Page 37 of A Seduction Of Death (Umbra Hunters #4)
THIRTY-SEVEN
Jesthren
I moan, clutching at my chest as the room around me spins; voices nearby have my head throbbing, and I gasp when bright red eyes appear above me, staring down at me with an almost bored look.
“Get up,” Father says, his gray skin and sharp teeth like a nightmare before me. I turn, struggling to my feet as I focus on Inanis, my Father. “How do you feel?” he asks, and I take a moment to catalog everything before answering him.
“Weak,” I admit, feeling more confused than ever at my chest's odd, empty ache. “I think something’s wrong with my magic.”
“The girl took some for herself,” he says, sharp teeth pulling into a gruesome smile as he watches me, and I take the time to do the same to him. He looks like your average Demon if you can get past the extreme height and color of his skin. His facial features remind me of my own: sharp jaw, thick brows, and a straight nose leading to full lips. He’s dressed in thick red robes draped over his massive, twisted shoulders, and I swallow the sudden need to turn and run from him as his eyes trail over me.
“The girl? Meyer?” I ask with a growl, hating that the bitch managed to steal some of my magic.
“Yes. More powerful than I anticipated,” he says with a hint of pride that has my lip curling as jealousy boils in my belly.
“She has the stone. The onyx stone that you created. It was around her neck. I saw it,” I growl, and he nods, looking away from me as if I were nothing, which only serves to enrage me more.
“Yes. I’ve seen it before. Why do you think I was trying to get her? She was needed in order to release me, but the stone chose her in my absence, meaning I need her to get to it,” he mutters, then looks back at me. “Hmm, not as big as I would like. But you’ll do,” he grunts and turns, looking at the Wraiths and Beastia standing behind him. The small army of monsters' eyes lock on their King as he strides between them, taking in their appearance with glee.
“Where are we?” I ask, looking around the dark, dilapidated room. It seems oddly familiar, yet I’ve never stood in this room before now. The large rectangular room is full of Inanis’ creations, their claws clicking against the black polished floors. I turn and frown, spotting a ruined throne at the front of the room, sitting atop a dais… a large, black, onyx throne with mirrors covering the walls behind it.
Then it hits me.
Meyer’s dream, the dream I went into to help Lennox save her life. I hadn't done it to help Nox but to keep Meyer alive long enough to use her in freeing my Father.
“My castle, or rather, what’s left of it,” Inanis says, moving between his well-trained Beasts before looking up at me. “We move tonight.” I frown and instantly shake my head.
“We don't have your armies gathered. It will take days to get them together. Orcus has scattered the bulk of the Beastia, and I have only managed to ensnare a few thousand,” I explain, but Inanis waves me off.
“Not with the attack. That will be in the coming days. We will move on Orcus’ castle. It's time I take back my Queen and restore order in the realm once and for all.” My blood runs cold at the mention of my mother, and I swallow hard.
“Viviane will fight you,” I whisper, and Inanis grins, excited by the thought.
“Your mother will try. But she won't succeed.”
“She’s not my mother,” I instantly say, knowing how much he hates it when I talk about my adoptive family as if it's my own. The moment the words leave my mouth, I feel sick like I can taste the lie on my lips, and Inanis scowls at me.
“Viviane will remain your mother. She should have been the one who birthed you in the first place. Not the simple whore I used. You may address her as such. If we manage to keep the other Demons you are fond of alive and under your control, you may keep them as pets. But they will hold no emotional value to you. Am I understood?” I nod, despite my eyes burning with unshed tears. Something's wrong… different. The emptiness in my chest makes me groan and lean forward, gasping in pain as I attempt to control myself.
“My magic no longer supports yours. You will have to grow stronger if you want to survive my world, my Son,” he growls, stalking toward me with anger in his eyes. I nod, unable to voice my answer, as I attempt to stand up straight, not wanting to appear weak in front of him.
“If we attack tonight, we risk everything. Wouldn't it be better to wait to gather every asset you have?”
“No, with your mother's mate bond broken, I don’t see her lasting long without another mate. Females can survive without their partners, but they are prone to insanity if they do not have strong enough magic to support them. Orcus’ death will leave her vulnerable. We strike tonight.”
“Of course, Father,” I whisper, bowing my head as my heart drops. It's on the tip of my tongue to mention that I’m not entirely sure Orcus died. That Meyer had done something when she messed with my magic. But I keep silent, that dull ache in my chest making me shift uncomfortably on my feet. I don't feel as numb as I used to, and I don’t like it. Pain that I haven’t felt in decades is crawling back into my consciousness and I feel like I’m looking at the world with clear eyes for the first time in forever.
It hurts… it hurts so fucking much that I don’t think I want to be here anymore.
I keep my head bowed and listen as Inanis steps to my side, nearly flinching when his big hand falls on my shoulder.
“Help me reclaim my Kingdom, Realm, and Queen. And I will return to you the mate that was taken,” he whispers, his magic covering my skin and making me shiver as it wraps around my weakened magical threads. “Take from me, my son. I need you strong for the fight ahead.” I gasp as his magic starts to feed my own, strengthening me and bringing back the sense of numbness.
Sighing in relief, I straighten my shoulders and look up at my Father and King, then smile, the darkness in me blooming into excitement as I let his magic take over. I shove down the small voice that I’ve buried for years that begs me to put an end to this madness and picture Lillian in my mind as I turn myself over to Inanis once again.