A Surrender Of Hope (Umbra Hunters #3)

25. Creed

TWENTY-FIVE

Creed

“ W hoa, whoa, whoa!” I call out, rushing after Meyer. I place my hands on her shoulders when she suddenly stops, bends over, and heaves into one of the potted plants that line the hallway. Nothing comes up, and I wince in sympathy as she dry heaves, her stomach rebelling but thankfully empty. After a moment, she groans and slumps forward, letting me pull her into my arms. “Deep breaths, babe.” I slowly turn her so she faces me, her eyes red and glassy as she looks up at me.

“I’m fine,” she whispers, and I shake my head.

“No, you’re not. And that’s okay,” I reassure her, letting her snuggle into my chest. Hell, I’m not the one who just found out that I am a direct descendant of the Devil, and I’m sure as fuck not okay right now. Every thought running through my mind is focused on how I’ll keep her safe, knowing Inanis will want her now that he knows she exists. That my girl's life is in danger simply because she was born.

However, I agree with Dad about not letting her stay here too long. I never liked politics and tried to stay away from Court as much as possible, but if some of the Lords who support the Veil being torn down find out about my girl, she’ll be in even more danger here. We need to go home as soon as we can.

“Why does life keep getting more complicated? It was so much easier living in Grampa's cabin and working at the diner,” she grumbles, and I smirk, running a hand up and down her back.

“Easy? Maybe,” I whisper, kissing the top of her head. “But admit it. This is so much more exciting. Plus… you have me. Can't beat that,” I tease, making her shoulders shake slightly with a small laugh. It's not much, but I’m going to take it as a win as she pulls back enough to look up at me, her sad eyes still looking lost, but the small tug on her perfect little lips enchanting me as she presses up on her toes and places a soft kiss on my mouth.

“True,” she whispers against my lips, rubbing her nose against mine playfully before taking a deep breath and nodding. “Thanks. I… I think I’m good. It was all just a lot of information and… Shit,” she groans, looking over my shoulder at the door she just ran through. “Your parents probably think I'm crazy or something.”

“Not at all. I think they’re worried that Nox is going to hunt Inanis down and risk his life. It's completely understandable that you were overwhelmed by all the information. Besides,” I add, moving my hand to stroke back some of her silky blonde hair. “Dad has a way with words. As in, he blurts everything out and makes you feel like a mountain is crushing you in a matter of seconds. A subtle man he is not.”

Meyer smirks and nods, opening her mouth to say something as a loud crash sounds outside, making the ground shake under our feet. Meyer whirls around in my arms, trying to step toward the door with her hand pressed to her chest, but I lock my arms tight around her and shake my head.

“Yeah, maybe just stay here for a bit. Nox is still riding the high of your mating, and the information we all just got is going to make him a little…. Feral,” I whisper against her ear and wince as another boom sounds in the air.

“Shouldn't I try to calm him down?” she asks, looking unsure.

“Nope. Let's let him work out the anger. The only reason he’s allowing himself to do this is because he thinks you're gone. He needs the stress outlet the same as you did. You need to remove yourself from the situation and leave,” I point out, and she nods. “Well, Nox needs this. Let him have some time to have an adult-sized temper tantrum without feeling ashamed that you saw it. He’s still learning control, and I know he will die of embarrassment simply from the fact that you’re hearing it. It will be worse if you go out there.”

The next crash is so loud that even I startle back and start to laugh, tugging Meyer back with me. She shoots me a dubious look, like she’s unsure if this is the right thing to do, before looking back at the door.

“What about Valen and Raz?” she asks, making me grin in response to her shortening Razar’s name down the way I do. I’m not exactly sure what’s going on, but I know Lemon Drop is one hundred percent under Razar’s skin. After walking in on the wrestling match between him, her, and Valen, Razar’s been walking around pouting and acting grumpier than usual, which I didn't know was possible. Mom not only gave him a verbal dressing down about tossing Meyer off the cliff and wall when I mentioned it but made him growl in frustration and hide in his shadows when she said he shouldn't pick on Nox’s mate and be a better brother to her.

I had seen the flare of indignant anger and disgust flashing in his eyes at Meyer being called Nox’s mate and that he was a brother. Not one of us has even the slightest brotherly feeling toward Meyer. I knew by the glint in Mom's eye after Raz had left in a swirl of shadows that she was only confirming her suspicions about him and Meyer, and I couldn’t help but laugh as I led her from his rooms to the dining room.

“Valen is the only one with enough magic to fix what Nox is currently breaking, and Raz will take Nox down to the fighting pits to spar and get the remaining anger out,” I tell her, turning us to walk further down the hallway and back toward the grand staircase. “It’s just you and me, and I have the perfect idea of how to distract you from all this.” I puff my chest out, knowing my girl needs a mental break, and I’ve been dying to show her my favorite part of the castle since getting here yesterday.

