Page 56 of Dawn of Chaos and Fury
“You fuckers,” he snarled.
“You were so distracted with Blackheart and your absent Source, you let yourself be taken advantage of. That is no fault of ours,” Kylian growled back. “It is the way of Devram, Arius Heir. Even those of us in the Underground know that.”
Theon yanked on his power, pulling Kylian from his seat and forcing him to stand where Axel had just stood. Then he casually walked around him and climbed the steps to the makeshift dais, sitting in his chair and staring down at the Alpha. “New plan,Kylian,” he said, resting his temple on his fist and mirroring the male’s earlier pose. “Tell me some information worthy of saving the Beta’s life, and make it fast. I don’t have time to waste on games and tricks.”
“Your Source is still here,” the Alpha said tightly, and that was the very last thing he’d expected the male to say. Kylian must have mistaken his shocked silence as misunderstanding though, because he added, “One of my guards reported hearing you and Axel discuss the female leaving the realm on your way here. You believe she is gone; she is not.”
“I told you not to lie to me,” Theon said, Giselle’s high-pitched whimper the only indication of his growing irritation.
“I’m not lying to you,” Kylian insisted, trying to lurch forward, but Theon’s power held him tight in its grasp. “There have been inquiries from the kingdoms. You know they all have their own spies here. She was seen at the destruction of the Pantheon by the rulers themselves. A handsome bounty is being offered for her whereabouts.”
Theon sat quietly, letting that information simmer and trying to decide if he believed it or not. The gods help him if it was true, and Luka hadn’t taken her from this realm.
But also, the gods helpthemif Tessa had truly brought the Pantheon to ruin.
“And my father’s holdings?” Theon asked, deciding to debate the merits of the prior information when he wasn’t in the middle of negotiations.
“I cannot tell you where they are,” the Alpha said again. “We are paid coin, but it’s never directly from him. And we have our suspicions about the area, but nothing we’ve ever been able to substantiate. We suspect wards.”
“And the suspected area?”
“The northwest part of the District. Near the border.”
Of course it would be near the border of the Charter District. His father would never stray too far from his own safe territories.
Pushing to his feet, Theon released both the Alpha and the Beta. Kylian lunged for Giselle as she leapt for Theon, rage emanating off the female in a palpable wave. But Kylian pulled her back into his chest, murmuring low in her ear while Theon paid them no mind, only buttoning his suit jacket before straightening his shirt cuffs.
“This did nothing to help your brother,” Giselle spat.
“Our dealings have nothing to do with my brother,” Theon said. “He has asked me to stay out of his…confrontations in the Underground.”
“Then why are you here with him?”
“I thought he made that clear. I had my own purposes for meeting with you,” Theon answered, striding for the door. But he stopped beside them, looking them each in the eye as he added, “But should he summon me for aid, I will answer. Consider whose side you wish to be on should that happen when you deliver your decision of allegiance to him.”
His footfalls echoed in the room as he continued making his way to the exit.
“We will remember this encounter, St. Orcas,” Kylian called after him.
“Please do,” he answered, not even bothering to turn back to them. “It will serve you well in the future.”
“Tell me again how attacking the godsdamn Shifter leaders isn’t going to affect their decision,” Axel said, descending the stairs back into the living room.
Theon was waiting for him, holding out the glass of whiskey he’d poured while taking a sip of his own.
“We already discussed this extensively over dinner,” he answered, Axel snatching the glass from his hand and downing half of it in one gulp. “Where’s Kat?”
“Asleep,” Axel answered, dropping unceremoniously onto a sofa. “She’ll never admit it, but this was a lot for her today.”
He’d changed while he’d been upstairs, now in sweatpants and a Chaosphere tee, while Theon was still in his suit pants and shirt. Granted, he’d lost the tie, and his shirt was unbuttoned.
Theon took a seat on the other end of the sofa, crossing an ankle over his knee and resting his drink on the sofa arm. “How has she been feeling?”
His brother swiped a hand down his face. “She’s…strong. Her moods can be unpredictable, but she’s fucking strong, Theon. She did the first half of this alone, and I don’t have experience, but even I know that Fae and Legacy pregnancies are brutal.”
“It’ll get worse,” Theon added. “As the babe and his power grow. She needs to rest.”
“Yeah, well, tell her that,” Axel grumbled, glancing over at him. “What?”
