Page 43 of A Seduction Of Death (Umbra Hunters #4)

FORTY-THREE

Meyer

“ N o, nope. I don't like that!” I gasp, fingers digging into Valen’s arms as the world finally stops spinning and the darkness recedes.

“Agreed. Let's not use this means of travel unless it’s an emergency,” Creed groans, placing his hand over his mouth, still looking a bit green. I’m not sure if it's from the bloody mess left of Inanis’ body or the teleporting, but he’s not looking the best.

“So when did teleporting become a thing? And why haven't you used it before now? It's a fun gift to have,” I admit, looking up at Valen.

“Teleporting is a spell, not a talent or gift. It’s something I haven't had the time to teach myself yet, considering how busy we have been.”

“It's also damn near impossible for most Demons to do. Not even Father has been able to complete the spell, and he warned you of the dangers when you suggested learning it to get back to the rift on our first trip here,” Nox growls, eyeing Valen as he shakes his head. “I damn near had a panic attack when you vanished. Do you know how many Demons get lost when attempting to teleport?” Valen shrugs.

“I was trying to get to Inanis. I also felt his magic and mimicking is my strong suit. And it’s a good thing I did because there is no way we would have made it to Mi Sol in time,” Valen points out, and Creed nods in agreement.

“It's true, man. Valen’s fine and Lemon Drop is not hurt, so I say it's a win. Plus, Valen has a new trick to add to his books.”

“Valen has many tricks I believe we don't know about,” Nox grumbles.

“I had a lot of time to practice and teach myself magic. Of course, I have some new spells,” he defends himself, and I frown while watching the brothers argue. Okay, it's time to get back to the important topics at hand before this goes further than a simple disagreement.

“Are you sure leaving his body there is okay?” I ask, looking up at Valen as his eyes slowly lighten from black to the pale green color I adore so much.

“I left a shield around him, and Nox made a deterrent spell. He’ll be okay for the short time it takes to send Father’s men to collect his body,” he reassures me, arm wound tight around my waist as he looks up at the castle and frowns. “It looks worse than the North American Castle,” he mutters and groans. “Ten bucks says Father makes us fix it this weekend,” he teases, looking over my head to Nox, who is clinging to my hand, his grip so tight I can feel my bones shifting.

Unlike the first time we got here, there are plenty of people rushing about the exterior of the castle, moving from the ruined center to the outer buildings. The moment one of the guards standing next to the open doors of the main entrance sees us, he turns, sprints to the door, and calls out to tell the King about the Prince's return.

“Prince Darakh!” the other guard runs down the steps, looking at Nox and then Valen. “Prince Darakh.” He turns toward Creed, Razar, and Arch with a frown forming on his already stressed-out-looking face. His eyes linger on Razar, who is naked with Archer’s cloak clutched in front of his dick, giving him a small amount of modesty before he swallows and nods respectfully. “Uh, Prince?—”

“By the Gods Lieutenant. Please drop the formalities,” Nox chuckles, and the Demon flushes and nods, looking at me and dipping his head. “Princess.”

“Nope,” I instantly say, and Creed starts to laugh. The guard looks around us in confusion as I point to myself and correct him. “Meyer. No Princess.” The man looks at Nox as if seeking his permission, and I glower at him, tugging my hand from Lennox’s and placing it on my hips. “Don’t look at him. He doesn't get to decide what you call me. Look at me,” I demand as Valen starts to chuckle. My Dream Man presses a kiss to my temple as he releases my waist and walks to the Lieutenant, patting him on the shoulder.

“Don't anger the Princess, Craven. Not unless you’re prepared to defend your manhood,” he whispers, and I glower at him.

“It’s Meyer! And I only kick my mates in the balls,” I quickly reassure the terrified-looking man as he steps back and moves his shield down to cover his crotch. “Please call me Meyer.” The guard looks back at Nox, who smirks and nods at me.

“I think you’ve mistaken who is in charge here,” he tells the man as he reaches back for my hand and tugs me close. “Just to give you a hint, it’s not me.” Nox’s words soothe a small fraction of my frazzled nerves, and I lean into him, letting him tuck me protectively against his chest.

“Of course, Princess,” he nods, then gasps, eyes wide as he corrects himself. “I mean Meyer. I-I’ve been instructed to ensure you don't need any medical treatment. The Queen has the med wing stocked and staffed for your return.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Nox says and smiles, trying to ease some of the discomfort I know I caused, and I wince. Shit, I need to chill and maybe get some sleep. I’m acting like a crazy person. “Tell the Castle Watch to stand down and release the city perimeter soldiers for the rest of the evening. They won’t be needed.”

“Yes, Sir!” The guard turns and rushes back up the steps as Creed approaches Valen, looking at the castle. The sky above slowly brightens, the black blue of night softening to a deep purple, casting a soft glow on the stone structure.

“I need a nap,” he grumbles, rubbing the back of his neck and rolling his shoulders as he releases a weary sigh.

