Page 25 of The Clash of the Damned (The Titan Syndicate Saga #2)

Sebastian

M agic is at the core of each Supernatural empire.

It makes us different from a regular human, and without it, none of us would exist. The Siphoner’s are such a danger to our existence, because they have the ability to take that way from us.

While it may be the most obvious with the Sorcerers, it’s present in the Rogues healing abilities and the rest of our gifts.

What would kill the average human, we’re protected from with magic.

It’s present in the Druids with their ability to change forms, and in the Undead with their ability to manipulate blood.

This is why I have to be so careful with our guest .

Despite mine and Jude’s complicated history, Brooklyn and I have remained close.

She was the one who gave me the lead that she suspected someone was watching them at school.

After I kidnapped the Siphoner for answers, I knew I had to get creative.

If I hit him too hard, I will give him the magic he can’t create on his own.

I’m not entirely sure if he needs his hands to draw magic from another source, so just in case, I keep his hands tied behind his back and the lights off.

Punching the dark haired man, I realize he can’t be older than twenty, judging by the acne marks on his skin.

His head cracks from the impact, and a droplet of blood forms between my knuckles.

Shit.

My healing kicks in, and his head snaps up; he can feel my magic too.

Not giving him a chance to move past that, I grab his hair and yank his head back.

“If you tell me your plan, I’ll let you live.

” He spits blood in my face, and I don’t flinch, used to worse as I watch him smile through his blood stained teeth.

“We both know that’s a lie. I’m not walking out of here alive.

The least I can do is die knowing we will always beat you.

” He laughs hysterically, and I know any further questioning is a lost cause.

I snap his neck, and his lifeless body slumps over in the chair.

I turn towards a slow clap and find Dom leaning against the entrance to the room we reserve for unwanted guests like the Siphoner.

“Love what you’ve done with the place.” He motions to the lone chair and dead body amongst the cold concrete walls.

“What can I say, it’s easier to clean up.” I walk past him and back to the centre of house as he follows.

“I didn’t have the heart to interrupt. I rarely get to see you in action, and it was very entertaining.”

Turning to face him, I finally notice his tux. “Surely you didn’t come here to ‘see me in action’?”

“Did you forget about the bachelor’s?”

Fuck. I did.

Most people would try to forget that the love of their life is marrying someone else; it’s something I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy .

“Go, get ready for the bachelor’s and make it quick; we don’t want to be late.

We can catch up on everything from Thanksgiving in the car.

I race upstairs, throwing together the quickest fancy outfit I can find.

The invite didn’t say much other than a night for men only , which to me, usually means strippers, a sex party, or both.

Running back downstairs, I find Logan standing with her hand on her hip. “Were you going to tell me there was another body to dispose of, or was I just supposed to discover it when he started to smell, like the others?”

Leaning over, I peck her cheek. “I’ll owe you one if you get rid of it for me?”

Logan stalks off, muttering about how loving us brings her extra admin. I can’t help but feel a swell of love for her in return.

Amelia waltzes into the room in a leather outfit that would make most biker girls envious with Clark on her heels. Amelia air kisses Dom as he says, “Pity you can’t join tonight; it would have been fun with you there.”

“No matter.” She smirks. “I have a new toy to play with, courtesy of my brother dearest.” She jingles car keys in my direction.

Leaning around her, I make eye contact with Clark. “Aren’t you coming?”

“I think I’m going to give tonight a skip and use this as an opportunity to bond with our little sister. I’m thinking of getting a Maserati for myself since I’m going to be around for a while.”

I shrug in response. As we leave and drive to the party, I explain to Dom that I owed Amelia an apology after almost dying in front of her, twice.

He catches me up on his sisters’ theory about the Siphoner’s magic.

The camaraderie between us is like the old days.

Running an empire leaves little time for fun.

“The Rogues were blamed for the park explosion, and the way the cult’s attacks keep escalating…what’s next? This has to be more than just revenge.”

“Remember I told you about my father’s notes? Well, I found a new one today. I think…we were responsible for Sloane’s mother’s death.”

When Jude and I became romantic, Dom and Luca weren’t thrilled, but they accepted it, wanting to see us happy. But the night of the sit down broke us in a way that none of us thought it could. I may not be able to fix what’s been broken, but I can make sure it doesn’t happen again.

I whistle as another piece of the puzzle falls into place. “Chances I can get in line for that antidote? Spell? Blocker?”

“Jude’s first, after what we did to her, but yeah, if anyone can get it right, the twins can. And I’ll get some to you as soon as I can.”

***

“I thought we were going to a strip club?” I ask as Dom pulls up to Tao. Considering my history with Jude, it’s not exactly like I’ve been included in the arrangements for tonight.

