Page 124 of A Debt of Darkness

“If they fulfill this prophecy, the Brotherhood falls. That’s not in your interest, Emmanuel. Why should we work with you when this isn’t in your fucking interest?”

“Who says it’s not in my interest?” he says, his eyes sparking with a viciousness he’s concealed until now. He’s lethal and ruthless, a clever, cold and calculated predator who won’t let anything or anyone stand in the way of what he wants. Whatever that may be.

And that’s the question he needs to answer now. To my satisfaction.

“The Brotherhood is tired,” Emmanuel says. “It’s full of decadent priests who’ve succumbed to the weakness of power and its pleasure. I’ve tried to clean my house, but it's impossible. The problems are too deep-rooted, too tangled and embedded. There’s only one way to fix this, and it isn’t to repair what’s already broken.”

Build again.

The cunt wants to wash the slate clean and start over.

It’s bold. Fucking bold.

And he’s right. The Brotherhood is weak and arrogant, indulgent and self-serving. They forgot their place and purpose centuries ago, serving only themselves instead of us and our gods.

“You think their child will restore balance?” Ryan’s enraged and utterly calm. Completely controlled. Menacing.As territorial as if the promised child—my child, according to Emmanuel—is his. “You have no claim over them, Deacon. Renounce any and all fucking claim here and now, on a blood oath.”

Emmanuel nods. “Of course.” He extends his arm. “Contrary to your beliefs, I serve the gods. This prophecy is their will.”

I won’t hesitate.

Not when it might be my child.

Ivy’s child.

Our child.

“You swear to renounce all hold over my child, over Ivy’s child, over any children she or I have, separately or together?”

“I do.”

I bite and drink, draining him quickly. He pales and falters, holding onto his memories as he shields most of them. But not all, and I catch enough to know he’s sincere. It’s irrelevant now he’s made a blood oath, although his honesty is more reason to trust him.

I withdraw my fangs, pausing long enough to make him fearful, reminding him who commands authority. I drag my nail across my wrist and pour a few drops of blood into his mouth, resurrecting his life force, aware his heart beats with more resolve.

I hiss as I move away, turning to Matt and Ryan.

“Finish this.” I snarl as I leave my office. “Make whatever arrangements are needed. I have other things to take care of.”

Like Ivy.

I need her and the reassurance her warmth provides. Preferably wrapped around my cock while I’m coming hard enough to lose myself in her.

34

A SANCTUARY AND A PRISON

IVY

“Stop throwing your weight off and put it into the fucking punch.”

Ryan’s losing his shit and I can’t say I blame him. We’ve been at this for an hour today, training every day for the last week. Ryan’s determined to make me stronger and I’m broken.

My muscles ache. My body’s tired. My head’s full of nonsense. I can’t think properly and I can barely walk straight.

“I. CAN’T. DO. THIS.”

I scream from the bottom of my lungs and stamp my foot for good measure. Ryan doesn’t flinch, doesn’t react. He stares, passive and unmoved. Like a brick wall that’s not coming down.

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