Page 113 of Tempest of Wrath and Vengeance

Tristyn, in true arrogant fashion, pulled a roll of lull-leaf from his brown leather jacket. “It’s been a while, Altair,” he answered, lighting the lull-leaf. “Thought I’d drop by and catch up.”

“That is not why we’re here,” Theon cut in, throwing a glare at Tristyn. “He’s here because he’s helping me with a confidential matter. The Alpha and Beta are expecting me.”

“I know they are expectingyou,” Altair replied, his stare still fixed on Tristyn. “But I’m betting they are not expectinghim. You are usually accompanied by your brother and Luka.”

He wasn’t wrong, which just circled back to all of this feeling wrong without them here, but he was also more than curious about what had happened between Blackheart and the Shifters. The Shifters were easily offended, but they were also not people you wanted to be on the wrong side of.

“Be that as it may,” Theon said, letting his magic drift around him while he adjusted his shirt cuffs beneath his suit jacket. “Who does and who does not accompany me does not need to be monitored by anyone when I give you all such freedom here, wouldn’t you agree?” Altair’s stare slid to him, and Theon’s smile was tight and sharp as he added, “This is also a pressing matter, so you can escort us to Kylian and Giselle now.”

It was clear this was a dominant command. Altair’s mouth pressed into a thin line, and he stepped aside to let them in.

The floor was laden with ornate rugs that muffled their footsteps as they were led past several of the windows and into a room that was situated deeper into the cave wall. There were no windows in this room. Only two overly large chairs at the front that were suspiciously similar to the chairs the Lords and Ladies sat on at Tribunal Hearings.

A male was seated on the one on the left. His brown skin appeared even darker in the low lighting of the room that cast shadows across them all. He was solidly built, his brown hair shaved on one side while the other was long, reaching nearly to his waist. His olive eyes watched them intensely, a stern look on his face as they approached.

On the other seat sat a female. The word beautiful wouldn’t do her justice. Her wine red hair brushed her collarbones, while light grey eyes passed over them with an amused gleam. High cheekbones, full lips, and fuller breasts with curves that made both males and females stare, she was sipping from a golden chalice, one long leg crossed over the other.

The pair of them were mates, and they were also power shifters. While most Shifters only had one other form, power shifters could shift into any animal or anyone, and they were rare. So rare, Theon only knew of six of them in the Underground. They could also shift energy and matter, but they did each have a preferred form. Kylian favored a large, black jaguar, while Giselle often shifted into a giant python.

The doors thudded shut behind them, but Theon knew Altair stood just outside.

“Thank you for agreeing to see me,” Theon said, his darkness still drifting around him both as a warning and as a reminder of who he was.

“Anything for the Arius Lord,” Giselle said with a sensual purr that rolled over him like a physical caress.

“He’s not the Arius Lord yet,” Kylian said in a deep voice. “And bringing Tristyn Blackheart into our home is not the way to start this encounter. Did he not tell you he is not welcome here?”

“I did relay to him that this would likely not go well with my presence, but you know how the Lords and Ladies can be,” Tristyn said with a mocking sigh as he took a toke of his lull-leaf. “No one can tell them what to do.”

Theon slowly turned to him, but Tristyn didn’t appear to notice as he blew smoke from his lips. Tamping down on his irritation, Theon returned his attention to the Shifters.

“Tristyn is not your concern here. He is accompanying me on another matter, but let’s cut right to the heart of things,” Theon said. “I am told my father has holdings in the Leisure District. As the new Arius Lord, those holdings now belong to me. I need to know their locations.”

“I have no idea to what you are referring,” Giselle said, and if Theon didn’t know how cunning the Shifters were, he would have believed her. Maybe she was speaking the truth, but they could lie so smoothly, it was nearly impossible to take them at their word. He needed proof, but if there truly were no holdings, how would they prove that?

“Even if we did, as was already stated, you are not the Arius Lord yet,” Kylian added.

“A technicality,” Theon scoffed. “Either way, I am the acting Arius Lord. Even if that weren’t fact, I would still be the Arius Heir, and it is still my kingdom that allows you to govern this District so freely. I’m sure that could be changed rather quickly if necessary.”

His power thickened around him, black swallowing his emerald irises. Neither of the Shifters moved, but neither of them had a retort for him either.

“But now that such matters are settled,” he went on, letting his magic wane as he pulled his darkness back to him, only letting wisps linger. “I am also prepared to pay what is necessary for the information.”

“Are you?” Giselle asked, her chin resting in her hand as she swirled her chalice.

“Yes,” Theon answered immediately.

“And if the price is not coin?

Not how he thought this was going to go, but he said, “I’m listening, assuming this price is within reason.”

“Within reason?” Giselle asked with a small lilt of laughter. “What price is too high for this information you are desperate to have?”

He thought about lying about the desperation part, but who was he kidding? Axel had been missing for weeks. Hewasgetting desperate.

Giselle’s eyes flicked to Katya, who was standing quietly a step behind him, like a Fae had always been taught to do.

“She is not part of these negotiations,” Theon said quickly.

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