Page 38 of A Spark Of Revenge

I wanted her so much, but I knew I had to wait. I refused to take anything personal from her until I was able to tell her the full truth. I was desperate, which is why I made the selfish bargain in the first place. I could then call on it even if Mi Sol never wanted to see me once she knew the truth.

I planned on telling her once I had slept and replenished my strength. When I woke up with her in my arms there was a moment I thought I had died. That somehow my soul and body finally reconnected and were at peace for the first time. But awareness slowly came back to me, and the memory of seeing my brothers flashed through my mind like a bad signal. I convinced myself that seeing my brothers out there was just my imagination playing tricks on me, but then Meyer woke up and started talking about the Demons who took over the castle. I had hoped… prayed that it was them, but didn't dare believe it until I saw them with my own eyes.

I stood in the courtyard outside the castle, filled with excitement and relief at seeing my brother's faces, and then I remembered what Meyer told me. What they had done to her and how they were talking to her outside the church the night before. My anger started to fester, not understanding how they could treat Meyer that way. So, I went along with her plan. We would save her friend, and hopefully, I could tell her everything about being a Dream Walker. How we were both Demons and that I was related to the very men she currently hated.

Only my plans backfired when Razar stole her from me, and she was forced to learn the truth in front of the very men who caused her pain. My heart stalls in my chest at the reminder of distrust and pain I saw on her face when she realized I was not only their brother… but a Demon as well.

I checked on her several times last night; twice in her dreams and once in person. When I came to retrieve her this morning, I wasn't sure what her reaction toward me would be. I opened that door, finding Creed's eyes bloodshot, and Meyer looked like she was about to cry again. When I studied her further, I noticed her swollen lips and the blush on her cheeks. Jealousy was my first reaction, but when Meyer didn't immediately tell me to leave, my jealousy melted into relief.

“Elaine. She’s really cool and probably the only one you can trust in the castle right now. Well… maybe Monroe, but he’ll probably beat the shit out of you just for fun,” Creed adds with a fond smile toward the angry-looking redhead.

“Not Mi Sol’s friend?” I ask in confusion, looking at the tall man standing to her right, his arms crossed over his chest, as he glares at anyone who looks at her. I’m not fond of how good-looking this Jordan has turned out to be. However, I’m confident enough in myself and the tentative link I have formed with Mi Sol to not place restrictions on my girl. It's not my choice who she’s friends with, even if I don't like it.

“Mi Sol,” Creed grumbles with a sigh, then shoots me a contemplative look. He doesn't look mad, but he’s definitely not happy about the nickname I have given my girl. “And no. Jordan Jennings would stab us in the back if he could. However, his loyalties are firmly with Meyer, and he won't do anything without her say-so.”

“He loves her?” I ask, trying and failing to keep the growl from my voice. I thought I had sensed something between the boy and Elaine’s son, but perhaps my mind is still recovering from the coma.

“Oh, without a doubt. But I’m still unsure in what way. At first, I was convinced Jordan and Theo both were head-over-heels for Meyer. But the more I study them, the more I question that conviction. They touch her like they would a sister or friend. Not a lover.” I nod, watching as the young boy glares at Elaine's son, who blatantly stares back, his head cocked to the side in a challenge as they have a silent fight. It's interesting to watch. I never understood humans, but I have to admit, I love how free they are with emotions.

“Bloodlines will start training together. There will be no more division between ranks or teams. Your Bloodline Seniors will still have the final say in your training, but we will no longer be doing the Ranger games or Trials. The Bloodline scoreboard has been taken down, and after the Seniorem is restored, they can choose to remove the Bloodline games and scoreboard permanently or bring it back. Ultimately, we are here to ensure the Umbra Hunters are doing what they were created to do,” Lennox declares, interrupting my conversation with Creed.

My brother's commanding voice rings out through the enormous training room, impressing the hell out of me as he demands the attention of all the Rangers. His shoulders are relaxed, and he’s holding himself with an air of authority I have never seen from him before. His long black hair is hanging loose with a few small braids woven in the front, keeping it out of his face with gleaming silver beads.

“That's new. So much has changed,” I murmur to myself, then startle a little when Creed chuckles and nods in response to my words. I’m still getting used to people. I have gone years with only myself as company, and I find the world a much louder place than I remember.

“Father increased his court training. Jesthren was growing annoyed with Nox’s less-than-subtle approach to Versipellis politics. So father decided to intervene,” Creed explains.

“Jesthren always has a problem with Nox,” I grumble with a shake of my head. It looks like some things have stayed the same after all. “Speaking of, is Arch with dad?” I ask, leaning around Creed to keep my eye on Meyer. She’s glaring at Nox as he speaks to the Rangers, telling them that the factions of Umbra Hunters led by the corrupt Seniorem will be on their doorstep shortly and that they need to train with everything they have in order to survive the next couple weeks.

“Uhh… He’s….” Creed stutters, looking away from me while wringing his hands together. “I think Nox is going to fill you in on everything when you two go to the church,” he finally says, clearing his throat before turning his attention back to the Rangers in front of us. I nod, looking over at the big redhead who suddenly steps up next to Creed.

