Page 18 of A Seduction Of Death (Umbra Hunters #4)

EIGHTEEN

Meyer

I gasp as I’m yanked and spun like a damn rag doll, the world spinning as Archer avoids Orcus. Pain screams in my scalp as the Demon Prince’s hand fists my hair, his other wrapping around my wrist that is holding the knife deep into his shoulder. With a single move, he tears the blade from his body and tugs me to my feet, my back to his chest, bloody blade now pressed firmly against my throat.

Well, fuck. This isn’t good.

Orcus skids to a stop only feet from us, his massive body heaving with uncontrolled anger; his black eyes fall on the blade against my skin. Thick black talons click against the stone floors as he growls at his son, eyes flashing to Archer's face above mine, head tilting in a warning as he slowly speaks.

“Release her, son. This only ends badly for you. You know that. You should have never come to this castle if you wanted to leave with your life.”

“Orcus, it’s not Ar—” I try to say but gasp and hiss in pain as I feel the blade dig into my throat; a sharp burn sears through me as the blade carves shallowly into my flesh, cutting off my warning to Orcus.

“Uh-uh,” Archer tsks in my ear, his hand around my wrist tightening until my bones shift and a whimper breaks past my lips. Orcus’ nostrils flare, making him look even more terrifying than before. His claws dig into the gray stone, leaving long gashes on the floor as he trembles angrily. “Let him keep talking, Meyer. It’ll only prove my point that he will kill whomever he wants when he wishes it. Even if it's one of his self-proclaimed sons,” Jesthren hisses, using Archer as his pawn.

“I have never and will never wish you dead, Archer. But your actions speak for themselves, and I will do what is necessary to protect our family, even if it destroys me to do it. A family you betrayed and have tried to kill!” Orcus adds, words so rough and deep I have a hard time keeping up with them. I grit my teeth against the urge to swallow, the pain of the blade still a very real threat as Archer holds it against my bleeding throat.

“You know, I think he even believes his lies. I can see why you’ve been championing him,” Archer sneers, chuckling darkly as he takes a step back, forcing me to move with him or risk a deep slice against my throat. “How did you break out of the spell I had cast? I made sure to weave it thick enough to hold even you.”

Smoke billows from Orcus’ nose as he grins back at his son; the action makes a shiver of dread race down my spine as I watch on as a silent observer. “You did. A very well-laid and thought-out spell, I might add. But when I woke in my bed several weeks ago, disoriented and somehow unaware of a threat walking my halls while I slept, I took precautions to ensure it wouldn’t happen again. Thank the Gods I did since you decided to grace us with your presence tonight. Wouldn’t want you to feel like you didn't receive a proper greeting.”

“Very considerate,” Archer growls in response, then snarls when Orcus stalks closer to us. His hand twists my hair around his fist even more, yanking my head back, making me grit my teeth in pain as I glare up at him. “Another step, and dear Meyer’s life ends. And with it, your son’s.” My eyes widen at those words, my heart stalling at the thought. Wait, is that a possibility? If I die, will the guys follow?

Fuck, fuck, fuck!

“You would be willing to drive three of your brothers into madness, Arch?” Orcus says, but he doesn't move, choosing not to press Archer with the threat hanging in the air.

“Three? Well, haven't you been a little busy? You couldn’t let the other two die in peace? Razar was already marked for death, but you just had to pull Valen into it, didn't you? After all my warnings back at that cave,” Arch scoffs, glaring down at me as he jerks my hair from side to side, making my teeth rattle in my head. The pain in my neck increases, letting me know the knife has cut slightly deeper into my skin. I can hear Orcus curse, but I can no longer see him with my head tilted so far back.

“You’ve spoken before?” Orcus asks, and I try to answer, but I almost shake my head when I remember the knife pressed there. I glower at Archer, letting him see my hatred for him, as he laughs in delight.

“Meyer and I are close, aren’t we, dear? Almost… like family?” Fucking Jesthren and his fucking bullshit. I hate that we’re related, that we share the same blood.

“She is your family, Archer! She’s your sister, mated to three of your brothers, and you are fucking hurting her! Let her go. This fight is between us. So let’s settle it that way.”

“This fight goes so far beyond us that it’s laughable. And you know it. Don't try to play the victim in this. And she is not mated to my brother. I have no brothers.”

“Your brother has already told me his interest in the girl! It’s only a matter of time until he claims her as his as well. You’ve already hurt him enough. Are you truly willing to take the girl he’s decided to mate as well?”

I blink, gaping at Orcus' words because what the actual hell did he just say? Razar told his dad he wanted to mate me? My brain misfires as I try to wrap my mind around this information. I thought we were still stuck at that weird fighting and arguing stage of our relationship.

Archer's hand shakes me again, and I wince. Yep, it looks like he’s totally willing to hurt Raz with my death. Or at least Jesthren is. Who knows if Arch is actually involved in this whole thing or simply a victim himself. I take in a strangled breath, trying not to move as I attempt to figure a way out of this situation.

“I would be doing him a favor by taking her life before he gets attached,” Archer grinds out, his red eyes glowing with so much emotion that it's almost painful to see.

“As a mated Demon, a man who I watched fall in love with my own eyes, I find it odd that you would think that. Razar stepped up, you know. He looked after Mara for you when we thought you dead. When her mind fractured, when the grief was so consuming, when she was begging for death. He was there for her. Razar is the only reason my daughter, your fucking mate, is still with us today. The only reason your daughter is alive!” Orcus roars, the pain in his words making tears prick at my eyes at the reminder of the sad woman and the beautiful, too-small baby I had seen just before leaving the Demon realm.