“Same,” Archer says, moving to head up the castle steps, but Razar steps in his way, glaring at him as he crosses his arms. “Yes?” he asks, simultaneously sounding annoyed and amused as he pulls up short so he doesn't plow into his brother.

“No.”

Arch sighs and runs a hand down his face. “Dude. What happened to using more than a single word when trying to communicate? We were doing so well before everything happened.” Raz raises a brow but remains silent as the rest of us watch.

“Need to make sure the castle is clear first,” he finally grumbles when Arch tries to sidestep him.

“And I appreciate that, Raz. I really do. But I don’t think you understand how much I need to go find Mara,” his voice cracks when he says his mate's name, making Razar's frown deepen as he looks back up at the castle, conflicted.

“Father wouldn’t allow the guards to roam if the castle wasn’t secure, Raz,” Nox points out, trying to help both brothers.

“But…” Razar starts to say, and I step forward, grabbing his hand and pulling him toward me.

“He needs her,” I whisper up at him. “And she needs him. If it were me in her shoes…” I trail off and shake my head as he sighs, and nods just as a shout comes from the top of the stairs.

“Let me go!” Archer growls and spins, looking up to see Mara trying to get out the big open doors and the guards stopping her.

“It’s not safe until the grounds can be cleared, Princess,” I can hear one of them say as he tries to soothe her.

“Let her go!”

Archer snarls, sprinting up the stairs, taking them three at a time, and making Nox curse. He releases my hand, rushing after Arch with panic on his face.

“Release her!” Nox bellows, and the guard instantly listens. He drops his arm and steps back, allowing Mara to run outside and straight into Archer's arms. The woman crumples in his arms, sobs wracking her body as Archer picks her up and holds onto her for dear life.

“I thought… y-you…” she stammers, pulling back enough to run her hands over his face and shoulders before sobbing again and clinging to him,

“I know. I’ve got you. I’ve got you,” he whispers into her ear, and I sniff a little, trying not to cry as I watch their reunion. Lennox smiles at them as he strides past, looking up at the guard and shaking his head.

“I know you are simply following orders. But you almost got yourself killed. Never step between one of my brothers and their mate. For your own safety. You can blame me if anyone gives you trouble for it,” Nox says, and the guard nods in agreement, looking like a bobblehead as Orcus runs from the castle, eyes moving to Lennox, then to Archer and Mara before finding the rest of us below. He groans in relief as he turns and yells back into the castle.

“They're okay!” Seconds later, Viviane rushes out, her arms cradling a tiny baby wrapped in a pink blanket.

“Thank the Gods,” she rasps, rushing toward Nox while dismissing the guard. “Out, everyone is dismissed,” she commands. Within seconds, the entire courtyard is deserted, and Razar’s shoulders slump in relief, the extra Demons nearby causing him to stress whether they worked for his parents or not. “You’re all ok?” she asks in shock. Nox grins at the baby and holds his hands out, fingers wiggling as he asks to take his niece from his mother. Viv relents, gently passing the baby to Nox as he coos down at her, eyes lighting up in delight.

“You should wash your hands,” Viv grumbles, fingers moving to adjust the pink blanket, and Nox laughs.

“Demons don’t get sick,” he points out. “And I used magic to clean me. Morya is perfectly safe. I promise.”

“Hmm… and Inanis?” she whispers, and Nox nods as Orcus moves to the step Arch and Mara are sitting on. He watches them with teary eyes, his hand moving to Mara’s back as he whispers something to Arch.

“Dead. At least for now. I’m assuming we will need to make sure it’s permanent. But he’s not a threat right now. We need to get men to the hillside by the rift in the north to collect his body, though.”

“What's left of his body,” Creed says with a shudder as he climbs the stairs toward his parents. Orcus stands, looking around him like he’ll destroy anyone who gets too close to Arch and Mara, before he glances back at Nox.

“How did you do it? I feared the worst, Lennox. I–fuck. I think I’ve thrown up about a dozen times!” Orcus admits, and Nox nods down to me.

“Honestly, we didn't do a damn thing. Meyer let the Beastia handle him,” Nox says, bending to kiss the top of Morya’s soft head as he looks at me. “Kind of poetic, if you ask me. The monster he created, the Beast’s that have caused so much death and destruction. Turning on their creator and killing him in the end. Now we just have to make sure it’s permanent.”

“He's truly gone?” Viv asks again, almost as if she’s having difficulty wrapping her mind around the idea. Tears form in her eyes as she looks from Nox to me, and I smile.

“It looked like it. Creed didn't want me to get too close,” I tell her as I tug on Razar’s hand, making him walk with me. I can feel Valen at my back, still on guard after everything we’ve been through, and I wiggle my other hand at him, not liking how stressed he still seems.

“Trust me, you didn't want to see that,” Creed grimaces as he approaches his Mom and kisses her cheek. Nox grins and rocks the baby, eyeing Arch, giving him time to soothe Mara before he steps close and bends down. Arch doesn't even spare him a glance, tears pouring down his face as he clings to Mara, but when Mara looks up and sees her baby, she smiles and gently removes herself from Arch's tight embrace, reaching for their daughter.