“Oh, you do?” she asks, looking up at me with those bright green eyes that make my stomach twist in excitement.

“Mhmm.” I pick up our pace, nodding to the servants and staff in greeting as she walks past. They stare, not at me, but at Meyer, their mouths open in shock, eyes wide in delight as they see her. I can't blame them; Lemon Drop looks different here. She is still stunning and beautiful, still as feisty as ever, but there's almost a glowing quality to her now. Almost like the air shimmers around her as she moves. Valen is the last Dream Walker, or he was the last Dream Walker. The fact that there is another one in this realm is going to be the talk of the kingdom by tonight if she isn't already.

I move us past the grand staircase and down the long hallways that lead past my parents' rooms. The halls grow larger and more opulent in the King's corridors, and I grin as I feel a rush of magic brush against my skin.

“What was that?” Meyer gasps, shivering in my hold, as I stop at the end of the hall and look down at her.

“The King’s magic. Father has his own magic, but with the title and position of King of Versipellis, he also inherits the magic of the land that flows from our realm and helps everything grow.” I look at the dark gray stone wall in front of us, releasing Meyer as I bring my hands up and lengthen a nail into a sharp point, making Meyer raise her brows in surprise as I drag it over my palm, letting bright red blood trickle from the cut.

“I didn’t think you could shift,” she admits, looking at my nail as I let it return to normal.

“I can't. Only those with royal blood can. But I am still a Demon, Lemon Drop. I have demonic traits such as claws, tougher skin, and enhanced strength and speed.”

“Interesting. So you can change them whenever you want? Does your skin turn a different color like Nox’s does when he fully shifts?” she asks, then gasps when I press my bloody hand to the wall and murmur a few words under my breath.

I step back as the illusion Father placed on the entrance falters, then turns to mist, revealing the long tunnel that leads from the castle down to the Amana Caverns below. The natural magic flows freely around us, and I almost groan at its strength. Being part of the royal family means I have unlimited access to the life force of our magic. It's a gift for which I have always been grateful. It doesn't boost my magic the way it does Nox and Razar’s, but it does soothe me in a way that is impossible to describe. I have longed to be back in these caverns almost as much as I longed to see my parents.

“Oh!” Meyer steps forward, excitement lighting her expression as she bounces on her toes. “That’s… strong.” Grabbing her hand, I tug her after me, loving her infectious giggle as we run down the hall. The light from the castle dims and then fades away as the entrance to the tunnel closes behind us with a rumble of magic.

I pick up the pace when I hear the roar of the waterfall and sigh in bliss as the enormous opalized cavern comes into view. The tunnel lets us out at the side of the oblong crystal cave, softly illuminated with glowing golden orbs of magic that hover in the air around us. They dance and flutter like tiny fairies, making the iridescent walls glimmer in their warm glow. The air shifts and feels cool against my heated skin, the mist of the enormous waterfall that crests over the top of the cavern and pools in the lake about a hundred feet in front of us, keeping the temperature at a comfortable level.

“Oh my God!” Meyer whispers in awe, her lips parted as she slowly looks around the magical cave. “I’ve never seen something like this before,” she rasps, her hand squeezing mine as she steps closer to the lake's crystal clear waters.

“And you never will,” I say sadly. “This is the life of Versipellis. The magic that flows through our veins and keeps our lands alive. There were two other caves that held magic. One belonging to the Drakaisis Kingdom ruled by Inanis, the other at the center of The Dream Walkers Kingdom. Both were destroyed in the Dark Wars. Both races are almost extinct; their people are lost to our world. Only fragments of their kingdoms are left in existence.”

“That’s terrible,” she whispers, letting go of my hand and moving to the water's edge, crouching down and dipping the tip of her finger into the water. “It's warm!” she exclaims, her excited eyes dancing over the lake, looking at the magical orbs and then the waterfall before looking back at me.

“Not warm. A bath is warm, but it's not frigid the way most lakes are in North America. But it is perfect for swimming,” I say with a wink, pulling my shirt over my head as I toe my shoes off.

“Swim?! We can swim in this? I feel like that would break some kind of rule. It's so beautiful and… sacred,” she muses, standing up, her eyes following my every move as I tug the rest of my clothes off. I move slowly, loving how her pupils dilate, her eyes raking over me as I strip off. I make sure to flex my arms and abs, making quick work of shucking my pants off while watching her breath quicken.

“No rules against swimming. You just have to be careful coming down here because dad likes to sneak mom down, and they also like to…swim,” I grimace and shake my head, trying to dislodge the childhood trauma of catching my parents skinny dipping in the lake.

