A Surrender Of Hope (Umbra Hunters #3)

16. Razar

SIXTEEN

Razar

L ennox’s and Father’s magic is thick in the air as I growl low in my throat, my eyes tracking the guards who stupidly draw too close to my brother with hands on the hilts of their swords, muscles tensed in preparation for a fight they have no hope of winning. They pause at the sound, their terrified eyes falling on me as I slowly approach the palace steps, the scrape of my poisoned-tipped claws scoring rough grooves in the stone under my paws.

My Beastia rumbles in approval when I scent their delicious fear wafting from them, and my teeth snap in response, acidic saliva welling over the edge of my curled lips. The need to feel their flesh tear and blood spill is something I can almost taste on my tongue as I move protectively behind my youngest brother.

“Yannos, stand down,” Father commands when he sees me stalking behind Nox. I have a moment when I’m worried I won’t be able to command my Beast to listen. Ever since I saw Arch again and then felt my Pup go weightless in my arms, her steady pulse ceasing, my Beastia has taken more and more control. Not only has he started to influence my decisions more, but he’s decided there are only three souls in this awful universe he wants to protect, and Father is currently a threat to two of them.

My Beast stopped feeling the need to listen and bow to Father over two years ago once Lennox’s magic started to develop, and even though his magic isn’t at full strength yet, my Beast senses him as our Alpha.

I hadn't told a single person about this development, not even Arch before I thought he had died. Father is my King, and I will listen and protect him with my life, but Nox is my blooded prince—the reason I exist. Arch and I were born and bred with a singular reason: to protect Lennox and him alone. No one could sway my need to protect him, not even my Father and king.

I’m still unsure how Arch is going against our brother; his instincts shouldn’t allow him to act against Nox. Even though Archer’s shifted form isn’t as linked to the raw need and primal instincts as my Beastia, this betrayal would physically hurt him and his magic. This only leads me to believe that something darker must be going on. Whatever Arch has done, he’s corrupted his magic and swayed it against its true purpose. It shouldn't be a surprise, considering this is only history repeating itself. After all, my birth father betrayed his own blooded prince and brother, which started the Dark Wars alongside the devil himself: Inanis.

I shift on my paws behind Nox, trying to hold onto my pathetic control as the bloodlust rushes through me like a drug, the euphoric feeling lighting up inside me with the need to fight. My Beastia wants to tear the guards to shreds for touching their weapons while this close to Lennox, and I know the moment I’m not fighting him for control, the moment I give him the slightest amount of freedom, he will do it.

“Yannos!” Father barks at me, his magic thickening and my Beast chuffs in amusement at his attempt to control me. He doesn't like Father trying to tell him to back off from our purpose, and he really doesn't like that he keeps tossing glares at the annoying female behind us. Only we get to glare at her like that.

Nox side-eyes me, looking shocked when I don't immediately shift back into my normal form. “Raz,” he commands with a simple nod, and I can feel my Beast immediately drop in submission, letting me fully take the reins and release him. I feel the air shift as I gather my magic to ensure my cloak billows around my body and my bones shift and break so I can stand back on two legs instead of four. I relish the lick of burning pain the shift brings, letting my claws sink back into my skin as I slowly stand to my full height behind my brother, my eyes flicking directly to my Father’s as soon as the shift is complete.

“Yannos.” I hear Mom release a choked whisper, but I know better than to look at her with Father's full attention on me. It would be considered disrespectful to move without his permission.

“Son,” Father murmurs, his eyes narrowing on me with a hint of suspicion as he finally dips his head in a greeting. I bow back, pressing my lips together to restrain my growl that still wants to break free. Logically, I know my father is not a threat to my brother. He would protect Nox with his own life if he had to. Father may not be the sweet, gentle parent that Mother is, but I know he cares for us in his own way. He’s harsh with us but fair and highly traditional, set in the ways of the Kings that ruled before him. You show respect when it is called for, or there will be punishments.

I can hear Creed dismount behind me and the soft gasp of my Pup as he gently lowers her off his Nuckelavee. I snort, Creed needs to stop treating my Pup as if she’s made of glass, she is far stronger than they all realize. I stiffen when Father's attention moves from me and Nox back to her. This time, I can't stop the growl that breaks from my lips and grimace when I see Nox stiffen and Father's gaze snap back to me with renewed interest.

