Page 27 of A Surrender Of Hope

“Yes,” she grumbles, narrowed eyes on Razar as Nox gets a good punch in and sends him reeling back.

“Ten on Razar,” Jesthren bets, shrugging out of his jacket as Razar leaps at Nox, his eyes entirely black, his Beastia so close to the surface that his hands and shoulders are trembling with the effort to keep it at bay. Valen scoffs, and I grin.

“Deal,” I chuckle, knowing Jesthren is about to get the shock of his life. Nox isn’t the small boy he used to torment. He's the next King of Versipellis, and his magic grows stronger by the day. Add that to the newly formed mate bond, and I don't think anyone could beat him at the moment. Not even Dad. In less than sixty seconds, Nox has Razar pinned under him, blade to throat, as he seethes over him.

“Dammit!” Jesthren’s eyes widen with something more than shock… fear, maybe? It’s been over a year since he last saw Nox fight hand-to-hand with one of us. He has much to catch up onnow that we’re all back together. I grin before looking back at Meyer, eyes widening as I finally take a moment to see her fully.

When traveling between realms, our appearance alters. Not much, but the softening of our demonic traits allows us to blend in with the natives of that world. Meyer's petite features are still the same but elevated. Her eyes are slightly larger, her nose more defined with a jawline and cheekbones most models on earth would be jealous of. Her blonde hair has more of a wave to it and holds a shine, making it look like an enchantment has been cast to make her glow. She's gone from beautiful to one of the most stunning creatures I've ever seen.

Valen’s hands trace over her neck and trail into her hair, combing out some of the tangles she got when falling, then fighting Razar. “Are you injured?” he asks, turning her to face him as Nox finally releases Razar.

“No,” she starts to say, then pauses when Valen narrows his eyes at her. “My right hip and shoulder are sore. I landed on that side before rolling down the hill.” Valen hums under his breath and nods at Nox who steps behind her, hands moving to unzip the massive coat I put her in and yanks it off. “Uh…” Meyer looks up at Valen and frowns. “Did you get taller? Wait, your eyes!?” She tilts her head to the side, then looks at Nox over her shoulder and gasps, stepping back from the two. “What the hell is going on? Why do you look different?”

“Because we’re in the Demonic realm. Your Demon traits are also showing,” I chuckle, making her eyes fly to me, looking me up and down with a nod.

“You’re not as different. A little broader, but your eyes…” she trails off, and I nod.

“Are brighter? So are yours.” I wink at her when she gapes at me, then looks back at Nox and Valen. “They’re royal heirs. They have more defined Demonic features than the rest of us. Which is why their eye color completely changes. Nox’s will stay blackin this realm and Valen’s will lighten to an almost white color.” I tilt my head, studying Valen’s almost white eyes. They still have a pale green shade to them, so they aren’t completely white.

“Yes,” Nox agrees. “Now, can I heal you before the convoy gets here, please? I sent word to Father about this trip, and I’m surprised we haven't seen them yet.” Meyer waves him off, her mouth opening to no doubt say she’s fine, and Nox sighs in annoyance, reaching out and snagging her wrist to pull her to him.

“Lennox!” she snaps, glaring at him as he rucks her shirt up. A dangerous sound escapes my throat when I see the already dark bruises forming on her creamy skin. I watch Razar stiffen at my side before he growls and strides away from the group. “Damn, why did you have to get taller? My neck hurts trying to look at you.” Meyer grumbles, making Nox’s lips twist to the side to hide the smile she almost got from him. His hands circle her waist as his magic flares to life around us, calming my own as he heals our girl within seconds.

“It's so much easier to heal you in this realm. Maybe you should stay here until we figure things out back on Earth. You’d be safer,” he muses. Meyer jerks away from him like he just burned her. Valen tips his head to the side like he’s thinking the same thing, and I cringe, not only hating the idea of going back to Earth without Meyer but knowing she’s going to rip their balls off for even thinking of locking her up.

“Try it, and I'll make sure you never see the light of day again,” she threatens.

“That was my idea as well,” Jesthren admits, making me scowl at him. “Razar is losing control, and I think it's because of her. If she were to stay here, you could have the royal guard and our parents looking after her. There would be no more injuries or close calls with death.”

