Page 144 of Wicked Heirs

“Instead of just putting the fucker in a timeout,” Talon seethed.

“It’s more than a time out, firebird.”

“Semantics,” he rebutted, his harshness coming through because of what that maniac had done to his parents, what he’d taken from him that night.

“Obsidianwas created to—” Orpheus started.

“It was created todefendagainst the likes of him, so we wouldn’t all be helpless should an attack come like last time.Notto murder, Orpheus,” Xavier pointed out.

Orpheus slammed his fist into the trunk of a nearby tree. “There’s no other solution than death for that psychopath! There never has been!”

“We’re not gods!”

“No, we’re Constantine’s victims! Do you want more of that? Is that it?”

“Is this about protection or vengeance,Dark Prince?”

“They’re not mutually exclusive.”

“They need to be when the stakes are this high.”

I stepped forward between the two of them as things reached fever pitch. “He’s right, sweet thing.”

“What? You’re actually on board with murdering someone?”

“Constantine Vale isn’t justsomeone.He’s an irredeemable monster, a supreme threat to every single being in the supernatural world and beyond.”

He cursed and started shaking his head. “No, this is Orpheus. His bullshit infecting you.”

“You really think I’d allow something like that when it comes to this sort of subject matter? I can think for myself.”

“I’d normally agree, but you underestimate the way he can twist somebody up.”

“Oh, fuck off, baby vamp.”

“No,youfuck the hell off. Look what you’ve done to her.”

“Clearly something you can’t accept about her.”

“That’s not—” Xavier took me in, his words to deny Orpheus’ claim getting caught in his throat.

And in that moment, I registered it.

The way he saw me had shifted.

Knowing I was on the same page as Orpheus when it came to something of this magnitude, of thisdarkness, it didn’t sit well with him. And he sure as hell didn’t like it.

“This isnothappening.”

“It needs to, X,” Talon spoke up. “It really needs to.”

“Sometimes there’s no right way, there’s justaway,” I said.

Xavier stared at me. “You’re worried about your potential for darkness? You do this and you’ll be heading down that track.”

“Bullshit,” Orpheus seethed. “And you gave me shit beforehand for getting inside her head.” He waved his hand dismissively, telling me. “It’s not true, he’s just reaching.”

Xavier threw up his hands and stepped back. “I’m out.”

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