Page 70 of A Surrender Of Hope

“Anyone else have something to say about my brother or family?” Jesthren asks, chuckling when all the Lords, including Arawn, shake their heads, lips clamped shut. “Good, I believe the door is that way,” he adds, clapping his hands together and dismissing the Lords without so much as a nod as he turns his back on them and climbs the dais, perching on Father’s chair and winking at me when I roll my eyes at his theatrics.

The moment the Lords cross through the doors, my father turns on General Vega and nods, dismissing his personal guard and leaving only family in the room. “Thank you,” Mom whispers, moving over to Nox and wrapping him in a hug. He pats her on the back, but glowers at the door that just shut, and I can see the need burning in him to go after Bryton and kill him.

Creed walks over, Meyer’s hand in his as he steps up next to me. I glance down at my Pup not at all surprised to find her glaring at me.

“What?” I clip out, eyeing her as she leans closer to me. Her soft scent wraps around me and makes my chest constrict, frustrating me all the more.

“I’m not something you can just claim, Razar,” she mutters, and I scoff and roll my eyes. A sudden pain in my ankle makes me jump back, and I glower at the girl as I reach down and rub my now sore ankle.

“Don't kick me,” I grind out, my Beast rumbling in approval at her fighting spirit.

“Don't roll your eyes at me,” she snaps back, and I fight the urge to wrap my hand around her throat and tug her curvy, damn distracting body against mine. My attention falls on that slim, tempting neck, then catches on the twin red crescent shapes, and I freeze. A low snarl breaks from my throat as I dart my attention to Creed, who looks like a proud fucking peacock, his fingers moving to dust over his claiming mate mark.

That little fucker mated her.

“Problem, Raz?” he asks innocently, and I lunge, my Beast's jealousy rearing its head before I can control it. Creed and I go tumbling to the ground, and Mom gasps, then starts scolding us as I punch Creed in his smug face. He only laughs and spins us, my back hitting the ground hard as he straddles me. “What’s wrong, Raz? Are you finally starting to let those pesky emotions to the surface?”

“Jesus,” Pup groans, hands falling to her hips as she watches the two of us with an annoyed sigh. Jesthren stands and nods in our direction as he steps to Father’s side.

“Ten on Raz,” he bets, always looking to place money on a fight. Father frowns, eyes moving to where I lie under Creed, and shakes his head.

“Nope.”

“Get the hell off each other! There’s been enough fighting today,” Meyer hisses, crouching beside us and shoving at Creed’s shoulder.

“Ten on her,” Father adds, making Jesthren roar with laughter. Nox tightens his arms on Mom, not letting her go as Creed pouts.

“This is just brother bonding time, Lemon Drop,” he complains but moves, standing and offering me his hand that I take and let him tug me to my feet. Heat flushes my cheeks as I grab my hood and bring it over my head, allowing the shadows to calm me as Meyer watches me. Her attention makes mewant to murder something, all while soothing something in me, I didn't know could be soothed. My Beast is practically purring as she walks over, brushes some dirt off my cloak, then reaches down and grabs something off the floor. My eyes widen when I see her Kalis has fallen out of its sheath when I tackled Creed and tense as she holds it in front of her, eyes narrowing on the expertly crafted blade before slowly handing it back to me.

I frown in confusion, eyes bouncing from the blade I took as my own, to her and back before I reach out and grab it. It’s still warm where her fingers were wrapped around the handle, and I suppress the need to hold onto it for as long as possible before sheathing it at my side.

“I will be getting that back,” she promises with a tiny growl that sounds far too adorable coming from her lips. “But I’ll earn it,” she adds, standing in front of me with not a speck of fear. Her challenge is clear as I nod, a flicker of excitement and heat coursing through me at her words. Then she’s gone, moving over to Nox and letting him tug her into his arms, kissing the top of her head as she snuggles into his embrace.

The door to the side of the dais leading directly to the Royal quarters opens, revealing Valen as he strides into the room. His eyes immediately move to where Meyer stands in Nox’s embrace, and I watch his shoulders relax simply from being in the same room as she is. I scowl back at Meyer, hating how I feel the same way, wondering how the hell something so small and annoying holds so much power over us all.

“And?” Father asks, walking back up the stairs and lounging in his seat with a heavy sigh. His Demonic form melts away, leaving him in the fighting leathers he wore into battle.

“The spells were still intact. Nothing was broken until the Wraiths came through, meaning they were brought into the Caverns and waited for us to leave before they broke into thecastle.” Valen announces, making me stiffen and look at Father, knowing this isn’t good.

“Who else has access to the Caverns?” Mom asks, walking up the stairs and sitting on Fath’s lap as she frowns at Valen.

“Only us and about six of the higher-ranking Lords,” Father whispers.

“Bryton?” she asks, and Father shakes his head.

“No, I never trusted him enough to allow him access. It’s someone from our inner circle,” he growls, bringing his fist down on his armrest with a loud curse. “You need to leave,” he finally says, looking at Nox, and he nods in agreement. “We need that tomb back before whoever this is, gets their hands on it.”

“Do you have the other half?” Valen asks, and Father nods, looking to Jesthren, who sits down on the steps by Father’s feet, tugging off all the weapons he has strapped to his chest.

“I hid it under the Caverns, which is why the breach is so disturbing. If whoever did this found it there, it would have been lost to us.”

“And what do we do when we have both halves?” Creed asks, sitting next to Jes and helping him tug off the holster that’s stuck on his shoulder, so encrusted in dried blood that Creed has to yank hard to remove it.

“We destroy it,” Father whispers, making me frown.

“There’s no way to do that,” I remind him, and he nods.

“There is. And we will, but I need both halves here. Inanis’ soul and body were split in two to avoid him coming back. I wasn't strong enough to destroy him back then, and Verack had been mortally wounded. There is a chance now that Nox is old enough to help me.”

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