Page 41 of A Seduction Of Death (Umbra Hunters #4)

FORTY-ONE

Lennox

T he room spins, and my lungs scream for oxygen as Inanis’ magic is suddenly ripped from the air. The flames that had been nearly ten feet high instantly extinguish, the force of his magic trying to cave in the ceiling is gone as I gasp and fall to my knees, knowing I just fucked up. I stare at the spot where Inanis appeared only seconds ago, the spot where Meyer had been standing… the spot that is now empty.

Almost like in a dream, I look at the body lying beside me and shake my head in shock when Jesthren gasps, blood spilling from his lips as he coughs and his eyes close. The blade that Inanis threw at Meyer and me, is deep in his chest, and I tentatively reach for him, letting my magic wrap around my oldest brother, and grimace at the amount of damage done to his body. He has minutes, maybe only seconds left. There is no saving him, even if I wanted to.

“Why did you do that?” I whisper, unsure if he can even answer me, but when his blue-green eyes open, I lean close to hear his last words.

“D-don’t want you to know,” he starts to say, then chokes and coughs, blood spewing from his dry lips as he tries to keep breathing. “That pain. F-find your m-mate. Don’t let her die. You don't know the depths you’ll go to in order to be with her again if she does,” he rasps and smiles as he coughs again.

“Jes,” I rasp, watching his eyes slowly darken, his heart slowing with each ragged breath from his lips.

“The V-Veil. He’s going for the Veil.” I nod and reach out, grabbing his cold hand, his eyes move to mine, and he smiles. “I’m s-s-sorry,” he breathes out, hand going limp in mine, eyes staring blankly at me as his heart gives out.

“Meyer!!” Creed screams, startling me enough that I drop Jesthren's hand and look up as the smoke slowly starts to diminish. Creed releases Mom and races forward, his hands weaving into his dark hair and tugging at the roots as he stops and spins in a circle, searching every corner of the room.

“Lennox!” Valen screams in warning as the green magic above us slowly fractures.

“Get everyone out!” I shout , eyes still on the spot where my mate had just been standing. “Now!”

A small whimper from nearby finally manages to gain my attention, and I curse and crawl the ten feet to where Razar’s Beast lies, his massive head straining to look at the spot Meyer had just been as he pants in pain.

“Hey,” I whisper to him, slowly moving my hand to his nose, watching him for signs of aggression, but he only releases another heartbreaking whine, and I nod. “I know. I know. We are going to go get her, but I’m going to need your help,” I tell him, grabbing the flail that is lodged into his side and grit my teeth, hating how much this is going to hurt him.

“On the count of three. One. Two…” I rip the weapon from his side before saying three, making his Beastia howl in pain, his head flopping to the floor, but eyes locked on where he saw Meyer last. Tossing the flail to the ground, I move my hand to his side and press it there, having more freedom to heal him since half of his spikes have been shredded and don’t pose a threat to my skin. “This is going to be fast and kind of hurt,” I warn him as I flood his body with my magic, healing him at a rapid rate, not having time to waste by making him comfortable while I do it.

“Nox,” Valen warns again, and I nod.

“I know. Creed check on Father,” I demand.

“No need,” comes a croaked reply, and I look over my shoulder, finding Father pressing himself to his feet, eyes scanning the room in panic before he spots Mom, and he nearly collapses again as he rushes to her. “Viv,” he rasps, grabbing her frozen form and tugging her close, hands moving to cup her cheek. “What’s hurt? Tell me so I can heal it?” he whispers, but she doesn’t answer as she stands there, staring at Jesthren’s still and bloody body only feet from them. Father follows Mom’s stare, and I can hear the sharp inhalation of his breath when he sees Jes.

“Nooo,” he groans, his agony pairing with Mom’s and making my stomach roll at the amount of pain coursing from them at seeing their dead son.

“Shit! Okay, buddy, deep breath,” I tell Raz’s Beast as I feel his flesh knitting back together, then wince as he snarls, the sting of my magic rapidly healing him and shooting through him like daggers. The last part of the healing is always the worst, and I pat him once and nod at the door. “Go! Get Creed, and I’ll get our parents. This whole place is about to collapse,” I tell him as he pushes himself up onto his big paws and huffs, moving to where Creed is currently losing his shit at the center of the room.

“Thirty seconds. Once I have them through the door, I’ll hold it long enough for you to get out!” I shout to Valen, who nods, sweat beading on his brow as his hands shake with the effort it takes to hold up the ceiling.

“We’ve got to go,” I tell Father, but it's like he can’t hear me, both of them staring at Jesthren. “Mom!” I croak out, trying to get her attention and manage to startle her enough that she lets out a loud sob and shoves out of Father's arms, rushing to get to Jes. “We have to go!” I shout, feeling like shit, because I’m currently having extremely conflicting feelings about my oldest brother's death.

“Dad,” I beg, feeling lost in this very moment and needing him to do something. I look up at him, watching as tears run down his face and he brings a hand up and wipes them as he nods.

“I’ll get your mom,” he whispers and walks to her as she begs Jesthren to open his eyes. “Viv,” he whispers, and she shakes her head.

“No!”

“Love, I’ll grab Jesthren’s body. But we need to go. Valen can only hold this for so much longer.” He looks up at me and nods, and I grit my teeth as I lean down and grab Mom by her waist, tugging her, kicking and screaming away from Jesthren, and turning to run to the doors. Dad scoops Jesthren's big frame into his arms like he weighs nothing and follows us.

