Page 8 of Blood and Reign

I sip my coffee, narrowing my eyes on the beast.

The shadow beast disappeared soon after the demons left, and I haven’t seen it since. “I was wondering where you went.”

The strange beast sits on its hind legs and gives me a look no animal should be capable of… a look of annoyance.

“You’re annoyed that I was looking for you?”

It gives me another look, as if to say, silly girl, and stays still as if waiting on something.

“What?”

The shadow beast tilts its head, waiting. But on what? “We helped get each other free. Shouldn’t you be off doing whatever you want to do now?”

The fucker raises a hairy brow. At least, that’s what it looks like as it stays still, waiting.

“What? You want something to do? Fine. Guard the border and update me if the demons move closer.”

Shadow disappears immediately.

I shake my head to myself.What a strange beast.

Why does it still take my orders? It makes no sense when it could be out there causing its own havoc. Maybe I should be grateful it’s helping and not adding to my long list of troubles.

Finishing off my coffee, I make my way to the meeting room.

There’s been non-stop meetings since King hightailed it to the Underworld, leaving the demons behind to continue their destruction.

How he’s able to command the demons is still something we have yet to figure out. The carnage they’ve continued to inflict is beyond what we thought they could achieve in such a short space of time. And more and more are still showing up, trying to gain ground on us.

After the ambush, any of those able to wield magic helped to erect a barrier around Manhattan. But it grows weaker by the day, with the demons draining it slowly. It won’t be long before it’s completely gone, and the demons move their destruction to here and everything else around it.

We all know going to the Underworld is a trap. But this needs to end and the only way that’s going to happen is with King gone.

Once I reach the hall, I sigh hearing shouting. Loud, boisterous voices that have been nothing but aggressive and argumentative since Draven’s men and all the leaders of Manhattan arrived. They may have originally worked together to erect the barrier, but after that, they went back to hating each other.

And the so-called battle meetings have been nothing but a room full of arrogant alphas trying to see who has the largest dick.

The real answer being none of them, including Draven and his men. Their constant bickering would rival Axel and Jax by tenfold, with none of the comrade and family mentality behind it.

It’s beyond draining, listening to them night after night. There’s not one thing they can agree on, with the demons, warlocks, and witches all disagreeing just for the sake of it. They still don’t trust their kin here that left their precious segregated Island. And are even more distrustful of the leaders that took them in.

But now is not the time to be divided amongst ourselves. If we’re going to win this, we need to stick together and focus all that pain and anger toward the true evil that has caused this.

King.

The shouting grows louder as I walk toward the open doors of the meeting room. There’s about a dozen people inside with Draven and a few of his leaders stationed to the left. I spot Kai immediately leaning against the window with a few of the shifters from here around him. His scowl is evident, the lack of sleep making him look much older than he is.

The rest of my guys are missing, but it shouldn’t be too long before they show up too.

No one pays me any mind as I head straight in and over to Kai. He looks up from his position the minute I start toward him. His eyes lighting up the nearer I get.

Once I’m close enough to him, he takes my hand and spins me, so my back is to his front. Wrapping his arms around me from behind, he nuzzles into the side of my neck, and he takes a deep breath.

“Sleep well?” he murmurs, a glint of humor in his tired voice.

“I did.” I tilt my head to look up at him. His smile turns soft as he brushes his hand down my cheek.

Closer up he looks more than just tired. He looks exhausted. Like he’s wearing the entire world with all its problems on his shoulders. My hellhound is always juggling way too much for his family. Not caring about what he has to go through once his family is safe.

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