“I see,” he grinds out, eyes flicking from me to Nox and back again. His hands fist at his sides as anger flashes on his face, no doubt sensing whatever emotion is coming from Nox.

Dammit! I just royally fucked up. My Pup stills, sensing the focus has shifted to her.

Nox’s whole plan was to keep his attention off of her until he could explain what was happening and hope he would understand without too much fighting or bloodshed. Instead, I stupidly let my protective instincts win and showed our hand before we could even explain who she is to Nox and my brothers.

“Orcus,” I hear Mom whisper, a warning in her voice, but now that his temper has flared, there’s no turning back.

“Valen, take your mother and Heldakar to your wing. She’s been preparing for your return. Yannos, follow your brother to the throne room and bring… that,” he growls, pointing a finger at Meyer, who furrows her brow in response to his words. “With you. I’ll be there shortly to discuss what must be a fascinating story.”

“No,” I clip out, then arch a surprised brow when I hear the echo of not one but all my brothers simultaneously respond with the same answer.

“No?” Father scoffs, looking at the four of us with a fury I don't often see, turned our way. The guards closing in tighter around us, emboldened by their King's anger.

“I—I don't mind. I can go,” I hear Pup stupidly pipe up as Creed tries to step before her. I roll my eyes as Nox snarls, tossing her a glare over his shoulder. His smoldering black eyes meet mine, and he nods toward her, and I grunt in response.

Twisting on my heel, I sidestep Creed, snagging my Pup by the arm and stoop low, planting my shoulder in her stomach, hauling her off her feet. “Razar! Don't you fucking dare! Put me down, or I’ll stab you again!” she threatens, kicking in my arms as she tries to dislodge my hold on her.

“Again?” Mom hisses to Valen worriedly, watching me with wide eyes as I stride past them and up the stairs, ensuring I put a good amount of distance between my Pup and Father before he blows up.

“Don't worry, Mom,” Creed pipes in, moving to grab her in a hug to prevent her from following me. “Violence is Raz and Meyer’s twisted love language. When they start being nice to each other, you need to start worrying.”

“Raz?” she questions, her voice fading as I move further away from them. I glare at the guards at the top of the stairs and nod at the door, commanding it open and slow my pace as they spring to do my bidding.

“Yannos!” Father bellows after me, and I almost grin when I hear Nox growl, distracting him from our retreat.

“Put me down,” Pup grinds out, still struggling in my arms.

“Behave,” I snap, locking my arm around her thighs, tightening my hold on the pest as I carry her down the vast, well illuminated hall. My fingers brush against one of the several thigh holsters I gave her over the last few months, and I grunt in satisfaction, knowing she’s armed herself. Not that she would know I gave her these. I’m pretty sure she thinks one of her annoying friends or maybe one of my brothers keeps dropping off throwing blades on her bed randomly.

The first set I gave her was after her first week here when I noticed she had zero survival skills. The only thing she knew how to do adequately was throw a blade, so I grabbed a few from my personal weapons stash and left them on her bunk in the Ranger's barracks. The following few sets I left as she grew in her training, the blades getting longer and sharper with each set I gifted. The markedly finer ones she's wearing now are the ones I left on Nox’s side table as we waited for her to wake up, each handsome blade charmed against Therion and Beastia to help keep her safe.

I roughly shove past some more servants and guards with a sigh of annoyance, hating how many people live in this castle. The moment they realize who stands before them, the scent of fear and wariness fills the air as they drop their gaze to the ground and bow their heads.

I move past them without acknowledgment, wanting to get the feral girl on my shoulder confined in a room before she makes good on her threat and attempts to actually stab me again.

“Do you not remember what happened the last time you hauled me through a castle like this? Well, I’m going to make sure that looks like fucking child’s play, Razar!” she growls at me, her tiny hands pressing to my back as she tries to look over her shoulder. The memory of her kneeing me in the balls makes me physically wince, and I mentally note to grab a pillow to protect them the moment I set her free.

My Beast practically purrs in approval in my chest, loving her violent streak, wanting to encourage it and see how far she’ll take this frustration. I have to grind my teeth together to not do something stupid like show my Pup how to unman a Demon correctly. Damn, I bet she would look stunning as she disemboweled a man.

I pick up my pace, my cloak billowing behind me as I rush up the flight of stairs to my wing of the castle, relief filtering through me when I spot the large wooden double doors leading to my personal apartments. Hand outstretched, I magic my door open, relaxing a moment too soon as, my Pup wiggles in my grip, bringing her knee up and striking me firmly in the chest, knocking the air from my lungs.

