Page 26 of Shifter’s Promise (Devourer of Magic)

Chapter

Twenty-Two

L eona forced Jeremiah to his knees. The grave of the triplet’s mother loomed behind him. Justice would finally be served on her behalf.

With his hands tied behind his back and a snarl on his bloody face, Jeremiah looked nothing like the man I’d first met. This look suited him far better. Drenched in dirt and blood, his remaining men lined up on the beach in similar positions, it finally felt real.

Revenge was steps away—literally. With two long strides, I could put my knife through his throat. But mine wasn’t the only vengeance.

Jeremiah had made his sons suffer in ways only they knew. They deserved the final blow. Not just to avenge themselves, but Johanna too.

“Are you ready to hear your crimes, Jeremiah?” I asked with an arch of my brow.

The jaguar’s lips pulled back. He growled, baring teeth.

“I’ll take that as a yes.” I smirked .

With our comrades gathered around the remaining seven jaguar guards, I didn’t have to worry about the enemy at my back. Instead, I focused on the one at my front.

I glanced at the triplets flanking their father. Raxa stood in the center, the same dagger in hand that had nearly killed Taka. Three swift nods told me they were ready. It was time.

Spinning to face the crowd, I splayed my hands to present this worthy show.

“Welcome to the truth, jaguars,” I said, unable to curb the vicious smile twisting my lips.

These bastards might have helped Jeremiah pick and choose slaves for all we knew.

I hoped from their reactions, we’d find out exactly who still needed to die.

The rest could pay for their sins in a dark cell.

I slipped the ledger Lifal had given me from my pocket, holding it up for all to see.

“This little notebook has a list of your leader’s crimes.”

The guards' faces told me they didn’t believe me. But that was all well and good. They’d realize the truth when it slapped them in the face… or stabbed them in the throat.

“On top of being one of the world’s worst fathers—” Raxa snorted, making my smile grow. “Your leader also threw his very own people into slavery .”

Two of the jaguar's eyes widened, guilt plain to see. They knew .

“Still don’t believe me?” I flipped open the ledger to the page marked Jeremiah . “Let’s see if you recognize any of these names.”

Taking a step closer to the jaguars, I read each name aloud. Their eyes grew and grew with each name. Despair and grief gave way to unrelenting anger.

“My mate!” one of them screamed.

“My daughter!” another cried.

By the time I had finished with the three dozen names listed, I had read both my own and the triplet’s mother’s as well. Not a soul before me could deny the truth.

“This is the man you called a leader.” I prowled along the line of guards, rage kindling in my gut. Heat raced through me. My lips drew back. I brandished the ledger in each of their faces. Half sobbed over the lives that were robbed while the other half cast desolate glances at the ocean.

I pointed at the two I was sure were involved. “Kill them.”

Alysia’s knife sliced through one of their necks before I could blink. Blood poured from the wound and he collapsed face first. The other was quick to follow, staining the once pristine white sand.

I turned to face Jeremiah. “You’re a terrible piece of shit. You deserve to be enslaved like I was once.” I grabbed his face, nails like claws. They dug into his flesh. Blood seeped from the wounds. “You deserve to rot in a dark hole for the rest of your days until you starve.”

I smiled wickedly. “But since we don’t have time for that. You’ll die in humiliation. Killed by your own sons. ”

Pushing his face aside, I stepped back.

“Whenever you’re ready.” Nodding at the triplets, I gave them time.

But it seemed time wasn’t necessary.

Raxa’s blade sunk into Jeremiah’s back, once, twice, thrice. Each pain fueled grunt soothed something deep in my soul. He handed the blade to Aya next. With a snarl, Aya buried the blade in his shoulder. This time, Jeremiah couldn’t help but cry out.

Once Aya had finished, he joined Raxa.

The last brother sneered as he yanked Jeremiah’s head back by his hair. Jeremiah hissed, pupils narrowing into slits.

“You’d listen to that bitch over your own father?”

