Page 6 of Broken Shadows (Corrupt Shadows Duet #2)

CHAPTER SIX

Lorcan

“Bro Demon!” Aiden shouts exuberantly. My jaw clenches so tightly I worry the vein throbbing along it will burst and splatter Ezra's face with gore. Aiden continues, despite my morose demeanor. “It's been sooo long since you've hung out in my head or through any kind of mirror. Don’t get me wrong, it’s actually been a nice break.”

“So, this is Aiden,” Ezra comments with a lifted brown, then adds. “Your valet?”

I side-eye my brother, trapping him in my glare. “That foolish observation does not warrant a response.”

“You could've just said, ‘yes,’” Aiden chimes. “Shit, really leaning into that evil overload persona. Glad to see your time in the Shadow Realm hasn’t ruined your sunny disposition.”

My brows quirk upwards. “I’m surprised you even know the word disposition.”

A psychotic grin sweeps over my brother’s face as he shakes me by the shoulders. “Oh, I like him.”

I growl as Ezra’s claws stab into my shoulders and wrinkle my nose as he winks at Aiden. “Enough, we have things to discuss, and you two fucking morons keep steering the conversation to nonsense.”

Ezra snaps his teeth close to my face. “Make me.”

I spin, my teeth sharpening as a triumphant smile takes over my face, and send my tattooed fist into his godsdamn throat. Ezra gags and coughs, his lips moving, but no sound escapes. “What was that, Wrath? Can’t speak with your crushed larynx?” I taunt and smack his bearded cheek twice.

Rare delight warms like a sun in my chest as I bind him with shadows and deposit him in the corner by the window. “Stay,” I command.

I chuckle as Ezra growls and bucks beneath his restraints. Serves him fucking right after he trussed me up with his shadows the other day.

My heart stalls. Oh, shit. I’ve neglected my only link with the Human Realm because of this asshat. My eyelid twitches—the reality of losing this one advantage to tedious sibling rivalry all too realistic.

I hurry back to the mirror and exhale slowly when I see it’s not shattered. Aiden’s wide eyes stare at me through the glass, his jaw slack. “Wha-?”

I grip the nape of my neck, then interrupt what I’m sure is about to be useless dribble. “You are going to help me free my little witch.”

“Okay, sure,” he says and nodding enthusiastically like a ridiculous bobble head toy. “But me too, right? Like I am going to go free, ‘cause I can't get her out without being free myself.”

I groan and rub my temples. Satan, give me patience. “Obviously. I don’t give a shit what happens to you either way. All I want is to get Evie out of there.”

“Fine, whatever,” Aiden says, puffing out his cheeks. “If you don’t care, then why should I bother helping you when I can just help myself?”

Fabric rustles as Ezra struggles and fails to free himself from the shadow restraints. The corner of my mouth twitches but I ignore him.

“Listen, Valet . Must I remind you of all the ways I can draw endless agony out of your body in Hell?”

He gulps, the edge of his servant’s mark rippling with the movement. “Uh. No, definitely cool. Don't need another reminder. Still have nightmares from the last time.”

“You need to be nicer to the kid,” Ezra interjects behind me, his voice broken and raspy as if he swallowed shards of glass.

I glare into the tiny mirror, perturbed by the constant back and forth, then slap a shadow gag over his big fucking mouth. That should work for now, before he works up the energy to fight my shadows properly.

Aiden's eyes dance between mine as he pouts. “He's right, you know. I don't think you've ever been nice to me.”

“Will you fucking focus? Or I’ll devise a plan so that only Rosa escapes with Evie and your left here to rot.”

Aiden frowns, which rapidly transforms into an impish smile. “But really, would it kill you to be, just, you know, more pleasant on occasion?”

“For fuck’s sake. Will you stop badgering me if I agree to attempt it?”

“Yeppers,” Aiden replies brightly, popping the P.

