Savage

Chapter 4

Xev watched his mother’s pet as Anat rode her army against a group of humans. While he had no great love of humans, he had even less for his sister.

What an overstatement that was.

Ambivalent to humans, he truly detested his sister. He’d like to say it was strictly jealousy, as a part of him did begrudge her all the affection she hogged, but really, he didn’t want any attention from Noir or Azura.

His hatred of her went much deeper than that. Anat Laguerre was just mean. Hateful and hate-filled. No one could stand her. She was the worst part of her parents, mixed with an obnoxious ego that somehow managed to surpass Noir’s.

So Xev did what he did best…caused chaos. He sent a bolt straight to her chariot and flipped her over, while taking care not to harm the horses that pulled her.

Exceptionally childish, he knew. But fun nonetheless.

He even laughed like the villain he was as he heard her profanity over the noise of her army. She wasn’t used to anyone challenging her. Most wet themselves in her presence.

Not her little brother. His job was to torment her, and he took it seriously. It was one of his more favored pastimes.

“I feel as though I should admonish you for that. But rather, I admire it.”

Xev froze at the sound of the last voice he’d ever expected to hear.

The last voice he wanted to hear.

“Go screw yourself, Father.” He started to fly away, but Jaden caught him with his powers and held Xev by his side. It was even more infuriating that whenever his mother slammed him into something or backhanded him.

“I’d like a word with you.”

Xev scoffed. “You wanted nothing to do with me, remember? No. Wait…You wanted me dead. Right? ‘Take him and drown him’?”

“Yet you live.”

“No thanks to you.” Xev raked him with a sneer. But what he hated most was how much he favored this asshole. If he could, he’d scar himself just to keep from seeing Jaden’s face reflected in his mirror.

“You have no idea how much I hate your mother.”

Xev curled his lip at what had to be the dumbest comment in the history of…everything. “Really? You should try having her as a mother. Thanks for that, too, by the way. And I promise you, whatever you think you feel for her pales in comparison to my feelings of adoration.”

“I know.”

“No, Jaden. You don’t.” He tried to pull away.

“Daraxerxes, listen?—”

“I don’t use the name she gave me. And you know nothing about me. So go.” He gestured off toward the horizon. “Leave. Don’t let my wings hit you in the ass on your way out.”

Jaden sighed heavily. “Careful of the powers you carry, boy. I’ve spent my entire existence trying to keep those around me from stealing them or finding another way to control me so that they could lay claim to them. You have no idea what you are and what burns inside you.”

“Well, had my father ever been around when I was a kid, maybe he could have taught me something other than hatred for the fact he threw me away.”

“It’s not that simple.”

Xev curled his lip. “I would never walk away from my child. You’re a god and a piece of shit!”

“Be careful how you judge others, boy. The brush you use to label them often paints a hellish landscape for you to call home.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Pray you never find out. But I want you to know this. As bad as you think your life has been, had I claimed you, it would have been far worse…for both of us. Hate me all you want. But what I did, I did in an effort to save you the pain I knew you’d have.” With that, Jaden released him and vanished.

Xev stood there, confused and pissed.

Could there be any truth to that statement? He wanted to deny it, and yet…

Azura was complicated. Most of all, she was crazy.

Your father’s selfish, through and through.

Yeah. He couldn’t believe him any more than he could believe his mother. Jaden never did anything unless he benefited from it. They were horrible people.

I’m better off alone.

An orphan even though both of his parents were still alive. The real reason he hated Laguerre. She had their mother’s love more than anyone else. And he hated that he was jealous of it. Really, he shouldn’t be. Azura’s love wasn’t something to be coveted. He should shun it as much as he did Jaden’s attention.

It just galled him that Azura would be so harsh to him and Shadow while she gave everything to Laguerre.

His fury unfurling, he looked back to where Laguerre was mounting her chariot. As soon as she took off, he blasted her again.

Definitely childish. But it saved some poor human’s life and made him happy to no uncertain end.

You’re such a brat.

He could hear Shadow’s voice in his head. His brother wasn’t wrong.

“I really need to find something more productive to do with my time.”

Taking potshots at his sister was getting a bit old. Even for him. There had to be something more to life than dodging his mother, insulting his father, and tormenting his sister for something she couldn’t help.

Shadow made do by hiding away from the world.

While he’d spent a lot of time exploring other realms, Xev finally learned what Shadow had meant about home. The other places were nice to visit.

