Page 119 of Seeking Hades' Ember

Chapter 56

Hades

I gripped Ember's hand tighter as I led her close to me, side by side, where she would be on our thrones. Forever we would be equals, and I planned to show her that as soon as the threat had passed. Hypocritical? Maybe. I wasn't going to take chances and test the fates right now. I'm going to make sure she is safe, as well as her pack that she is so fond of. I internally sighed at the thought of that.

Ember gripped me tighter as three of my guards ruffed up Lyle. Their massive stature stunned the Wolves of the group surrounding us, never seeing such a sight. Maybe some of the unmated Wolves would keep the grubby paws and perverted eyes away from my mate. I didn't care they were looking; I would burn their eyes right from the sockets.

The heaviness in Luna Charlotte's heart was evident; this Wolf, Lyle, had been a part of the pack for a long while, even when Charlotte first joined the pack. From Alpha Wesley's explanation earlier, he was promoted to lead tracker not but a few days before Ember's disappearance, something that perked my interest. The weapon throwing, which was an awful shot, by the way, and his duty as a lead tracker to find Ember was almost too much. The evidence stacked against him; if only with his puny throw of a spear, he had a death warrant.

He wouldn't survive this night.

The spear that had struck me, just a mere six inches from my queen, was constructed of both dogwood and black metal I had never seen. A red inscription was written on the arrow, most likely Latin that I would have Cyrene figure out. Many believe there is but one type of Latin, but there are several dialects that help you summon. Latin was originated in Rome, and as it spread through different countries, its words became branched, creating their own magical language. Latium Malifecia was thus then created. Imagine those who spoke Latin every day calling upon demons and deities in their everyday life. It would be almost comical.

I was not familiar with this Malifecia, this Latium dialect, because I don't deal with the magic of this kind. Of course, the one person I needed was Hecate, and she was still missing. I rubbed my chin at the thought if she might have any part of this. Not willingly, of course, but that of force.

Hecate doesn't create the magic; she just handles it justly. If magic deems too strong, she shelters it, conceals it for a better time, but this magic has gotten out of control. With just a fraction of a second of it being pierced into my hide, I felt its power. It was more potent than any power that I had felt previously in all my awakened days.

My power weakened in an instant as I felt the burn in my shoulder. Pulling it out only caused a black sludge to pour from the wound. My power completely regenerated as the rest of the sludge leaked from it. I can heal quickly, but this took me a good ten seconds, which is highly rare for me, a god. I was the strongest yet; could it be possible this was how both Selene, Hecate, and Hermes had been captured?

Gritting my teeth, we all formed a small train to the packhouse; Wesley led the caravan as my demons continued to prod their claws into Lyle. I could smell their want to spill his blood; they never get to torture many of that of the living. I internally smirked, not to offend Charlotte, who was rubbing her hands in worry.

Ember continued to walk with me, head held high while her brother, Dante, was on her side. His anger towards the tracker was compelling, almost heroic; he was the first to pounce the bastard before I willed the cage around him. He may be of some good to this pack after all.

"It's down this way," Wesley spoke sternly as he opened the double doors. The stagnant air blew outward, causing the greasy hair of Lyle to flip to its side.

"I'll stay out here," Charlotte stuttered. She rubbed her ribcage, no doubt feeling the phantom scar from her tortured days due to my insolence.

"It would be for the best, Luna." I nodded toward her. "In fact, if you would be so kind, I am summoning Loukas as we speak. He will need a room, and Cyrene will need to cast a boundary spell for him. I don't want him to be able to leave the room. Can you have her find out the meaning of the words on the spear. Would that be doable?"

Charlotte sighed in relief. "It would be my pleasure, more up to my speed." She bowed as she nodded to Ember.

My eyes glanced down at my mate, who was already looking up at me with a determined look in her eyes. "I'm coming with you," she demanded. Opening my mouth to speak, she stomped her foot as if she was a child.

"I am your mate; I have been made for this. Alpha blood runs through my veins, and I will come down there." As hard as she may, her bottom lip jutted out. I wanted nothing more than to kiss her maliciously, but with her father just beside me, I doubt he would appreciate it.

"I will not be merciful," I mind linked. "Lyle will be tortured, and he will die." Ember relaxed her shoulders as she held firm.

"You are God of the Underworld; would I expect anything less?" Her eyes held playfulness while she folded her arms, raising her breasts. I knew what I would rather be doing right now, but I would have to settle on my second favorite thing to do.

Ares and Vulcan stood by the doorway, both with their 'mates,' as Ember called them. I had yet to fully believe this notion but would play along with the idea. "Ares, Vulcan, be sure we are not disturbed. Have our warriors work with the Wolves, secure the border and be on high alert. This could just be a distraction." Ares bowed his head as he motioned for Mariah, who was still in her Wolf form, to follow. The strongest female warrior and the God of War, I suppose it makes sense.

Wesley's dungeons were utterly bare; not one prisoner, alive, was there. The only thing left was a pile of bones in the first cell. The skull had missing fangs that were now lying beside it. "Roman, Charlotte's foster father," Wesley grunted. "A reminder to keep my family safe. Obviously, it wasn't enough for Ember." His head pointed towards Ember, who was still staring at the empty cells, not paying attention.

Lyle growled, trying to escape the demons. Forcing a shift with demons would be suicide. My warriors were equipped to deal with supernaturals. The bones in their hands were partly made of silver and metal, while the blood that flows through them held hints of dogwood oil. Enough to maim a Wolf and kill a vampire.

Lyle was thrown into the last cell. It was large enough for both Wesley and me to stand in. My guards picked him back up to set him on the table that kept Lyle at a 45-degree angle. I brushed my hands together as the excitement flowed through my veins. This was it; this was my time to shine. Show just how powerful I really am to this pathetic Wolf that eyed my mate.

Unfortunately, I needed answers, and the answers I sought meant he would have to remain alive a bit longer.

Wesley tightened the restraints; the silver hardly burned his skin as he latched the fourth one around Lyle's ankle. They burned Lyle's skin with blisters and burning flesh. Ember and her brother stood just outside of the cell, both stoic as they held onto each other.

"This will be a good lesson," Wesley spoke to no one in particular. "To show my children how cruel the world can be, and those evils will be caught and punished." I hummed in agreement as I let one giant claw extend from my index finger. Quickly ripping his black mesh shirt in half, his white skin was sickly, especially for a Wolf. Does he track anything with skin so pale? Not once has his skin seen the sun. Wesley must have been thinking the same thing as he growled within his chest.

"I want everything," I bent down to whisper in his ear. The darkness of the cell to loomed with a dark haze. Ember and Dante faded far into the background; no one was here but Wesley, Lyle, and I. I could not let my feelings for my mate get in the way. Her life was in danger, and I wasn't about to lose my mate.

My claw scraped across his chest, deep enough for the blood to pebble around the wound. "And I mean, everything." The fire burned bright in my eyes, and the cocky attitude that was once fierce in his spirit died right then. Did he not think the Dark Lord would do nothing?

"I… I'm sorry!" Lyle stuttered. "I thought I was helping!" My eyebrow raised as I pulled a bit of my blonde hair. Wesley's Wolf came to the surface as his own eyes turned a bright amber.

---