“Business is slower than usual. We need to keep the Undead happy, and we owe Luca, so we changed venues at the last moment.” It makes sense that Dom would know that.

“To help with the venue staffing, Luca hired some extra girls from the Human Faction.” Translation, the Human Faction girls specialize in sexual favors for whomever needs it tonight. Luca is a business woman after all.

Tao looks nothing like the club we’ve come to know and love; tonight it’s transformed to accommodate the Supernatural, exclusive event.

We rarely all come together in this capacity, especially considering the circumstances.

One of the Druids shouts through the mic that we don’t run and hide from humans, and the crowd cheers, the response appropriate.

“Aren’t you concerned that we’re all sitting ducks in this room for those cult people?

” I shout at Dom over the crowds as we wait for our drinks.

Spotting Satine, my favorite waitress at Tao, I frown.

While I know she’s part of the Human Faction, I’ve grown fond of her over the years, and I don’t like seeing her here.

It’s not safe for humans like her to be working with the cult at large, but that doesn’t stop her from hurrying to clientele, carting drinks back and forth.

I swear the Tao uniforms are skimpier tonight.

Satine bends over, the curve of her buttocks sticking out of the hem of her black jumpsuit.

“I am, but sitting in my house on my own isn’t the solution either.

I’m hoping that Sloane’s feelings for me will cause a delay while the twins do their thing.

Also, I don’t think Sloane will try to take on all of us at once.

” Completely oblivious to my musings on Satine, Dom peeks at his phone, and his white teeth glow under the neon lights. “Time to celebrate!”

“Good news?”

“The best. It’s not news on the blocker, but it’s other good news. At least one part of my life is going better than I could have ever dreamed.”

We order bottles all around, and while we socialize with the Supernaturals, I feel trapped, like everything is a big lie.

One of Ryder’s girls approaches me, her lacy little number barely covering anything–she may as well walk around naked.

She cups my dick, whispering seductively into my ear, “I’ll make you feel good, baby. I’ll give you the time of your life.”

I flash back to the night with Jude on Luca’s desk. It’s hard to pretend to care when I’m still not over her. “I’ll pass, thank you.” I give the girl a small smile before I excuse myself to the parking lot.

Lighting a smoke when outside, I pace. Considering what I asked Dom, it’s not my smartest move, but knowing that all of this is partially for Jude to marry someone else…I’m not handling it as well as I thought I would.

I see shapes moving in the darkness and prepare to confront or defend; I’m not really sure which. But as the shapes become clearer, I find Jayden, the man of the hour, in a passionate embrace with someone I recognize almost as well as myself.

“Clark? What are you doing here?”

“Fuck!” I’m barely able to make out my brother’s fists as they open and close in the dark.

It’s almost comical as the three of us look between each other, waiting for one of us to speak first. “Clark, maybe you should go. I’ll handle this,” Jayden suggests.

Clark holds out his hand in front of Jayden, the affection clear to anyone watching. “No! He needs to hear this.” Clark then turns to me, seeming prouder, taller, like he’s ready to fight me if he must.

“Why do you think Mom kept sending me on long assignments? Or why the marriage to Tatiana didn’t go ahead? You weren’t the first one in our family to fall in love with a Druid; you were just the one that got punished the hardest. For that, I’m so sorry. I should have protected you from her.”

I stand there, frozen in shock. Out of all the possibilities that could have played out tonight, this didn’t register as an option.

Since I’m not rejecting Clark, he seems to see this as a win, and he grasps me in a hug.

For a moment, I let myself be comforted by my big brother as all the pieces of our relationship start making so much more sense.

“Go easy on him. This has been hard for him, and he’s special to me.” Clark kisses Jayden on the cheek. “I’ll leave you two alone to talk.” He walks back to Tao’s employee entrance.

“How about you light one of those for me as well?” Jayden motions towards my fallen cigarette, and still in a state of shock, I comply.

“Do you remember how I told you I cared about someone too? Well, now you know.” How do I hate Jayden when he’s caught between two of the people I love most in this world? “Does Jude know?”

“She does. I’ve told her everything, and she told me what happened between you two. While this may not be a love match, we want the same thing; stability for our people. Knowing our truth, can you respect at least her wishes, if not mine?”

I light a smoke for him before I light another for myself.

I take a long drag and exhale the smoke into the night.

Jude got the truth, which is all she’s ever wanted.

I promised her I would be better, and that starts tonight.

He’s better for her than I ever was, and he will take care of her in ways I can’t.

“It’s the least I can do after everything I’ve put her through,” I tell him as I hold out my hand in an offer of friendship.