“Fuck!” I snarl, releasing my hold on her so she can land on her feet as I stumble back from her attack. Pup gasps and falls to her ass on the stone floors, glaring at me like this is all my fault. “Really?” I growl at her, hand pressing against the ache in my chest as she clumsily shoves herself back onto unsteady feet while assessing her surroundings. Well, at least she hasn’t lost her edge to the chaos of this day.

“I said to let me go!” she snaps, her hands shoving the rat's nest of hair off her face as she glares daggers at me. Her lack of fear and defiance does things to me that I don't want to admit to as she twists on her heels and does something that surprises me more than the attack. She willingly walks into my room without a fight. I narrow my eyes at her, suspicion flooding me as I hesitantly follow her through the sturdy, iron banded doors.

What the hell is she up to now?

I stop just inside my rooms, flicking my wrist and letting my magic slam my doors shut before charming them so only my brothers can gain entrance and to ensure my Pup can’t get out. I watch her with keen eyes, tracking her movements and waiting for her to yell at me or attack, but tilt my head in confusion when she simply walks a lap around my quarters. Her eyes snag on my bookshelves while her tentative hand traces the edge of my vast assortment of weapon chests. She then moves over to the bed residing at the center of my room and perches on the edge of it, rolling her head back on her neck with a tired sigh as her eyes flutter shut. Some strange sense washes through me as I stand there, watching her and unsure what to do next. I can handle yelling; I love fighting…. But she looks exhausted and… sad?

Fuck this! I don't do emotions. I mutter a string of profanities before aiming my glare at her, hating how she’s got me doubting everything I know as I cross my arms over my chest. My eyes move from her eyes to her lips, where my attention lingers for a moment before I jerk back, realizing that I’m staring like a love-sick fool and I glare.

This is all her fault! I was perfectly content living my quiet bloody life, then this damn girl stormed in and distracted my brothers, and now I can’t stop looking at her! From the moment she released that first blade that struck my Beast’s shoulders to when I had her pinned under me, I knew something was different.

My Beast had let her go without a fight. He had stepped back and released her without any injury, which has never happened in my life. I have killed and tortured thousands. My body count is higher than most seasoned Demon warriors three times my age. I loved death. I craved blood. I needed fear. Yet he let her go… I let her go and haven't been able to erase the way she looked pinned under me that stormy night. The way her eyes widened with delicious fear. How they then narrowed with a determination to survive, despite the fact that she wouldn’t live unless I allowed it. The way her full lips parted as she stared up at me plays in my dreams repeatedly and then I wake up with an anger I don’t want or know how to control.

I narrow my eyes at my Pup, wondering if I should just end her now and save myself from a fate I refuse to suffer through. But then something worse than pain strikes me in the chest, and I grunt, hand moving to press against my ear, hating the odd feeling. My Beast shifts under my skin, fighting me at the thought of my Pup not existing, and he presses me to move closer.

He wants to taste, to bite and lay claim to the tiny half-human girl, and I can't help but wonder if he only wants to play with her a bit before killing her. He’s never wanted to have someone close before, not even Arch, so this new obsession with my Pup is as worrying as it is annoying.

My eyes immediately move to the darkened corner of my room, and I step toward it, longing to disappear but knowing I can’t. Shit, I should have brought Creed with me. He could comfort her so I could escape. Before I can decide what to do next, Pup opens her tired eyes, her attention flicking to me as she tilts her head to the side and glares back at me, the tiredness instantly replaced with annoyance.

“What?” she snaps and I relax a little. Yes. Anger. I know how to handle that.

“What are you doing?” I growl out, still confused about her lack of fight.

“Uh, sitting?” she snarks back, gesturing to the bed where she is currently residing.

“You came in here without a fight,” I point out, and she huffs a sigh, rolling her eyes as she mutters something I can't quite make out under her breath. I glower at her, taking another step forward when she keeps glaring at me, her eyes alight with a stubbornness that excites me.

“Yeah! Do you know what else I would have done without a fight? Followed you up here on my own two feet. But no, you had to go all caveman and toss me over your damn shoulder!” She shoves to her feet, anger coursing from her in waves as she flips me off and moves toward the massive bookshelves I’ve collected. “Damn Demons…” she keeps muttering under her breath as she goes, moving to the books and running her fingers over the spines as she looks at them with interest. Her finger stops on one, and I tense, not liking her touching my stuff.

