Page 57 of Shadows of Fate

“So, before all of this.” I waved a hand between Raiden and me. “Some of the covens would hire me to… take care of some of their more… unfortunate cases. The vampires they didn’t want to drag in front of the court and let their transgressions be known by all. Instead, they’d send me to take care of it for them.” I shrugged as if it wasn’t a big deal, while they both just stared at me.

“You’re telling me covens across the four courts would—” Bastian began.

“No. Not the Court of Ice. I don’t go there,” I interrupted.

He arched a brow at me, then continued. “Covens across three of the courts would hire you to sneak around and kill vampires that should be locked up and tortured for their crimes, just so they didn’t have to get their hands dirty? Is that what you’re telling us?”

I looked up at Cedar and he smirked before looking back to the other two males. “That’s exactly what she’s saying. Although, I wouldn’t worry about the lack of torture. Silv has a way with knives.”

Raiden smiled. “I can attest to that fact. A way with knives, she definitely has.”

Bastian sighed. “Okay, well. Moving on. Who lived here? What did he do? Give us any information you have, because according to reports, the place has been used for the Eternal Outcasts for longer than you’ve been with us.”

“Oh. Well, when I was here, it was just Elias. He was a horrid male. He was charged by the local coven for…” I stopped as I thought about what he was charged with, everything suddenly clicking into place. “He was charged with turning girls against their wills, and then when they wouldn’t have sex with him, he was killing them. Painfully. He was also on the verge of starvation. I’m not sure why, but he was pale, thinning, hair falling out. Elias was also the only one home. No one else was here. I know you said they were using it beforehand, but it wouldn’t be much of a safe house without anyone else here, right?”

“When exactly did you off him?” Bastian asked.

“It would’ve been the end of summer, I remember being annoyed that the nights weren’t as long yet. I wanted to spend more time with him.” Just thinking about it made me excited.

“Calm it down, my ice queen. Or I’ll have to find a spot to show you just how the thought of you torturing other men gets me going,”Raiden purred.

I felt the blush rise to my cheeks and I glanced up at him. “Do we have time for that?”

“For you? I can force the time,”he growled.

“Stop with the mind-to-mind shit, please. We’re trying to make a plan here.” Cedar elbowed me. He looked over to Bastian. “You weren’t joking. For Fates’ sake.”

Bastian just shook his head. “Moving on, please?” he asked. “I’d like to get back home tonight.”

Raiden wrapped an arm around my shoulders and pulled me close. “Tell us the plan, Bastian. I’m ready when you are.”

* * *

The plan was beyond simple. We’d go in, kill anyone who wasn’t in need of being rescued, and burn the place to the ground. Simple. I enjoyed simple.

Our team consisted of myself, Raiden, Bastian, Cedar, one of Bastian’s men, Delano, and a local coven leader, Aeric. Both had minor shadow magic, but they were handy with a blade, according to Bastian, and I was way more interested in that than their magic. Magic could be easily overcome, being talented with a knife in your hand was another story.

Bastian, Raiden, and Delano would go in through the front door, while the rest of us would go in through the back door. As far as we knew, they didn’t have any other exits—unless they’d burrowed a hole into the ground and could take off that way.

Cedar shifted to make sure the back entry was clear for us while Aeric and I stayed in the shadows and made our way around the building.

It wasn’t very big and truly calling it a shack was being kind. The chestnut brown wood siding around the two-story home was falling into disrepair. Most of the windows along the front were cracked, if not empty of glass entirely. There were chunks of the roof completely missing, leaving massive holes for animals to enter through.

“At least the pile of wood will go up in flames nicely,” Aeric said under his breath. I just nodded my head in agreement. I couldn’t deny he was right on that topic. It would go up without a problem, but I didn’t want it to do so until we’d made sure everyone of importance to us was out and safe.

Raiden had females he trusted who were part of the Shadow Brigade on standby, ready to help any of the victims who needed it. The fact that he thought ahead enough to ensure all the soldiers helping the victims we were bound to find were female made me love him that much more.

I never thought when he’d turned those doors to dust and strolled in like he owned the place, that behind the facade of the in-control, demanding, and powerful ruler of the Court of Shadows stood a gentle and thoughtful male. He truly was incredible.

“Are you thinking about me back there?”I suddenly heard in my mind. “I can feel your magic rising in a way that it only does when I make your thighs clench and your heart rate speed up.”

I tried with all of my willpower to taper down the blush I could feel rising up my neck.

“I was, and now with your voice in my head, I’m feeling a bit distracted. Probably not the way I should be going into this, My Lord,”I told him.

“Ah, this is true. I’m quite bored up front here. The view of Bastian from behind is not even close to the same as you, my darling,”Raiden purred.

Cedar had returned and shifted back. “Back entrance is now clear. Please don’t mind the body on the ground, he was in my way.”

---