They weren’t home.

Though why he liked it here, he wasn’t sure. He was treated much better in other realms where they had no idea who and what he was. So why did he have this sick, incessant need to return to this realm for more abuse?

“Why are you moping like a human?”

Xev let out a tired sigh at the sound of Paimon’s voice behind him. Fire rippled across his orange skin as his wings fluttered. He might be a giant demon overlord, but Xev had no use for him, and unlike others, he wasn’t afraid of the wretched beast.

He turned slightly, as it never paid to let the demon at your back. “Why are you here?”

If it was to summon him to Azura, he’d send the demon back in pieces.

“Admiring your aim.”

He didn’t believe that for a heartbeat. “Thought you’d be licking Noir’s backside. Rare to see your tongue not attached to?—”

“Don’t even.” Paimon curled his lip as he moved to stand next to Xev. “Do you know where Laguerre’s going?”

War, most likely. Hence her name. “Don’t know. Don’t care.”

“You should. There’s a war brewing.”

Ooh.Xev was less than impressed by Paimon’s dire tone. “There’s always a war.”

“This one is going to be between the gods eventually.”

He didn’t believe that for a moment. They weren’t that stupid. But he was curious. “Why do you think that?”

“I hear things, and I’m surprised you don’t, given your proclivity for shadow hopping…”

Xev didn’t miss the double entendre. Normally, he’d have put Paimon through a wall over it. Lucky for the demon, Xev didn’t care to expend enough energy to send him into the nearest mountainside. “I don’t spend time with lesser beings.”

That brought the desired fury to Paimon’s face, as the demon hated the fact that he held no god blood inside him. He considered himself their equal but knew the truth.

His powers were nothing compared to the rest of them. Even Shadow was stronger.

Long ago, Paimon had even tried to lead a rebellion against the gods.

It hadn’t gone well for him.

Now, the demon was little more than an errand boy for the gods he’d wanted to replace. No matter how much the demons might hate it, they were no match in power for Xev and his kind.

So, it was little wonder Paimon was looking for another war where he no doubt hoped the gods would kill each other off and leave him standing.

“You shouldn’t dismiss us so readily. Like it or not, the gods depend on my kind.”

“Depend is a bit much,” Xev replied. “And not all gods have any use for you at all.”

Paimon’s nostrils flared with a statement they both knew was absolutely true.

“Be careful who you insult, boy. We’re not all as weak as you think, and never forget that some of us have the blood of gods in us, too.”

There was an ominous note in his voice. Something that sent a shiver down Xev’s spine.

“What do you mean?”

Paimon quirked a brow. “I think you know what I mean. What’s the term? The gods like to slum?” And with that said, he vanished.

Stunned, Xev stood there. Though why he was surprised, he had no idea. Made sense, actually. Noir and Azura had no scruples when it came to sleeping with anyone who caught their eye.

Lilit either.

His own father had crawled into bed with Azura. Though, to be fair, he’d been told that Jaden was drunk and that his mother had been in disguise.

Still…

How drunk would you have to be to not realize you were in bed with the Queen of All Evil? Even if she were disguised. Granted, he considered his father an idiot, but surely not even Jaden could get so intoxicated that he wouldn’t be able to feel her powers, regardless of her exterior appearance.

It’d never made sense to Xev.

Whatever.

It wasn’t any of his business what the others did. But it was a shame that they couldn’t see the future more clearly.

Or could they?

Xev fell back into the shadows. There was one person who seemed to have the ability to know how things would play out. Eerily so at times.

“Shadow?”

“Busy.”

He rolled his eyes at the answer that meant his brother was chasing after a playmate. “Can you put it in your pants for a second and talk to me?”

“Rather not.”

“Please.”

“You’re not that cute, Xev, and you’re not my type.”

“That’s not what you told me last night. You said you’d never look at anyone else again. I can’t believe you’d hurt me this way. You’re so heartless and mean!”

Xev heard an angry female shriek that was quickly followed by Shadow’s curse.

A heartbeat later, his brother appeared in front of him half-dressed. “Really?”

Xev grinned at his brother. “I can’t believe it worked.”

Pulling on his tunic, Shadow glared at him. “Do it again, and I swear I’ll hand-feed your trachea to you…after I rip it out of your body and beat you with it.”