I don’t even look at Ezra to know that he’s smiling. Fucking ‘Yeppers?’

A soft click sounds as he sets down the compact mirror on his nightstand, flops on his bed, then turns on his side facing me. “So, what do you wanna know, Bro Demon?”

I growl low in my chest but force it away. The fucking things I subject myself to for my witch. “Rosa mentioned that you can hear the abbey’s bell chiming on the hour. Is that correct?” I ask, my tone brooking no argument. Reaching into my pocket, I pluck out another cigarette, rolling it between my fingers. “Anything else you might've forgot to mention?”

Aiden adjusts his ball cap and scrunches up his nose. “Nope. I don't think so,” he admits, but the light in his eyes swiftly dies, like a fire doused with water. And yet, there is something intriguing beneath the surface. Interesting. “Oh, right! One of your brothers has been stalking me, following me around and shit anytime I’m out of this room.”

“They’ve let you out? Why?”

Aiden shrugs. “The plumbing in my shower is bad and another brother of yours constantly complains ‘about my stench,’” he says, making air quotes. “But yeah, anyway. He’s been stalking me, and I mean in like real life, not in the mirror or anything.” He pauses, then his lips turn down. “Somehow, it's even creepier. But at least he doesn’t pop-up on me like a demented jack-in-the-box though. So, I win there I guess.”

I push the hair off my forehead. “Interesting. Do you know his name?”

“Nope, he's mostly quiet. Always lurking around dark corners, smoking, and brooding,” Aiden explains.

Fuck, that could be any of my brothers. “What does he look like?” I ask.

Aiden’s eyes light up and he bobs and weaves his head as if trying to view something over my shoulder. “Actually, just like that bro demon,” he says, squinting into the mirror and pointing at Ezra. “Wait! He actually is your bro. So trippy.”

I twist my torso to the side, both my brows arching high into my hairline. How the Hell did I not feel him escape? Curiosity and anger blend into a potent cocktail within me. I glare through slitted eyes at Ezra as he leans on the windowsill and cleans under his claws with the blade he started carrying ever since I stabbed him.

My brother smirks and winks at me, then focuses on the tiny image of Aiden in the mirror. “Did he have an awesome bun like his and look sexy as fuck?”

Aiden grins at Ezra. “Oh, yeah. He looks just like you, it’s crazy.” He pauses, eyebrows pinching together. “Wait… are you guys like twins or something? That's so fucking cool.”

“Isn’t it though?” Ezra agrees. “Seriously, Lorry, I fucking love this kid. But yes, that demon is Gideon, my twin.”

My eyes roll so far into my head the tendons and ligaments ache with strain. “Fucking fools. Your part of the plan is simple, Aiden,” I state, folding my arms over my chest, and rolling my shoulders back. “Be prepared to leave tonight, just after the six o’clock bells.”

“Shit, really? What do I do?” he asks much too excitedly for my taste.

“Just be fucking ready,” I order. “Rosa will come collect you, then I’ll take it from there.”

Aiden looks off to the side, his brows furrowing and his upper lip pooching under his nose. “How?” he asks slowly, extending the ‘O’.

“You get your wish, Aiden. I’ll be inside your head again, pulling the strings,” I say, my tone a dark promise.

“I knew I shouldn’t have said anything,” Aiden murmurs with a sigh.

“Pass the mirror back to Rosa,” I order.

Ezra pushes me out of the frame once he sees her brown eyes, and grins. “Hey, Sugar, so here’s what we’re going to do. You’re going to make Asher super horny.”

Rosa recoils, her nostrils flaring. “You want me to what?”

“Fine. Seduce and distract him then,” Ezra repeats, then winks. “Or distract, then seduce. The order doesn’t really matter.”

“Fucking demons,” she says under her breath as she smooths her brown to ombre pink hair back into a high ponytail. Rosa shakes her head, pink locks swinging like a metronome. “There has to be another way.”

