Page 39 of A Seduction Of Death (Umbra Hunters #4)

THIRTY-NINE

Meyer

T he massive Demonic city is dark and quiet, too quiet as we move through the narrow roads that lead up to the castle. I rest against Lennox’s strong chest and peer around at the dark brick homes, the hair on the back of my neck rising with every step closer we get to the castle.

The necklace around my neck feels heavy, and I run my hand over it as I look around us, trying to ignore the fact that I have something Inanis created on my skin. I mean, technically, I am of his descent, so does that mean that my magic is also his creation? I wrinkle my nose at that thought. Hmm, why do I have such shitty relatives?

“Are you still awake?” Nox whispers, his voice barely audible so that he wouldn’t disturb me if I was asleep.

“Do you truly believe I could sleep right now?” I whisper back and feel his chest shake with silent laughter as his hold on me tightens, lips pressing to the top of my hair.

“I had hoped that you might. You need some rest,” he whispers as he straightens and tugs me so my ass is flush with his hips. Nox looks down and growls when he sees my hand on the necklace, and moves his fingers over mine, pressing them away from the onyx stone. “Father is convinced he destroyed that. None of us understand how it’s back, it shouldn't be possible. He made sure to fracture that part of Inanis’ magic in order to keep him weakened. I don't like that it’s back and wrapped around your neck.”

“It’s only back because I pulled it from my dreams,” I remind him and he wrinkles his nose and shakes his head. “And it’s not hurting me.”

“That doesn't make it any better.”

“Stop,” Valen commands from behind us, and I lean to the side, looking around Nox as he curses, hands fisting in Hecate's mane while trying to figure out how to get the animal to stop. Almost like she can understand, Hecate immediately stops and huffs, shaking her gold-colored head in annoyance. “There is dark magic seeping out of every damn house on this street,” Valen rasps, and Nox nods as Theo looks over Valen’s shoulder, eyeing the houses.

When we reached the city gates, we knew something was wrong, as they were open and unmanned. Still, the confirmation that Jesthren and Inanis had been able to subdue the entire kingdom with little effort is terrifying. Orcus had taken his guard and Archer to the northern gates, the entry closer to the castle, while we came through the southern gates. We hoped that at least one of our parties could get to the castle fast.

“There are no Beastia in sight, though. No Wraiths. No shield to prevent us from entry. Nothing. Are we sure it's them?” Creed asks, clinging to the hope that this situation isn't as bad as it appears. Jordan watches us from the back of Creed's monster horse, his arms wrapped around Creed’s waist to keep him safe on the fast ride.

“There would be a shield or countermeasures if Inanis assumed we wouldn't be here,” Nox growls, his chest vibrating with his anger. I reach over and lace our fingers together, trying to calm him. The sound of clicking claws on the cobblestone road beside me signals Razar’s appearance, and I turn and smile, reaching down to rub his coarse snout.

“The people?” Nox asks Raz, watching as the Beastia huffs and shakes his big head, making Nox nod. “Figured. I’m assuming Jesthren or Inanis has them under a mental lock, similar to the night Archer broke in.”

“Shit. Come on. We need to get to the castle just in case Father runs into problems getting in,” Creed growls, urging his monster horse forward. Hecate moves under us, her fur like a soft blanket as it shifts. I can feel the muscles in her back and shoulders, firm like stone, yet the fur somehow makes her almost comfortable to sit on despite not having a saddle for support.

The rest of the journey to the castle is spent in silence, everyone aware of our surroundings as we move quickly between houses. When we reach the final stretch of road with a steep incline to the gate, Nox tenses, and prods Hecate to move faster. It takes a moment to see what’s caused his concern, but when I do, I gasp and lean forward, eyeing the castle and mangled gates that sit askew on their now broken hinges. “Stay by my side, Little Demon. The entire time,” Nox instructs, and I nod, more than willing to do as I’m told for this fight. I’ve already had to fight Jesthren and Inanis once when I was alone, and I do not want a repeat performance.

We ride through the unguarded gates with little issue, making the dread in my chest grow, knowing the lack of Demons and guards is not a good thing. Orcus would never leave Viv without protection in his absence, and I know we might already be too late.

“I can’t feel Father’s magic,” Nox whispers to his brothers as they pull to a stop in the courtyard.

“They’re not here,” Valen confirms, his magic twisting around the dark, well-groomed gardens and lawn. “Shit!” he hisses, eyes darting up to a tree; we all look up, and I feel myself gag at what I find. Bodies… so many bodies. Limbs, torsos, and heads are all twisted and pinned to the trees like bloody, gruesome ornaments.

“Jesus Christ!” Theo growls, head tilted back as he covers his mouth, looking like he’s about to be sick.

