Page 76 of A Shadow of Betrayal

“Who has more, Meyer?” he asks in a calm voice, and I nod, my panic rising again.

“Humans! The Seniorem has more humans, Lennox. Axford had the Hunters take them to the north ridge. He was talking about Ottis or someone that he’s trying to lure here for magic.”

“Orcus?” Creed asks, his eyes darkening with anger when I nod in confirmation.

“Yes! They... they were talking about a king of Hell,” I pant out, and Lennox curses then stands, walking over to the weapons locker and tearing it open, grabbing the giant ax and several blades within. “There's more! Axford killed Senior Drakos…. No, wait, that's not right,” I mutter, shaking my head, my hands trembling at my sides as I try to get the story right. “Senior DeLuca did it, but I think he’s only following Axford's commands. They have seven humans, Lennox!”

“Fuck,” Creed whispers, pulling me to his chest as Lennox gears up, his shoulders heaving with barely restrained anger. “How do you—”

“I saw them,” I cut him off, rambling out everything I can remember. “I thought I was following you. There was a rider on a gray horse, and then I hid behind a tree…” I trail off when Lennox’s head snaps toward me, and he glares, his eyes narrowing on me.

“Did they see you?” he asks, his voice deadly calm. I shake my head as Creed rubs my back, keeping me close. Apparently, my answer is not good enough because Lennox stalks forward, ignoring Creed's warning when he says his name and grabs my chin, forcing me to look up into his green eyes. “Did Axford see you, Meyer? The man may be old, but he is sharp as a whip. I need to know if you think he may have seen or heard you. Your life could be in danger if he did.” Actual concern filters over Lennox’s face, replacing the anger that had been there only moments before, making my mouth dry as I stare up at him.

“No, Lennox. I stayed behind the tree and didn't make a sound. I even waited until I was sure everyone had gone before I ran here to find you.” Lennox growls something under his breath and nods, dropping my chin.

“Good girl. Now go back to the Regalis bunkrooms and do not step foot from them until I personally come for you, am I understood?” Lennox asks, and I frown. What the hell? No. Not understood. But before I can say anything, Creed cuts in.

“I said no! We will find another way!” he shouts at Lennox, making me jump in surprise. “You will not use—”

“I will do as I wish!” Lennox roars as he grabs some swords that are sheathed in an elaborate silver casing and tosses them at Creed. Creed curses, releasing me to catch the blades, slipping his arms through the straps, and buckling the thick strap around his chest until the swords rest comfortably across his back. “We will discuss this when we get back. There is no time. Razar, gather the others. We strike tonight,” Lennox commands, and I look around the room in confusion.

“Uhh,” I’m just about to point out that Razar isn’t in the room just as something moves at my side, making me startle back into Creed with a scream. “Jesus-fucking-Christ, Razar!” I snap, making Creed chuckle as the hooded man stares at the two of us, only inches away from where I was standing before.

“Come on, Lemon Drop. Let's get you back to your bunkroom,” Creed says as he starts to pull me from the room. Lennox walks around his desk and opens the door, leaving first with Razar hot on his heels.

“No, wait! I'm coming with you,” I shout, pulling away from Creed and racing after Lennox.

“Absolutely not,” Lennox snarls, twisting to face me with a fierce look on his face.

“What Nox means to say is that it’s not safe for you to come with us,” Creed says, giving Lennox a stern look as he places his hand on my shoulder.

“That's bullshit! You wouldn't know about all this without me, and I’m sick of all the half-answers and lies around here. I’m coming with you, and you can’t stop—Ahh! Razar, what the fuck!” I shout as the hooded man growls, then grabs me around the waist, hoisting me up off my feet and stalking back into Lennox’s office.

“Razar, put her down!” Creed shouts after us, closely followed by Lennox’s own protests as Razar moves to where a small couch sits on the opposite side of Lennox's office. I twist, trying to kick at his knee, but then I’m airborne for a few seconds before crashing down on the blue cushions of the couch, a feral looking Razar hovering above me.

“Be a good pup and stay here,” he snarls, grabbing the pressure point on my neck and muttering the same fucking words Theo’s dad had.

“Morphis.” Making everything go black.

* * *

VALEN

Something pulls me from the darkness, a firm tug under my ribs that draws me from unconsciousness, and I grin, knowing it’s her. My light in the dark, the girl that has saved me from myself.

“Meyer,” I whisper with a wistful sigh, wishing I could lay eyes on her beautiful face again.

She’s not calling me through her dreams, meaning wherever she is, she is close to my physical body. It's the strangest feeling, something I’m not yet used to. I haven't been able to sense my physical body in what seems like forever. Something I had come to terms with never feeling again until I saw her, felt her calling to me through her dreamscape. My mind had begun to fade before Meyer saved me. I was losing myself, no longer able to tell what was real and what was not. I’ve been alone for so long that I had given up, willing the darkness to take me rather than exist in the nothingness I have been trapped in.

As her presence grows stronger, so does my magic, the bond I had formed with her boosting my weakened state, allowing me to control the siphon on my magic that the Seniorem has. Her magic feeds my own, something I’m not quite sure she understands since she seems ignorant of her power.

I smile at that thought. I will enjoy teaching her how to wield her magic. To control the realms of reality and dreams. Something I have already started to do, but first, I have to gain her trust, which I believe I’ve already kindled when I saved her from the Beastia.

Mi Sol must be incredibly young to be this trusting and naive of our ways. There is something about this girl that makes me want to know everything there is to know about her. To study her so thoroughly, to know every thought and emotion that she has ever had… to implant myself as a permanent fixture in her life. She is so good at being vulnerable, her big green eyes staring up at me with so much trust, letting me bend her dreams into something to keep her safe.

A shiver of longing and protectiveness rushes through me. I hate that I’m stuck here, unable to keep her safe. That Mi Sol is out in the human world with little to no protection… that the enemy holds her so firmly in their clutches. I can only hope the Seniorem has no idea of who she is or what she can do.

Frustration slowly builds as I feel her encompass me in the dark, yet never call me to her side. I need her… I need to see her, to touch her. I need to feel her skin under my hands, and not just in her dreams, but in real life. But I have to bide my time- coaxing her out of whatever brainwashing she may have received under the Seniorem’s care.

---