Taka laughed, a hysterical edge to his voice. “Yeah, I would.”

Drawing the blade from Jeremiah’s shoulder, Taka wrenched his head back as far as it’d go.

I nodded my encouragement, and with that, Taka carved a slow, painful line through his father’s throat.

Blood gushed. Jeremiah struggled. His sons held him back while Taka finished the long line.

It was so similar to the scar through my neck, it had to be intentional.

Warmth blossomed inside me. These triplets had avenged me too.

Jeremiah gurgled, blood spluttering from between his lips. Taka held his head back forcing him to bleed out. It wasn’t until his body slackened that Taka released him. He fell forward, a limp corpse in the sand.

“It’s over,” Aya said, relief sagging his shoulders .

Leona’s hands at my hips had me leaning back instinctually.

“You did well,” she purred in my ear. A shiver descended my spine. “You all did well.”

Each triplet gave her a nod of recognition. While I’d expected them to be more hurt, maybe a tad sad over the passing of their father, I didn’t see a lick of regret now.

While the leopards and Ghost Squadron rounded up the remaining jaguars for later trial, the rest of us gathered around the headstone of my new brothers’ mom.

Raxa laid his hand on the side, a genuine smile twisting his lips.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you smile,” I said.

Raxa flushed, and we all laughed.

“There was nothing to smile about before.”

“Maybe you’ll smile more often now,” Leona said.

“I hope so,” Aya said. He crossed his arms. “You think mom would like seeing you this dreary?”

“She’d tell you to lighten up.” Taka grinned. He rested his hand on the other side of the headstone, a gentle smile lighting his eyes. “We did it, Mom.”

“You can rest in peace now,” Aya added.

“I’m sure she’s looking down on us fondly.” Raxa stared affectionately at the headstone.

Shifting awkwardly, I got the sense it was time to give them some space. “Come back to my clan house later, would you?”

“Of course,” Taka said.

“I’ll see you all then.”

“Here, my sister made copies.” I slid thick parchment scrawled with black ink across the coffee table.

Back in my clan house and living room, I sat with my father and Leona on one sofa, while the triplets sat on the other.

Our clan members had gone for treatment.

Shannon mentioned something about taking the rest of Jeremiah’s guard to some sort of confinement.

I didn’t question it, letting him and Ghost Squadron take over.

With plans to meet up in a few days to talk about next steps, it was finally time to get down to clan business. We could aid the growing rebellion later.

“Thanks.” Raxa took them, rolling the parchment and tying it with the provided twine.

“We’ll begin the shift of power tonight,” Aya said, surprising me. He wasn’t typically the leader of their little brotherhood. It was kind of nice seeing him step up.

“Have you decided on a leader?” Father rumbled. He hadn’t been happy to hear I’d left the safety of the jungle. Luckily, Leona had come to my defense. There was the extenuating circumstance of Taka nearly bleeding to death, after all.

Even now, dark circles ringed Taka’s normally bright gaze. He must be exhausted after all that blood loss.

“Yes,” Taka said. “We’re all going to lead.”

“Together,” Raxa and Aya said in unison.

That’s definitely a triplet thing .

“What a unique idea.” Father scratched his beard in thought. It didn’t sound like he hated it.

“If it becomes a problem, we’ll deal with it later,” Aya continued.

“But for now, we three know the clan best,” Taka added.

“Three heads are better than one.” I agreed with their assessment. Having one leader was common due to the bullheadedness of our species. Beastkin weren’t great at sharing. But these brothers were close. Perhaps close enough to make it work.

Raxa cleared his throat. “As our first act as leaders, we want to return your territory.”

I gasped. I hadn’t expected that.

“Really?” Father’s eyes rounded like saucers.

“Really.” Taka grinned.

“It’s the least we can do after all the trouble we caused.” Aya scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.

“I’m glad you know.” I smiled mischievously.

Chuckles filled the space, bringing a warm atmosphere I had missed to our home.

