Page 6 of A Seduction Of Death (Umbra Hunters #4)
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Meyer
M y fingers are numb as I step in Razar’s footprints and walk through a particularly deep snow drift. His shirt hangs to my knees and covers most of my body. I purse my lips as I watch the lazy snowflakes fall from the sky and land on Razar’s broad shoulders, where they promptly melt and vanish. We’ve been walking for over an hour, and he doesn't appear to be the least bothered by the cold despite his lack of clothing.
The man must have some weird way of staying warmer than the other guys—the complete opposite of his cold glares and frosty personality. I’ve been held by all four Regalis brothers now, and I can say for a fact that Razar’s arms are ten times warmer than the others. Almost snuggly and comforting despite his rigid and tense body under mine.
“On my heel, Pup,” Razar snarls, shooting me a dark look for having the audacity to move slower than him and falling more than three feet behind his large form. I shoot him an equally dark look and wait for him to turn forward again before rolling my eyes. I know he’s worried, something I’m not used to seeing from him, but he’s taking it to a new level, one that could rival Nox’s possessive need to control situations.
I’ve found that Razar reacts to my snark and attitude better than anything else. When I try to be nice or sweet, he’s immediately suspicious and thinks I’m up to something. If I’m upset or show too much emotion, he withdraws. My emotions are seemingly too much for him to handle. So I’ve decided to be the biggest brat; that way he can remain comfortable in my presence. It helps, honestly. My eyes feel dry and swollen from the amount of crying I've done since Elaine's death, and my head is pounding so hard I think it might burst. It’s much easier to be a brat than to pretend I’m okay.
“Pup!”
I scowl at him and pick up the pace, stepping directly behind him and offering him a quirk of a brow when he only glares at me. Frowning, I stare at the multitude of scars and marks on his back and shoulders, something I hadn’t truly noticed until we started our walk back to the castle. There were a few particularly bad scars on his chest that I discovered the night before, but it was nowhere close to the amount on his back. My own back aches as I remember the pain of how I got those scars, and I can't help but want to murder whomever or whatever hurt Razar like that.
Huffing, he nods in approval at my closer proximity and weaves us around more trees as the top of the Umbra Hunter’s Castle slowly comes into view. My heart leaps as my stomach drops. The idea of seeing the guys and ensuring they are okay makes me want to run up the remaining part of the mountain, but the knowledge that my best friend is about to discover his mother's death has my stomach turning and bile climbing up my throat.
My eyes sting anew as I tuck my head down and focus on my feet, letting Razar lead us back to the castle. The small incline has me gasping for breath, my sides aching as I look up, taking in the now-visible gray stone wall surrounding the castle. The gate is open, Rangers and Hunters alike milling about inside the courtyard, but a towering, dark-haired figure suddenly appears at the top of the castle, making me pause. I can feel his eyes on me before they shift to Razar, who has made it up the hill and is standing on the small road that leads to the castle. Senior Drakos’ shoulders sag, his relief evident, but in the next moment, I watch them stiffen as he spots the unmoving bundle in Razar’s arms. The bells on the castle start to ring, and a big red-haired man steps next to Victor, his bright smile seen from a distance when he sees Razar and me. Hunters move toward the open gates, their eyes locked on us as I yank my gaze from the men standing on the wall and climb the remaining distance to the road, standing next to Raz.
“Meyer!”
“Get the hell out of the way!”
Two voices raise over the tolling bells, and I look at Razar in panic as Jordan and Theo run toward us. Razar’s dark eyes meet mine, and he frowns. He turns his back on the two Rangers and hides Elaine’s body with his own.
“Can you tell him, or do you want me to?” he asks, looking down at Elaine’s body covered in his cloak, a flicker of unease on his dirt and blood-streaked face. Before I can answer, a booming voice interrupts everything, and I look up, finding Victor and Monroe running toward us.
“Stop!” Victor snaps, making Theo whip around in surprise at his Senior’s order, but nothing stops Jordan as he literally barrels into me, taking me off my feet and into his comforting arms in one of the biggest hugs I’ve ever received.
“Holy shit, Meyer. We’ve been so worried,” he whispers, clutching me tight as I wrap my arms around him, squeezing my eyes shut as I return his tight hug.
“What?!” Theo shouts at his Senior, looking confused.
“Get back to the castle,” Victor orders Theo.
“But…”
“Now!” Victor roars, nodding at Monroe, the red-haired giant rushing over to Theo and grabbing his arm.
“Why?” Theo shouts back in frustration. His eyes immediately snap to Jordan and me, settling on mine, and he freezes. Fear filters into his expression as he takes me in, and he scowls, shaking his arm, trying to get Monroe off him.
“What the fuck?” Jordan whispers, tensing when he sees Monroe touching Theo. “What’s going on?” he asks Victor as he pulls back, keeping his arms wrapped protectively around me.
“Jordan...” I whisper, making him look down at me, his eyes widening when he sees my tears.
“Shit, are you hurt?”
