Page 32 of A Seduction Of Death (Umbra Hunters #4)

THIRTY-TWO

Meyer

“ O rcus? Lucius?”

I frown and open my eyes, squinting at the bright candlelight coming from the elaborate chandelier hanging above me. Bright marble stone glimmers under my feet as I step back, trying to figure out where I am.

“Orcus?” The soft feminine voice calls from outside the enormous room, echoing through the opened double doors.

“What the hell?” I whisper, turning as I look around, confused for a moment until I spot the two thrones at the end of the long room. “Oh shit,” I groan, realizing where I am and how impossible that would be since the last thing I remember is Razar fucking me out in the forest near the Hunters Castle before being tucked into bed.

One look down confirms my suspicions, and I sigh in annoyance, my hand running over the blue silk of the dress I’ve slowly grown accustomed to wearing in my dreams. “Well, at least I’m not stuck outside with a bunch of Beastia,” I grumble, trying to look on the bright side. A door slams behind me and I turn and blink in surprise at the two young Demons rushing past the throne and down the dais, heading toward the door.

“Razar?” I whisper in confusion, taking a step toward the man, stopping when I see his bright green eyes. Way too light to be Raz’s.

“You have to tell Viv. You know she’s going to be mad about this. Maybe she can convince Father to change his mind?” a young man says, hands fisted, a deep frown marring his handsome face. I smile as he gets closer, his head bent forward, and he talks to the other man, who looks like a carbon copy of Lennox.

“You know he won’t,” the young man who looks like Nox says, glaring at the doors in front of him as he strides confidently toward them. Both men are wearing black clothing similar to the Umbra Hunter’s fighting leathers but have embellished their wardrobes with silver details. The markings swirl and glimmer in the golden light of the candles, making them look more like fictional Gods than young Demon Princes.

“Then let's talk with Varack! Maybe he’ll be able–”

“Varack and Inanis are the reason Father said no, Lucius. And Father makes a fair point. How are three kings supposed to share a mate? Am I supposed to ship off my betrothed to the Dream Walker Kingdom for a week and simply wait for her to return?”

“Orcus, please. I know we can figure it out,” the young man practically begs, and my stomach drops as I watch the dream playing out in front of me. A young Orcus glares at the man and stops walking, placing his hands on his hips.

“What do you want from me, brother? I told you I would ask Father and share Viv if he agreed. He didn’t, and after hearing his reasoning, I can see how a shared union would be catastrophic. Inanis and I have already fought twice this week. Why do you think he went home yesterday? I don’t think involving either of them in this discussion will help our situation.”

My mind whirls as I listen to the men but catch on a single word.

Brother.

Shit, this is Razar’s dad. Oh fuck, this isn't going to be good.

“But–”

“No!” Orcus roars, turning on his brother, his hands trembling as claws start to form. Lucius glowers at him, eyes moving over Orcus' large body as he shakes his head, disgust plain to see on his face.

“So that's it? You’re no longer willing to talk about it? One word from Father, and you agree. And what? You’ll simply cut out your two best friends and your brother?” Lucius sneers, his eyes flashing with black magic.

“Inanis is not my best friend. I tolerate him at best, and honestly, I’m starting to question his fucking motives. Did you hear him talking about humans as if they are livestock, wanting to pull them across the rift and enslave them?”

“Humans are nothing compared to us. Inanis may be a little harsh in his words, but he’s not wrong. Our world is losing its resources faster than we can renew them. There must be a plan of action in case our survival is at stake.” Razar’s dad snaps, and Orcus laughs, but it's not a happy one.

“You sound just like him, brother. Maybe it's good that he won’t be coming around anymore.” Orcus glares at Lucius before frowning and holding up his hand, cutting off Lucius' following words as a young woman waltzes through the doors, her eyes alight with excitement when she sees the two men.

“There you are,” she breathes, her cheeks pink with a beautiful blush as she skips up to them, wrapping her arms around Orcus's lean waist. Orcus’ arms snap around her slim waist, his angry eyes softening as he stares down at her.

“Viv,” he whispers, pressing a kiss on her forehead. Then he reaches behind her and tugs on the end of her long black braid. “You were supposed to wait in my room until I came to collect you,” he scolds. I smile when she rolls her eyes up at him and tugs out of his hold with a shrug.

“I got bored. Varack got called home, and Inanis was being an ass and wouldn’t stay like he promised to. He left before I could say goodbye this morning,” she says, stepping between the brothers. She goes up on her toes and presses her lips to Lucius' cheek, making Razar’s dad instantly relax and lean into her touch.

