Page 76 of A Spark Of Revenge

“I’m Jesthren, by the way, since these imbeciles don't seem to have the common decency to introduce us,” Jesthren says with a soft smile, holding a massive hand out to me to shake.

“Meyer,” I respond, moving to place my hand in his, then gasp when Valen tugs me closer to his chest and away from Jesthren.

“Uh-huh,” he chides, looking at his brother and scowling. Jesthren frowns and shakes his head in frustration. “You boys need to practice better self-control. That is a woman… Not a toy that you should be marking as your own. I was only trying to be polite,” he chides, making Valen's shoulders stiffen in response.

“You know that's not what this is. You're not Legion, and I want to keep liking you, brother,” he whispers, and Creed nods in agreement as Valen slowly lets me go and steps closer to Jesthren. Creed follows closely, the three brothers dipping their heads in conversation, leaving me standing awkwardly next to the murderous man who is now glaring down at me. I glare back and turn, eyeing him before I nod. He’s not hurt. In fact, he looks better than he did before the battle.

“I know you still have Milo, and I want him back,” I mutter, looking at the guys from the side of my eye but keeping Razar my main focus. Razar’s shoulders tense, and I hear him scoff before he steps even closer to me.

“Tiny Monster is mine. Find your own feline,” he rasps back at me, making my mouth drop open in anger.

“What?! Milo is mine! You catnapped him from my cabin, and I want him back! You get your own feline,” I whisper back at him, making Razar scowl from beneath the hood.

“What are you two fighting about?” Creed asks, glaring at Razar as his arm wraps around my shoulder protectively.

“None of your business. This is between me and her,” he rasps, glowering at me.

“Lemon Drop, is Raz pissing you off?” Creed asks, his smile brightening like he just came up with an idea.

“Always,” I growl back, not breaking Razar’s glare as the air around us charges with tension.

“Hey Valen!” Creed shouts, giddy as hell as he turns and looks over his shoulder at his brother. “I found out how Meyer and Raz got off the—Umph!”

I cut off Creed's next words, slapping my hand over his mouth while glaring at Razar. Sure, he’s annoying and keeps taking my cat, but he also shoved me down that hill, keeping me safe as he fought off the Beastia and Wraiths by himself. He got hurt for me, and I would feel really bad if Valen found out and ended up hurting Razar over it.

“What da hell, Wemon Dwop,” Creed grumbles behind my hand, his words muffled as I smile sweetly at Valen, then turn back to Razar.

“You will give me my cat back, or I’ll let Creed tell Valen how you got me off the wall. I’m pretty sure he’ll do the same to you in revenge,” I add, and Creed nods and gestures over to the castle railing. Razar scoffs, and I narrow my eyes on him.

“You wouldn’t,” he snarls, leaning down and getting right in my face, trying to intimidate me. I scoff and step into him, letting my hand fall from Creed's mouth so I can invade Razar’s space in return. Stupid Demon thinks he’s scary as shit, but he needs to learn not to mess with my cat. I growl back at him, getting so close I can feel the heat radiating off his body. Razar’s eyes widen in surprise as he jerks back like I burned him.

“Try me,” I hiss as he snarls. His eyes darken as he starts to pace in front of me before he growls and nods, turning back toward me and leaning down so we are eye to eye.

“Three days,” he bargains, and I shake my head.

“No! He’s my cat!” I shout in exasperation, whacking the Demon’s shoulder with the back of my hand. A weird gasping inhale startles Razar and me, and we turn away from each other to find Valen, Creed, and Jesthren gawking at me like I have three heads.

“You weren’t kidding,” Jesthren mutters in awe as Valen smiles happily at us, like seeing me fight with his brother is the best thing he’s seen all day.

“Nope,” Creed says, popping the ‘p’ as he sighs. Suddenly, the door to the roof bangs open, and Jesthren groans in disappointment as a fuming Nox steps out onto the ledge, his eyes finding me immediately before he turns and glares at Valen.

“Really?” he growls, and Valen shrugs.

“She doesn't like running,” he says simply, and I nod, snapping my fingers and pointing to Valen when Nox looks back at me.

“He’s not wrong. Though I’m not sure running up the stairs to get here was much better.”

Creed laughs, then tenses, nostrils flaring as he stands up straight. Lennox growls and grabs my arm, yanking me behind him. Valen is suddenly at my side just as massive black wings fly overhead, the loud cry of a bird piercing the air.

“Holy shit! That thing is huge!” I murmur, craning my head back to watch the big black bird fly around the castle and then circle back. “What is it?”

“A Cinereous Vulture. But the Hunters call them Russian Raptors,” Creed says with a chuckle. “And yes, they are enormous birds and extremely loyal to their masters,” he adds as the six of us watch it fly around the castle. “Where are they?” Creed whispers in confusion, looking down at the ground before Lennox pauses, his shoulders freezing as he looks up at the mountain, then grins.

“Look up,” he instructs, and I gasp when I look up. The big bird circles before tucking its black wings to its sides and diving to the ledge Valen and I stood on the night after I woke him up. Eight brown-cloaked figures stand there staring at us, making me shiver when I realize they have probably been watching us the whole time. Movement from further up the mountain catches my eyes, and I find another five cloaked figures. I look around and smile as I start counting. The mountain is covered in Umbra Hunters, all wearing brown cloaks with heavy furs around their necks. I squint to see how far up they go, and stop counting when I reach forty-eight.

“That's all?” Jesthren drawls, eyeing Lennox in disappointment. Lennox doesn't respond, only glares at his brother.

“They came over the mountain?” Creed asks in confusion, and Valen curses, and Nox nods.

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