Page 78 of A Spark Of Revenge

“No,” I snap, then sigh. “I mean, yes. Meyer is a big reason my life is better than it was. I don't know how to explain it, Jes…” I mutter with a shrug as I grab my favorite blades and inspect them before strapping them on my back, letting the hilts stay level with my shoulders for easy extraction. “But Meyer is mine, and I’m not going to let anyone tell me otherwise. But I’m talking about Nox, Valen… and even Razar. I was afraid that my Legion had crumbled when Arch died. We already lost Valen, and I was a mess. Then Razar went off the deep end, and even Nox was inconsolable for weeks when you sent word that Archer didn't make it.”

Jesthren's face falls at the reminder, and he nods, eyes glassy as I swallow the thick lump in my throat that I get whenever I talk about Arch.

“But Razar started to show signs of coming out of his depression when Meyer showed up. Sure… it's been in the form of death threats and scowls, but you have to understand the man had turned into a shell of himself. When I returned from the rift the first day Meyer was here, Razar pulled me out into the hall and threatened my life. But the only thing I felt was pure relief. Things are slowly getting better, and I can't help the hope that maybe my Legion won't break apart after all,” I whisper. Jesthren stands and nods, walking over and flicking a curl off my forehead.

“I should have been here,” he mutters, and I shake my head.

“No. You were where you needed to be. Mom and Dad were grieving their son, and the heir was in another realm. Dad needed your help to run the kingdom, but now Nox needs your help to stop this war. This is our war as much as it is the Hunters, Jes. You said it yourself. Inanis—the damn apocalypse's tomb—has been recovered. Valen was held against his will for over four years, used and assaulted on a daily basis. The Hunters have demonic help. You killed those damn Wraiths yourself. This war is no longer one of mortal men… but of Demons as well. One that could easily mean the end of both Mortal and Demonic realms if Inanis is ever set free. We need to stabilize this side of the realm in order to fix our kingdom. Nox thinks that the attacks against Versipellis and the ones here on Earth are somehow connected. And the more evidence I see, the more I believe it,” I admit, making Jesthren’s brows furrow.

“I agree about Inanis,” Jesthren says with a firm nod. “But you really think this is connected to the attacks on Father?” he asks, and I nod.

“Yes. We need your help, Jesthren. Something’s not right here, and Nox is trying to puzzle it out. He has more help now that Valen is back, but I know he could use your support,” I mutter, glaring up at my brother as he sighs in irritation.

“He’ll never trust me enough to let me help,” Jes points out, and I nod.

“So prove him otherwise. You need to make amends, Jesthren. I know you are upset that Nox took your place in the line of succession, but he will be your king one day. You two need to figure your shit out. Sooner rather than later,” I add as I walk past him and open my door, motioning for him to go first before following after him.

“I know,” he admits in a softer-than-normal voice. “It's one of the reasons I came in place of our uncle. I wanted to attempt to talk with Nox and see if we could maybe be… cordial,” he says with a hint of disgust, and I laugh only because Nox acts the same way when talking about Jesthren.

“I was curious about why you were here. Never would I have thought you would willingly cross the Veil into mortal lands,” I mutter with a chuckle, striding down the familiar halls with Jesthren. We watch as the Rangers race in and out of the barracks, their Seniors bellowing demands from the bottom of the stairs as the sun starts to lower, bringing an eery calmness to the darkening sky. We head down the stairs, nodding at Monroe, who is currently screaming at a trembling Drakos Ranger, and chuckle when the red-headed giant glares at me and nods—his version of a friendly hello. Jesthren grunts, the sound so like Razar’s that I smile and shake my head.

“I came because Father was worried. He’s already stressed, and I wanted to help,” he grumbles as we step out onto the frozen walkway that connects the barracks to the castle. I shiver at the quiet air. There’s no sound. Not a breeze or a rustle of any wildlife around us. Just emptiness. It sets my teeth on edge, and I pick up my pace, needing to get down to the courtyard so I can help Nox. “And as much as I want to deny it, Nox is my brother, and I will help him. You guys are in a little over your head here.”

“We are,” I agree, not liking how in the dark we are about everything. Nox and Jesthren were able to get Inanis’ sarcophagus into the crypts last night, and Valen spent the better part of the afternoon warding it before moving on to ward the walls of the castle. Then there is the fact that Nox and Valen found some of Archer's blood in the sarcophagus next to Inanis. There is no plausible way for it to be there. We killed every Hunter at the base of the mountain before Elaine showed up and saved Nox. “What are your thoughts on Archer’s blood being found in the sarcophagus?” I ask as we move into the castle and down the stairs, heading toward the main entry.

“I’m unsure if it's actually Arch’s,” Jesthren admits, and I frown.

“Nox and Valen are adamant that it is,” I whisper, and Jesthren nods.

“I know. But he is Razar’s twin. They have almost identical blood. It would make more sense that the Seniorem somehow got their hands on his blood and were testing it. Nox said the Senior who was in charge had already begun to grow suspicious of you all before Nox killed him. It's possible that they started to figure it out and managed to get some of Razar’s blood,” Jesthren says with a sigh.

