Balor (Balor’s Saints MC #1)

Chapter Eight

Balor

The candlelight cast flickering shadows across the walls of my study, the scent of leather-bound books mingling with the faint aroma of aged wood. I sat behind my desk, fingers tracing the spine of an ancient tome, lost in thought. The gothic atmosphere of the room was a stark contrast to the modern world outside, a sanctuary of sorts. In fact, the furniture in here would be considered antique now, but I’d owned these pieces most of my life.

Even though the mansion had all the modern conveniences, I’d tailored the lighting in this room to resemble the wall sconces and chandeliers of my early years. The candles looked real, and I used magick to light them. Except these wouldn’t burn the house down, or ever die out. No need to replace them. They’d been designed to last forever.

I glanced at the book on my desk. It wasn’t the one I’d inherited from my family, but it had been written around the same time. The spells inside were a mix of light and dark magick, but most were on the darker side. I’d only been skimming the surface of my abilities for a long time now.

A soft rustle drew my attention to the window, where a raven perched, its beady eyes fixed on me. My curiosity piqued, I rose and opened the window. The raven hopped inside, a small scroll tied to its leg. I untied the message, and the bird took flight once more.

Unfurling the scroll, I read the words scrawled in a hurried hand. Thaddeus knows. He’s coming for her and the child. Act now, or all is lost .

My curiosity turned to dread. Her father knew? How? No, it didn’t matter. If he’d discovered her pregnancy and her betrayal, and was coming for her and our child, then I didn’t have much time to prepare. I’d reached out to my contacts, but there was still too much uncertainty. I had no idea how many people were coming for her, what their talents were, how strong they were. Even Osran hadn’t given me enough, and he typically could find out anything about anyone. Instead, I’d gotten a text that said he’d hit a snag, whatever the fuck that meant. Though I’d told Jackson about the impending danger, and my club was doing what they could, I wasn’t sure we were ready yet.

A storm of emotions raged inside me. Anger, fear, and a fierce protectiveness. I took a deep breath, trying to calm the tempest within. My fists clenched, and I felt a flicker of dark magic trying to burst free. I muttered a curse under my breath, my mind already racing with tactical plans.

I needed to gather the Saints. If Thaddeus was coming, we had to be ready. Darkwood had stood against many threats, but I had a feeling Thaddeus would be unlike any other. And I would not let him take Belladonna. Or our child.

I eyed the raven. “Tell your master thank you.”

It ruffled its feathers before turning and taking flight. I wasn’t sure which of my allies had sent it, but I was grateful. Sooner or later, they’d come to ask me to repay the favor. Until then, I needed to focus on the matter at hand.

I straightened, resolve hardening into grim determination. I wouldn’t let Thaddeus win. I couldn’t. Not when so much was at stake.

I crumpled the note in my hand and tossed it into the fireplace, watching as the flames consumed the paper. Then I left the study, already calling for the Saints to gather. We had a warlock to confront.

I’d be damned if I let him take what was mine.

Now I needed to figure out how to act without making Belladonna panic. Her conviction her father would come for her was different from knowing he was on his way. The stress couldn’t be good for the baby. I ran a hand through my hair and used a stealth spell to slip out of the mansion and make my way to my bike. It was time to meet with my brothers and come clean about everything. Soon enough, they’d know who I was. They’d never seen me in an all-out battle. Once they did, I’d never be able to be Luke again.

The ride was quick as I broke every posted speed limit. It wasn’t like the sheriff was going to pull me over. Not if he liked getting paid at any rate. I pulled to a stop and got off my bike, heading inside.

We didn’t really have a formal place to meet, so I snapped my fingers, silencing all electronics in the room and drawing everyone’s attention to me.

“It’s time to talk,” I said. “So gather ‘round.”

The tension in the room was palpable, faces a mix of determination and concern.

“An anonymous source has informed me that Thaddeus Kline knows about Belladonna’s pregnancy. And her betrayal.” A murmur spread through the room, quickly silenced by a raised hand. “Thaddeus is a powerful warlock. He’s also Belladonna’s father. And he’s coming for her. For our child. He’s a threat to Darkwood, and to each of you. He’ll set his sights on anyone he thinks is a weak link or people he believes will be good leverage. He’s ruthless.”

They shared a look before focusing on me again. I hadn’t even dropped the biggest bomb on them yet. And I knew I needed to. But first, I needed to make sure they understood exactly what we were up against.