“There isn’t. And we both know you will do this, if not for your sake, then for Evie’s,” I counter.

“Ugh. Okay, fine, you’re right.” Rosa crosses her arms, inadvertently pushing her tits up and deepening her cleavage. “I mean, I know all the ways to bring a man to his knees, but a demon? Not so much.”

Ezra whistles. “Damn, Sweetness, that confidence in seduction is sexy as Hell. Don’t worry, I got you covered. The Order is fuckity-fucked, but they aren’t military. The abbey is not as secure as they think it is, especially because we know our brother’s weaknesses.” Ezra pins me with his stare like he wants me to jump in on the conversation.

I wave him off, then glide to the window. Hues of gray and blue light trickle across my hands as I take out my packs of cigs and light a cigarette. I inhale at a glacial pace, relishing each burning molecule as I take it into my lungs. Fuck, that’s good. The tension in my shoulders eases with the familiar habit. “Go ahead,” I state, then watch two streams of smoke ripple and distort in a pane of thick blue glass as I exhale through my nose. “You’ve been around him more recently anyway.”

Ezra shrugs, then clears his throat. “Okay, beautiful. I can already tell, even realms apart, that you weren’t lying about knowing your way around seduction. It oozes from your every pore like a sensual perfume,” he praises gruffly and inhales, his nostrils flaring. “Fuck, how I wish I could smell that sexy—”

Purple embers shower the windowsill as I stab my cigarette out on the stone, the weak paper collapsing into a small, flattened circle. “I swear to fuck, Ezra. Stay on topic.” I narrow my gaze on the human rainbow as she hides a giggle behind her hand, point a claw tipped forefinger at Rosa. “You too.”

She salutes. “Yes, boss!”

Ezra bites his lip and groans. “Don’t worry, Sugar. When I get out of the Shadow Realm, we will play.”

Something twinkles in her irises as she rolls her eyes, then straightens her spine. “So, Asher. The distraction?”

“Right,” Ezra replies. “Thankfully, Asher is the simplest minded of our brothers. He craves everything in excess and will latch onto any opportunity to shirk his duties to fuck around.”

I snort. “That’s putting it lightly.” Perching on the edge of the Shadow Realm version of her bed, I smooth my hair back as I monitor them.

“Well, Asher sounds lovely,” Rosa states, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Ezra laughs. “He’s actually a ton of fun, but that’s not the point.”

I roll my shoulders back, then stand and stride over to them, glancing at Gomez’s cage in the corner as I walk. I grimace when Gomez squeaks. Seeing him caged up like this reminds me of my time in captivity.

“This is taking too godsdamn long,” I interrupt. “Look, Human Rainbow, we don’t have time for pleasantries. Aiden confirmed that when the church bell strikes six, Asher will come and deliver dinner to you both tonight.”

Rosa smooshes her purple lips to the side. “That sounds, correct. The sky darkens around that time as well.”

“Even better,” Ezra states.

“You will work your charm,” I add. “I don’t give a shit what you do, but you must make Asher believe you intend to fuck him or suck his cock at some point in the future.”

Rosa laughs. “Easy.”

Ezra’s laughter booms, blending with hers. “Once he’s so aroused he can hardly see straight, he’ll be in a hurry to slink back to his room to watch porn and play with his cock.”

“Precisely. While he hands you your meal and drools over you, quickly slip something from that backpack you call a purse into the door jamb so the door remains unlocked.”

Rosa’s brow rises over penetrating dark brown eyes. “Even demons watch porn? It’s really as simple as that?”

“Yes,” I state.

“Hell, yes,” Ezra announces boisterously at the same time.

Rosa’s hands land on her curvaceous hips. “Okay, then. Well, I don’t need your instructions. I’ll do what feels right at the time, once I gauge him.”

I slide my hands into my pockets. “Fine. Just don’t fuck it up. After you get free, unlock Gomez’s cage and grab him, unlock Aiden’s room, and I’ll direct you through my servant bond with him to Evie. My brothers will never expect an escape attempt in the early evening. And when you get Evie, meet us back at my manor.”

