Page 158 of Nocturne

I know.

I know the gravity of the risk that hangs on our heads with what I started.

Should that scare me? Maybe.

But am I scared? Fuck no.

If anything, I’m pumped. I’m gearing up for the most epic war of my life, and I’m inclined to use just about any means to win.

Moments later, I see Devlin walk out of the house, Ara in his hands, the kid in tow. Devlin throws a withering glare towards Ivy, which shrinks her back into Iblis, who whispers something into her ear that has her crying. She turns to look at Eero—her friend, or so she thought—for help. He just shakes his head and instead lifts fighting Cas into his arms and puts him inside a waiting car.

The woman looks utterly betrayed and desperate as she calls Eero for help. She demands he release Cas, promising laughable threats that might have amused the men if not for the situation.

Did she really think that any of those loyal dogs would stand up for her in front of their boss? The man who basically raised them as his brothers? If so, my my, this woman has taken delusional to a whole new fucking level.

“What about the sister?”

Devlin looks down at the woman in his hands. His expression is a tad softer but not as soft as it usually gets. The news of her trying to run must piss him off. Coupled with the death of his soldier and having no fucking clue where to start, he must be a raging volcano inside.

“Have Morvain take and keep her safe until I say otherwise.”

Fuck.

Despite myself, a short cackle leaves my lips. He is pissed, alright.

Iblis takes the protesting Ivy and throws her into a different car from Cas. The unnerving behaviour of the kid is weird at times, but hey, I’m not complaining. As long as he keeps his mouth shut, I’m happy.

Despite the noise, I know none of the neighbours would dare to step outside their homes now. They see the guards, they see the big ass guns in their hands and they know that there is no chance against them. It is easy to do things when people are scared of you.

Fear is a weapon that, when wielded properly, gives you phenomenal results. And Devlin? The man was born to be a weapon more lethal than fear itself.

Iblis walks back as Nico pushes the bald freak into the hands of one of the men and orders him to take the fucker to one of the warehouses. Just as his boss goes to move, Iblis stops him. Not to confront but for orders. When it comes to following it, these men are better than police dogs. Loyal fucking soldiers.

“What do you want us to do, boss?”

Devlin looks down at the woman in his hands, not giving anyone any attention.

“She wanted to move. She will move.”

It is clear. Ara officially has no escape. She will be taken to his estate and held there. As a prisoner or as a queen, it is up to the brilliant woman. I hope the latter because it would make things fun. No one likes a fucking damsel.

This will be a test to her mind. To see if she can survive the devil. She was able to survive the monsters, but keeping her mind intact with the one man who will not offer her escape even if it means his death…well, let’s say it gets difficult not to lose your mind then.

“Things are getting out of hand, Zagan.”

A chill rushes across my spine at the name.

I might not feel fear like normal people do. But I’m not above accepting that despite the world I’ve seen, despite witnessing the deprivation and horrors of this world, Zagan Devlin evokes a sort of chill in me that I had not experienced before. He is a beast. The one he slowly got under control for his people. But I see the beast surfacing now that he sees his woman harmed and without a fucking clue by whom.

The only lead he has cannot speak. I made sure of that. But I’m not sure if it is enough. The man is well equipped with torture. He can make the corpses sing; he can install terror inside the fucking souls of his prisoners, a man without a tongue might seem like child’s play in comparison.

“We don’t even know anything about the ones who sent the message!”

Looks like Iblis is testing his boss. For what?

The expression on Devlin’s face is not pretty at our mention.

“The only thing you need to know about the fucker is, that he is a dead man walking,” Devlin vows.

---