A Surrender Of Hope (Umbra Hunters #3)

13. Creed

THIRTEEN

Creed

“ S top being so difficult,” Nox glares at me, his magic crackling in the air around us as I shake my head.

“You need to chill out and get some control. Being around her will only worsen it,” I point out, smirk in place because I know I’m right. Nox’s control is nonexistent, and he needs breathing room, despite what his primal needs tell him.

“I could always help,” Jesthren offers, earning identical growls from Nox and me as we turn on our oldest brother. Before we can say or do anything, a terrified scream from Meyer has all three of us whipping our heads back in her direction just in time to watch Razar collar Valen by the back of his neck as he shoves Meyer off the cliff.

My heart stalls, my eyes not believing what I saw my brother just do. Logically, I know Meyer is not falling off a mountain, but that doesn't mean she can’t get injured portaling into the Demonic realm by herself.

“Razar, no!” Nox roars, his feet moving a split second before mine and Jesthren’s do. Just as fast, Valen twists, grabbing Razar by the wrist and spinning out of his grip. He kicks Raz’s knee out and forces him to the ground with a snarl of rage. The green in his eyes bleeds to gray, black veins of magic spidering out from them, the black lines etched into his skin as his barely controlled Shade form slowly appears.

“Aw, fuck!” Jesthren dives for Valen to stop him as Nox tries to grab Razar. But Razar is already on his feet, his speed unmatched as he kicks Valen back and away from him with a growl, his pupils dilating until there’s nothing left but black.

“The Pup is fine! She needs to learn, and you fools will baby the hell out of her until it kills her! You want her in our world, then let her learn how to survive, or her death will be on your hands!” I pull up short, my teeth clicking together with an audible snap when I realize he’s speaking the truth.

“She has no idea what to expect or how to handle traveling through the Veil, Razar! Did you tell her what it would feel like?” Jesthren asks, leaning around me to look at the opened Veil that leads back home.

“Or how to slow her fall?” Nox grits out. Razar opens his mouth to respond before he hesitates, then curses, spinning from us and leaping off the cliff. Valen sprints after Raz, a blade in his hand, and I briefly wonder if he’ll kill our brother before they get home. Nox’s hands tremble at his sides as he shakes his head and grabs Jesthren, shoving him toward the rift in the Veil.

“Go!” Nox commands, sounding pained, and I waste no time running for the cliff. My need to see that Meyer is okay is more urgent than making sure Nox isn't going to lose his shit. I hear Jesthren and Nox close on my heels as I launch myself off the cliff and free-fall into space, the green and white magic encompassing me before the world around me slows until I’m floating in a soft glow of brilliant white light.

One moment, I’m frozen in the air; the next, I fall with renewed speed, the soft light moving into a dark blue color as glimmering white light strikes past me like shooting stars. I close my eyes as the magic of my world slowly increases, moving through me and restoring my magic to its full abilities as my ears pop, making me wince in pain. I hate portaling, but it's a necessary evil to travel between realms.

After a prolonged moment where the air feels like it's being sucked from my lungs, the dimly lit pastel skies of home finally explode into reality. I grin, throwing my arms out and closing my eyes, using my magic to slow my fall enough that I don't have to worry about landing too hard and alerting any Beastia or Therion who might be in the area.

Bending my knees, I land on the grass with a light huff. My eyes are already scanning the area around me, looking for Meyer and Razar from the top of the small hill I’ve landed on. Hopefully, I’ve landed somewhere close to them. “You see them?” Jesthren's voice is suddenly behind me, and I swear I almost jump out of my skin as he looks over my shoulder, scowling at the Riverlands below us, his brow creased with annoyance when he doesn’t see Razar.

“How the hell did you land so quietly that I didn't hear you?” I ask, more than a little baffled, as I slowly lower the blade I magicked into my hand on instinct. Out of my brothers, besides Razar, I have the best hearing; it comes with being born of the warrior class. I had been listening for any possible threat nearby, not wanting to be taken by surprise by a pack of Therion, and the fact that I didn't hear Jesthren disturbs me.