That wasn’t an idle threat. Xev had little doubt his brother would gleefully assault him. Still…

For one second, he’d gotten the better of Shadow. And that made him proud. Happy, even. Few could lay claim to besting his older brother. “Calm down. Not like you won’t find another demon with low standards.”

Shadow nodded. “True. They do seem to be in an endless supply, and that makes me deliriously happy.” He straightened the rest of his clothes. “So what was of such magnitude that you had to risk your life to annoy me?”

“Paimon just visited me.”

He looked less than impressed by Xev’s words. “Yeah. Okay. Why?”

“That’s what I want to know. He was being cryptic.”

“Yeah…and?”

Shadow was right. Paimon lived to appear for no other reason than to hint at something and vanish. He knew it would make you crazy until you figured it out. It was part of his evil and why no one wanted him around.

“He said that there were demons with the blood of gods. Any idea what he was yammering about?”

Shadow ran his hands through his long hair to smooth it down as he appeared to consider it. “He’s not wrong. There are several, and you do have another half-brother in those ranks…by your father and not your mother.”

Xev’s eyes widened at something he’d never been told. “Since when?”

“He’s not much younger than you. His mother bartered with Jaden, and out of their deal, Malphas was born.”

Those words went over him like an ice bath. “What?”

A tic started in Shadow’s jaw, as if he suddenly realized what he’d just said and to whom. “Uh…don’t take that to heart.”

How could he not? His father refused him and then decided to screw a demon to create another son? Was there any correct way to take that?

It was beyond insulting.

“Where is he?” Xev asked.

“Why?”

“He’s my brother. I’d like to meet him.”

Shadow eyed him suspiciously. “Are you planning to do something stupid?”

“All the time.”

Shadow rolled his eyes. “I don’t know about this, Xev. I actually like Malphas.”

That angered Xev even more. “You know him?”

At least Shadow had the decency to look sheepish. “I basically know everyone. One way or another.”

Xev wanted to slap him so badly that it was hard to resist that urge. “I hate you so much right now.”

“No. You don’t.” He clapped Xev on the back and smiled. “I’m all the family you’ve got…and Malphas can be, too. If you don’t kill him.”

“Why would I kill him?”

Shadow let out a long sigh then crooked his finger for Xev to follow him.

This couldn’t be good.

A little trepidatious, Xev trailed, wondering what was going on. Why was Shadow being cryptic. That wasn’t normally his style. Unlike the others he knew, Shadow didn’t play games. Which was what Xev liked most about him.

He had his answer once he realized they were heading to Jaden’s domain. He felt his wings spring out of his back, as if in protest of being here.

Before they even reached the palace Jaden called home, he had a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach.

When they neared the shadows of a large, elegant room, that feeling worsened as he realized that his brother was living with their father.

“He’s demonborn?”

Shadow hesitated. “That’s what I told you.”

And his father had accepted this child. Why?

“Don’t get that look, Xev. It’s not Malphas’s fault.”

“Was it mine?”

“Your mother is a threat to Jaden. She’s a powerful goddess in her own right who wouldn’t hesitate to enslave or kill Jaden if she had a chance.”

It wasn’t making him feel any better.

The only comfort he could take from it was that Malphas was shorter than he was. Granted, it was exceptionally petty, but still…

It was something.

“His mother was a minor demon. No threat to anyone.”

“Why did my father barter with her?”

“I don’t know. No one does. Other than your father and”—he jerked his chin toward Malphas—“his mother, who’s now dead.”

Malphas rose from his bed and turned toward the shadows where they stood. With eyes so brown they appeared black, he peered at them. “Who are you?”

“He can see us?”

“And hear you, too.” Malphas approached them slowly. “Who did you bring with you, Shadow?”

Shadow looked at Xev expectantly. What do you want me to tell him?

“I’m your brother.” Xev wasn’t sure why he admitted that, given the jealousy that was begging him to put his brother through a wall.

Malphas took the news better than Xev had. “And?”

Xev’s temper flared even more. “Really? That’s all you have to say?”

“I have siblings all over.”

Shadow folded his arms across his chest. “Not from your father, you don’t.”

Now, appreciation darkened Malphas’s gaze. “You’re a demigod, too?”

“Full god.” Xev took more pride than he should at correcting him.

Malphas flashed from human form into that of a daeve demon. Red skin. Orange hair and wings similar to Xev’s. But as soon as that form flashed, he returned to the body of a human. Obviously, Xev had plucked a nerve when he’d explained the power dynamic between them.