“We have to confront Thaddeus and his coven. We need to neutralize him and the threat he poses to Darkwood. If we don’t, the entire town could be lost -- every man, woman, and child.”

I pointed to Clay. “I need you to scout the area. Your heightened senses will be able to find anything we can use to our advantage. Weaknesses, weapons, anything.”

He gave a sharp nod. “Consider it done.”

I assigned tasks to the others, using their unique abilities. Each one of them had a purpose. A role to play. I’d gathered the Saints together because I could see the potential in them. They’d all been misfits at one point in time, but with me they’d found a home. Not just as part of Balor’s Saints, but also here in Darkwood. It was a place where all were welcome, as long as they played by the rules. Not everyone had come to town at the same time or joined close together. I’d started with Clay since I’d known him the longest. It had taken me twenty years from getting the idea of the club to reach this point.

“Make no mistake. Thaddeus isn’t going to be easy to defeat. He’s a powerful warlock, and I’ve heard he’s capable of great destruction. I don’t know how far he’ll go to get Belladonna and the baby back. I won’t let her be used as a pawn.” I felt my jaw tighten. “I’ll take out anyone who tries to hurt my family. And I’ll do it with a smile.”

“We’ve got your back,” Jackson said. “Darkwood is our home, and we’d die to keep everyone here safe.”

I nodded, knowing he meant every word. But would things change after they learned the truth? It was time to find out.

“There’s one more thing.” I rubbed the back of my neck. “I’ve been lying to all of you from the beginning.”

Ben’s eyes narrowed. “About what?”

“My identity.” I cleared my throat. “My name isn’t really Luke, and I didn’t find you or Darkwood by accident.”

“What the hell does that mean?” Collin asked.

“It means I founded Darkwood, built it from the ground up.” I let them digest that for a moment. “Like I said, my name isn’t Luke. It’s Balor Hades.”

Ben let out a low whistle. “Well, fuck me.”

“Wait, so you own that big mansion on the hill?” Collin asked. “Then why the hell did you make up a new identity and start this club? And why not show your face, your real one, around town? Even in comics the superhero shows his alter ego.”

“That’s a somewhat long story. Let’s just say I wanted a way to keep an eye on things, to help the town, without people fearing me or feeling as if they had to be submissive toward me. Since you’re human you may have never heard of me before moving here,” I said.

Collin shrugged. “So what?”

“Balor Hades was the darkest, and most powerful mage this world had seen in centuries,” Ben said. “It’s believed if he hadn’t stopped fighting in the midst of the great war, all the good in the world would have been destroyed. But I’ve never seen you use that much power, Balor.”

“I’ve been holding back,” I admitted. “I worried if I tapped into those forces again, it might consume me. I built this town as a way to make amends for all the bad things I’ve done in my lifetime. But I can’t do that anymore. Not if we want to win against the Coven of Eternal Night.”

“One more thing you should know,” Jackson said. “I believe they won’t be coming alone. I think Night’s Bane Coven will be sending people with them.”

“So, we’ll be up against two dark covens?” Clay asked. “Just fucking great.”

“It’s time to let people know to take shelter if they can’t or won’t fight. I’ll leave it in your hands. I still need to tell Belladonna what’s going on.” I held the gaze of each man. “If any of you want to walk away after this, I’ll understand.”

Jackson shook his head. “You’re stuck with us, whether your name is Balor or Luke. Regardless, you’re our leader. Just turns out that’s true in more than one way.”

“Thanks. I’ll try not to let you down.”

Without another word, I turned and walked out, needing to get back home. I zipped through the streets and didn’t slow until I reached the mansion. After I parked, I went inside and searched for Belladonna.

I found her in the library with a book in her lap. She looked up when I entered, smiling at me warmly. I hated that I was about to turn her world upside down.

“Your father is on his way here,” I said.

The smile slipped from her face. She put the book aside and stood, then started pacing. Her fiery red hair caught the candlelight, and her green eyes blazed with determination. I watched her, feeling a mix of admiration and concern as she moved back and forth. The hem of her dress swished around her calves with every step, and I could see the agitation rolling off her.

The more worked up she became, the more her magick surged to the surface. I saw sparks dance along her skin and wondered if she’d even realized she was tapping into her powers.

She stopped and turned to face me, her expression resolute. “I know the risks in defying my father. I’ve seen what he’s capable of when he’s angry.” She placed a hand on her stomach. “And I don’t want our child to experience the same things I have. I won’t let him have my baby, Balor.”