“Inanis left last night while you slept, and you know it's not safe for you to be wandering the halls without one of us or a guard,” Lucius chides, his hand moving to wrap around her waist, but ends up falling to his side when Orcus reaches out and tugs her back to him, giving his brother a warning look. Lucius growls low, and I hold my breath as Viv frowns, looking at the two brothers, her face one of confusion before understanding dawns.

“You… you talked to your father?” she asks, making Orcus tense. His lips thin as he slowly nods. “And?” Viv prompts, tears already filling her eyes as she looks up at the Demon holding her. Orcus sighs and closes his eyes, looking pained, as he shakes his head. The motion tears a sob from Viviane's chest, and tears stream down her cheeks as she looks to Lucius, who looks like he’s about to cry himself.

“But… I thought,” Viv hiccups, hand pressing to her chest as she doubles over, pain etched on her delicate face, and Orcus curses, wrapping her tight in his arms.

“I’ll talk to him again,” he promises, making Lucius look at him with hope in his eyes. I swallow the lump in my throat as the dream shifts, the mirage altering until I’m standing in a room I’ve never seen before, which is decorated similarly to Lennox’s room at the Demonic castle. I look around and then stop when I see Viviane curled up in the center of the bed, crying. No, not crying, sobbing. She releases an odd keening sound just as the door bursts open, and Orcus rushes in. There are dark circles under his eyes and a crazed look on his face as he looks around the room. His shoulders instantly relax when he spots Viv on the bed, and he practically leaps on the bed next to her, hands gripping her hips as he turns her to look at him.

“Where have you been? Why are you crying? Fuck! Call for the castle’s doctor,” he roars over his shoulder at the two Demon guards standing there, watching them with wide eyes. Viv shakes her head and presses herself into his chest.

“No, don't. I’m not injured,” she manages to say through her sobs. Orcus frowns, looks at the guards, and nods as they shut the door.

“Viviane, talk to me. What’s happened? I’ve been out of my mind with worry when you weren't in your rooms this morning. I thought…” He trails off and growls, picking Viv up and turning to sit on the bed, cradling her in his lap as she cries. I’m not sure how long it’s been since I saw what I saw in the throne room, but Viv’s hair is shorter, and she looks a little older than she did before.

“He’s gone,” she whispers, and Orcus frowns.

“Who?”

“Lucius,” Viv whispers, looking up at Orcus with red-rimmed eyes. “He’s gone. He’s left and joined Inanis. Orcus, they are planning something… something with the Therion. I’m unsure what, but he said it was the answer to finally taking back the Realm. Inanis wants full control and is going to attack the Dream Walkers and then us.” Orcus rears back as if she’s slapped him with the news; his nostrils flared as he shakes his head.

“Lucius wouldn’t… he… he won’t. He’s just mad that our mating ceremony is tomorrow. He’ll come around,” Orcus insists, but Viv is already shaking her head.

“No, my love. He won’t,” she whispers, and Orcus' shoulders slump forward.

“He wouldn’t betray Father… or me,” he says, and Viv releases another sob.

“He already did. He’s taken the onyx stone and told me to make a choice. That you wouldn’t be alive much longer.”

“He said that?” Orcus rasps, mouth parting in horror. Viviane nods, swallowing her tears.

“He said to stay with you and die, or go with them,” she whispers, looking up at him with fear etched into her brow. Orcus simply stares down at her, seemingly too shocked to say anything else.

“You chose to stay?” he asks in a small voice. Viviane's eyes widen before she scowls and slaps Orcus straight across the face.

“Of course, I chose to stay, you idiot!” she hisses between her teeth, sitting up and batting at his hands that try to keep her in his lap.

“Fuck. Viv, stop hitting me!” Orcus snaps, then groans as she knees him in the balls, tearing a shocked laugh from me as I watch Orcus grimace, hands covering his crotch as he bends over at the waist and gives Viv a pitiful look.

“You’re going to need that tomorrow, woman,” he growls, and she scoffs and stands.

“You deserved it. Thinking I would leave,” she grumbles, moving away from the bed and toward the window.

“You love him, Viv. I know your feelings for Inanis have lessened over the last couple of years, but Varack and Lucius?” Orcus sighs and sits back up, keeping his hand pressed to his crotch as he stands on shaky legs. “I wouldn’t have blamed you if you chose to leave. If you chose him…” Viv turns and looks at Orcus, who is looking more upset than she had been earlier.