“Inside now!” Nox snarls, jumping from Hecate and reaching up, plucking me from the Balaxerus’ back. “Stay and guard,” he instructs her, giving her a small pat before he laces his fingers with mine and takes off in a sprint, making me curse as I try to keep up with him. “Valen, Creed, to the royal chambers. Raz, you and the Rangers are with me,” Nox commands as he releases my hand when we reach the top of the enormous staircase and shoves the double doors open with a loud grunt.

Valen and Creed instantly veer off to the right, taking the elaborate staircase two steps at a time to get to their parents' rooms while Jordan steps to my side, bow in one hand, a quiver of arrows in the other. Theo is beside him, sword already drawn as he looks around the dark castle.

“Raz, go to the private doors behind Father’s throne and enter through there,” Nox commands the big Beastia, who stands directly behind me. His black paws instantly turn, and he rushes off, his claws clicking on the floor as he goes.

“What are we looking for?” Theo asks Nox as we follow him through the large entry and down the long hall toward the throne room. “Ah, shit,” he whispers before Nox can answer, and I grimace at the pool of blood and dead bodies strewn down the hall near the closed throne room doors.

“At this point, kill anything alive that's not one of us,” Nox growls, fury thick in his voice as his feet slide through the thick, sticky blood on the ground. “And if you see my oldest brother, aim to fucking kill.”

“Roger that,” Theo whispers, his attention on all the dead around us. “Stay behind me,” I hear him say to Jordan, who scoffs and elbows Theo in the side when he tries to move in front of him. I grab two of my throwing blades, then tap the Kalis at my side, ensuring I have plenty of backup weapons as I keep my pace quick, matching Lennox’s. Nerves course through me, but at the same time, an odd sense of excitement has me grinning up at my mate when he looks down at me.

“You’ve got this,” he whispers, and I nod in agreement.

“I know,” I whisper back, and he smiles, then suddenly stops, hands moving to cup my face as he leans down, pressing his forehead to mine. The small braids woven into his long black hair fall around his face, the silver beads clinking together as he drags one large thumb over my bottom lip, eyes scanning my face like he’s trying to memorize every detail.

“Do you feel that?” he whispers. I feel his magic shift, and something tugs at the center of my chest. I gasp and nod, staring up into his dark green eyes. “If something happens in there. If you get hurt, or trapped or…” he trails off, eyes almost glazed as I feel his panic rise, and I reach out, soothing him with my free hand. “Meyer,” he moans, eyes fluttering shut at my touch as he takes a deep breath and then looks at me again. “You fucking pull on that with everything you have. Do you understand me, Little Demon?” he rasps, and I nod. “Words,” he growls, wanting a verbal answer.

“Yes, Lennox. I understand.” Nox’s face softens with my words, and he nods, moving to pull back, but I tighten my hold on him and stretch up on my toes, pressing my lips to his in a quick kiss. “I love you,” I whisper into his mouth, and he swallows audibly as he stares down at me.

“I don’t think those three words are enough to express how I feel about you, Meyer. You are my everything.”

“Knock that shit off,” Jordan growls in annoyance from where they stopped several feet behind us. Nox and I turn in tandem, watching Jordan slug Theo in the arm, making the latter groan and rub his bicep with a glare on his face.

“I’m not sure it was the best idea to allow them to come,” he whispers, making me smirk when the boys turn their glares on him. Standing up straight, Nox looks at the three of us, brow furrowed like he’s about to say something, but the piercing scream that tears through the air, makes his mouth shut with an audible click.

“That's not good,” Theo whispers, standing in front of Jordan again as Nox turns with an outraged snarl on his lips. His hands are outstretched, and magic blasts from them, blowing the doors into tiny splinters before he’s running into the room.

In seconds, Nox’s shoulders bow, then snap, cracking and growing as he shifts into his Demon form. His skin turns gray as wings erupt from his back, horns curl from his temples, and his long tail swishes out behind him.

“Lennox! No!” I can hear Viviane scream as Theo, Jordan, and I run after him and into what I can only describe as a living nightmare. Flames lick up the walls on all sides of the room. The floor, which once was polished marble, is now rubble, and the large throne at the end of the room is in pieces, broken and scattered, the smaller throne next to it toppled on its side. Three beautiful Phoenixes lie dead on the floor near Inanis, their red and gold feathers scattered everywhere, gold blood mixing with the copious amount of red covering the room.

“Mom!” Nox roars, running for the giant Demon in the center of the room. Inanis’ large, twisted hand is curled around Viviane's throat, and he holds her in the air above him. He’s bleeding profusely from the right shoulder and has a big gash that streaks over his temple and trails over his lips, pulling his wicked smirk into more of a grimace than an actual smile. Viviane looks just as rough; blood pours from her nose, her right cheek is swollen, one eye is nearly shut, and a bruise is already forming on her face.