“But…”

“Creed, I was there. I raced for our borders to help Archer the moment I knew he was coming back injured. And I’m the one who brought his body back to Mom. Arch is gone,” Jesthren whispers, voice ragged with emotion, making me growl and nod, hating that I had foolishly started to hope otherwise. Jesthren and I stride through the crowded entryway of the Castle, and my eyes search for the long white-blonde hair of the girl who now stars in my every thought and dream.

“Creed!” Nox yells as we head outside, moving through the open doors with ease as the Hunters and Rangers step out of our way. I look over to Nox as he waves me to him, and I immediately walk in his direction, a scowling Jesthren on my heels, making Nox’s already sour expression darken when he sees him. The courtyard is already lit with torches and large fires adorn the castle walls as Rangers and Hunters run around in organized chaos. I grin and lift up on my toes a little at the charged energy in the air.

“Hey,” I greet, clasping Nox's shoulder in greeting, then smile at Elaine, who is commanding the attention of the people nearby as she instructs the Rangers on what to do with firm guidance. The massive shadow of Senior Drakos behind her makes me smirk, and I nod at him when his dark eyes fall on me. His shoulders tense, and he steps closer to Elaine protectively; and even though I’m no threat to her, I have to admire his protective nature. It's something we have in common. “Is Razar back with the Hunters from the gatehouse?” I ask, and Nox shakes his head, his hands fisted at his sides as he looks at the darkening sky beyond the wall.

“You have hours before their armies are on your doorstep, if you're lucky,” a heavily accented voice rasps as Senior Ivanov steps up to Nox’s side, his dark scowl moving over our group before his eyes fall on Nox once more. “We have come to do Orcus’ bidding, but we need more fighters. We came over the mountain for a reason, Prince Darakh,” the old Russian man says, his thick coat and furs bundled around his neck as he glares at everyone in sight. “Their army is at least four hundred strong, and from what my people have gathered, this is only the first wave of Hunters that the Asian Seniorem has sent over.”

“There is no way for an army that large to move up the mountain undetected,” Jesthren growls, stepping closer to the Russian Senior, standing close to Nox protectively and backing him up. Nox looks at our brother in confusion, and the old Senior immediately takes a step back, his face paling as the big Demon Prince growls under his breath.

“Jesthren,” Nox chides, placing a hand on our brother's shoulder and pulling him back so that he can talk to the Senior himself.

“Ivanov is not wrong,” a firm, accented, and rather deep feminine voice says as a tall, dark-haired woman comes to stand at the Senior’s side. Her bright green eyes rake over us as she rolls her shoulders back, moving her long black braid that’s streaked with silver to one shoulder before she continues to speak. “The army moves with a speed and strength I’ve not seen before. Five magic-using Hunters are leading them. Dark magic’s sour in the air,” she clips out. “If you are waiting for people outside your walls. Don’t. They are gone.” Over head the massive Russian Raptor screeches, circling the courtyard and making me wince at the sound.

“Senior Regalis,” Nox greets, brows furrowed with worry at her words, and I eye the older woman. She is strong, her face set in a cold, unfeeling mask as she looks Nox up and down with a critical eye. Then she huffs, dismissing my brother without a second glance and turning toward Elaine instead. Nox’s eyebrows hitch, and I sense amusement radiating from him as he watches the two women square off.

“I never liked your father. He was a horrid man who only sought power for himself,” she growls. Her words make my eyes widen in shock at her bluntness as Victor snarls and steps closer to Elaine, who holds a small hand up, making him stop without a single word.

“That is an opinion we have in common,” Elaine says calmly, making the older woman's cold expression falter as she stares at Elaine for a long moment, then nods. She’s not smiling, not even close, but she doesn't look as angry as she did before.

“You are the new Shadow Elder of the North American Seniorem?” she asks, and Elaine gives a small nod, holding the old woman's stare with little effort. I grin when I realize their magic is starting to battle, a silent fight for dominance between them. One I already know the winner of. After a moment, the Russian Regalis Senior growls and then nods at Elaine, acknowledging her and shocking me when she holds out her hand to Elaine. “Okay,” she finally clips, nodding firmly as Elaine shakes her hand. “We came because we were called. But I was curious about the new Elder. You will do fine,” she says abruptly, making Nox chuckle as Elaine blinks at her in surprise.

“As we were saying,” Senior Ivanov sneers, trying to get the conversation back on track.

“Zatknis' starshiy, Ivanov,” Senior Regalis snaps, making the older man flush and stammer before a younger man steps to his side and rests a hand on his shoulder. “Idi, gotov' nashi podrazdeleniya k boyu,” she growls, waving a hand through the air as she glares at the younger man who pulls the Senior away. Jesthren chokes on a laugh, and I look up at him in confusion. I haven't had the time to study all the mortal languages, and I’m only fluent in English, Spanish, and Italian.

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