn’t listen. Now, it's inevitable. You chose this, not me. I could have saved them all, but you had to be difficult,” he rasps, and I still frown in confusion at him.

What? I’ve never spoken to Archer before. When did he tell me he would kill the guys? Only… wait.

My eyes dart to Archer's red ones, to the black and glazed-over expression I had seen before on the girl I fought outside the castle. The one who had been a tool, a pawn used by whatever magic controlled the Wraiths and Beastia. I shake my head as I start to piece together what I’m seeing in front of me, and I start to feel sick all over again.

This is so much worse than I thought.

“Jesthren?” I whisper, still not quite believing what I see in front of me. Red eyes and a blank stare are all I see as Archer reaches behind him and grabs an arrow as he slowly brings his bow up. I stare at the bow, wood black and narrow, black fletching, and a perfectly carved arrowhead that glistens with some kind of liquid. I wince, my back aching as I try not to remember the pain of an arrow just like this, probably shot by the same bow, lodging itself in my back.

“You just have to be difficult. It’s something I would actually find rather endearing if it didn't cost me my brother's lives,” Archer says, and I swallow thickly, sliding to the right, taking one step then another toward the knife. “You won't make it in time,” Archer chuckles, the sound cold and eerie as I take one more step. “I’ll kill you before you can get there. Father wants you alive, Meyer. You are, after all, one of his blood. A creation of his,” Archer says, and I shiver as the words confirm that it may be Archer speaking, but it’s Jesthren behind those words, not Razar’s twin. “But you pose a bigger threat alive and helping them. I don't want your death, Meyer, but I will grant it if you don’t come with me.”

“I’ll die no matter what,” I say, raising my brow as Archer pauses and tilts his head in confusion.

“Inanis only wants your help. You have the power to help us bring the Demonic realm to its rightful place. You will be safe. You will thrive and be a queen in your own right as long as you swear an oath to your sire.” I scoff and shake my head, wondering if Jesthren is really this stupid or if he’s been convinced to believe these lies.

“Oh really? And what of Inanis’ other children? Did you ever ask dear old Dad what he did with those kids? Where are they?” Orcus’ story of the dead children piled in the dungeons makes my stomach roll as I watch Archer’s bow waver before him, lowering an inch as he frowns.

“They were killed in the wars. I’m all that's left, well, and you. We tried to gather the others, but they refused.” Archer, or rather Jesthren, says as I take the chance to step again to the left, bringing me that much closer to the knife.

“He harvested their magic… killed his own children, and somehow you’re still loyal to that monster?”

“No!” Archer roars, his eyes glowing an even brighter red. “That’s a lie. Orcus and Varick stole us for their personal gain. They took Father's children to weaken him enough to strike a fatal blow.”

“Your father,” I hiss the word as I take another step from him. “Harvested his children's magic to strengthen himself. Orcus saved your life and took you as his own son! And you betrayed him and the brothers who have been by your side for over a century for a fucking monster who wanted something that didn’t belong to him.”

“Orcus locked my magic away, too scared to be overshadowed by a Demon stronger than him. He stole me from my true family and raised me to be a king, only to strip that title away from me when he gave birth to his own blood. Do not make him out to be a martyr here. Orcus is many things; a hero is not one of them. He hunted a race of Demons until they were extinct, Meyer! You and I are only alive because he deemed it so. Not even Varick is here to challenge his rule, and Valen is not man enough to balance our world. You think Inanis is a monster for trying to correct and rule over a world and race that was suffering, yet you adore Orcus for doing the exact same thing. Orcus can easily change his mind and eradicate our bloodline whenever he wants. You think being mated to Nox will help?” Archer scoffs, bow lowering even more as he shakes his head. “It won’t. Orcus will never protect you, Meyer. He will drop you the moment you become inconvenient, the way he did to me.”

Fucking hell, this man has some major daddy issues.

“You’re wrong. Orcus only did what he had to do to protect the Veil and his people. Inanis wants more than just his realm, Jesthren. He wants everything. Orcus put the Hunters into place to protect humans when Inanis wanted to kill them. He lets them rule and govern themselves.”

“And look where that's gotten them! They need guidance, Meyer. The human race is prone to destruction and can’t live without guidance.” I shake my head, wondering if this is even worth the argument, when Archer huffs and glares like I’m the unreasonable one.