“It’s a nice offer, but—” Father coughed into his fist. My head whipped toward him, brow furrowed in confusion. Was this not what we wanted all along? “—I think it would be better to share the land as originally intended.”

We all stared, dumbfounded at my father.

“You’re sure?” Aya asked, incredulous. I couldn’t blame him.

Father nodded solemnly. “Once upon a time, our clans were great friends. Your marriage was meant to bring us together and share the limited land of Auroi. I’d like to stick to that plan. With two conditions, of course.”

I blinked, wide eyed, still unable to process what was happening.

“What are your conditions?” Raxa asked, suspicious.

“The first… You will not marry my daughter.”

A laugh burst from my throat. I slapped my hands over my mouth, giggling into my fingers. I couldn’t believe it.

The triplets each grinned in their own way. Aya shook his head and Taka rubbed the back of his neck.

“There’s no problem there,” Raxa said, the second genuine smile I’d ever seen lighting those typically solemn features.

“And the second condition?” Taka asked.

“You remove that cursed clan house from the meadows. It’s hideous.” Father crossed his arms over his broad chest, staring down his nose at the triplets.

The brothers exchanged glances and nods before facing us once again.

“Done.” Aya held out a hand to seal the deal.

Father grinned and shook his hand, squeezing much too firmly if Aya’s wince was anything to go by.

“Brilliant,” Father said. “I wouldn’t want anyone in either clan to go without, but the meadows should be kept sacred. For the children.”

I nodded. Memories of racing through silvery strands of grass played through my mind.

Kara’s hand in mine as we giggled and tore across the fields.

Most of our clan's first shifts had taken place in that meadow.

Mine had. They meant a lot to our clan, and I hoped they would one day mean a lot to the jaguars too.

“We understand,” Raxa said.

I truly thought they did.

“Why don’t we meet again in three days?” Leona suggested. “To speak with Lifal and Shannon.”

I agreed with a nod and a squeeze of my mate’s hand.

“We can all go together,” I suggested. “Or they can come here.”

“Either way.” Taka shrugged.

“Then we’ll see you in a few days.”

We all stood, gathering around to shake hands and congratulate each other on a job well done. It wasn’t until the thump of feet on the stairs that I realized Kara was home.

I turned to the doorway with a grin just as she poked her head inside. “Hey, Kara.”

“How did it go?” she asked. Stepping inside, her gaze flitted between the blood splattering each of us. “Well from the looks of it.”

“Quite,” I agreed.

Beaming, Kara raced into my arms. She’d have bowled me over if it weren’t for Leona at my back, securing my shoulders.

“It’s over.” She sighed into my neck, making me laugh.

“That tickles.”

Kara pulled back, just in time for me to catch the widening of three sets of golden eyes .

“What?” I asked, tilting my head.

Kara turned to meet the triplets for the first time, her jaw going slack. Staring each other down, they refused to take their eyes off of one another.

“W-Who is this?” Taka asked. His entire face flushed red. That’s a first . I know my sister is cute but…

“My sister, Kara.” I trailed off, confusion wrinkling my brow. “Why are you looking at her like that?” I took her arm, slowly drawing her back.

“Is she our—” Aya was cut off by Raxa.

“Mate?”

My eyes widened as I shoved my baby sister behind me. “Oh hell no! None of you are good enough for my sister! Don’t even think about it!”

Father’s rumbling growl filled the silence. “My daughter?”

Aya gulped audibly. His gaze hadn’t shifted from my sister despite my attempts at hiding her.

“Hi there.”

“H-Hi,” Kara squeaked.

“Get out!” I roared. Pushing each triplet in turn, I forced them into the foyer and out the front door. “You bastards can never have my sister!”

I slammed the door on their protests, locking it before I spun to prop my back against it. No fucking way. With the gods as my witness, I’d never allow them to have her. Those conniving little?—

“Twinlin,” Kara whined. She leaned against the living room doorframe, big eyes twinkling brighter than I’d ever seen before. “I think they’re right.”

Fucking shit .