“Thanks for mansplaining,” Rosa replies. “As if I wouldn’t grab Gomey and let Aiden out.”

Ezra growls and bounces on the balls of his feet. “You ready, Sugar?”

“As much as I can be.”

My thoughts turn to Evie, a thrill shooting through my blood knowing I’ll see her soon. We’re coming for you, Little Witch . I try to send the vow to Evie through our bond, but yet again there’s no reply. They must have her unconscious or drugged.

Godsdamn, I can't believe that stunt actually worked.

I watch the Human Realm through the compact mirror as Rosa sets it down to reflecting the most advantageous angle of the room.

Asher drags his tongue over his lips as he runs a hand over the erection forcing his navy-blue joggers to extrude.

“You know, our faces are squished into a mirror that’s shaped like a fucking eggplant,” Ezra whispers, his bearded face shoving against mine.

“Shut the fuck up,” I growl. “There’s no time for your idiotic antics.”

Poor, Baby Brother. Seduction is a powerful tool, whether it’s used in your favor or not. My eyes widen as Rosa bends at the waist, grabbing the weighty, ceramic lid to the toilet that she planted by the door jamb earlier. She lifts it over her head and bashes Asher’s head over and over. A laugh rushes from me as dark blue blood and chunks of brain matter splatter in every direction.

“Although I’m loathe to admit, she’s an intelligent woman. She at least knows that one strike won’t keep a prince of Hell down. Even Asher.”

Ezra hums in agreement. “Mhm.”

Rosa’s eyes ping frantically around the room, her hands shaking so hard she can barely grasp the handle of Fluffy Fucker’s cage when she lets him out, then steals from the room.

“Hey, Sugar,” Ezra calls. “Don't forget about us.”

Rosa curses, snatches the mirror, then exits her makeshift prison. The reflection of the mirror turns into a phantasmagoria of colors as she jostles it around.

I hiss, “What the fuck are you doing?”

“Tucking my compact in my cleavage. I need to use both hands,” she states, her words broken with nerves.

Ezra grins too widely. “I’m honored, Sweetness.”

She snorts. “Enjoy it. It’s the first and last time you’ll find yourself there.”

A sliver of crescent shaped bare skin crowds two sides of the compact as she hastily unlocks Aiden's door. The door flies open before she has a chance to turn the knob, and Aiden grins on the other side.

Handing Ezra the mirror, I plunge through the bond into Aiden’s mind. Strangely, a sense of mild fondness swarms me as my consciousness weaves into his.

“Bro Demon!” Aiden shouts.

Rosa’s dainty, manicured hand rises, then slaps over his mouth.

A fierce growl rolls from my chest. For fuck’s sake. I clench my jaw and stab my fingers through my hair. The goal is to not get caught. Stealth is important, I snap in his mind.

“Sorry, sorry. I just got so excited,” Aiden replies sheepishly.

Listen closely. I’ll relay instructions to lead you and Rosa to Evie, then continue to aid your route through the catacombs once you have her. You must walk as quickly and quietly as you can, but don’t run. I pause, making sure Aiden is absorbing the information. I sense my brothers in the East wing. Thank fuck. Luckily, it’s on the opposite end of the abbey, so as long as you are tactful, they won't be alerted to your movements.

I don’t bother explaining this to Rosa, as she’s intelligent enough to grasp the nature of the situation.

As Ezra raises the mirror in my peripheral, my vision splits, one part of me looking through Aiden's eyes, and the other monitoring my brother as he brings the mirror so close to his face only his beard surrounded lips are in the frame.

“Be careful, Sweetness,” he purrs. “Follow Aiden. Lorcan is telling him where to go.”

“Okay,” she squeaks as a tremble fans from her hands to her extremities. “Also, stop calling me that, you big brute.”

