Page 35 of A Seduction Of Death (Umbra Hunters #4)

THIRTY-FIVE

Meyer

I swear Creed's neck cracks with how fast he turns to look at me, eyes blown wide as he tightens his hold on my hand. “I really hope that's some kind of sick joke,” Victor whispers, and I shake my head, making everyone in the room fall silent.

“Tell us,” Valen demands, his voice thin as he looks at me.

“I Dream Walked into Orcus' Dreams, then suddenly we were in mine, and I apparently pulled your dad into the dream with me. Everything was physical. It was a trap. Jesthren used the Dream Walker magic he stole to walk himself and several Wraiths and Hunters into my dreams. He said he didn't have the ability to make things physical, so they had to wait until I did it. We were in the dungeons, and a big black sarcophagus was there.”

“What? But that was stolen the last time the Rogue Hunters attacked,” Creed interrupts, and I shrug when Victor and Valen look puzzled by the news.

“I’m not trying to be rude, but I need you to hurry with this story. Half the castle is in ruin, and I’m sure there are more injured and possibly even casualties that I need to help find,” Victor prods, already stepping toward the open door of Razar’s room. The worry creasing his face makes my stomach plummet to my feet as I look at him.

“The castle is damaged?” I ask, and he nods.

“Not just damaged. Half of it is leveled. Thankfully, it seems to be the section with the dining hall and training arena. The residential area is still intact, but we need to make sure no one was on that side of the castle when it exploded,” Creed says, and I close my eyes, self-hatred filling every inch of my body.

I tried to kill Inanis and Jesthren at the end, but had I accidentally killed innocent Hunters instead?

“Meyer,” Victor stresses, and I nod. Right, story now, freak out and guilt party later.

“Sorry. Jesthren used my blood and magic to open the sarcophagus; then he killed Orcus to set Inanis free. I was upset, and my magic attacked Jesthren. I managed to pull the magic Jes stole away from him to even out the fight while attempting to get what was left of Orcus’ magic, which was still lingering in the air. But Inanis was already there. He was this black tar that morphed into the hideous giant that I saw in my nightmares. I managed to get Orcus’ remaining magic, but Inanis gathered the stolen magic I took from Jesthren. Then… I don't know. Everything exploded. I’m the reason everything went… uh.” I lift my closed fist and open it, acting out an explosion and feeling sick with the idea that I just destroyed half of the castle. “I was trying to kill them before they could get away.”

Nox glares at me over his shoulder while Creed groans and Valen’s arms tighten to the point of pain. “Are you saying you purposely detonated a magical bomb in the dungeons?” I wince and nod, making Nox curse and look back at his father, hands trembling, black magic filtering into Orcus’ chest. “With you still down there and physical?” I nod again. “Meyer, what the hell were you thinking? No wonder your lungs were collapsed. You’re fucking lucky you woke up when you did and didn't die!”

“Her lungs collapsed?” Creed growls, and I close my eyes, shoulders rolling in as I slump back into Valen. Shit, they’re pissed. At least Razar isn’t here. He would probably explode if he were.

“And that's my cue to leave,” Victor says, giving me a look that reminds me of what my Grampa used to do when he was disappointed in me. Then he looks at Nox. “Is your Father going to make it?”

“By some damn miracle, yes,” Nox snaps, his angry eyes darting back to me, making me wither with guilt.

“Alright. I’ll report back when I have a clear idea of all the damage,” Victor promises and strides from the room.

“It wasn’t a miracle. It was Meyer. I’m as upset about the situation as you are, brother,” Valen says, his lips pressing to the crown of my head as he speaks to Lennox. “But she did manage to save Father. If she weren't there, he would have been lost.” Nox grunts but nods, eyes softening just the smallest amount as Creed buries his face in his hands and looks as if he’s aged ten years overnight.

“Uh,” Victor says, head popping through the door as he leans into the room. “You have incoming,” he warns before he leaves again. Seconds later, Razar rushes into the room, a bloody and battered Arch slung over his shoulder. Valen gasps and gently moves me off his lap before springing to his feet and rushing to help.

“He’s hurt!” Raz growls, eyes black, voice deep with hints of his Beast peeking through. Shit.

“For fuck's sake! Can we all not try to die on the same night?” Lennox asks, shoving to his feet and then rocking back on his heels, his eyes going unfocused like he’s dizzy.

“Nox!” I jump off the bed to help, but my legs nearly buckle, and I fall into Nox, his arms wrapping around me protectively as we both crash to the ground.

“Shit! Sorry,” I say instantly as Nox groans and rolls to his side, tugging me with him.