“And I won’t let him have you.” I reached out to touch her shoulder, sliding my hand down her arm until I could take her hand in mine. “I’ll protect you, and our child, no matter the cost.”

Her gaze met mine. There was a hint of desperation there, but it didn’t lessen the defiance in her gaze. “I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to you. I know I’m not strong enough to take on my father. He’s had decades to perfect his magic. But I can’t go back to that life. I won’t.”

I lifted my other hand and cupped her cheek. “You won’t have to. I meant what I said. You’re mine, Belladonna. You’re not leaving me, or Darkwood. I’ll kill anyone who tries to take you from me.”

Her eyes widened. “You’d kill my father?”

I let out a harsh laugh. “I’d kill anyone who threatened my family. It doesn’t matter if they’re blood-related or not. He doesn’t want to come up against me. I don’t care how powerful he is. He’s no match for me.”

She placed her hand over mine. “I know you can take him down. I believe in you.”

I pressed my lips to her forehead, then stepped back. “You’re going to see a side of me you won’t like. I’m not walking away from this without more blood on my hands, and this time it will be people you know and possibly love. Those you call friends or family. Are you going to see me as a monster when this is over?”

She shook her head. “Never.”

“I’ve assigned some tasks to my club. They’re already putting things into motion. For now, I need you to conserve your energy. I’d prefer it if you didn’t have to fight, but I also want you to protect yourself if you need to. And that means being well-rested and with your magick fully charged.”

She nodded, but I saw the worry in her eyes. I couldn’t promise her I’d come out of this unscathed. I didn’t know if I’d survive. But I’d give it my best shot. I wouldn’t let Thaddeus Kline take her from me. Not when I’d just found her.

* * *

The members of Balor’s Saints MC gathered weapons, potions, and protective charms. Each item was chosen with care. With purpose. The air buzzed with anticipation. Collin sat in a corner, sharpening a blade, his movements slow and deliberate. Jackson held a small charm. Power thrummed in the room, making the hair on my arms lift as he imbued it with his magick. Everyone prepared in their own way.

I found a quieter part of the clubhouse, away from the chaotic preparations. The scent of incense wafted through the air. I heard the others working, but they seemed distant.

I glanced around, searching for Belladonna. My heart clenched when I finally saw her. She was in a secluded corner, sitting on a worn-out couch. I couldn’t tell if she’d sought the quiet or needed a moment to herself. Her head lifted, and our gazes locked. I saw worry in her eyes, but also determination. I’d had every intention of leaving her at the mansion, but partway here, I’d circled back to get her, worried that the coven might go after her while I was gone.

I crossed the room and held out my hands to her. She placed her much smaller ones in mine, and I pulled her to her feet. I studied her for a moment, then placed my hand against her belly. “Are you all right? I know you’re worried about what’s coming.”

She placed her hand over mine, keeping it against her stomach. “I’m not going to cower in a corner. I know you mean well, but I won’t hide from my father. I’ve done that long enough.”

I leaned down and brushed my lips over hers. “I’d burn the world to ash before I let anyone harm you. I don’t know how I got so lucky, Belladonna, but I won’t let you go. Not now. Not ever.”

She kissed me again, and I felt the last of my defenses crumble. I drew her closer, inhaling the scent of her. She never failed to arouse me. I had a feeling if we had more time, I’d be tempted to strip her bare and lose myself in her. I wanted to mark every inch of her body, until there wasn’t a doubt in anyone’s mind that she was mine.

“I need to know you’re safe,” I said. “I can’t focus on the battle if I’m worried about you.”

“I can’t ask the men to risk their lives to protect me. I know they will because they’re loyal to you. My father is dangerous, Balor. I’ve seen what he can do, and I’m scared. I’m not ashamed to admit it. But I’d rather die fighting back than be handed over to him.”

I kissed her, pouring everything I felt into that one act. I wanted her to know what she meant to me, how much I needed her. I pulled back and rested my forehead against hers.

“We’ll end him together,” I said.

She nodded and followed me across the clubhouse. I could feel the tension in the air. The men were ready to move. I didn’t doubt we’d leave destruction in our wake, and I could only hope we’d return with everyone alive and well.

It was time to show Thaddeus exactly who he was messing with. I’d make sure the last thing he saw was me ending him. No one threatened my woman and got away with it.