Aiden rubs his hands together, his excessive energy zipping along the bond and raising the hair on my arms. Fucking move. We don't have much time, I order. Turn left at the end of this hall.

“What now?” he whispers. I roll my eyes.

Continue straight , I reply.

I strain my ears for any detrimental sounds, but the only things I detect are Aiden’s obnoxious tromping steps, and both their panting breaths. Even Fluffy Fucker knows to remain silent as he flies with the humans. The duo quickly reaches the grand staircase and moves down them swiftly.

Stay quiet , I remind him.

“You got it, bro-demon-boss-man,” Aiden says in an attempt to whisper, but it’s still loud. This kid doesn’t know the concept of an inside voice.

“This is a good view, but it would be a better one if you turn this thing around so I could watch those gorgeous tits of yours bounce instead,” Ezra propositions.

“Ugh, you’re a fucking pig,” Rosa whispers in response.

Ezra chuckles as my view through Aiden tilts, then distorts wildly as he trips on the bottom step. Fuck me, I knew the escape was going too smoothly.

“Shiiiiiiiiiit,” Aiden cries as he tumbles, then catches himself from face planting. I blow out a relieved breath through my nostrils.

I need a fucking cigarette.

Rosa whispers, “Get up, Aiden!”

Aiden swivels his head to Rosa. “Right, but apart from that fall, this is going amazing. We’re the best team ever, right? Team Great Hair! You know, because we both have great hair,” Aiden whisper shouts to Rosa and offers her his fist bump.

Her eyes widen and her manicured brows rise nearly to her hairline in the clearest depiction of ‘what the fuck is wrong with you’ I have ever witnessed. Honestly, it’s impressive.

Don't celebrate yet, I warn. Move the rug directly in front of you. Underneath is a trapdoor .

“What do you think you're doing?” a voice booms. Aiden’s whips his head around as a member of The Order grabs his shoulders.

“Fuck,” I curse.

My head tilts to the side in befuddlement as Aiden cocks back his arm and punches the man directly between his legs. The Order acolyte crumples to a heap on the floor, and Aiden celebrates, swaying his hips in a dance of victory.

“Dude,” Aiden crows. “Did you see that!? I got him in his pregnancy tools! I'm just like John McClain!”

Ezra laughs, his whole body shaking with mirth as Rosa draws her leg back, then kicks The Order member in the groin a second time. “Shit, she’s vicious. I like it ,” he adds with a whisper.

I cringe as Rosa shushes Aiden and Ezra aggressively. I hate that godsdamn sound. “C’mon, we’re almost there. Evie needs us,” Rosa encourages, elbowing Aiden out of the way and flings open the trapdoor. Admiration trickles into me as she marches down the steps like she owns the place. Aiden hurries behind her, pressing his back to one wall, then the opposite in a lopsided zig-zag pattern as he continues to pretend he’s the fictional cop who saved Christmas.

Fucking focus and keep up with her, I order Aiden.

“Right. Go team, go,” he whispers, trailing Rosa closely.

My skin tightens in awareness. Something's wrong.

Aiden, stop Rosa, I command.

He manages to encircle her wrist, effectively halting her forward momentum. Her palm scrapes the wood as it slides from the partially open door to the secret chamber. A dripping sound sets my nerves on high alert, it's familiarity at once a thrill and terror. My primal senses jolt awake and search for the perceived threat.

“Pfft. It can't be that bad,” Aiden proclaims, no doubt still high from his earlier actions and the adrenaline soaring through his veins. He swipes the compact mirror from Rosa and moves past her to swing the door wide.

I freeze, unable to dissect the scene unfolding in the torture chamber in my brain’s discombobulated state. I take the mirror from Ezra and am immersed in a myriad of Evie’s scent, the unnerving absence of sound, lashing shadows, and blood.

So. Much. Blood.

Aiden gasps, “What the shit did we just walk into?”