“Don't,” I snap as she pulls it from the shelf. I stride over, yanking the book from her hands and shoving it back onto the shelf with force, glowering at her when she growls under her breath. “Don't touch my stuff.”

“You touch my stuff all the time,” she accuses, and I scoff.

“Like what?”

“Uh, well, for starters, my cat!” I slowly turn from the bookshelves, frustration, and anger building when she steps closer to me, far too close, not a spec of fear in her furious eyes. “Milo is mine, and you keep taking him. Besides, you just tossed me off a damned cliff, Razar! I think I can look at a few of your books.”

Before I can stop myself, my hand darts out, wrapping around the slender column of her throat, earning a gasp from her full, parted lips, and I drag her close, no longer caring about keeping space between us. The reminder of her fall and that I stupidly forgot to teach her how to land sets me on edge. This… this right here is a perfect example of why I have stayed away from females. Both Demon and Human. Well that, and I was much more interested in their deaths than their safety. I don’t know how to keep her safe.

“The tiny monster is mine,” I growl, ignoring her cliff comment as my fingers tighten enough to feel her fluttering pulse as her eyes narrow. She brings a hand up, wrapping it around my wrist, her small fingers don't even touch as she grips me tightly, her warmth sending a shiver of anxious excitement down my back. I don't like people touching me. I can barely tolerate it when Mom tries to hug me, but something about her soft finger, the way her silky smooth skin feels on mine, makes me crave more.

“No, he’s not! And this is also mine.” Moving with a speed I didn't know my Pup possessed, she leans into my choking hold, her fingers wrapping around the hilt of one of my most prized possessions, and yanks the Kalis she stabbed me with at the castle from its sheath with a triumphant look in her eyes. She grins at me, the look so perfect on her face that it makes my chest hurt as my heart stalls.

I instantly hate the feeling, hate how I want to make her look at me like that again, and despise how I want nothing more than to make sure she only ever smiles.

Fuck, fuck… fuck!

Panic flares in me as I shake my head. I can’t handle this feeling… it’s overwhelming me. I tear my gaze from her perfect face to the Kalis she holds between us. Time freezes for a moment as something snaps inside me; a choked snarl rips from my lips as I dart forward with my free hand, wrapping it around hers, shaking her arm, trying to get her to release my blade!

“Let go!” I shake her hard, keeping my hand wrapped around her throat as she tries to jerk free of my grip. The move to escape only triggers me more, pulling her closer and ensuring my prey stays pinned.

“No!” She fights back with an effort that has me grinning like a madman. The hand not holding my blade shoves at my chest before she reaches up and grabs my hood, yanking it off my head and making wild dark hair spill around my shoulders. In a move I’m not expecting, she wraps her fingers through my hair, twisting it in her grip and yanking my head to the side. The bite of pain has a ragged moan I can't control, breaking free as a burst of white-hot lust roars to life inside me.

“Release me,” I warn, my eyes shifting, my Beast pressing forward, wanting to challenge this Pup and take her for his own. “Meyer!” I hiss, my hands shaking as she presses up on her toes, bringing her even closer to me as she shakes her head, her tiny pink tongue darting out to lick her lips as she watches me closely.

“No,” she finally says, voice firm and commanding as her eyes release mine, dropping to my lips. “You don't get to push me around whenever you want, Razar. I won't let you. I hate when you do that.”

Her words should be a challenge… would typically set me and my Beast off on a killing rampage, but they don't. No, they do the complete opposite, and I know then that I’m fucked. This girl has somehow gotten under my skin and tamed my Beast enough that he doesn’t want to kill her, but own her. Take her and consume her in every way possible.

“You’re lying, Pup,” I clip out, calling her on her lie as I cling to where I hold her like she's my damn lifeline. “You love it when I push you because you love to fight back as much as I do.” I yank her hard into my chest, her soft body melding against mine like she was fucking made to be there.

She releases a squeak of surprise, those perfect fucking lips parting with a gasp as I lean closer to her, the soft scent of citrus and sugar filling my senses. I can feel my cock hardening, jerking in my pants as she blinks up at me in surprise, and then I do something I never thought I would. Never in my wildest dreams would I have let myself believe I would be stupid enough to accomplish. I slam my lips down on hers, catching her next gasp and devouring every inch of her I can.