Page 63 of A Shadow of Betrayal

Razar? My lips move, mouthing his name and making his expression pull into one of surprise. I let my gaze roam down to his tattered and torn clothing, his shift barely clinging to his lean frame. My lips part, wanting to ask him if he is okay, but his guarded expression stops me.

Has he been here the whole time? How did I not see him before now, and why hasn't Lennox acknowledged him yet?

I step closer to Lennox as Razar’s eyes narrow on me, his hood down for the first time, granting me a perfect view of his uniquely beautiful features. Suddenly the door to Lennox’s office bursts open, and Creed rushes in, slamming it behind him and pointing his finger at Lennox like it's a weapon.

“Listen, we need to talk about this bossing me around shit. I get it. You're in charge, but your head is getting way too fucking big for your shoulders. If I want to spend time with someone, I should be able to. It doesn't matter who that is!” Creed snaps, stalking over to stand beside us, forcing my eyes away from the man lingering in the dark corner of the room. Creed looks from Lennox to me, a smile forming on his lips.

“Hey, Lemon Drop.” I roll my eyes at him but smile back.

“Lemon Drop? What kind of absurd nickname is that?” Lennox asks, his face twisting into one of mild disgust. Creed crosses his arms over his chest, looking affronted.

“A good one. Her name is Meyer… like a Lemon… You know what? Screw you, Nox. You wouldn't know how to be charming to save your life. Come on, Lemon Drop. Let's get you all cleaned up,” Creed snaps, reaching down and linking his fingers with mine.

Lennox holds his hand up in front of us, looking at our linked hands, his jaw ticking before his eyes flash back to mine.

“You will get some rest and report to the training arena with the other Rangers. Your score was the worst in the group, and that is why we lost today. I will be reassigning your physical training and taking over your lessons again,” he says, swapping topics so fast my head spins.

“What? But Jordan is a great trainer,” I defend my friend and look to Creed, who conveniently looks in the other direction.

“My mind is made up. Creed, clean her up and make sure she eats before she goes to bed,” Lennox demands, striding around his desk and picking up a few pens that must have fallen when I was fighting him. Creed nods and starts to yank me out of Lennox’s office. I follow him, tossing one last look at the dark corner, only to find it empty.

THIRTY-THREE

Lennox

I watch Meyer follow Creed out of my office as I stifle my irritation and jealousy at how easily she follows him. There is no cursing or trying to avoid his touch… no sneers of hatred or defiant outbursts. I know I’ve done this to myself, and I would do it all over again if I had to, but it doesn’t stop the burning need to hold her close, to smell that sweet, clean smell of her hair, or the way she softens into me for just a moment before she realizes what she’s doing. I know it's biological, that she is feeling the compatibility between us. But that doesn't mean she has to follow those urges. She can make her own choices, and it appears she has already started to imprint on Creed.

“Fuck,” I grind out, reaching up to brush a few of my braids away from my eyes as I look at the closed door in front of me. I need to warn Creed before he takes it too far. If he allows something to happen between them, it could devastate us. If Meyer is who I think she is, we need her.

Turning in my chair, I look around my office, trying to ignore the annoying need thrumming in my belly to follow after my Little Demon and yank her away from my brother. “I know you're in here,” I mutter, rolling my eyes at my brother's theatrics. “Are you going to come out or hide in the shadows all night?”

I turn back around and reach for the box at the corner of my desk, sliding it closer to me as I grab the small Kalis blade at my side, taking it from the sheath and pressing the tip to my thumb until a small amount of red blood wells up around it. When I have enough, I move my hand out in front of me, hovering it over the old box, and watch as the small bead of blood falls from my finger and lands on the lid, making it click open. Grabbing the papers, I bring them out, then nod to the door.

“Lock it,” I mutter as Razar slowly materializes from the dark corner of the room. I eye him as he glides over to the door, flipping the lock with nimble fingers before turning to stare at me with wild black eyes. “You’re not in control of yourself,” I mutter, disapproval heavy in my tone. Razar doesn't respond, only brushes at his shredded shirt, his long wild hair covering half of his face as he tries to compose himself. “How many Demons did you kill?” I finally ask when his silence is too much.

Razar shrugs, looking up at me with lighter eyes. When he still doesn't respond, I riffle through the papers and then toss some in his direction. “Why did you kill the Demons, Razar? Why the fuck are you protecting her? She was to run that relay with no outside help.” I watch him closely for any sign of emotion, but he is far too good at hiding that. I have an idea of why he’s doing this, but I want to hear it from his own lips. “You hate everything about that girl. You told me that yourself, but you never told me why.”

Razar looks at the papers on my desk, then glances back up at me, saying nothing. Irritation builds, making my stomach turn as I watch my oldest brother.

So he’s keeping secrets from me now?

“Answer me!” I roar, bringing a fist down on the desk and narrowing my eyes in anger. Still, he keeps his mouth pointedly shut. “You knew! You knew this whole damn time what that girl was!” I accuse, pointing a shaking finger at him as I push up from my chair, letting it fall back in my anger as I stare Razar down.

Finally, he answers, letting his head dip in the smallest of nods. I curse as I start to pace the floor in front of him. “How long?” I demand, letting all of my authority filter through the words, making him know I expect an answer.

“From the beginning,” Razar rasps out, his hands fisting at his sides, fingernails biting into his flesh and making blood spill with his admittance. Anger the likes I have never felt before burns through my veins, and I let loose a roar of anger, swiping the contents of my desk to the floor as I continue to pace.

“Why?” I ask, too upset to elaborate.

“She’ll destroy us, and you know it,” Razar grinds out, his eyes darkening with rage. I scoff and lean back in my chair.

“And how will a silly girl do that? You are scared of her, aren't you?” I mock, earning a rather impressive growl from him. I arch a brow in warning, letting some of my magic loose. “Watch your tone, Raz. I will not warn you again.” I think about our situation a little while longer and sigh. Knowing I have to ask the next question. “Is this all to punish Creed?”

Razar is still, so still I have to watch him closely for signs of life before he finally shakes his head. “No,” he rasps, and I sigh in relief when I feel his truth. I nod and reach down, grabbing the box and papers from inside it that I launched around the room in my fit of rage.

“Gather the others. We are moving up the timeline.”

“And the girl? What do we do with her?” he asks.

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