Page 55 of Dawn of Chaos and Fury
“What was the purpose of bringing your brother here for this exchange?” Giselle called after him. “Intimidation?”
Axel paused, looking back over his shoulder. “No, actually. He has his own matters to discuss with you, and until I know where your loyalty lies, I don’t suppose I have any reason to intervene on your behalf, do I?”
Her eyes went wide as they snapped back to Theon. Axel didn’t know what business Theon had with them. His brother had only asked him to trust him on this, and he would explain everything after the day was done. Axel had agreed. His only request was that Theon didn’t use coercion to force them to agree to an alliance. An alliance made by force wasn’t an alliance at all, and it would break at the first test. He needed the Shifters tochoosethis. True loyalty was born of choice, but in the end, he was still a St. Orcas. He was still death, but he was resourcefulin a way his brother never would be, because he’d been forced to survive here long before he’d been forced to hide here.
He was still a villain; the Shifters could decide if he was going to be theirs.
11
THEON
The doors hadn’t even finished closing behind Axel and Kat before Giselle said, “Our bargain still stands, Theon. Bold of you to come here for something more when you haven’t even fulfilled your other obligation.”
“As already discussed, it turns out I didn’t need your bargain anyway,” he replied. If there was any other piece of furniture in this room, he would have sat down, but they kept it sparse on purpose, forcing their visitors to stand before them while they lounged in their wanna-be thrones.
“Yet a bargain Mark remains,” she said, relaxing in her seat and crossing a leg over the other.
“It does,” he agreed, sliding his hands back into his pockets. “And I will honor it. I will continue to look for this missing Shifter and report any of my findings, even though I no longer require the information bargained for to find my brother.”
“I know there is nothing benevolent about a Legacy,” Giselle drawled, tilting her head as she watched him. “So what shall be the cost?”
She wasn’t wrong, and he had come here with a purpose.
“I still require the location of my father’s holdings in your District,” he answered.
Kylian scoffed. “Then the bargain stands.”
“It does not,” he answered. “The bargain was worded specifically that information would be provided to find my brother. The fact that I need the same information does not affect the terms of the bargain in the least.”
“We have the leverage here, Theon. Not you,” the Alpha said with a cold sneer. “You are not in a position to be setting terms.”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” Theon said, finally letting his power out. He’d been holding that darkness in, keeping it locked down while his brother did his own bargaining. “I did not come here on my brother’s behalf. Your dealings with him are separate from your dealings with me. Although his wife spoke truth, I will be the Lord you will eventually deal with. But you were also correct,” he continued, moving a few steps closer. “The timing of that inevitability is unclear. It could be tomorrow. It could be several decades. Unfortunately, the Seers of the realm seem to be in disagreement about that.”
“I am failing to see how any of that is leverage,” Kylian said, the temple of the shaved side of his head resting on his fist.
“That is not my leverage.”
Kylian’s brow arched in a silent command to continue.
Theon only smiled back— cold, dark, and wicked. “My leverage is being the most powerful in this room.”
Before either of them could move, let alone shift, his power had them wrapped up tight and secured to the chairs they both loved so much. Giselle gasped when his power squeezed tighter, winding up her throat and pressing on her windpipe. They may be stuck in their human forms, but his shadow wings were flared wide behind him. Kylian’s eyes had shifted to feline pupils, and Theon held his stare knowing his own eyes were wholly black.
He ignored Giselle’s outraged whimpers, but they all knew what was happening here. Theon knew how the Shifters worked. Anyone could challenge the Alpha and Beta for their positions. The beings were wild and untamed after all, and they followed many of the ways of their animal kin. The strongest one held the title. Theon was just making sure they remembered who that person truly was in a way they would understand.
Kylian lowered his eyes, then his chin in submission, but Theon still didn’t release him or his mate. Not until he had what he came for.
“Tell me where the house is, Kylian,” Theon said, the calm order promising pain if denied.
“I can’t,” the Alpha answered tightly. “But release Giselle, and I will tell you what I can.”
Theon laughed. “You think I will release her only to find a snake at my throat? I think not. Tell me what you can, or she will find the little bit of air I am allowing her suddenly unavailable.”
“We don’t know where the holdings are,” Kylian spat. “We have an idea, but?—”
“If you don’t know where it is, how were you planning on fulfilling your end of the bargain?” Theon interrupted.
“As you just reminded us, our side of that bargain involved us giving you information to find your brother. It did not specify the exact location be disclosed.”