“You… you would have let me leave? Let me choose him?” she asks, sounding almost offended. Orcus grimaces and looks away from her, making her snarl in anger as she stomps up to him and grabs his chin with small fingers, forcing him to look back at her. “Answer my question, Orcus Darakh, or I’ll walk out that door, and you’ll never see me again.”

Orcus eyes light with anger at her words, and I can see his shoulders tremble, claws forming at his fingertips, and horns slowly growing from his temples. It looks like young Orcus lost his temper as fast as Lennox does.

“No!” he growls, hands moving to grab Viv by the waist and heave her into the air. Her legs snap around his hips, and she grins manically down at him as if his admittance to not allowing her to leave him pleases her. “I would have hunted you down and killed them all. Brother or not,” Orcus admits, and she nods, making me gape at their crazy exchange.

“Good,” she replies sweetly, pressing her lips to his.

Damn, and I thought Nox was a possessive bastard. The room slowly darkens, the dream altering, and I groan as my stomach flips, making me press my hand over my mouth and close my eyes so I don’t get sick.

Shit, can this be over yet?

“Meyer?”

My eyes spring back open at my name, and I gape up at Orcus, who is standing in front of me, arms crossed over his chest with a scowl on his face. “My dear, do you want to explain why you’ve pulled me into your dream?”

“Uh? What?” I ask in confusion, looking around us. I find us standing in the cold, dark rooms of the dungeons below the North American Castle, the draft from a broken wall making me shiver as I frown in confusion. If I‘m cold, then we’re definitely in my dreams, but there’s no way they were mine a moment ago; they had to be…

I look up at Orcus, who looks concerned and studies me with a tilt of his head.

“Um, sorry. I’m still not sure how to control that. Valen typically stops me from Dream Walking. I must have pulled you into mine on accident,” I explain, leaving the bit about watching his dreams before now out of the conversation. I don't want him to think I was spying on his thoughts and dreams. It's not like I can choose to Dream Walk, it just happens.

“Very well. Will you please… return me to my own dreams?” he asks with a slight smile on his face.

“Sure!” I squeak out and frown as I look at my hands and back at him. “Uh, do you have any idea how I do that?” I ask, and this time, Orcus doesn't only smile but laughs and shakes his head.

“No, unfortunately not. However, I think I will insist that you learn once everything calms down.”

“Yeah, probably a good idea,” I agree and frown, rubbing at my chest as it begins to ache. “It's fucking freezing,” I complain, and Orcus frowns, looking at the broken wall that shows the dark winter night outside, then back at me in confusion.

“It is cold,” he agrees, then curses, walking around me and to the cell beyond.

“What?” I ask, instantly feeling anxious as I look around. I don't feel that race of excitement, no dark thrill coursing through me. Meaning there are no Beastia nearby, which is good.

“I’m in your dreams,” he says as I rush after him, following him through the doorway of a cell with a man lying in it. Arch. I frown down at Razar’s twin, unable to stop the thread of worry coursing through me at his ashen and almost sickly-looking face. “I shouldn’t feel the cold. Only the dreamer is exposed or endangered in their dream, not the guest,” he explains, and I shake my head.

“No.”

“No?” he asks, and I nod.

“I make things physical, meaning whoever is in my dream is exposed to the elements or danger,” I explain, and Orcus stops, his hands hovering above Arch as he looks over his shoulder at me.

“Well, that's not good,” he rasps, and I nod in agreement.

“It's been… problematic,” I admit, and he snorts to himself as his hands run over his son, checking to make sure he’s okay.

“I can imagine.” I watch him sigh in relief and stand up as pressure builds in my chest. I take a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. I feel like I’ve had ten cups of coffee and then chased it all down with a few shots of tequila. “Alright. Well, since you make things physical, how about we try to go find that son of mine? Maybe he can wake you up… or put me back,” Orcus muses, standing straight, eyes on Archer as he purses his lips.

“He doesn't look so good,” I whisper, and Orcus’s shoulders slump as he nods in agreement.

“No. I think I’ll be coming back down here the moment I wake up,” he admits before turning and walking from the cell, moving around me with a single step before pulling up short, his eyes widening as he stares down at me.

“What?” he whispers, his hand lifting toward me, and I frown, watching him as his fingers move closer to me. “Are you wearing?” he nearly growls, looking almost horrified as his fingertips brush against the large black stone of the necklace around my throat.

“Oh, uh. Well, I can't control the clothes I appear in. This dress has been a damn nightmare! And these slippers,” I hold the hem of the dress up, showing him the tiny slippers. “Are ridiculous. I lose them whenever I have to run through the snow.”