“Get Theo into the castle and bring him to your room. I’ll meet you there,” I whisper, looking around at the Hunters, who have walked out of the courtyard and now watch us with curious eyes. I will tell Theo, but I don’t want to do it in front of the other Hunters.
“Yeah… I… sure, of course,” Jordan stutters but immediately agrees despite looking more confused than ever. “But, are you alright? Senior Regalis is out looking for you, and you look like shit, babe.” I nod, wiping my tears as Jordan squeezes me again and slowly lets me go, stepping back and tossing a quick look at Razar for the first time as Victor rushes to his side. Jordan nods to the Demon Prince, then pauses when he sees what Razar is shielding from Theo.
I can hear my friend's breath hitch, his eyes bouncing from the body covered in Razar’s cloak, then to Raz, then to me before returning to the cloak. His eyes widen as he shakes his head, obviously putting together who Razar is gently passing into Victor's large, trembling arms. His eyes fly back to me, the pain in them making me feel so much fucking guilt, and I cover my mouth to stifle a sob. I should’ve e tried harder to break out of Elaine's spell and help her.
“No.” The plea in his voice is like a dagger to the heart. “Please, no, Meyer,” he whimpers, a gasping breath tearing from his lips like he’s having difficulty breathing as he stumbles back a few steps.
“Let me go! What the hell is going on? Jordan!” Theo shouts, making Jordan and me jump. He looks over his shoulder at Theo with devastation clear on his face, knowing as much as I do what's about to happen. He looks back at me and runs both hands through his hair, yanking at the strands as he mouths Elaine? At my nod, he drops, legs crumpling under his weight as he shakes his head in denial.
“No,” he groans, and I rush toward him.
“I’m so sorry,” I whisper, dropping beside him, unsure what else to say. Jordan nods as I watch him through my tears, and he takes a deep breath. I can see him cling to the threads of his control as he swallows, shoving everything down as he grabs my hand and squeezes it. Jordan stands, tugging me to my feet as Theo freaks out behind us.
“My room,” he rasps, and I nod. Spinning on his heel, Jordan rushes to Theo's side, wrapping an arm around Theo and yanking him toward the castle, Monroe helping, though it's not as hard now that Theo’s calmed a little with Jordan nearby.
“Get fucked! Meyer?” Theo calls out, looking back at me. I wave at him, trying to smile to show him I’m fine but failing as Jordan continues to talk to him. I can see the clear panic in his eyes and move to follow, refusing to leave my friend in the dark for longer than necessary, but I pull up short at a loud, angry voice.
“How?” Victor asks, scarily calm as he cradles Elaine’s body to his chest, rocking it back and forth as he glowers at Razar.
“I need to report to Lennox first on her murder,” Razar says, his voice calm and firm but tone almost apologetic.
“Murder?” shock coloring his words as he shakes his head. “Who?”
Razar looks uncomfortable as he shakes his head, and Victor loses it, his face turning bright red as he practically lunges for Razar, holding Elaine with one hand and wrapping his other around Razar’s neck. It's not surprising that Victor is upset and attacking, but that Razar allows it. “Give me a fucking name, Demon!” he bellows, making me step forward, hand already holding a blade as I eye Victor.
He’s allowed to be upset; he's allowed to rage; he can do whatever he needs to help deal with this loss. But what he’s not allowed to do is hurt one of my Demons.
“Jesthren,” I answer for Razar, not caring in the least if it gets me in trouble with Nox. I saw how Victor protected Elaine, watched her, and was jealous of Nox’s friendship with her, especially at the Christmas dinner. Victor just lost the woman he was in love with, and he deserves to know by whom. “Please release Razar. He’s done nothing but carry her back to the castle for me.”
Razar’s hands are shaking at his sides, curled into fists, and I know he’s doing everything he can not to kill Victor, which I truly appreciate.
“Your brother?” Victor asks, glaring at Razar.
“Adopted brother,” I offer, then wince and nod.
“He’s the one who gave you that shiner?” Victor snarls, and I lift my hand to my face, wondering when and how I got a black eye.
“Yes. And he’ll die for it and Elaine's death,” Razar grinds out as claws slowly emerge from his fingertips.
“Victor, please. We need to go tell Theo...” I plead with him, the mention of Theo making Victor sag, his fingers releasing Razar’s throat as he nods at me.
“Theo… shit. Cali,” Victor whispers, the mention of Elaine’s daughter and Theo’s twin making me frown. “She’s here and needs to be told.” My heart breaks anew for the girl I never met.
“I’ve got Theo,” I whisper, and Victor squeezes his eyes shut, his head falling as he holds Elaine’s body close.
“I’ll tell Cali,” he mutters, turning on his heel but not moving forward when he sees the few dozen Hunters standing outside the gates.
“I’ve got this,” Raz growls, stalking toward the group of Hunters, a fierce look on his face that promises death to whoever is stupid enough to get in his way. The Hunters scatter in seconds, rushing in every direction to escape the terrifying Regalis brother. I sigh in relief, following after Raz with Victor trailing slowly behind, thankful the crowd of onlookers is gone.