Page 48 of A Shadow of Betrayal

“There were two? I thought Raz said there was only…” Creed suddenly cuts himself off when his happy green eyes move from Lennox and fall on me. They widen in horror and the bundle that he's holding over his shoulder tumbles to the snow as he curses under his breath and runs toward me. “Meyer? What the fuck did you do to her?” Creed snarls at Lennox, sending him a deadly look before he makes it to my side. Warm hands cup my face, then move to my neck. “Shit, there’s so much blood. Where are you bleeding?”

I open my mouth to respond, but Lennox beats me to it. “Her shoulder, but most of it is from this bastard,” he says, kicking the Demon I killed, who is lying several yards away from where I stand. Creed looks over his shoulder at the Demon, then darts wide eyes back to me.

“You killed it? On your own?” he asks, sounding a little impressed. I smile and nod, because I totally deserve the praise for that kill. Granted, I almost died, but he doesn't need to know that.

“Creed, take the human back down the mountain. Elaine and Razar will be in my office first thing in the morning. We will discuss the night’s events then,” Lennox commands, making Creed stiffen and shoot him a dirty look.

“Human?” I ask, looking around Creed to the lump that's not moving on the snow. “That's a human?” I ask, aghast. When Lennox and Creed nod, I scowl. “And you left him in the snow? What the hell is wrong with the two of you?”

Stomping around Creed, I move through the deep snow to where a man lies on his stomach, head turned to his side. Jesus, he can't be older than Theo and Jordan!

“Meyer, leave the human alone,” Lennox snaps, and Creed snickers when I lift my middle finger up in response.

“Why doesn't he have a shirt on?” I snap, glaring at Lennox as I gently push the young man to his side. “You know humans can die from exposure, right?” I remind them, then gasp when I see the man's chest.

Deep, angry-looking red cuts run the length of his torso, moving in odd swirls and designs that form what looks like a symbol of some sort. “What the hell?” I whisper in shock. The man is breathing, his chest rising and falling steadily, and he doesn't seem to be in any pain, but his wounds are deep.

“Who did this to him?” I ask as Creed walks over and kneels next to me. He purses his lips and runs a finger over a particularly deep cut. “Why does this look familiar?” I murmur; the more I look at the symbol, the more I know I’ve seen it before. “This is on one of Jordan's rings,” I whisper in realization. “It’s an Umbra symbol?” I ask, looking up at Creed, meeting his sad eyes as he nods once. “What the fuck?”

“Meyer. Go back to the Castle now,” Lennox snaps, and I glare at him.

“This man shouldn't be here! Why is he here, Lennox? Did you do this?” Creed's hand falls on mine, and I turn my glare on him.

“Lennox didn't do this, Meyer. He and Elaine are trying to stop it,” Creed whispers, confusing me even more.

“That is enough, Creed. Take that man back down the mountain before the Seniorem shows up. And you,” Lennox snaps, grabbing my arm and yanking me back to my feet. I grit my teeth as Lennox manhandles me away from the guy lying in the snow. “Go back to the Castle before that Legion of Demons gets here.”

“Nox, stop pushing her around!” Creed shouts, making his brother curse as he glares down at me.

“No. I want to know what is going on,” I demand, yanking my arm out of Lennox’s grip.

“You need to go back to the Castle, Ranger. Now!”

“Nox!” Creed shouts again, making Lennox spin toward him, finger out like he’s scolding a naughty child.

“Get your ass down that mountain, and we will talk in the morning,” Lennox hisses. “I told you to stay away from her, and you will listen!”

“You what?!” I shout, more than a little fed up. “You don’t get to make those choices, Lennox!” Lennox ignores my outburst, keeping his glare on his brother, who is shifting on his feet, looking furious.

“Go,” Lennox grinds out, pointing back at the guy in the snow. Creed's shoulders slump, making my anger flare. So I reach out and shove Lennox in the back, causing him to stumble forward before he spins, shock and anger filling his eyes.

“Did you just push me?” he asks in a creepily calm voice.

“Nox,” Creed whispers wearily.

“You were ignoring me,” I bite out, defending myself, then take a step back when Lennox stalks toward me as his expression switches from surprised to furious. “I don’t know where you get off telling everyone what to do, but just because you are the Bloodline Senior doesn't mean you have to be an asshole all the time,” I babble, taking several more steps back as Lennox closes in on me.

“Nox, don't!” Creed shouts, and my eyes widen when Lennox darts forward, planting his shoulder in my midsection and tossing me over his shoulder with ease. “Lennox! Put her down!” Lennox ignores him as he walks away, carrying me over his shoulder.

“Put me down!” I yell, the blood rushing to my head as Lennox cords an arm over the back of my thighs, locking me in place.

“I have been patient with you,” Lennox snarls as I thrash, trying to kick him in the chest. He grunts when my knee hits one of his absurdly large pecs, then picks up his pace.

“Move, Credence! I will not ask again. Do not make me send you home,” Lennox bellows over his shoulder. A string of curse words is all I hear as Lennox practically sprints back toward the Castle, unhindered by my weight on his shoulder.

“Put me down, you overgrown lumberjack!” I scream, beating my fists on his back, succeeding in bruising my knuckles and nothing more. Lennox is too strong. His arm tightens when I stop, probably bracing himself for whatever I’ll do next. I'm looking for a good place to bite when I hear voices. I press my hands on his back and try to peer around him.

“If you know what's good for you, you will keep your mouth shut, or Ranger Jennings will be the next target of my ire,” he warns.

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