“Magic.” Jesthren grins and winks at me before he stands up on his toes, his eyes growing wide. I spin to look in the same direction and spot a tall, black-cloaked man dashing down the hill toward a small lump at the bottom… that isn't moving!

“Dammit!” I sheath the blade and dash down the hill, almost tripping twice in my attempt to get to Meyer. Jesthren runs past, his long stride making him much faster as he barrels toward the pair at the bottom of the hill. Razar gets to Meyer when I’m about halfway down. He skids on his knees and grabs her shoulders, yanking her up off the ground with a growl, shaking her a little as he says something I can't quite make out.

My heart skips a beat when I see my girl move, shoving her tangled mess of blond hair off her face with an angry scowl directed up at Razar just before she launches herself at him with an angry shriek. Startled by the sudden attack, Razar falls back, and Meyer manages to pull her arm back and deck him in the nose before he knows what's happening.

“Stop throwing me off stuff!” she screams in his face, trying to punch him again, but he’s ready for it this time and catches her tiny fist in his big hand. Jesthren skids to a stop next to them, his eyes bouncing from Razar to Meyer, then back again as Meyer leans back and kicks Razar in the side, making him snarl. He grabs her and twists them both until he has her pinned beneath him.

“Razar, let her go!” I shout, looking around for Valen, hoping he’s not here to witness this. He’ll kill or seriously injure our brother if he is. When I’m only twenty or so feet away, Meyer kicks out, striking Razar’s thigh and twisting her wrist from his grip before throat-punching him and turning so that she straddles his waist.

“Pup,” Razar growls in warning, his nails lengthening into deadly sharp points as his hands fall on her hips.

“You rat bastard,” she hisses between gritted teeth, using her fist to beat on his chest a few times. Razar looks at me incredulously, and I grin and shrug my shoulders, hoping he gets a good kick in the balls.

“What the fuck is going on?” Nox shouts from behind us, and I turn, watching as he and Valen run down the hill toward us.

“Oh shit,” Jesthren breathes, then roars with laughter when Razar tries to spin Meyer back under him, which only helps her get a handful of his long black hair to shove his face in the mud nearby. A burst of laughter erupts from me at Razar’s shocked and muddy expression, and I cross my arms over my chest, more than happy to watch Meyer kick his ass.

“Why haven’t you two intervened?” Nox shoves past me and scoops a still kicking, screaming Meyer into his arms, passing her to Valen. Meyer is still trying to break out of his arms, cussing up a storm at Razar while Valen glowers at him, holding her close to his chest, fingers moving to her pulse point as he whispers something in her ear that makes her calm down almost immediately.

“What the fuck were you thinking?” Nox roars at Razar before jumping on him, his eyes alight with dark magic. Razar has no problem defending himself from Nox, and the two wrestle and exchange blows in the mud like two angry children.

“Are you all right, Lemon Drop?” I walk over and tuck a long strand of tangled hair behind her ear as Valen strips her out of her now muddy coat.

“Yes,” she grumbles, narrowed eyes on Razar as Nox gets a good punch in and sends him reeling back.

“Ten on Razar,” Jesthren bets, shrugging out of his jacket as Razar leaps at Nox, his eyes entirely black, his Beastia so close to the surface that his hands and shoulders are trembling with the effort to keep it at bay. Valen scoffs, and I grin.

“Deal,” I chuckle, knowing Jesthren is about to get the shock of his life. Nox isn’t the small boy he used to torment. He's the next King of Versipellis, and his magic grows stronger by the day. Add that to the newly formed mate bond, and I don't think anyone could beat him at the moment. Not even Dad. In less than sixty seconds, Nox has Razar pinned under him, blade to throat, as he seethes over him.

“Dammit!” Jesthren’s eyes widen with something more than shock… fear, maybe? It’s been over a year since he last saw Nox fight hand-to-hand with one of us. He has much to catch up on now that we’re all back together. I grin before looking back at Meyer, eyes widening as I finally take a moment to see her fully.

When traveling between realms, our appearance alters. Not much, but the softening of our demonic traits allows us to blend in with the natives of that world. Meyer's petite features are still the same but elevated. Her eyes are slightly larger, her nose more defined with a jawline and cheekbones most models on earth would be jealous of. Her blonde hair has more of a wave to it and holds a shine, making it look like an enchantment has been cast to make her glow. She's gone from beautiful to one of the most stunning creatures I've ever seen.