“Problem?” Xev asked.

“Curious.”

So was he. Why had his father kept this…lesser demonkyn, and not him?

Malphas blinked slowly. “That’s simple. He controlled the demon who birthed me. He feared your mother gaining control over him by way of you.”

“You can hear my thoughts?”

“One of my gifts. But I normally avoid it. It’s only when I meet someone for the first time that I bother. I want to know what I’m dealing with and if they’re lying to me.”

That would be a handy skill.

Malphas held his arms out and turned around slowly. “Do I meet your approval, brother?”

“I didn’t come to approve you. Only wanted to see what made you so special.”

“Nothing. Truly. Most of the time, our father doesn’t even like me. No idea why he had me or keeps me here.”

“Ooh! I got this one!” Shadow danced around in an irritating manner. “Jaden wants an in with the demons. He’s trying to befriend them before Azura, Braith, and Noir enslave all of them.”

They both turned to stare at him.

He stopped his idiotic dance and shrugged. “I hear things. A lot.”

Malphas shook his head. “He sleeps with a ton of demons,” he said to Xev. “I can’t tell if he’s trying to create his own army…or a harem. You should watch them.”

Shadow scoffed. “No, thank you. I don’t want the trauma or drama that comes with that. We pass time, and they talk. Can’t help it if I’m a good listener.”

Xev really wanted to hate Malphas, but Shadow was right. He seemed like a decent demon. Wasn’t his fault Jaden was an ass.

He looked around the room that still irritated him because it was in his father’s palace. “Why don’t we go get a drink? Somewhere less annoying?”

Malphas nodded. “Sounds good. Where are we going?”

This time, Xev led them through the shadows to his favorite spot in all the worlds. A small dive on a backwater planet.

Malphas was confused. “Where are we?”

“A place called Trisa. They make the best drinks you’ve ever had.”

“I don’t know about that.” Malphas scratched at his ear as he looked around sheepishly.

“Hold that thought.” Xev led them into the pub that was normally crowded. For once, it only had a few patrons. The last time he’d been here, a massive fight broke out. He still had no idea what it’d been about.

Not that he cared in the slightest.

But he was grateful it was a quiet night. Holding his hand up as they neared his usual table, he let the bartender know to bring his favorite bottle with three glasses.

“Interesting place.” Malphas grimaced in distaste.

Shadow took a seat with his back to the wall. He folded his arms across his chest as he glanced around the dark room. “Want to play a game?”

Xev screwed his face up. “I don’t like games.”

“That’s because you usually get screwed when your mom plays them. Trust me, this one has no consequences for you. Just an exercise in powers.”

“I’m with Xev, I don’t want to play a game where someone gets hurt, even if it’s not one of us.”

“Again, has nothing to do with your mother, either, sugar bear.”

Xev shook his head as the waitress came over with his order and set it down in front of them. He tipped her well, as was his custom, and poured them each a drink. “To screwed-up childhoods.”

They clinked glasses and knocked back their drinks.

Malphas coughed and nodded. “Yeah…that is the best I’ve ever had.” Pouring another round, he looked at Shadow. “So what’s this game?”

“Who can guess the future.”

Xev snorted. “I know I can’t. I definitely lack those powers.”

Malphas let out an evil laugh. “All I can think of is what a weird joke this is.”

“How so?”

“A demigod, demon, and a god walk into a bar?—”

A dark shadow fell across their table, causing Malphas to break off mid-sentence. “What are you wearing?”

Shadow quirked an evil grin. “Clothing.”

“Never seen nothing like it.”

“Could say the same about you, my friend. What hobo did you roll for your accouterments?”

“My what?”

Shadow cleared his throat. “Field dressing. Given the firearm, I’d think you’re law enforcement or military. But you don’t have the demeanor of a man used to kicking someone else’s ass or subduing them.”

“What would you know?”

“Shadow…” Xev gave a steely stare to warn his brother to stand down. Last thing they wanted was to draw undue attention to them. This wasn’t their world. Definitely wasn’t their fight.

Shadow held his hands up in surrender.

Sadly, the human didn’t have any sense of self-preservation. “You run your mouth like someone who wants to lose their tongue.”

Xev placed a coin on the table and pushed it toward the hapless man in front of them. “Next round’s on me.”

“Don’t take money from strangers. Where are your papers?”

