Page 17 of Chaos
“You’ve said that before and have already been proven wrong,” I pointed out. “At the very least, we should look into warding the premises. Making sure nothing can go undetected.”
“My security system is the best available on the planet. It’s already taken care of. Christian is in the process of checking all the sensors as we speak.”
Chaos’s frown and low grumble of dissatisfaction shook Malice’s confidence. I could see it in his eyes.
Mal shot a glare at the warrior, who’d taken a sword off the mount over the fireplace. “Can you please stop touching things that don’t belong to you?”
I snickered. “And you call me fussy.”
“You are the fussiest fuck I’ve ever known,” Sin drawled. “And I was an actor.”
Chaos pointed the tip of the sword in Sin’s direction. “You know the rules, Sinclair. Not a fucking word about the glory days.”
“What are you gonna do, Chaos? Chop off my head?”
“Wouldn’t be the first time.”
Sin smirked. “Won’t keep my mouth shut.”
I sighed and shook my head. “Am I seriously the only one who cares that we are in imminent danger?”
“You mean Merri is in danger. We are immortal.” Malice’s tone betrayed his own worry. He didn't want any harm to come to her either. None of us did.
“I have never failed in any of my tasks. I will not fail in this one.”
Sin snorted.
“What?” I snapped.
“Of course you’ve never failed. All of your tasks end with killing something or someone. Pretty easy when all you have to do is touch them.”
“Are we just ignoring the one task that you’ve absolutely failed to complete, Mr. Horseman? Or does it not count unless it suits you?”
“Glass houses, Chaos.”
“I’m not the one making claims of a perfect record, Grimsby.”
“Enough,” I snapped, my ire mounting at Sinclair’s snickers.
They were getting entirely too comfortable and forgetting their places. I was the inevitable one. The oldest among us. The first of our kind. Yes, Pestilence came along moments later, but I had been first. And Death was pretty fucking final.
Malice blew out a breath. “What do you want us to say, Grim? She’s as safe as we can make her. I had this place warded centuries ago, but if it will make you feel better, I can have Christian strengthen them.”
“What would a groundskeeper know about wards?” Sin asked.
“He’s sworn to Hecate’s line. His family is blood-bound to the estate. It’s their wards that protect it. It’s also the reason they can never truly leave.”
“So he’s not loyal to you at all, then?” Chaos asked.
Malice’s eyes narrowed a fraction. “Why would you say that?”
“Because you are keeping him bound here. He’s forced to serve you.”
“Well... no. Not me, per se. I snagged this land from Hecate after a wild night of gambling. All I had to do was get rid of the occupant, spread a little plague to her enemies, and then it was mine forevermore.”
“What’s so special about this place?” Chaos asked.
“Ley lines.”
