Page 95 of Malice
“Shit,” I murmured, dread collecting in my belly like a stone. It must be the sixth Prince. Every time one was released, there was a terrible natural disaster.
I stood so fast my chair nearly fell over.
“Mademoiselle?”
“Thank you, Christian. I have to go. I need to let the others know.”
Chapter
Twenty-Eight
ASHER
I’d spent time in worse places, as far as hideouts went. At least this currently abandoned secret fight club Lilith brought us to had plumbing and central air. There was space for everyone too. And man, were there a lot of us. The wolf packs alone took up so much space I swore I could smell wet dog every time I walked by them.
I was pretty sure magic was at play here, both in regards to the amenities and the way we never seemed to run out of room for all of us. Lilith wouldn’t admit it, preferring to play coy, but c’mon. I’d been to the secret rooms atIniquity,and this had a very similar vibe. Minus the sexy dungeon aspect, of course.
All around me, groups of different species were clustered together, speaking in indistinct murmurs. I was most concerned about the Novasgardians and the shifters, if I was being honest. Both ran hot. Both were easily coaxed into conflict due to their natural inclination for battle. The shifters because of their animalistic, territorial natures. The Vikings because... well... Vikings.
“Do you really think we can all stay here, babe?” Remi said under his breath.
I shrugged. “I’m not sure there’s any place else we can go. Not and stay safe.”
“The tension is already so thick I can hardly breathe. It’s a powder keg. If a vamp looks at a wolf the wrong way, it’s going to be a bloodbath.”
A snarl that was more animal than man ripped through the air as exactly that happened. West Blackthorne stood near enough to the wolf he’d been sizing up that he could’ve lost an arm, but Kingston was holding his packmate back, along with two other wolves.
“West, stand down,” Thorne ordered, but his brother, arrogant and young but still old enough to know better, simply huffed a condescending laugh.
“I’m not doing anything. All I did was look his way.”
“I’m not a blood bag, vamp. Keep your fangs to yourself,” the shifter snapped, his body returning to a more human state as he calmed.
“Noah, maybe West needs to take a walk and get his head on straight?” Sunday suggested gently.
I knew him as Thorne, as most who were acquainted with Noah Blackthorne did, but my mate and Sunday both called him Noah. It had taken me a while to get used to the different moniker, though I understood the reason behind it now. The closer you were to him, the more real he was with you. I was not close with Thorne, and I never would be.
“I wouldn’t stoop so low as to drink your gamey blood,” West spat, anger making his eyes blaze.
Fucking hotheaded vampire royalty. He was going to get us all killed if he didn’t rein it in right now.
Another snarl escaped the wolf, and this time, it was accompanied by a handful of echoes from his pack. This was turning sour and quickly. Funny, I really had my money on the Vikings.
Before I could say a damn thing, two impenetrable walls of shadow appeared in front of each group, barring them from sight.
Hades strode between the walls of shadow, blue fire glowing in his eyes from the power he was using. “All right, y’all, that’s about enough. Who’s in charge of this shitshow? Because I can tell you one thing. We aren’t going to make it out of here if some law and order isn’t established—and fast.”
“Technically it’s Lilith, I guess, since she’s the one who brought us here and is in charge of this place,” I said, looking around like I might spot her dark hair somewhere in the crowd. “But I haven’t seen her all morning.”
“Well, I can’t keep them apart forever. We need leaders to keep things in line.”
“I run a tight ship. Allow me to advise,” Caspian offered from behind me, his arm around Dahlia as he gestured widely to the group.
“No.” Hades shut him down so fast it was all I could do not to laugh. Especially when his pout looked so similar to Remi’s.
“That’s precisely why Lilith is gone,” Caleb answered, joining our loose circle.
“Care to elaborate?” Hades asked, one eyebrow hiking up in annoyance.