“Next time, don't help if I just healed you.” He coughs a little, eyes shut as I try to push myself back up, heat climbing up my neck and lighting my face on fire.

“Well, we’re a hot mess,” Creed mutters, looking more frustrated by the moment as he walks over and scoops me up. He holds me with one arm wrapped around my waist, leaving me dangling in the air as he extends his hand to Nox, who takes it and is yanked back to his feet.

“Grab a blanket for Father and make sure he’s comfortable,” Nox instructs, and Valen moves with a speed I know I’ll never be able to replicate, checking on his Father as he tucks a blanket around his big body. “I need to get him off the floor,” Nox says with a frown, and Creed shakes his head.

“No. He’s fine where he is. Save Arch, then it's bedtime for all five wounded or overly tired Demons. Valen and I will handle the half-broken castle,” Creed says with so much authority in his voice that I give him an appreciative look. Damn, who knew my loving, sunshine man had this dominant side. I mean, I knew it was there in the bedroom, but I’ve never seen him boss Nox around before.

“Inanis,” Nox rasps as he stumbles over to Archer, sitting on the bed where Raz and Valen set him down.

“If Inanis is back, there is nothing we can do about it tonight,” Creed says, and my mouth drops open in surprise when Nox nods and starts healing Archer.

“That was kinda hot,” I admit, keeping my voice down so only Creed can hear me. I can see him trying to fight the grin that tugs on his face as he looks at me, arching his brow, and I shrug. What? It was totally sexy how he took charge there. I wonder if I can talk him into bossing me around in the bedroom more… you know, when the world isn't exploding, and mad Demons are no longer on the loose.

“If I knew you weren’t about to get taken from me, I would smack your ass until you couldn't sit right tomorrow,” he whispers, somehow looking stern and amused simultaneously.

“Taken from you?” I question, then gasp as strong hands yank me back into a hard, warm chest. I shiver as a deep growl sounds in my ear as I’m turned, Razar’s arm under my ass, his other banding around my waist as he holds me close.

“You’re grounded,” he snarls, not sounding amused in the least. I frown and pull back, eyeing his pure rage as he glares at me.

“What? What did I do?”

“You got hurt! You left and got hurt!” he clips out, gesturing toward the bed where we had fallen asleep.

“I didn't leave,” I protest, and he scoffs.

“You did your dream thing and got hurt while I was fucking holding you! Grounded!”

I stare at him and can’t decide if I’m upset at his utterly ridiculous logic or amused by his determination to ground me like a child.

“Her lungs collapsed, and she blew up the basement trying to kill Inanis and Jesthren while she was still physical,” Creed adds. Raz inhales sharply, his eyes doubling in size, and I know I’m truly fucked now. I watch as Razar opens his mouth, then shuts it. Open, shut, open… shut.

Shit. It looks like Razar’s brain has misfired with this new information.

“You traitor,” I hiss at Creed, and he grins, looking far too pleased with himself. “I was trying to stop them. Do you want more people to die? I thought our goal was to ensure that Jesthren and Inanis didn't hurt anyone. To stop him, the Beastia… the fucking Devil!”

“That was our original goal. That changed when we met you. Now, our goal is to keep you alive—something you almost ruined. I can appreciate your need to help, but not at the risk of your life.” Slowly, I turn and flip Creed off, making sure he can see my annoyance with him as he smirks and walks to the bed, sitting next to Valen and Arch as Nox continues to heal him.

“So I was just supposed to let them leave?”

“Yes,” Nox mutters in response, though he does look up from what he’s doing.

“Even after everything they did? Jes almost killed your Dad!”

“And you almost killed yourself!” Creed snaps, voice raised in a rare show of anger in my direction. “How would you feel if I sacrificed myself for the greater good?” Anger courses through me at the very idea, and I groan, letting my head fall to Razar’s still-tense shoulder before snuggling into his neck, trying to get him to soften up a bit.

“I’d figure out a way to bring you back so I could kick you in the balls,” I admit, grumbling my words into Razar’s neck.

“Precisely. I feel like I was a lot nicer to you than that, there was no ball kicking… or I guess the equivalent would be tit punching, huh? Maybe I should do that?” he asks, and I grin, knowing that Creed has already forgiven me if he’s willing to joke around. Thank God. “Ow, fuck Valen! I was kidding. I’m not going to punch her tit.”

“Razar, if you can't calm down, you need to leave,” Nox warns. I frown, tugging back to study Raz, who appears frozen. I reach out to him, wondering why I can't feel his emotions, and let my fingers brush lightly against his cheek. Typically, the ability to feel people's feelings has started to overwhelm me by this point, so why can't I feel a thing? Is something wrong with my mate bond with Nox?

