Page 10 of A Surrender Of Hope

“I know. I felt his presence in her mind when Nox and I saved her. I think Inanis had her in a trance, and I need to tell Nox about it so he can question her further. I’m afraid the devil has taken a liking to the girl, and we need to find out why. It could prove a useful tool for us,” Jesthren admits, and I snarl, turning on him as I get to the bottom of the stairs.

“We will not beusingthe girl!” Jesthren raises an unimpressed brow and nods, eyes studying me with a look I don’t like.

“Obviously. I would never suggest that. But having all the information will be helpfull to keep her out of his grasp.” Hiseyes flick up and down my body, with a purse to his lips. “By the Gods, Razar, I never thought I would see the day you lost your balls to a girl. I thought for sure you would’ve been safe from that fate.” Jesthren crosses his arms over his chest and grins at me. “It’s a good look on you, brother.”

“I have not lost anything to that annoying female. She’s a distraction which I can’t afford. I need her to leave so I can think straight again.”

“Ha. I doubt Valen or Lennox will allow her out of their sight. Especially now, all things considered. So her presence is something you will have to come to terms with. I must admit, I questioned her hold on the four of you. She’s human, or mostly. The Demon part of her is almost nonexistent. She’s beautiful, to be sure, and seems… softer than our females. Is that the draw?” he asks as we walk through the entry. I shove open the double doors, letting in a burst of frigid winter air.

I eye my brother in confusion and shake my head. My Pup may be part human, but there is nothing soft about her. She’s as stubborn as a Leviathan, with the temperament of a Beastia wrapped in a distracting package that deceives those around her. She’s like my tiny monster—small but with sharp claws.

I huff an annoyed breath at that thought, grinding my teeth and fighting the urge to return to Lennox’s room to take my feline back from her. But I promised to give her twenty-four hours with him, and I’m a man of my word. I now owe her a life debt, and unfortunately, my life is worthless… So, I gave her the best thing I had while I figured out what to do next. Because despite what my Pup says the tiny monster is mine, and I won’t be giving him up forever.

“She’s not soft,” I mutter, not wanting to say anything more on the subject. Jesthren just showed up, and I know my brother. He’ll have to form his own opinion on the girl. It won’t matterwhat I say, positive or negative. He’ll eventually make up his mind, and then it will be set in stone.

“She seems soft and small.” He frowns. “I think you should feed her more and look into how to make her more… sturdy. She weighs hardly anything, and she’s way too fragile. The fact that she died so easily is disturbing. Maybe Lennox should bring her home where he knows he can keep her safe,” Jesthren grumbles, a concerned look crossing his face as he follows me down the front steps of the castle and out into the snow-covered courtyard. “We should leave the girl with Mom.”

I pause at that thought, then nod. Meyer living in Veripellis would make sense. She would have the protection of the Royal Guard, and Mother and Father wouldn't let anything happen to her, especially now that she is bound to Lennox.

“I’ll talk to Nox about sending her home. He’ll never do it if you suggest the idea,” I grumble, glaring at a pair of Drakos Hunters walking through the gate. One look our way, and their faces pale. I stomp toward the gate, tearing my gaze from the pathetic fear I smell wafting off them in waves, then sigh in relief when I step out into the clearing outside the castle walls. The air around me lightens, my heart slows, and I feel my Beast climbing toward the surface, desperate for release.

“Yeah, about that. What can I do to…” Jesthren trails off, and I hear him breathe a heavy sigh. “Listen, I know I fucked up and didn't handle Nox’s birth very well,” he mutters, and I almost snort.

“That's an understatement,” I growl, my Beast at odds with how we feel about Jesthren's treatment of our brother. On the one hand, Jesthren has always supported us. He never feared me and was the first to help when I got in trouble. But on the other, Lennox is my crown prince. He is the leader of our family group, and my allegiance is one hundred percent to him. Not only mine, but my Beast’s. Nox has tamed him in ways not evenJesthren has. Not with gentle words or understanding, but with his own beast form. Valen says it's like calling to like—my Beast recognizes Nox as one of our own.

Nox, Arch, and I are the only ones with Royal blood, meaning we are the only ones with beast forms. Arch and I are supposed to protect the heir as the nephews of the reigning king; our beast forms are strong, but we do not behave like monsters unless you pose a threat to the heir. No one knows how I came into my Beast form or why. But at least I know Nox will be the most protected King of Veripellis. My Beastia immediately tied our life and soul to him when Nox was old enough to come into his Beast form. Archer’s did as well. It is the reason for our birth and our whole life's purpose. He is our prince and eventually… our king.

