Page 25 of A Seduction Of Death (Umbra Hunters #4)

TWENTY-FIVE

Meyer

R azar opens his mouth, face still red, but pauses as he processes my words. His mouth shuts with an audible click as he looks from me to where Nox is mounting his horse, then back again.

“ Thinks . You said ‘thinks” you are on the wall,” he whispers as he goes over my words. “Not that you would stay here.”

“Yeah. Let's not talk about it because I already feel like a traitorous bitch for doing this. But he did say he trusts me and that the issue is his problem, not mine. So I helped solve the problem, and now I’m going to go do what he trusts me to do.” I shrug and bite my lip as I look at the Beastia, who are way too close for comfort.

“Alright,” Razar agrees, looking over my head with a calculated expression before turning, his cloak billowing out dramatically behind him, and striding in the opposite direction Valen had gone.

“Cool, yeah, I’ll follow you,” I grumble under my breath, rolling my eyes at Razar’s behavior as I stalk after him. I try to ignore the slow creeping army and how unnatural they appear, their eyes red, steps silent.

“On my heel,” Raz snaps, making me pick up my pace until we’re on the far side of the castle that butts up against the mountainside. Tall pine trees are scattered around, which will help us sneak off the wall undetected. “I’ll go down first and make sure it's clear. When you follow, watch your step, and do not fall,” Razar demands, acting way too protective and weird about this since he’s personally shoved me off this damn wall himself. Hell, he shoved me off a cliff into the Demon realm, where I crashed and rolled down a mountain. Okay, maybe it was a hill, but it still hurt, and he deserves some payback for all the shoving.

Speaking of… I lean over the wall, looking down at the steep drop to the fresh mounds of snow, and smile. Yeah, that should do perfectly.

“What’s that?” I ask, keeping my voice low as if I’m worried about whatever is down below. Razar frowns as he checks over his weapons and steps toward me, peering over the side of the wall.

“What? I don't see anything?”

I don’t wait or take the time to decide if this is a bad idea or not as I press my palms against Razar’s back and shove him as hard as I can. A flash of the Kalis blade strapped to his side makes me grin, another idea coming to mind. Giggling, I step back, avoiding Razar’s long arms when they windmill out at his sides in a sad attempt to prevent his fall. But it's useless, and I’m one determined bitch.

Reaching out, I pluck my original Kalis blade from where it’s strapped to Razar’s side, grinning at my victory. Kicking out, I hit him square in the butt, making him curse under his breath as he topples forward and over the wall.

Darting forward, I press my hand against the cold gray stone and grin down at the snow-covered and very rumpled-looking Razar who is lying on the ground, glare fixed on his face as he shoves off his hood and shakes his head at me with slow, deliberate movements. I can't stop the peels of laughter that rack through me as I take him in, ass deep in the mound of snow, feet in the air, shoulders wedged back at an odd angle. I have never seen the Demon Prince look so out of his comfort zone than he is right at this moment.

“I want that blade back!” he snarls, and I shake my head, flipping the blade in my hand for show.

“Then earn it.”

“I will!” he growls, and I slap my hand over my mouth to stifle my laughter as I wink down at him, twirling my Kalis in my hand once more and making his face twist with anger. I’m acting like a child, but I totally deserve this small amount of revenge.

“This was unnecessary,” Razar grinds out as he brushes the snow from his hair, cursing up a storm as he tries to wiggle out of the snow mound he’s now found himself in.

“It was very necessary. And you deserved it,” I pipe back as I press myself onto the wall and swing my legs over the side, eyeing the mound of snow next to the one I shoved Razar in. Raz stills when he sees me, and he growls, teeth bared, and lips pulled back as I wiggle my ass to the edge, tuck my Kalis into my belt, and take a deep breath.

“Don’t you dare! I need to clear the area, and then I’ll assist you down!” he snarls and I give him a look.

“Assist me down? You mean you want me to wait here so you can toss me off yourself?” I ask and shake my head. “No, thank you.”

“Pup! Do not jump off that wall.”

“I got this,” I tell him, ignoring the slight tinge of fear as I look down. Shit, I don't remember the wall being this high up, but Raz landed in the snow without any injury, so I should be fine… right?

Meh. Better to jump than be tossed.

With that, I shove myself off the wall, making Razar’s eyes double in size as he tries to roll and catch me. I hold my breath, my eyes slamming shut just as I feel my ass hit the snow with more force than I thought it would. Ow! But when my head whips back, it's not as hard as I thought it would be as a big hand cradles my head, softening the fall. “Oh, that wasn't so bad,” I say cheerily, cracking my eyes open to see a black, furious set of eyes glaring back at me.

“Are you out of your fucking mind?” he growls, but before I can answer, Razar’s lips slam to mine, stealing my breath and making me moan in surprised delight. His lips move with a fierce possession, that sharp, almost painful bite to his kiss filling me with a need so consuming I practically whimper into his mouth as my hand darts out, fingers digging into his shirt as I try to press myself as close to him as I can.

Razar’s firm, muscular body presses to mine as he rolls over me, his arms caging me in, forcing me back into the snow. I shiver as he moves his knees, pressing against my legs and making me spread for him until his hips are cradled between my thighs.

Like our first kiss, this one feels like something more than a simple joining of our lips. It's dark and dangerous, speaking to a side of myself I’m slowly discovering and making me crave so much more. Razar’s hand weaves into the hair at the base of my neck, gripping me with a strength that used to scare me but now makes me feel secure. He moans, the sound flooding my center with heat.“Raz,” I gasp as he pulls back just enough to let me catch my breath, his lips brushing lightly over mine as I arch my back, my hands moving to clasp behind his neck to keep him close. I feel like I’m taunting him as I nip at his lips, licking into his mouth in an attempt to tease the Beast inside him. Razar groans as my breasts press more firmly into his body as he rests against me, his hips rolling just the slightest amount against mine, grinding against my pussy, making my eyes flutter shut at the sensation.