“Raz?” I ask, worry filling me as he growls and suddenly drops me to my feet.

“Arch?” he asks Nox, who nods.

“Razar?” I whisper, reaching for him again.

“No!” he snaps, his hand wrapping around my wrist, the movement fast but gentle as he pushes me toward Creed.

“Come here, Lemon Drop,” Creed encourages, taking me from Raz just as my dark prince turns and runs from the room like the devil is on his heels. Hurt, confusion, and worry war within me as I watch him go and turn to look at Creed, who sighs and tugs me close.

“What just happened?”

“Raz needs a moment. He’s about to lose control. Fuck, this was my fault. I was trying to make you see how your actions weren’t fair to us and ended up fucking everything up. Shit. I’m a dick,” he groans, head falling to my shoulder as I stare at the empty open door of Razar’s room.

“Not your best idea,” Valen agrees, then shouts and falls off the bed in surprise when Archer suddenly sits up, eyes wild, hands shifting into claws and swings at Nox. Thankfully, Lennox catches his brother's deadly hand moments before the claws connect with his throat, and he shoves him back onto the bed.

“Arch?” Nox shouts, shaking him a little and using magic to pin him down. “Brother, calm down!”

“Let me go!” Archer roars, and I cover my ears, wincing at the raw pain in his voice.

“I will. I will,” Nox leans over Arch so his brother can see him clearly. “Arch, it’s me. We have you. It's okay. I have you,” Nox whispers, his voice softening as Archer’s movements still, and he lies there panting and staring up at Lennox.

“Garthelaun?” Archer rasps, and Nox nods.

“Yes. It's me. It’s us. We’ve got you,” Nox says, waving his hand to the room as Valen jumps back to his feet and leans over the bed.

“V-Valen?”

“Hey,” Valen whispers, reaching out to push some of Archer's brown hair away from his temple.

“You… they found you? Y-you’re alright?” he asks, and Valen’s eyes glass over as he nods, reminding me that he had been missing for years and that Archer had come with his brothers to find him when they were attacked, and everyone believed Archer died.

“Yeah. They found me, brother. I’m okay,” he whispers and nods. Tears start to fall over Archer's pale face as his light green eyes move to Creed and me.

“Heldakar?” Creed grins, reaching up to wipe at his wet cheeks.

“Hey, man,” he croaks, sniffling as he reaches out and grabs Archer's ankle, squeezing it affectionately. “You’ve given us a heart attack these last few days,” he scolds lovingly. “You have no idea how glad I am to have you back.” Arch smiles, but it's shaky as his eyes scan the room, running over me for a moment before looking back at Nox.

“Yannos?”

“Outside. He found you and needed a moment to calm down. Once he knew you would be alright, he left,” Nox explains. Archer frowns, shoving at his hand, which is still pressed to his chest.

“Let me up. I’ll see if I can calm him down,” Archer demands.

“No. Man, you’re too weak. I need you to stay lying down for a bit. Besides, if Meyer can't calm him, there is no chance you will.” Archer’s eyes dart to me, and he frowns, his head tilting to the side as he studies me.

“I remember you,” he whispers, and I smile and offer him a small wave. “She smells like Yannos,” he whispers, leaning to Nox with suspicion crossing his face.

Uh… what? I blink at Arch and frown before lifting an arm, sniffing myself, and grimacing. Yeah, no, I don't smell like Raz. He smells amazing. Like my favorite cologne mixed with pine trees and something slightly darker, I can't describe. And unfortunately, I currently smell like the worst mixture of musky stress-sweat. Gross. I need to get away from my guys and find a shower.

Creed starts to laugh when he sees me sniffing my armpit, and even Nox cracks a smile as Valen shakes his head and stands, walking to me and crouching down to stare into my eyes.

“That’s not what Arch meant. Male Demons can scent a mate bond. The stronger the bond, the stronger the scent mark and Razar practically drenched you in his scent with the strength of the bond he created,” he explains as I let my arm fall back to my side.

“So it’s true? Yannos has a mate?” Archer asks in disbelief, and Nox nods.

“Meyer, our mate. She belongs to all of us,” Creed corrects, and Nox laughs.

“More like we belong to her.” he pats Archer's shoulder and sits up with a tired sigh.

“Yours as well?” he questions Nox, who smiles and looks at me proudly. “I mean, I can scent it, but… you're the heir. Father would never have allowed that.”

“Yes, I would,” Orcus grumbles, making all five of us freeze in surprise and glance down at the Demon King lying on the floor at our feet.