“Oh shit!” Meyer laughs, her hand pressing to her mouth when I fake a scowl at her.

“It’s not funny, Lemon Drop. Dad doesn't have a shred of modesty. Mom at least stayed in the water when they saw us come in here. Dad chased us off naked.” I fake a shiver, making her laugh even more as I shove down my boxers and wink at her. “So, are you coming in, or do I have to swim alone?”

“I’m coming in,” she grins, kicking off the tiny blue slippers on her feet and turning around, her back facing me. “But I need you to help me out of this. Valen had to do them up,” she explains as I eye the tiny jewel buttons that run down the length of her gown, then look at my thick fingers.

“Right. I can do that,” I mutter, wrinkling my nose as I step behind her and undo the buttons slowly… like really slowly. I grab one, then curse as I try and get it to move through the little loop it's hooked on and growl under my breath when it takes four more tries to get it undone. “We might be here for a moment,” I admit, glaring at the button in front of me. “Why are they so small?”

“Just undo the first few ones on the top. I might be able to shimmy it over my head,” she instructs, and I nod in agreement. After another five minutes, I finally get enough buttons undone that I can pull the gown over Meyer’s head without ripping the fabric. “Ow. You’re pulling my hair,” she grumbles, batting at my hands as she untangles the few strands stuck in the buttons.

“Shit, sorry,” I tell her as she finally gets free from the gown and turns toward me. I can feel my eyes widen, and I curse, bringing the fabric of her dress down to my crotch when my cock immediately jerks awake at the sight of the tiny, white lace underwear set she’s wearing.

I promised myself that coming to the caverns was only for Meyer. That we would swim and cuddle. Possibly even kiss a little, but that I would keep my dick to myself. She’s already been ravished by Nox, who knows how many times, and apparently had a threesome with both Nox and Valen. What Meyer needs is a shoulder to lean on, not another horny guy trying to fuck her in a magical lake. But this little white lace number she has going on has me thinking with the wrong head.

“What’s wrong?” she asks, turning toward me.

“Why are you so pretty?” I complain, pretending to glare at her as I keep her dress pressed to my cock while I try to convince it to go down.

“Uh, what?” she frowns, looking at me like I’m crazy, then looking to where I hold her dress in front of my crotch. “Oh!” she laughs as she reaches behind her and unclasps her bra, letting it fall off her shoulders and making my mouth water as her breasts come into view.

“You're a tease,” I groan, then immediately yank her dress away from my dick when it kicks, my balls aching. I don't want to get pre-come on the silk. Valen would kick my ass.

“Are you kidding me? You just gave the world’s hottest strip show, and you’re calling me a tease when we had to yank my dress up and over my head, making a mess of my hair while we were at it?” She quickly shimmies out of her lace panties, and I nod.

“Yep.” I agree, then shove my aching need to be deep inside her down and hold out my hand to her. “Let's swim.” She slaps her hand in mine and surprises me as she rushes toward the water, dragging me with her until we laugh and are waist-deep in the lukewarm lake. Magic curls around us, and I tug her close and press my lips to hers.

“Come on. Let’s get deeper.” I frown when Meyer shakes her head, looks over my shoulder, and shrugs.

“I can’t swim. Well, not very well. I can keep afloat, but…” she trails off, and I nod.

“Perfect. I was trying to come up with an excuse to keep you in my arms the entire time,” I admit, kissing her again as I scoop her up into my arms and encourage her legs to wrap around my waist. “Now I don’t have to.”

“Oh shit! Okay, just don't drop me,” she says nervously, her arms tightening around my neck so much I almost can’t breathe.

“I’ve got you, Lemon Drop. I’ll never let you go,” I whisper into her ear, placing several kisses up and down her neck as I swim us deeper into the water.

“I can’t decide if that's romantic… or creepy,” she muses. I grin, relaxing in the water, letting it soothe all the tension in my body. I hope my relaxed state will help Meyer calm down a little, and I pray to the Gods that there will be no more surprises for her in the near future. Meyer is strong, but I don't like having her this stressed.

“Oh, creepy, for sure. I’m going to stalk your cute ass for the rest of our days,” I reply, making her giggle, her arms softening as she rests her head on my shoulder.

“Thank you… for this. It's exactly what I needed.”

“Good,” I murmur, keeping an arm wrapped around her. I bring the other to cup the back of her neck, cradling her close as we float peacefully in the lake, secluded in our own perfect bubble. She hums, and I can feel the rest of her relax, her breathing turning deep after a few moments and I sigh in content bliss, the girl I love in my arms, back at home and in my favorite place in the world.

I keep us there, relaxing without saying anything. Our silence is comfortable and almost healing as we let the natural magic move around us. When my fingers start to wrinkle, I slowly bring us closer to the lake's edge until the tips of my toes touch the lake's bottom.

