Chapter 53
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
Andras
Taking down the Obscuritas Kings was never going to be easy, and I knew from the start of our plans to wipe them out that my father would be the most difficult.
Devon and I fought him with cold precision.
My brother might have been more emotionally inclined than I was, but with our mate bonds fully intact, we worked in perfect coordination.
My father didn’t speak. He didn’t try to taunt me as I overheard Samuel attempting with Levi and Ty.
Laszlo Blackbyrn raised me to be as cruel and calculating as he was.
Which meant he knew I would never fall for a trick like that.
And by the sound of Samuel’s screams, neither did they.
Devon, however, was not above taunting the devil. “Sounds like you’re the last cult king, Laszlo,” he sneered, almost happily. “And you will die just as they have. Alone.”
Laszlo created a shield of ice in front of him to block our attacks. “Not unlike your father, Devon. Although he died begging for his life. The traitor. He thought we didn’t know about his secret daughter. I will say, I took pleasure in letting him know, just before the end, that she was mine now.”
“Fuck,” I mumbled, seconds before Devon launched himself at my father. Which was exactly what he wanted.
Devon, damnit, get out of here. He’s going to kill you.
My brother’s rage was only surface level, though.
Laszlo assumed Devon had lost control, but when he pulled down his shield to spear him in the chest, Devon’s own earth power turned the spear to dust and launched his own blade at my father instead.
It was an impressive move, but not quite enough.
Blood trickled down Laszlo’s cheek for only several seconds before the wound healed.
He was healing too fast, even for his level of power.
We discovered much over the last year, and Laszlo Blackbyrn was doing everything he could to become immortal. It was more than just gaining daemon power, he wanted to become a god.
“Where is my sister, you piece of shit?” Devon snarled.
Laszlo smiled, his clothing still impeccably clean for being in the middle of a war. “She’s tucked away in the castle. Did I forget to mention, I’ve tied her life to mine? I’m sure that cut you dealt me just now felt much worse for her.”
“You’re lying.” Devon spat the words, true anguish reaching him now.
“Tell me, son, do I lie?” Laszlo mused, his black eyes glittering with malice.
“You’re the biggest lie of them all, Laszlo.” I held his gaze, unafraid. “But you’re also cruel, and I have no doubt what you say is true. If only to hurt as many people as you can before we end you.”
“And you could have been my greatest accomplishment. A true Obscuritas Prince.” Laszlo’s fury colored his words, the cool demeanor faltering. “Instead you succumbed to baser emotions like love. It will be your undoing, son.”
Icy rage built within me, and I itched to fight him, but without truly knowing the state of Dev’s sister, I hesitated.
Devon. Take Ty and Levi and go find your sister. I’ll handle my father.
Devon frowned at me. Alone?
Thanks to you and Seraphina, we are never alone. Go, brothers. I’ve got this.
Wasting no time, Devon and the others launched into the sky and raced away for the castle ruins in the distance.
Laszlo smirked at me. “Sent your playmates away? I would’ve enjoyed an audience.”
My father was unravelling. I could sense the slightest hint of unease beneath his cool facade. But where his fear was coming from, I wasn’t sure. At least, until we heard Belial’s bellow of rage.
Seraphina dropped from the sky at my side, smiling as if Santa Claus just appeared with gifts on a snowy Christmas morning.
“If I believed in Santa, then yes, totally,” she sassed, hearing my thoughts as clearly as I could hers. “Belial’s reign of zombie terror is coming to an end.”
I arched an eyebrow at her. “Is that so?”
She nodded, turning her back on my father and focusing her attention on me instead. It was a bold and calculated move, and fuck if I didn’t love her more for it. Seraphina was truly fearless, and in all her years, never gave my father what he coveted most. Her.
His careful mask vanished, and his lust and demented envy for my mate clouded his normally dead eyes. “That’s impossible.”
Seraphina didn’t even turn around. Instead, she wrapped her arms around my neck and reached up on her tiptoes to smash her lush, red lips into mine. A ring of fire bloomed around us, cocooning us in this moment of bliss on the battlefield.
Breaking from the kiss, I stared into her ocean eyes with nothing but pride and adoration. “I love you, angel. More than anything.”
Her eyes glowed softly, and I could feel the emotions down our bond mirroring my own. “And I love you, Andras.” She cocked her head at me and smirked. “Perhaps we think of changing your name, though. What about Valdis? Way cooler than Blackbyrn.”
I chuckled and kissed her forehead. “Are you proposing to me, Seraphina Valdis?”
She scoffed and rolled her eyes, earning her a smack on the ass, which of course she loved. “We are so beyond husband and wife, Andras. Unless we make it weird and pass around a cup of blood or something cool like that.”
This time, a full-on laugh escaped my lips. “I would gladly take your name and be rid of the Blackbyrn family once and for all. And drink your blood, too. Anything you want, you shall have it.”
The fire Seraphina erected around us sizzled when my father’s ice finally breached her power. I had a feeling she let him. My mate’s power was beyond anything we’d known. With the bond restored, I could feel the endless well of it living within her. Seraphina had yet to unleash her full power.
“Did your mate tell you how she knelt at my feet and sucked my cock, son?” Laszlo drawled. “Did she tell you…how much she enjoyed it?”
Shame trickled down the mate bond, and five very angry snarls reared up around her.
Don’t you fucking dare fall for that shit, pet. Ty sent his rage-filled response through our connection.
Phenex chimed in next. You are a fucking queen, Seraphina Valdis. Make him bow.
Give him hell, mera dil. For all of us. Dev added, sending strength down our bond.
Levi’s emotions were laced with vengeful fire. I’ll burn his balls to ash. Unleash the beast within, diabla.
Seraphina stared up at me, letting the initial reaction to my father’s words fade away and keeping close the love and strength of her mates. I brushed a lock of silvery blue hair from her face.
“Reclaim your power, Seraphina,” I whispered into her ear. And then I knelt before her, both knees on the ground, so she could look down at me and see that no one was above her in her quest for revenge against my father. “I bow for my queen, my mate, and the most powerful creature in this world.”
Laszlo scoffed, but his jealousy was obvious. “You whimpering fool. She’s already had her mouth filled with my cock. And I will have the rest of her before this day ends.”
My father charged at us, and I leapt to my feet, ready to protect her, but she didn’t need my protection.
Seraphina turned to Laszlo as if she had all the time in the world and held up one hand. “Stop.”
She spoke the world softly, almost melodically, and Laszlo froze. His eyes nearly bugged out of his head. “You little—”
“Don’t speak,” she commanded, her voice still carrying that lilt. “It’s over, Laszlo Blackbyrn.”
I watched her in awe, ready to defend if needed, but she was finally freeing her invisible shackles, her ties to her past shame and regrets. Her skin glowed with a silver light, and her wings unfolded, black and glittering with the ends colored red and orange as if they were on fire.
We’ve got my sister. She’s knocked out now, but she’s okay. Devon’s voice was filled with relief.
Levi chuckled. And Seraphina was right. Some crazy shit went down here.
More like crazy fucking. The daemon king is more feral than I am. Ty snarked.
Their joy was infectious, and I was eager to join them, but first, my father needed to be dealt with.