Archer's face drains of color, his grip on me lessening as he shakes his head and blinks several times, looking at his father like he’s seen a ghost. Knowing this will probably be my only chance of escape, I move, slamming my heel down on Archer's toes and twisting out of his painful grip. I feel blood trickle down my neck as I break free from Arch, his hands trying to tighten but moving far too slowly as I shove his chest and make him stumble back.

I scream in surprise when Arch’s furious red eyes snap to mine, his hand around my wrist yanking me back toward him as he falls back. Shit, I’m not getting trapped with him again! I turn, trying to fall on my side as we crash to the ground. I use my free hand and shove his head back, making it bounce off the floor with a sickening crack. My hands glow red and sparks shoot from my fingertips, making me curse as he cries out in pain. I move my hand to his chest, trying to keep our momentum going so I don’t get trapped, but he’s too strong and rolls so he’s on top of me, blade moving toward me with deadly speed.

My breath freezes in my lungs when the knife stops only an inch from my chest, and I look up, finding Archer stunned and… holy shit, his green eyes on mine! Archer’s unfocused gaze stares at me like he’s surprised, his hand not holding the blade moving slowly up, touching his brown hair before drawing back. We both look at his long fingers, now covered in dark blood, before looking back at each other. I’m not sure who’s more shocked, him or me, but I take a deep breath and decide to press him.

“Archer?” I breathe out, his eyes slowly coming into focus before he glances back to the knife in his hand and widens in horror. Magic snaps around us, crackling like fire as he shakes his head and screams, back bowing, head thrown back as his body trembles above mine.

I stare at him, fear and concern running through me as I try to wiggle my way out from under him.

“No!” he screams, and I stare at him, watching as he fights something I can't see. Suddenly, his body stills above me, and he releases a wounded sound, almost like an animal trapped in a cage, as he slowly looks back down at me. “Run, Meyer,” he whispers, voice cracking with fear as his fingers release the knife, tossing it just as a spark of red magic flickers in those soft green eyes.

Yep, you don't gotta tell me twice.

I shove harder at him, watching Archer’s soft features alter, sharpening as black magic curls around his hands. “You weigh a fucking ton!” I grunt as a clawed hand wraps around Archer’s shoulder, tearing him from me and throwing him across the dining hall. “No!” I scream as Orcus follows, grabbing his son in his clawed hands and pinning him to the floor. Archer's blood-red eyes meet his father, and he gives him a bloody smile as black magic erupts, attacking the Demon King.

Orcus bellows, his monstrous features twisted in pain at the strong attack, his own magic cracking around him like a whip, audible and terrifying to behold as fire erupts at Archer’s fingertips.

Shit, they’re going to kill each other.

“Orcus, don’t! It’s not Archer! That’s fucking Jesthren!” The Demon's head turns toward me, black eyes widening with my words, claws stilling only a breath away from Archer’s throat. “It’s Jes. He’s controlling him!” I manage to get out just as fire slams into the Demon King, sending him spiraling back, slamming into the wall, and making the whole damn castle shake with the impact.

The chandeliers above sway, the stones groaning at the added stress to their structure, and the fire crackles, expanding from all sources in the room. The sconces lining the walls explode, sending shards of glass and brass flying in every direction as the flames in the hearth grow, lapping at the impossibly high ceilings above. A shout and footsteps outside the dining hall signal that someone is about to join this fucked-up party as Archer advances on Orcus, his hands now curved and twisted into those of a shifter Demon, his face no longer human looking, but one of a monster. His jaw is unhinged and far too open to be considered normal, eyes too big for his long face, and features sharp enough to cut as he stalks forward, eyes locked on his prey.

Fire cords around his body like a viper ready to strike anyone who dares cross his path.

“That is not your magic to wield, Jesthren,” Orcus grinds out, shoving to his feet, eyes on his son. Archer’s face twists into a gruesome smile.

“His magic, body, and mind are mine to do with as I wish, as will yours once I release my father and take back what you stole. There is nothing left you can do. Even if Archer fails to bring me the girl, the Hunters are already in motion. Go back home and say your goodbyes, Orcus. Your days as King are numbered.”

I take a step toward Orcus, unsure what I can do but unwilling to let him fight on his own.

“No!” Archer shouts, a flaming hand moving in my direction. I freeze between the Demons, eyes on the fire at Archer’s fingertips.

“Arch, you can fight him,” I whisper, desperate for this not to end in his death. My guys have been through enough pain and suffering. If they find out that Arch has been held captive by Jesthren and forced to do unthinkable acts, only for him to die at their father's hand, it will destroy them all.

“You pathetic girl,” Archer hisses between his sharp teeth.

“Jesthren,” Orcus rasps, raising his hands, bringing Archer’s attention back to him. I can see the pain and devastation this is causing him—the betrayal of his son, whom he’s raised and loved for centuries. “Inais has warped your mind, son. You have to get him out! I know you're strong enough to do it. Please, son!” he begs, then curses as he raises his hand, deflecting a ball of fire Archer hurls at him.

“I am not your son!” Archer shouts just as Creed sprints into the room; his swords clutched in his hands. Wild green eyes jump to where I stand in the middle of the burning room before bouncing to his dad, then Arch, before swinging back to me.

Creed’s face pales, eyes raking over me, my name on his lips as his shocked expression turns into a snarl. He bares his teeth, his fangs lengthening as his eyes fall on my bloody neck, and I know by the crazed look in my mate's darkening eyes that all chances of trying to save Arch just went out the window.