“Here!” I shout, passing Mom to Creed, who stands beside Razar, watching us. Turning around, I hold my hands up and do my best to mimic the magic Valen is using to hold the shield. I’m not as strong of a magic user as he is, but I should be able to keep it in place long enough for him to get safely out. “Go!” I snap at Valen when I feel like I have control of the shield, and curse as he releases his magic and jumps to his feet, sprinting for the doors. My legs weaken at the immense weight of the ceiling, feeling as if it will crush me under its bulk.

The second Valen clears the doors, I step back and release the magic, turning and covering my brother as the ceiling collapses, dirt and stone flying through the air. I cough as it fills my lungs, but with a simple wave of Valen's hand, his magic clears the foyer outside the throne room, granting us clean, breathing air.

“Holy shit!” he gasps, eyes wide as he looks behind him, then at me, and I nod in agreement, looking around at my family, making sure they’re all okay before I leave to get my mate back.

“He tried to warn me,” Mom cries, sobs wracking her body as she cups Jesthren’s pale face where Dad sat him down on the ground. “The castle hadn't been attacked yet, but I knew something bad was about to happen. I felt your heart stop. Then he was there. He said to run and hide, but it was too late. I managed to get Mara and the baby to the cave, but…” she trails off with another cry as my eyes widen at Mom’s admission. “Why did he do this?”

“You know why, love. You know how Inanis can get into a mind and warp it. Especially if something traumatic has caused the mind to weaken, it wasn't our Jes that did all of that. Our Jes is the one that tried to warn you.”

“He saved Nox,” she cries, pressing her forehead to Jesthren’s. Dad looks up at me with wide, shocked eyes and looks for confirmation. At my nod, more tears spill down his face.

“We need to go,” I announce, and Creed kicks a large piece of marble in front of him, growling under his breath.

“Go fucking where?! We have no idea where he took her!” he roars, his face red, as he starts to pace.

“The Veil. Jes told me he took her to the Veil,” I tell them, all eyes in the foyer glance up in surprise.

“He’s going to tear it down,” Father growls.

“What?!” Mom gasps, and Valen shakes his hands at his side, his fingers already sparking with magic.

“Are you sure we can trust him?” Creed asks, looking down at Jes, his lips trembling slightly before he jerks his eyes away. His emotions about our brother are even more conflicted than mine are, and I can't blame him. Creed, Raz, and Valen had a close-knit relationship with Jesthren. They loved him, but his betrayal hurt them more than they were willing to admit.

“I think so. I didn’t sense a lie, and he… Jes saved my life. Why lie after that? He knew he was dying. He told me to save Meyer, so we wouldn't feel what he did with his mate,” I whisper, and Mom looks up at Father in confusion.

“Jesthren and Lillian completed their mate bond in the caves days before she died,” Father says, crouching down by her side as her tears instantly start again.

“Oh, oh no!” she groans, slumping into Father's arms. “How did we fail him like this? We should have… I should have known!” Father holds her close and looks down the hall as his guards call out for him.

“Go. I’ll handle this and meet you there,” he instructs, and I nod.

“You won't be able to,” Valen snaps as he reaches out and grabs me, then Creed before looking at Razar. “Shift,” he commands, and I gape at Raz in surprise when he listens. The Beast never listens to anyone but me… well, and Meyer. Honestly, I’m pretty sure Meyer is the only one he wants to listen to. He only listens to me because it's his instinct to protect me.

“Damn, Raz. Cover that thing up,” Creed snaps as Raz stands naked in front of us.

“Fuck off. The moment we get there, I’m shifting back. Where is Arch?” he growls at Father, who gives him an unimpressed look.

“Safe, and somewhere Inanis can't get to him. I was worried about his mental state. He’s still recovering,” Father says as Mom gasps and spins in his arms.

“What!? Archer… he’s here?” she nearly screams, making Father wince at her sharp tone.

“Yes.”

“Is he alright?” At Father's nod, Mom nearly passes out as she wacks at his chest.

“Bring me to him right now!”

“I want to come,” a soft voice says, and we all turn. Viv gasps and jumps to her feet as she runs to Archer and throws herself at him. His arms snap around her, and he chuckles as she starts yelling at him while hugging him so tight that I think his head might pop clean off his shoulders.

“I missed you too,” he whispers, his words settling her slightly.

“No!” Orcus nearly shouts, and Razar instantly shakes his head, hands clenching and releasing multiple times at his side, showing how stressed he is at the idea. The dark circles are still under my brother's eyes, but there is a new spark of determination in them, and I nod instantly. As much as I want to agree with Father and Razar, I know that Arch needs this. A chance to be there and ensure the Devil is silenced for good. After all he’s been through, Arch deserves to decide what to do, and no one should stand in his way if he wants to come.

“Come on, then,” I tell him, extending a hand and making his smile grow as he squeezes Mom again and then releases her.

“Archer, no! Orcus!” she gasps. I can see my Father battle with what he wants and what he knows Archer needs before his shoulders slump, and he glares at the ground, offering an unwilling nod of his assent.

“What!?” Mom nearly screeches as Arch walks over and reaches out, placing his hand on Valen's shoulder.

“How are we getting there?” Creed asks in confusion, watching Mom with a hint of sympathy at the emotional whiplash she’s currently going through. “Shouldn’t we get our Nuckelavee?”

“He needs this,” Father explains as I look back at Valen.

“Let's go,” I say so we can sneak away before our parents try to stop us.

“Nope. Inanis teleported during the fight. I managed to mimic his spell. So we are going to try that. We’ll be too late if we ride,” Valen answers Creed's question as his magic wraps around us, the strength nearly suffocating as the world shifts, our parents and the ruined castle fading from view.