Valen’s hands trace over her neck and trail into her hair, combing out some of the tangles she got when falling, then fighting Razar. “Are you injured?” he asks, turning her to face him as Nox finally releases Razar.

“No,” she starts to say, then pauses when Valen narrows his eyes at her. “My right hip and shoulder are sore. I landed on that side before rolling down the hill.” Valen hums under his breath and nods at Nox who steps behind her, hands moving to unzip the massive coat I put her in and yanks it off. “Uh…” Meyer looks up at Valen and frowns. “Did you get taller? Wait, your eyes!?” She tilts her head to the side, then looks at Nox over her shoulder and gasps, stepping back from the two. “What the hell is going on? Why do you look different?”

“Because we’re in the Demonic realm. Your Demon traits are also showing,” I chuckle, making her eyes fly to me, looking me up and down with a nod.

“You’re not as different. A little broader, but your eyes…” she trails off, and I nod.

“Are brighter? So are yours.” I wink at her when she gapes at me, then looks back at Nox and Valen. “They’re royal heirs. They have more defined Demonic features than the rest of us. Which is why their eye color completely changes. Nox’s will stay black in this realm and Valen’s will lighten to an almost white color.” I tilt my head, studying Valen’s almost white eyes. They still have a pale green shade to them, so they aren’t completely white.

“Yes,” Nox agrees. “Now, can I heal you before the convoy gets here, please? I sent word to Father about this trip, and I’m surprised we haven't seen them yet.” Meyer waves him off, her mouth opening to no doubt say she’s fine, and Nox sighs in annoyance, reaching out and snagging her wrist to pull her to him.

“Lennox!” she snaps, glaring at him as he rucks her shirt up. A dangerous sound escapes my throat when I see the already dark bruises forming on her creamy skin. I watch Razar stiffen at my side before he growls and strides away from the group. “Damn, why did you have to get taller? My neck hurts trying to look at you.” Meyer grumbles, making Nox’s lips twist to the side to hide the smile she almost got from him. His hands circle her waist as his magic flares to life around us, calming my own as he heals our girl within seconds.

“It's so much easier to heal you in this realm. Maybe you should stay here until we figure things out back on Earth. You’d be safer,” he muses. Meyer jerks away from him like he just burned her. Valen tips his head to the side like he’s thinking the same thing, and I cringe, not only hating the idea of going back to Earth without Meyer but knowing she’s going to rip their balls off for even thinking of locking her up.

“Try it, and I'll make sure you never see the light of day again,” she threatens.

“That was my idea as well,” Jesthren admits, making me scowl at him. “Razar is losing control, and I think it's because of her. If she were to stay here, you could have the royal guard and our parents looking after her. There would be no more injuries or close calls with death.”

“Earth is my home! I’m not staying here because you lot are scared I might get hurt!” Meyer flips Jesthren off and spins on her heel, moving to follow Razar. She glares death at Nox and Valen, who cross their arms over their chests simultaneously and look unimpressed, neither looking like they will back down from the idea.

“ Will get hurt. There is no might about it,” Nox corrects, voice dropping an octave at Meyer's defiance.

“And besides. Earth’s not your home anymore. You’re mated to Lennox. You’ll need to train to be Queen, and this is the perfect time for that. Who better to train you than the current reigning Queen?” Jesthren points out. Meyer freezes, her breath hitching as Nox slowly closes his eyes and cringes. Aw, shit, here we go.

After a prolonged moment during which no one says a single word or dares draw a breath, Meyer slowly turns and looks at Jesthren, her head tilting to the side as she takes a deep breath.

“I… I don't believe I heard you correctly. What did you just say?” she asks in a deceptively calm voice. Valen takes a step away from Nox like he knows he shouldn't be too close to our brother when Meyer gets her answer, and I groan, my head rolling back on my shoulders. Yeah, I'm pretty sure Hell is about to freeze over, and it's going be this little half-Demon who does it.