Malphas held his hand up and splayed his fingers out. “You’re here for a cold drink and to rest. Go to the bar and be glad you’re alive.”

The man blinked slowly.

At first, Xev thought he was about to continue the fight. Instead, he turned around and did just what Malphas had told him to do.

He even had a smile on his face.

“What the hell was that?” Xev asked.

“Silkspeech. One of the better demon powers I came with. It enables me to influence others.” Malphas winked at him. “Don’t worry, it won’t work on you.”

Shadow poured more drink. “Yeah. It’s only for humans, demons, and morons.”

Xev was more impressed than he wanted to be. “I suddenly feel shafted in the power department.”

“Don’t.” Malphas jerked his chin toward the man at the bar. “I can influence his thoughts and memories. You can alter him. Make him a cockroach or whatever else suits your mood.”

That was true. Still, the ability to alter someone’s thoughts was interesting to consider.

Which brought Xev back to another matter. “How many siblings do we have, anyway?”

Shadow drew a circle in the air with his glass. “With the exception of our sister, all of yours are at this table.”

Xev arched a brow. “Really?”

Shadow nodded. “Malphas has a ton of demonkyn brethren, thanks to his mother’s inability to show restraint or good sense.”

Xev was suddenly glad his parents weren’t that bad. “What about you?”

“I have you, Laguerre, and a half-brother named Max.”

That was interesting. Xev set his glass down. “Demon, demi, or god?”

“Demi.”

“Decent?” he asked.

“Don’t really know. He keeps to himself and doesn’t really like to interact with others. I respect that and leave him alone.”

Xev considered that. If Max was related to Shadow and not him, that meant Max had to share Shadow’s father. “Who’s his mother?”

Shadow indicated their small group. “Our least favorite aunt.”

Xev frowned. The only aunt it couldn’t be was Cam. As a goddess of justice, she didn’t waste time with such things.

That left two who were awful. “Lilit or Braith?”

Shadow chuckled. “Braith has no patience for children. She wants nothing to do with them. They’re parasites in her swirling silver eyes.”

Lilit, then. Dangerous and unpredictable. In some ways, she was worse than Azura. She was supposed to provide levity between the three dark gods and the three light ones.

Instead, she caused chaos, and Xev should know. That was his best department.

Shadow motioned the waitress over to order another bottle. Once she was gone, he returned his attention to Malphas and Xev. “Now then, back to our original topic. I want predictions from both of you.”

Xev scowled. “Why?”

“Let’s call it fun. I want to know what you think our parents and others will get into.”

Malphas shrugged. “I think they’re going to catch Rezar wearing one of Cam’s wigs, while pretending to be Braith.”

Xev laughed so hard, he thought he might hurt himself. “Rezar, huh?” Out of all of the gods, he was the one least likely to do such. In fact, Xev didn’t think Rezar could even smile. For a “light” god, he was remarkably stern and dark.

Then again, like him, Rezar was a god of chaos. Very similar in powers to Xev.

Shadow sobered. “What do you think?” he asked Xev.

“I don’t know. I try hard not to think about the future. Hate the present enough not to care. You?”

“I think Paimon’s right. War’s coming. We will have to pick sides.”

Malphas sat back. “Honestly, I think that’s why Jaden wanted me close. He wants me to lead the demons for him.”

Xev arched a brow at that bold statement. “They won’t all follow Jaden.”

“I know. But I command three legions of them.”

So did Xev.

And Paimon.

“What side will you fight for?” Xev asked Shadow.

“My own. The gods won’t care who we are or who we’re related to. They have no loyalty to us, and I have no loyalty to them.”

Those words sent a chill down Xev’s spine. “So never trust you. Thanks for the warning.”

“Not the same, little brother. You’ve never betrayed me. My parents…selfish from beginning to end. Why would I be loyal to those who’ve already betrayed me?”

“I can concur with that.” Malphas lifted his glass in salute.

While Xev could also concur, he didn’t like the thought of the gods at war. They were a brutal lot. And there was no telling what would happen to them.

As Shadow said, love wasn’t exactly in their genetic makeup. “Then let’s make a brotherly vow to stay out of this.”

Malphas nodded. “Sounds good to me.”

“To neutrality.” Shadow held up his glass so that they could clink theirs against it.

“No war.”

They repeated the promise.

Yet even as they agreed to stay out of it, Xev wondered if they’d be able to manage it.

Or if something much worse would come for them.