Property of Karev (Kings of Anarchy MC: Lexmore Beach, Maryland #2)

CHAPTER ONE

– KAREV –

“I have them in my possession, and I’m about to drop them off right now. If you don’t hear from me, you know what to do, Prez,” I update Sevrin as I stare up at the long as fuck driveway of a damn castle.

Not exactly a castle, more like a luxurious mansion with what looks like twenty or so bedrooms, a damn fountain in the middle of the driveway, and a few extra buildings at the back of the property.

The anger is palpable in Sevrin’s voice when he grits through the phone, “Yeah, asshole. Do nothing. That’s what you asked me to do.”

A sigh rips from me, and I rub a hand over my face. “I don’t expect you to understand but believe me when I say...again...this is one war the Kings will not be able to win.”

“Says you, brother. No one fucks with the Kings. We have a truckload of chapters with strong paranormal beings. Besides ours of-fucking-course.”

“Calvania is a descendant of Pluto, ruler of the whole damn underworld in Maryland, Sevrin. You know, the one my ancestors used to guard. Why the hell do you think he demanded that I return the damn coins myself?” I grit, getting pissed off all over again.

The underworld. Humans would compare it to a capo dei capi, the boss of all bosses in the mafia world. Yet, it’s not as simple as it sounds. He doesn’t run a gang, it’s more like divine authority over souls, controlling the dead, the ability to use another’s powers.

I heard about how Calvania taps into the powers of his three daughters. Furies. Their combined powers are what makes him stronger. Though, the soul part in all of it? That right there is some serious shit we can’t underestimate.

Sevrin snorts. “This isn’t about the damn coins and you know it.

Why else would he demand for you to marry his daughter if you don’t succeed, and only give you forty-eight hours to retrieve them when he was searching for them for months?

This whole thing smells like a trap. I refuse to do nothing and simply turn my back on a brother.

My VP. My fucking friend. Nope. If you die?

It means the fucker will pay...one way or another, and I don’t mean by handing over coins. ”

“Be rational, Prez. You have an old lady, a kid, and a whole damn future ahead of you. Besides, he won’t kill me.” Which is probably worse, but I won’t voice that thought.

Valentinius Calvania wants a three-headed hellhound at his beck and call, just like his ancestor had to guard the underworld. Calvania wants one to guard his damn kingdom and put the fear of hell in his enemies. What better way to secure one than by chaining me to one of his daughters?

Arranged marriages happen on occasion if bloodlines are aligned.

Supernatural beings crave their fated mate.

Something that doesn’t happen too often; finding the one and only who is the perfect match.

Spending an eternity with someone is a long damn time, which is why a fated mate is a fucking dream.

More like a mirage if you asked me. I know Sevrin recently found his, which allowed me to witness it up close. Though, with my history? My father’s fucked-up shit? There’s no way I believe in a phenomenon that can ruin lives.

“Either way I expect a call from you soon, telling me your ass is on your bike heading back. Understood?” Sevrin grits.

“Understood, Prez,” I answer and end the call.

As the vice president of the Kings of Anarchy Lexmore Beach, Maryland chapter, I know my brothers will have my back no matter what. Though, it goes both ways. They do not need to be pulled into the mess I stepped in when Floraline, my half-sister, asked for help.

Lina, as she calls herself, reached out a few days ago.

She was completely out of breath and in full panic mode.

Lina was kidnapped and just watched her new friend and employee die due to people torturing him for information.

She managed to run away from them and was lost in the woods.

I called Heart, the vice president of the Nowalk chapter, who was closer to her than I was.

Fuck, what a mess. Especially due to the fact that the Nowalk chapter consists of humans. My half-sister is human as well, which is why our contact is mostly long-distance for her safety.

Long story short, Calvania’s butler retired six months ago and stole some watches and three golden coins. The fucker tried to sell them in a pawn shop, and those fuckers tried to rob him of the coins at home. They accidently murdered the fucker without knowing where the coins were.

The fucker’s inventory was sold off, and that’s when my half-sister entered the picture because she owns the vintage shop that bought everything.

A few months later the guy from the pawn shop recognized a clock in Lina’s vintage store window, and realized she must have bought the inventory and had the golden coins.

I found out Lina’s new friend was employed by Calvania, and was searching for the coins as well by working undercover in Lina’s store. A supernatural sniffing around my human sister. I wanted the heat off my sister, and it’s why I paid Calvania a visit.

Lina was pulled into this shit without knowing how deep or dangerous it was, but Calvania clearly thought otherwise. One way out of this was to either bring him the coins within forty-eight hours or marry one of his daughters.