“Umbra Monroe has been appointed as the new Regalis Senior starting immediately,” Nox says, making a few of the Rangers gasp in surprise, but with a stern look from my brother, they keep their mouths shut. “Umbra Drakos,” Nox continues, gesturing toward Elaine, who I hadn’t realized was an active Umbra Hunter, “is now the Axford Senior and acting High Senior on the North American Seniorem,” Nox announces, making the room fall into a shocked silence. Most women with the Hunter gift stay home with their children. Their sole purpose is to raise strong Hunters and reproduce. Most factions—besides the Russian Hunters—prefer to keep their women and children protected at home. For Elaine to keep the Umbra title, she must complete a certain amount of field time per year and hold a rather impressive amount of magic.

A few men standing behind us tense, and I can feel their anger and outrage at Lennox’s announcement. “But… she’s an Axford,” a particularly hideous man stammers, stepping forward, glaring at Elaine, who arches an elegant brow at him, her eyes meeting his in a clear challenge.

“She…” Nox grinds out, defending Elaine but not stepping in front of her when the man steps even closer, sneering down at her, “is the most pure-blooded Axford in this Castle and holds about three times the amount of magic you do, Silas. And her name is Senior Axford,” Nox drawls, crossing his arms over his chest as he glowers at the angry man whose face has darkened to a purple color. “You will do well to remember that. She is your Senior, after all.”

Elaine steps forward, matching the man's intense stare with one of her own. Her lips twitch in amusement, yet her face remains the picture of calmness as Nox comes to her defense while not physically intervening. It's a smart move the more I think about it. The North American faction has always been filled with sexist pigs, and there is no way a single man in this castle will respect Elaine if Nox fights all her battles.

I chuckle darkly, loving how not Nox’s, but Elaine's magic snaps from her, filling the space around her like a perfect bubble, letting the man feel her strength yet keeping it restrained from the Rangers only a few feet away. I gape at her in surprise. Though I’ve heard of a few Hunters having magic in the past, their connection to the small amount of Demonic magic gifted to them had to be extraordinarily strong for that to happen. They typically rely on chants and wards to keep them safe.

The man fails to hold Elaine’s gaze and, with a curse, drops his eyes, stepping back with his hands fisted at his sides. “Well, that was fun,” Creed cuts in, slicing through the tension of the room with ease while smiling at the Rangers. My grin grows, and a feeling of rightness settles in my chest as I watch my brothers. I missed them so much. “The last Senior to announce is Senior Victor Drakos,” Creed announces, and I raise my brows in shock as a man who is almost the size of Lennox takes a step forward, moving behind Elaine and glaring at the man who has retreated into the line of men.

The new Drakos Senior is one of the biggest Umbra Hunters I have seen. His dark hair is buzzed short, and he has a scar that starts at his temple and disappears into the collar of his black shirt. He has almost as many weapons strapped to him as Razar does, and I eye him curiously as Elaine glances over her shoulder at him, nodding once before he steps back in line.

“There is no reason to explain why Victor is the new Drakos Senior,” Creed adds with amusement, while the Rangers next to Elaine's son nod, their eyes bright with excitement as they stare in awe at the man standing behind us. “Perfect! Let's start off the day with fifteen laps around the track while Nox and I discuss the training needed with your Seniors.”

Like well-trained soldiers, the Rangers all dip their heads in a slight nod, then turn, rushing for the track to begin their laps. “Huh, I can see why you all like it here,” I muse, watching Meyer as she jogs over to the track, her expression one of disgust. Like she tasted something sour. Creed laughs, crossing his arms over his chest as he follows my attention.

“It's actually fun here when the Seniorem isn't killing humans and training little Demon assassins,” Creed admits, then nods at Meyer as Jordan and Elaine’s son slow their pace, allowing her to catch up. “She’s going to kill me for that.”

“For what?” I ask in confusion, watching Meyer as she jogs pathetically slow around the first lap. Is she hurt? Why is she sweating so much? Worry starts to filter in as I watch her say something to one of the two boys, and they laugh, then slap her shoulder, almost taking her off her feet, and I see red. Stepping forward, I flick my wrist, using the momentum to make the small blade tucked inside my shirt glide into my palm.

“Whoa there, brother. They’re messing around. Honestly, Jordan is brave for doing that because Meyer…” Creed trails off, his hand falling from my chest as we watch Meyer elbow Jordan in the stomach so hard he curses and doubles over. “Is violent. I think it's her Demon side. She can't stop herself or the need for violence when she's provoked,” Creed says with a wistful sigh, hearts practically falling from his eyes as he stares at her. Taking a page from Meyer's book, I elbow my brother in the side, not liking how he’s drooling over her. “Hey!” he shouts, jumping back from me while rubbing at his ribs. “You two need anger management!” His words confusing me all the more. What in the seven rings of hell is anger management?

“Valen,” Nox calls out, standing next to Elaine, Monroe, and the new Drakos Senior. “You're with me,” he announces, gesturing for me to follow him. “Creed,” he starts, and Creed waves him off, moving to stand closer to the track.

“Yeah, I already know. Lemon Drop won't leave my sight,” he snarks, earning himself a dark look from our brother as I cast a lingering look back at Meyer. I had been hoping to talk to her more this morning, but there is no way for us to talk right now. It's best to get what I need to do out of the way so I can give Mi Sol my undivided attention after training.

---