Orcus nods, sparing a brief glance at the slippers before looking back at the necklace, his attention now fully on it.

“And this?” he asks, and I shrug.

“It shows up with the dress. Why? Is it bad?” I ask, briefly remembering Nox having an odd reaction to it when I accidentally walked into his dreams.

“Yes and no,” Orcus mutters, and I tilt my head at him.

“Do all Demons enjoy talking in riddles?” I ask and he forces a smile as his hand falls from the necklace.

“That necklace is what Inanis used to help create the Beastia. My brother stole it from the caves before betraying us. So, yes, it's bad. It is also rumored to hold a fraction of Inanis’ magic and blood, which is how he and his bloodline can control the Beasts. We believed that it was destroyed and lost during the great war,” he informs me as I reach up and grasp the pendant hanging around my neck, running my thumb over the cold stone.

“That doesn't sound good,” I agree, and he nods.

“Have you ever been able to bring it out of your dreams?” he asks, and I shake my head.

“No. It just shows up with the damned dress.” Orcus chuckles and nods to the gown.

“That is a Royal Dream Walker gown—the color of the highest-ranking Demonic families. I’m surprised Valen hasn't made you several dresses just like that one. I’m sure he enjoys seeing you in it.”

“Yes, well, I wouldn't mind it if it would only show up while I was inside. Freezing in silk is not my favorite pastime,” I grumble as Orcus turns and leads the way out of the dungeon. I move to follow him, then gasp; hand pressed to my chest as the pain grows with every step I take.

“Are you alright?” he asks, and I nod, not sure what's happening. I need you to do me a favor,” he says as he reaches the small doorway leading up to the main portion of the castle.

“Okay,” I agree instantly, my hand falling from my chest as the pain recedes instantly, leaving me feeling almost energized.

“Can you try to bring that necklace with you when you wake up? I’m not going to take it from you, in fact, I think it’s probably safest with you rather than anyone else. There is no telling what will happen if someone not of the Devil's descent attempts to wear it. But I worry about Inanis getting his hands on that stone. He’s managed to get into your dreams before, and since you can make things physical, he could take it from you and cause even more problems. With that stone, he could call the rest of his Beastia to his side and have the added boost of magic to eradicate the veil like he originally planned.”

“I can try,” I agree, and he smiles.

“Good. Maybe ask Nox or Valen how to handle it from that point if you are successful,” he suggests, moving up the stairs. I go to follow, then nearly yell as the pain in my chest strikes again.

“Meyer?” Orcus asks, already climbing the stairs and turning to look at me when he realizes I’m not behind him.

“I…” I shake my head and turn back toward the dungeons, instantly feeling less pain and frowning. “Hang on a moment,” I whisper, stepping further into the dark, musky rooms and past Archer’s cell.

“Is everything alright?” Orcus calls, taking a step back down. I nod, walking deeper into the room and ensuring I can always see the stairs and Orcus.

Meyer.

I freeze at the sound of my name… my name that was not spoken by Orcus. Shit. I step back, then gasp when my feet don't move. Something dark curls around my ankles, and my heart leaps into my throat as I struggle to escape whatever has a hold of me.

“Orcus!” I shout just as flames erupt around me, illuminating the room and the large black Sarcophagus sitting at its center.

“Meyer! Meyer, what the hell? I can't get past the doorway! Meyer?” I hear Orcus bellow. Something shakes the walls around me, and a breath later, the entire castle trembles. I curse and lean down trying to break free from the cold touch wrapped around me just as something shifts in the shadows on the far side of the room. I jerk up, hand falling on my hip, and curse when I remember I'm in the damn blue dress and don't have a Kalis blade with me.

“Meyer,” the voice says again, and I glare as a tall figure steps out of the shadows, his large frame taking up way too much space in this small room.

“Jesthren,” I hiss back as he grins at me and chuckles, looking far too pleased with himself as he rests his hand on the black Sarcophagus between us.

“Arch,” Jesthren commands, and I hear a wheeze of breath and soft scuffs of footsteps just as Orcus starts shouting again, his words in another language, but I can hear the pain and fear lacing his tone despite not understanding what he says. A moment later, I feel the large presence of Archer standing behind me, and I can't help the small growl that breaks through my lips as I glower at Jesthren. “I know you’re upset. But this is the best way, Meyer.”

“For who?” I ask through gritted teeth.

“Everyone,” he responds, then nods, and Archer's hands wrap around my biceps and push me forward.