“Inanis is not what you think. I’ve seen his destruction, the death he brought to the Demon realm! He showed me himself in those dreams! The senseless killing… the Beastia!”

Archer snorts a laugh as he draws his bow back up, aiming at my chest. “You think Inanis created the Beastia? No. No, it was Orcus’ brother, his very own protector. Born to keep him safe and died trying to kill him. Do you know why Orcus allowed Nox to share you with his brothers?” I step back as Archer advances, fury alight in those red eyes that Jesthren controls. Is Razar’s twin in there at all? Can he see and hear what's going on, or is he trapped in a mental prison of Jesthren’s making?

“It’s because he’s scared of history repeating itself. He was too selfish to share the woman he loved with his own brother and friends. Demon’s mate in Legions. It's a natural form of love in our world, but Royals, especially the heirs, are too dominant and possessive of their mates. Orcus wouldn’t share, despite Vivianne loving three others along with him. They all pleaded and begged him, but ultimately, he chose himself. Like he always does. And all this pain…” Archer's arm swings in front of him wildly. “All of this destruction and loss could have been prevented if Orcus hadn’t stolen what wasn't his. Valen could still have his family, and Razar and Arch would have their father. And you… you would have been born where you belong instead of this awful realm. What would you do if that were you? What would Valen, Razar, and Creed do if Nox took you from them?”

I gape at Archer in surprise, trying to wrap my mind around that information. What would I have done if Nox made me choose just one person? If he refused to share with his brothers? My heart cracks a little at the idea, and I take a deep breath as I try to keep the conversation going. I need to keep Archer, or rather Jesthren, occupied enough to get to that knife.

“I don’t know. I can't say what they would do, but I know I wouldn’t have let that happen. I would have had all of my guys or none in order to keep the peace,” I rasp out, and he laughs.

“You think Lennox would let you go? That he would give you that choice?”

“Yes.” I snarl with so much conviction that I surprise myself. But it’s the truth, and what’s even crazier is that I actually believe it. I know Nox wouldn't have liked it, but I also know if I had asked to leave, he would have let me go. “And the real difference here is that no matter what, Valen, Creed, and Raz would never betray Nox.” With a curse and a prayer, I turn and run, lunging for the knife as I hear the whoosh of an arrow and cry out at the sharp pain in my right ear just as my finger wraps around the hilt of Archer’s blade.

“You stupid girl!” Archer roars as black and red magic leaks from his fingertips. The tar-like magic pools around him as he strings another arrow, his teeth sharp, fangs bared as he aims. Suddenly, the fire that is now only ten or so feet from me explodes, and the sconces that line the dining hall walls burst to life, magic lighting the wicks with such speed that I wince from the sudden glow. The cold stone floor beneath me trembles, and the walls shake, gray dust falling from above as Archer stumbles back, the arrow he had aimed releasing and flying way overhead as he tries to regain his balance.

I curse and cover my head with my arms; fingers wrapped tightly around the knife's hilt as I try to keep my attention on Archer with whatever the hell is going on here. Archer’s red eyes dart to the closed double doors of the dining hall, and he snarls before turning and charging directly at me.

“Shit,” I grind out, and I bring the knife up, ready to throw it at Archer's face, then stop. Shit! Can I really kill him if he’s only under Jesthren’s control? Indecision wars within me, and I jump to my feet and shake my head. I can’t kill an innocent person! Not without knowing if he’s completely under someone else's control. t. But I sure as hell refuse to die here and give up without a fight. I brace myself, knife in hand, ready to strive for a non-vital area on Archer's body just as the double doors of the dining hall explode inward.

Power like I’ve never felt before floods the room, making my knees shake and stealing the breath from my lungs as Archer lunges, his body colliding with mine, my knife sinking into his shoulder as a fully shifted, Royal Demon appears, his horns protruding from his temples, black taloned claws scraping against the stone below, long, pointed tail and massive wings that stretch the length of both doors curled behind his black form. A roar pierces the air when the Demon’s black eyes collide with Archers, and I tense as emotions swirl within those dark depths—pain—longing, and betrayal. His eyes fall on me, clasped in Archer's hands, and his fury doubles.

Fuck! He doesn't know it’s Jesthren controlling Arch! That his son may be as much of a victim of Jesthren’s betrayal as he is.

“Orcus, No!” I shout, trying to twist and escape Archer's deadly grip on my body as the King of Demons lunges for his son.