With an hour to spare I’m standing on the asshole’s doorstep. The three golden coins that belong to him in my pocket. Time to get this over with and hopefully walk away clean. I don’t want a damn wife. No old lady, and especially not one who is forced into my life as a part of some fucked-up deal.

A butler opens the door for me before I can ring the doorbell.

Figures. A kingdom like this? Calvania saw me coming the second I turned my bike into his long as fuck driveway.

The man nods and I get a whiff of his scent.

A werewolf, probably part of the pack Calvania hired to handle his security.

I sniffed those fuckers out the first time I came here.

He leads me to Calvania’s office and knocks. A rumble of a voice from inside allows him entrance and he opens the door for me. Once I step inside the butler closes the door and stays outside.

There are two people inside the man’s office, and yet I smell something else. Narrowing my eyes, I scan the space but come up empty.

“Karev,” Calvania rumbles, drawing my attention to the man in question.

I nod and reach for my pocket to get the velvet pouch with the coins.

Another werewolf is standing left of me and anxiously steps forward, as if I’d pull a gun.

My mouth turns into a thin line. What a damn idiot.

As if a gun would harm anyone in this damn room.

We’re all immortals which means only ripping a head clean off will kill us.

Well, I could shift and incinerate anyone. It’s one of the perks of being a three-headed alpha hellhound. Also, not something I flaunt around because my breed is a rarity. Hellhounds come in a wide variation and there are not many people who know about all the specific breeds.

“Your coins,” I grunt and hold out the velvet pouch.

The werewolf takes it from me and stalks to Calvania to hand it over.

Calvania opens the pouch and lets the three golden coins land on the palm of his hand. “Pity. I’d hoped you couldn’t get them in time. Well, you’ve managed to uphold your part of the deal. Thank you, Karev. You’re dismissed.”

Black smoke explodes from his left along with a screech.

“No. He’s mine,” a woman with dark eyes and dark hair snarls.

Calvania clicks his tongue. “Alora, you knew about the deal. He’s free to go.” His eyes land on mine. “Unless you desire my daughter and would like to take her off my hands. I’ll gladly welcome you into our family if you do.”

I don’t spare her a glance. I’m well aware this man has three daughters. Furies. I should have recognized the scent of one when I stepped into the room, but I’ve never encountered a fury in real life before. Goddesses of retribution and vengeance. Vicious as fuck, or so I’ve heard.

I could feel the air surrounding us become loaded with anger a mere second before she exposed herself.

Such negativity is surrounding her, and the way she’s looking with a hateful glare on her face?

Yeah, no way I’m gonna tie myself to a fury.

Thank fuck I dodged that bullet by getting the man his coins in time.

“Thank you for your time,” I politely state.

Calvania waves his hand, dismissing me once more.

The door behind me opens and when I turn to walk out, I can hear the woman snarl vicious shit to her father.

No wonder he wanted to marry her off. Damn.

Calvania has some serious patience raising three of those creatures.

If I were him, I’d have ripped her head off a long-ass time ago.

Once outside, I take a deep breath as I stand near my bike.

A hint of something delicious grabs my attention.

Throwing my leg over my bike, I take out my sunglasses and scan my surroundings.

Nothing seems out of the ordinary. There are a few werewolves, Calvania’s security guys, walking the perimeter.

They don’t spare me a glance and yet I feel watched.

I inhale slowly to filter the air. My head instantly whips to my right where the delicious scent I picked up on earlier is coming from.

My mouth waters and my cock twitches, instantly becoming painfully hard.

Nothing is there and it’s confusing as fuck.

A snarl of frustration hits me. Screw this shit. I fire up my bike and ride off. It’s a bit of a ride back to the clubhouse. I should feel at ease that everything is handled. Lina is safe, even if she wasn’t completely aware of how dangerous her situation was.

Lina isn’t an immortal, and from the moment I knew about her existence I’ve tried to keep her safe. She doesn’t belong in this world. The only good thing that came from the mess she was pulled into, and I just saved her from, is the fact that she’s finally found the right guy.

I could smell his interest and need to protect her the second I saw Heart and Lina together. If Lina was an immortal? I’d say she found her fated mate in Heart. Knowing this gives me peace of mind. A good thing too because the unease I’ve felt in Calvania’s office hasn’t faded.

The fucker might have said I upheld my part of the deal, but somehow it feels like this shit ain’t over yet.

The reaction of his daughter alone is concerning to say the least. Though, that’s not my problem, or it shouldn’t be.

She looked pretty pissed. Knowing she’s a goddess of vengeance?

Yeah, let’s hope Calvania finds another fucker soon who he can trick into marrying his vicious daughter. Thank fuck it’s not going to be me.