“Please,” I beg, not caring that I sound desperate as Raz rolls his hips a second, then a third time. At this point, I’ll do anything to have him, to make him mine. Darkness surges within me, his magic sparking around us and tugging at my own like a siren call I can’t help but answer. I grin, allowing him to take control, his magic wrapping around us, binding us close while mine strokes the powerful black strands in an attempt to seduce Death himself to come out and play.

This is what I want and need . The closeness between us, the desire to be with Raz, a part of him in a way that makes me his as much as it makes him mine. I need to feel him on a different level, emotionally and physically. To have him settle the ache blooming inside me, feeding that dark part of my soul that calls to his and making me feel alive.

Razar’s lips part, and almost as if he’s hesitant, his tongue darts out, sweeping over my lips. Locking my fingers in his hair, I press against him again, making the soft kiss turn feverish, his lips moving smoothly against my own, turning my brain to mush. All rational thought leaves me as his big thumb strokes over the delicate skin of my throat, then presses my chin up more, allowing him to deepen our kiss.

“Wait,” he growls, yanking back from me and sitting up. Glaring, I snap my legs around his hips and shake my head.

“No.”

“It's not safe, and I won't have our first…” he trails off, eyes slightly glazed over like his mind is short-circuiting. “Dammit Pup. Not in the damn snow with an army of Beastia crawling around! Stop distracting me. I told Nox I would keep you safe, and since we are both going against orders, I want to keep that promise!” Razar grinds out, running his hands through his black hair, eyes wild as he looks around us like he’s shocked he allowed himself to get distracted with the enemy nearby.

I wrinkle my nose but can't argue with his reasoning as I slowly release my legs wrapped tightly around his trim hips, letting him jump to his feet with a grace I wish I possessed. “This is what blueballs must feel like for men,” I whisper to myself as Raz extends his hand to help me up. Instead of waiting like a normal person, as I try to push some of the snow off me, Raz reaches down, grabs a handful of my shirt, and yanks me out of the small snow pile I was lodged in.

“On my?—”

“Heel. Yes, I know,” I grumble as I shoot him a look, brushing off the rest of the snow that’s trying to work its way down my collar. “Lead the way.” Raz eyes me but nods, turning to move around the trees, hands moving to the smaller sword strapped to his waist. “So is there a plan, or are we just going to wait for the Beastia to run, and we try to kill the stragglers?” I ask, keeping my voice pitched low as Raz leads us through the small grouping of pine trees.

“ We are not killing them, I am. You will freeze them in their path to ensure I can eradicate all threats without risking your safety.”

“Well, that sounds boring. I thought you said I knew how to fight?” Raz snorts and shakes his hand back and forth in the air.

“It’s true you have the concept of fighting down, but your skill is lackluster and something I intend to work on once we have more free time. You may fight if something goes wrong. Otherwise, you will stay on my heel and allow me to do my job.” I glower at Raz as I try to step in his footprints, keeping my movement small and as quiet as possible as we reach the edge of the small tree line.

“You’re as bad as Nox,” I complain, leaning close to him as he puts his hand up, signaling for us to stop.

“No. Lennox would have you up on the wall and away from danger. I want you to learn, but not at the risk of your life. There is a difference.” Huh, well, I guess I can’t argue with that.

“Is this a bad time to tell you I have no idea how to freeze the Beastia?” I ask, biting my lip as he turns and quirks a brow at me in question. “I mean, I know I can, obviously. You saw it. But I don't actually know how I did it,” I amend, and Raz frowns, turning to face me fully, hands on his hips.

“Walk me through the process when it happened back at the cave.”

“There’s not much to walk through. Beastia showed up. They tried to attack you, and I told them to stop.” I shrug, and Razar nods.

“Alright. So do that again,” he says simply, turning away like his job is done, and the problem is now solved.

“Uh, no! I don't know how I did it in the first place!” I whisper yell at him, frustration filling me at his annoyed sigh as he turns back to me. “How am I supposed to repeat something I don't know how to do?”

“You do know how to do it. I watched you. You're just overthinking things and working yourself up for no reason.” He looks at me like I’m acting ridiculous, and I can feel my temper pick up as I grind my molars together. Don't get mad at him; he’s trying to help.

“But I don't know how I called on the magic. It appears when it wants. I have no control over it.” Raz frowns at that and shakes his head.

“That's not how magic works. It's not something you call on and demand to work. Your magic is a part of you; the same way you breathe, your blood, and your thoughts are a part of you. Wait, haven’t Nox and Valen told you this?” he asks, voice deepening as he leans closer to me, and I shake my head, making his lips thin in response.

“To be fair, we have been a little busy,” I try to offer when it looks like smoke might leak from his ears. Razar scoffs and turns back toward the clearing, eyeing the small army of Beastia with a calculating look before nodding to himself.

“Right. Follow me, do not trip, and do not make a sound. I’ll attempt to explain your magic once we get to the other side of the clearing. We must get behind the army before Nox and Father enter the clearing.”

A bright spark of light to our left has me gasping and turning, watching as the castle walls begin to glow, pale green magic coursing over the walls, the tiny symbols engraved into the stone sparking to life on the right side as cold black magic encompasses the left. They crash together at the center, and my mouth drops open. It’s a beautiful and terrifying display of magic that both thrills and scares the shit out of me to witness.

“What was that?” I ask, and Raz growls, grabbing my hand and yanking me to run with him as he sprints out of the trees and toward the other side of the small, narrowed clearing.

“Valen and Father have reinforced the wards on the castle. The fight is about to start.”