Archer practically melts into a puddle as Mara turns and holds their baby out for him to take, his body trembling, eyes red and swollen as he gently moves his daughter into the crook of his arm.

“I named her Morya,” Mara whispers, beaming at their baby as Arch nods and a sob lodges in his throat.

“It’s perfect. She’s perfect,” he rasps, as he lifts one of Morya’s tiny hands and presses it to his lips. “She’s so small,” he whispers, the words full of love and wonder, but his eyes flashing with fear. “Is she alright?” he asks, and Mara nods.

“She came early. But she's healthy. Just needs a little extra love and care.”

“Something the little Princess gets lots of,” Orcus says with a grin as he crouches over Archer's shoulder, admiring his granddaughter.

“Razar, darling,” Viv whispers as we stop a few steps down from the rest of the family. “Maybe magic some pants… or go get dressed?” she suggests, and Razar huffs as he rolls his eyes but trudges up the stairs, not letting my hand go. “Meyer, dear. I sent your friends to your rooms to wash up and rest. I’ll have rooms prepared for them as we get things back in order,” she says as Raz drags me up the steps.

“Thank you! Uh, I guess I’ll see you later?” I call over my shoulder to Viv, who grins and laughs as she waves us off.

“Razar, bring her to my room!” Nox calls from behind us.

“No!” he yells back, making Nox curse. His steps are audible in the long halls as he races to catch up with us. Razar glares at Nox as he grabs my free hand.

“You can’t just steal her all day,” Nox says with a pout, and I laugh, tugging my hand from his grip and poking at his bottom lip that's jutted out. He chuckles and nips at my fingertips, catching one between his teeth, and I release an embarrassing moan as he smirks and winks down at me.

“Eyes. Off. My. Mate!” Razar snarls, and I jerk back in surprise, thinking he’s getting mad at Nox, but I find him glaring at the two guards down the hall.

“Chill, dude,” Nox warns, waving the guards off. We watch as they scamper away, eyes focused on their feet so they don't upset Razar again. “Really?” Nox grumbles when they’re gone, and Razar shoots him a look that would make most people wither in their place.

“Like you were any better. Father had to clear our side of the wing so you wouldn't kill anyone,” Razar points out as he bends down, plants a shoulder in my stomach, and heaves me in the air.

“Yeah, okay,” Nox concedes with a chuckle, watching me with far too much amusement as I’m hauled down the hall.

“Dammit! Razar, you know I hate this!”

“You move too slow,” he snaps back as he storms off to his rooms, Nox trailing behind us.

“Wait!” I gasp as we pass my door. “I want to check on Theo and Jordan!” Razar pauses and turns, hand moving to open my door just as a loud moan comes from within the room, and my eyes widen in horror because I’m pretty sure that wasn’t a pained moan. Nox’s chuckles turn into straight-up laughter at my expression as Raz growls, hand dropping on the handle. “No, wait!” I snap as another moan echoes under the door.

“What, why? They’re obviously hurt!” Razar insists and Nox bends over, laughing even harder as I glare at him, still draped over Raz’s shoulder.

“Those little dweebs are doing it in my room, aren't they?” I growl, and Nox nods.

“On your bed, I think,” he adds, and I gag.

“Gross! Little shits! When we go back to the North American Castle remind me to fuck one of you on their bed,” I grumble and wack Razar’s back. “Put me down.”

“What?” Razar asks, eyeing the door, his hand still on the handle.

“Dude, they’re fucking. So unless you want to see the little brothers doing stuff, we don't want to see… I suggest you not open the door,” Nox says bluntly. Razar tears his hand from the handle so damn fast you would think it burnt him as he turns and stares at Lennox.

“They’re fucking?” he asks incredulously.

“Uh, yeah. You knew they were a thing, right?”

“Of course, I knew they had emotional attachments. I knew while you were losing your remaining brain cell over them flirting with Pup. But that is not their room and not their bed,” he points out, and I nod and wack his back again.

“Precisely why I said I want to fuck one of you on their bed,” I say, pressing my hands to his back so I can peer at them behind me. “Payback!”

“Something I would be happy to help you with,” Nox says with a devilish grin, and I smile back, then yelp as Razar’s hand comes down on my ass, hard.

“Ow!”

“That is childish,” he chides, and Nox snorts as he starts back down the hall and stops outside Razar’s room.

“Yeah, that’s what happens when you're not an old man, Raz.” Razar follows, opening his door while growling low, the sound bouncing off the halls.

“I am not old!”

“Yeah, you are,” I whisper under my breath and shriek when his hand falls on my opposite ass cheek. “Ow, Razar!” I snap and reach down, smacking his ass as fast and hard as I can until I’m suddenly flipped upright, placed on my feet, and shoved into the room.

“Are you coming in?” Razar asks, and I turn, finding him gesturing at Nox. “Or are you too scared to be outperformed by an old man?”