The guys and I only make it three steps into the throne room before we are surrounded by Wraiths, the cloaked monsters. They close in around us instantly, their bony fingers wrapped around the steel handle of their flails. Dark magic flickers in the air around them, making audible popping sounds as they press in.

“Shit!” Jordan snarls, launching the already strung arrow from his bow with a snap and embedding it deeply into the dark, shadowed face of one of the Wraiths. Six others scream in response, the sound so high-pitched that my ears ring, and I have to suppress the need to bring my hands up and cover them. The Wraith Jordan hit falls to the ground, black blood pouring from its hood.

I let two of my blades fly, one missing its mark when a Wraith darts to the side, the other lodging into the shoulder of another as Theo spins, slicing off the head of one more. Then, utter mayhem ensues as one raises its flail and brings it down, narrowly missing Jordan by mere inches, when he spins out of the way. Theo is launched back with a burst of red magic that strikes his cheek, making Jordan shout his name as he’s thrown and tumbles across the wrecked floor of the throne room.

I only have a second to glance up, watching in horror as Nox runs at Inanis, ramming the Demon in the side and sending the Devil, his mother, and him rolling on the ground. Viviane spreads her arms out, fingers desperately digging into the floor, trying to stop herself. She screams in pain when her back collides with the step of the dais, her head snapping back hitting the stone step with a crack, and I know that if she were human, it would have killed her.

“Viviane!” I scream, trying to find a way around the Wraiths as Lennox releases another bone-chilling roar and attacks Inanis.

“Meyer! Behind you,” Theo warns, pressing up on his hands and knees and pointing to my right. I spin, Kalis already moving in my hand as I bring it down and slash the thick arm that darts out, wrapping around me and yanking me close to a broad chest. My blade strikes flesh, and Jesthren roars in agony as he steps back, a cold blade pressed to my throat, making me freeze as I glare up at him.

“Where is my magic?” he growls into my ear, and I grit my teeth and throw an elbow back, hitting him in the side and making him curse as I spin. I almost get away, but he’s faster, stepping close and tightening his grip on me.

“Stupid boy! You play at a game only Kings can survive!” Inanis bellows as Nox is suddenly thrown off him and sliding across the floor. Inanis presses himself up to his feet and stalks toward my mate, face dark and bloody as he snaps his fingers, and Nox is thrown back into the air, his body twisting and colliding with a wall fifty feet away. He hits it with such force that the marble cracks as he falls back to the ground. Nox turns with a gasp, claws raking into the torn-up floor, but he stills when his eyes find Viviane, who lies motionless on the ground several feet away.

“It was stupid to come here. Now you will both die,” Jesthren growls, his voice sounding off, not even close to his normal tone. His hand moves from my waist to my hair as he presses the blade harder against my throat, making me hiss in pain when I feel it slice the skin. I say nothing, hope glimmering in me when he unknowingly releases the arm that holds my blade. “If you had stayed away, you might have survived, ” he rasps, the words sounding almost sympathetic, but that can't be right. There’s no way Jesthren would feel any sympathy for me, and especially not for Nox.

Jesthren yanks my head back. Twisting my hair in his fist and forcing me to watch as Inanis stalks Nox, but before he can reach him, a black Beastia appears from behind the thrones, leaping over the toppled chairs with ease and attacks. I grin as Razar’s sharp teeth bite into Inanis’ shoulder, the massive Beastia taking him to the ground only feet from where Nox and Viviane lie.

Jesthren stumbles back as if Razar’s blow to Inanis physically affects him, and I know this will be my only chance at getting away from him. Twisting, I yank from his grip, his hold loosening enough that the blade slices my throat but not deep enough to cause too much damage. I kick out, hitting his knee while tearing my hair from his grip, my scalp screaming in pain as I drive my Kalis up, shoving deep into Jesthren's belly.

Almost as if time slows, Jesthren stops moving, his eyes widening just a fraction as we both look down, staring at my bloody hand and the hilt of the blade lodged deep into his stomach. There’s a roar, and a yelp behind me, but I can't turn to see what’s happening as I watch Jesthren’s eyes shift, the red bleeding from them, moving to dark green and then shifting once more until they are almost blue. Jesthren doesn't move, doesn't say anything for a moment, and I gasp when he suddenly looks up at me, his angular features softer than usual, as he shakes his head, mouth parting with a gasp as blood trickles from his pale lips.

“Who… who are you? Wait, Meyer,” he whispers as recognition sparks in his glassy eyes, and my stomach sinks in realization.