“Lemon Drop?” I whisper, letting my fingertips dust over her cheeks. “You awake, babe?” Her eyelids flutter slightly, and she gives me a little grunt in response. “I’m going to take us back to my rooms. Alright?” I hold her tight, moving up the gradual incline of the lake before pausing and sinking back into the water as a rock skitters across the cavern’s floor in the distance.

A growl lodges in my throat, but I smother it the moment Jesthren comes into view. He has a pensive look on his face as he kicks a small chunk of opal across the floor. His eyes immediately snap to mine when I shift in the water, and he freezes, his eyes darting from me to where Meyer is curled against my chest, fast asleep.

“Shit, sorry,” he whispers, taking a step back as if to leave.

“You're fine,” I rasp out, not liking the idea of anyone not in my Legion close to Meyer while she's naked and defenseless, even if it's my brother, who I love and trust. “Can you grab a couple of towels and leave them by the clothes, then turn around,” I instruct, ensuring I keep Meyer under the water so Jes can't see her. “She’s sound asleep, so we’re going to leave. You can stay.” Jesthren nods, moving to the stack of towels we keep down here for spontaneous swims.

“Of course,” he whispers, keeping his voice even lower the moment I mention Meyer’s asleep. After he sets them down and retreats a few steps, turning his back on me, I move, walking Meyer and me out of the water.

I move her in my embrace, holding her with one arm as I wrap the first towel around my waist before snagging the last one to cover her.

“You’re good,” I tell my brother, nodding to our pile of clothes when he turns to look at me. “I’ll have Valen or Raz come to collect our clothes in a bit.” Jesthren waves me off with a small smile.

“Don't bother. I’ll bring them back up with me when I’m done. Go tuck her in. She looks exhausted.” My brother frowns, his sad eyes moving from me to Meyer where they linger a little too long, and I can't stop the possessive growl that breaks from me. Damn, and here I was teasing Nox over his self-control. Looks like I need to work on mine as well. Jes laughs and shakes his head, putting his hands up. “It's not like that. I’m jealous as fuck… but only because you guys look so happy… content. That girl, despite not being the perfect Demon lady, is the perfect match for all four of you. I wish I had that,” he admits, then scowls and looks away from me like he’s mad he let that information slip.

“Do you want me to have the guards send for Lilly?” I ask, knowing that she’s the Demon girl my brother favors most. Jes immediately shakes his head and looks back at me.

“No. I think I’m done with Lilly… well, all the girls, if I’m being honest,” he grumbles, and I stare at my brother in shock. Jesthren has every girl in the Kingdom panting after him. One word from him, and they will happily jump into his bed. After the death of his long-time girlfriend, the love of his life and betrothed over three decades ago, Jes turned into a playboy. Fucking every girl he found even remotely attractive. He never had a relationship again. The closest he got was with Lilly, who was only invited to his rooms occasionally for a fuck and was immediately escorted out of the castle before breakfast the next day.

“You ready to settle down?” I ask hopefully.

Jes looks from me, then to Meyer and nods. “Maybe,” he admits, then jerks his head toward the tunnel. “Go on now. She’s getting goosebumps and Nox will strangle you if she comes down with a cold.” I laugh and nod in agreement.

“You’re not wrong, though he is doing better with all this than I thought.” Jes wrinkles his nose in disagreement.

“Really? Because he threatened to strangle me with my intestines just this morning when I suggested Mom take her out shopping for a wardrobe.” I snort and roll my lips together, so I don't laugh out loud and wake Meyer.

“Yeah. Okay. He's being good with his Legion, but there is a reason we’ve dismissed the guards from our side of the castle. Give him a few more days. Even Dad said Nox is doing incredibly well. He’ll mellow out as the mate bond settles.”

“I hope so,” Jes grumbles, grabbing his shirt and yanking it over his head. “I miss you guys, but you're always with her. Which is understandable,” he adds, so I know he’s not mad about that. “But I can't be around her without Nox trying to kill me, and I…” he sighs as he kicks off his shoes. “I just want to hang out with you and the guys like we used to.” Guilt hits me in the chest as I watch my brother's shoulders sag, and I sigh.

“Shit. Jes, I’m sorry. Nox will no doubt lock Meyer back up in his room like an angry bear tonight. I doubt I can get Raz to leave Nox unprotected in the castle, but I’ll grab Valen, and maybe we could play some cards or get a drink at the pub,” I offer. Jesthren’s eyes light up as he nods.

“Yeah, I'd like that.”

“Cool, man.” I clap his shoulder with a hand before turning and heading back up to my rooms, Meyer snoring softly in my arms.