“Earth is my home! I’m not staying here because you lot are scared I might get hurt!” Meyer flips Jesthren off and spins on her heel, moving to follow Razar. She glares death at Nox and Valen, who cross their arms over their chests simultaneously and look unimpressed, neither looking like they will back down from the idea.

“Willget hurt. There is no might about it,” Nox corrects, voice dropping an octave at Meyer's defiance.

“And besides. Earth’s not your home anymore. You’re mated to Lennox. You’ll need to train to be Queen, and this is the perfect time for that. Who better to train you than the current reigning Queen?” Jesthren points out. Meyer freezes, her breath hitching as Nox slowly closes his eyes and cringes. Aw, shit, here we go.

After a prolonged moment during which no one says a single word or dares draw a breath, Meyer slowly turns and looks at Jesthren, her head tilting to the side as she takes a deep breath.

“I… I don't believe I heard you correctly. What did you just say?” she asks in a deceptively calm voice. Valen takes a step away from Nox like he knows he shouldn't be too close to our brother when Meyer gets her answer, and I groan, my head rolling back on my shoulders. Yeah, I'm pretty sure Hell is about to freeze over, and it's going be this little half-Demon who does it.

FOURTEEN

Lennox

My magic swirls in delight around me as my eyes slam closed. Jesthren just royally screwed me over with his simple words, and anger rushes to the surface, despite knowing he wasn't actually trying to get me in trouble. I can hear Meyer freeze in place before she turns, and I sigh, bringing my hand up to drag over my face and down my beard before I open my eyes and face my tiny, furious mate.

“I… I don't believe I heard you correctly. What did you just say?” she says, her soft voice pitched into a low, calm tone. I know it means the exact opposite as what it sounds like. Valen instantly steps back from me, and I grind my teeth at the pussy. He won’t say or do a single thing to make Meyer unnecessarily angry, where I seem to only aggravate her whenever I open my mouth.

“You’re his…” Jesthren trails off as he looks up and notices Creed and Valen shaking their head. “Oh… well, shit! You have to tell me when things are supposed to be kept a secret! This isn't my fault! You can't be mad at me for this, Lennox! If you expect it not to get back to her, which is shady as fuck, by the way, then you have to tell me these things!”

Meyer spins to glare at me, and I hold my hands out in front of her before dropping them to cover my balls when I see her expression. Yeah, I don't think I’m walking away from this without her taking a swing at them. And honestly, I can’t even be mad at the fact. I totally deserve it right now.

“Creed,” I growl, and he nods, moving to give Meyer a peck on the cheek before grabbing Jesthren and rushing after Razar. “Valen, in our rush, I don't think we closed the Veil. Could you—” I don't finish the sentence before Valen nods and practically runs up the hill toward the rift. Slowly I turn my attention toward my tiny, seething mate and inwardly groan, wishing I knew how to stop pissing her off so much. I had planned to tell her everything on our trip to Versipellis, and go into more detail about what happened between her and Inanis when I was trying to bring her back to life. But of course, Jesthren had to open his mouth only minutes before the scheduled conversation.

“You’ve been keeping secrets?” she asks, her dark eyes twinkling with sparks of powerful red magic. The feeling of it rushes over my skin, and my knees almost give way to the feeling of my mate's magic brushing against mine. I bite my lip to stifle the groan that threatens to break loose. I don't need to piss her off any more than I already have, but there is absolutely no way to stop the hard as fuck erection in my pants.

My little mate is strong… so much stronger than I thought she would be here. I knew bringing her to this realm would open her up more to the natural magic inside her, but I hadn't expected this amount. From what I can feel, she already rivals Creed’s, and something tells me there is more lurking under the surface.

“No! Not a secret! I said you were mine, that we were bound together,” I rush out, stepping back when she storms toward me. I try not to get distracted by how stunning this angry creature is as she plots my death. I love the anger and power that radiatesfrom her petite body. The way her eyes promise death as her pretty full lips entrance you, making you think everything is fine until she strikes out with words that slice you to the fucking core.

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