“How… how do I fix it?” Jesthren stutters, running a big hand through his short-cropped black hair. I eye him, wondering if he actually wants to make amends, then frown and shake my head. Why the hell is he asking me how to fix something, when we both know I’m the one who ruins everything? I think back to what Valen always tells me and figure it's better to pass on his wisdom than give Jesthren advice. I would only make it worse.

“You don’t. You can’t change your fuckup, but you can show Nox you want to move forward. You were a dick. Own it and figure out a way to be helpful. Now leave.” I wave him off as I stomp through the thick snow toward the tall pine trees on the far side of the clearing. I rip my cloak off and toss it at his face, listening to him curse me out as I move into the shadows, loving the familiar feeling of belonging in their dark depths. “I need to kill something, and I would rather it not be you. It would upset Creed and Valen.”

Jesthren scowls at me, yanking my cloak off his head where it landed and rolling the fabric into a ball. “How very touching. Well, at least I know those two would miss me,” he grumbles,almost looking like a pouting toddler, even though he’s well over six-and-a-half-feet tall with arms the size of a small tree. “And we both know your Beastia won't hurt me. So go ahead and shift,” he says, waving a hand at me as I walk further into the trees.

I hesitate, thinking of doing as he asks, then shake my head. I feel off; there is something not right. With the attack, Archer’s sudden resurrection, and my Pup dying, my Beastia feels antsy. He feels like a threat is nearby, but can't see or hear it.

“Go back and figure out how to fix your shit,” I growl as my bones start to crack, my skin tearing as black needle-like fur erupts up and down my arms. I give my oldest brother one more look over my shoulder before I start to run deeper into the forest. I’d heard some Hunters say a pack of Therion was on the North Ridge. Hopefully, they’re still there so I can settle the bloodlust rushing through my veins.

SIX

Creed

“What happened?” Meyer snaps quietly, standing over the bed and glaring at Ranger Drakos, where he’s sitting on the edge of Jenning's bed, looking guilty as fuck.

“How the hell did you not see her scars before now?” Nox hisses in my ear, standing close as we watch Meyer. I scoff and shake my head.

“Don't you dare put this on me. You’ve seen her topless, too! You’ve healed her several times. So why didn't you see them?” I ask in return, making sure to keep my voice low so she doesn't overhear us. The fact is, I feel sick to my stomach, knowing she’s been brutalized enough to leave those long, thick scars running over her back. Both times we were intimate, I never had a chance to look at her back. I was lost in the beautiful, stunning creature in my arms.

“The only other time I healed her with her top off was when she dreamwalked into my dreams! She was completely coated in blood, and there was no way of seeing those!” he snaps, then curses when Meyer’s attention darts our way. He takes a step away from me, trying to look less pissed off, which doesn't workat all, and I can't help but remember how Valen reacted or rather didn't react when he saw her scars. Even Razar had lost his shit, tossing his sword on the ground and storming from the room as Nox healed her. But Valen had only stared down at the scars with a sad look in his eyes. Had he known about them? Did she tell him, or had he discovered them himself?

Meyer glares at us, and I suddenly understand Drakos’ guilty look as I stare at my shoes, toeing the ground as I try not to squirm under her gaze. “How did he get hurt? And why haven’t you healed him yet?” she asks, eyes wet as she looks to Nox, who shakes his head.

“I did what I could. I can heal Demons, Meyer. Not Hunters. I was able to elevate his magic in order to speed up his healing process, but we have to wait for him to do the rest. And I only gave what I had to before turning the rest of my energy back to you. His injuries are bad, but they weren’t fatal like yours were.” Meyer flushes at his words and nods, looking chastised and grateful at the same time.

“Thank you,” she whispers, making Nox frown and tilt his head, studying her even more. He’s probably unsure how to handle a friendly and grateful Meyer. These two are constantly at each other’s throats, so his confusion at her sudden change in behavior makes sense.

“I… You died, Angry Girl. Jordan and I were trying to get Umbra Ragalis off us to get to you when a Rogue Hunter came out of nowhere!” Theo’s eyes move to a sleeping Jennings, his injured leg and arm propped up on some pillows.

The guy looks a million times better than he did yesterday. His cheeks finally have a touch of pink instead of the ghostly white they were from blood loss. Thank the Gods Hunters have accelerated healing. Meyer would have strung us all up by the balls if she saw Jennings twenty-four hours ago.