Chapter 28
Rion
Rion watched as Marquez’s energy fluctuated wildly.
This was not mere anxiety. Something had crawled beneath his skin, a frustration festering quietly beneath the surface.
The Floridian king’s slicked-back black man-bun at the base of his skull and designer clothes, even his posture, spoke of control and power.
Beyond what could be seen, his emotions were in complete disarray.
“If this is going to become a war, we need to gather our armies and assess the forces we have at our disposal,” Marquez said.
“And where do you propose we put these armies until they are needed?” Westergaard asked.
“We have many immortals among us,” Rion interjected before things got out of hand. “Prepare your forces, yes, but in your own kingdoms. We will retrieve them when the time is appropriate.”
“Perhaps I should have been clearer,” Marquez continued coolly. “I am aware of the army I command. I can guess the sizes of Martelli’s Undead kingdom, and Westergaard’s–”
“Not to mention Ngdugu’s and Yamamoto’s, should we convince them to ally with us,” Will threw in. “We have a considerable force behind us.”
“Again, not what I am referring to!” Marquez’s darkened expression descended further with every passing second.
Will moved to say something else, but Rion held up a hand to silence him. “Go on,” he said to Marquez.
“I’ve had a taste of what you three can do,” Marquez declared. “However, I believe you are capable of much more than the small window I’ve been granted. Particularly, since Martelli gained power via myself and the Viking.” He nodded toward Westergaard.
“You want us to entertain you?” Tobias arched a brow.
“I think he’s demanding we prove ourselves yet again.” Will slid the cigarette between his lips and took a drag.
Rion’s fingers gripped the armrest of the chair tightly. He fought not to react to the blanket of cigarette smoke currently settling over his expensive and carefully-chosen furnishings. “Why should we waste our energy? We do not have time for such trivialities.”
Marquez glowered from beneath lowered brows. “I want reassurance we didn’t all just make a huge mistake.”
“Any fight where we live to see another day is a success, no?” Westergaard mused.
“We survived the inconceivable, we live to fight future battles. I agree,” Will nodded.
“I get where he’s coming from.” Tobias subjected Marquez to a long hard stare. “We won the battle, but war still lies on the horizon. This is all an intricately woven dance.”
“Indeed.” Rion sighed. “Once my father realizes we have outsmarted him, there will be retaliation. Make no mistake.”
“So let us be clear on what we have in our corner,” Westergaard proposed.
“An army of a few hundred hounds, who have immortal abilities. At least twenty Angels of power, a hundred thousand vampires, or twice that if we ally with Ngdugu and Yamamoto. We have The Bringer of Winter, and the Immortal Trinity.” He turned to Marquez. “What exactly do you require proof of?”
“We have all of that, yes.” Marquez folded both arms across his chest. “But, the eighth lord has an entire realm at his disposal, comprised of Hell’s worst nightmares. He is revered, or feared, by most beings in the other lower realms. Who knows what other favors he will call in?”
“This is true,” Tobias conceded. “However, we don’t have to defeat all of Hell. We just have to terminate one male.”
“Defeat, not terminate,” Will said. “If you terminate him, it will cause a whole new set of problems. Namely the twin sons Lyla left behind, who are next in line to the throne.”
“Precisely.” Rion knew only too well the havoc likely to unfold if the twins were in the seat of power. They were the embodiment of chaos and wrath, much to his father’s delight. Individually, Rion could overpower them, but together they were formidable.
“If we do not terminate him, we will never be free. He will not allow me to live after I have usurped two of his Undead Kings,” Tobias said.
“Yeah, he already hates you,” Will added. “It pissed him off that he didn’t see through your glamour.”
“You fooled the eighth lord?” Westergaard’s eyes widened.
“Your glamour is impressive, but really? You expect us to believe that?” Marquez narrowed his eyes.
“He was proficient enough to use glamour to overpower you, his maker.” Rion smirked. “Might I add this was before you oathed yourself to him?
Westergaard chuckled. “Imagine what he might be capable of now, hmm?”
“Which is why I asked for a demonstration!” Marquez shouted in exasperation.
“Is this a school yard or a business meeting?” Kitty interjected. “You two,” she said, pointing at Westergaard and Marquez, “Calm your shit. And for fuck’s sake Martelli, put on a damned show so we can move on.”
Rion could feel threads of anger manifesting from Tobias. Knowing how much the male loathed to be a puppet, he could only imagine how frustrating it must be to have others trying to commandeer the agenda.
Before Tobias could comply, Lyla appeared in the middle of the vast space in full demon form, bringing the entire fuss to a grinding halt. Her glorious storm-colored hair fanned out behind her as she whirled around, looking for someone specific. Then, she marched toward Marquez.
The black voids she possessed where most beings’ irises and pupils resided, radiated pure darkness. Her luminescent alabaster skin-tone and pale-grey leathery wings gave the illusion of a chill in the air; or was it actually a couple of degrees cooler than before?
Rion watched in disbelief as Lyla grabbed Marquez by the collar of his shirt and jerked him into a standing position.
Then, she punched him in the jaw hard enough that a resounding crack could be heard.
A fraction of a second later, she punched him in the gut, hard.
While he was still reeling from the double impact, she used a low sweeping kick to take his feet out from under him.
The Floridian King lay on the floor cursing like a sailor, though nobody raised a finger to help him. Lyla offered no explanation.
“What in the ever-loving shit is going on?” Kitty demanded. Her gaze was not on Marquez, or Lyla, but Tobias.
Rion turned to gaze at the male with intrigue and opened a mind link among the Trinity. “Tobias, are you doing this?”
“No fucking way,” Will’s brows jumped skyward.
“When did your glamour become corporeal?” Rion asked, struggling to believe what his eyes were seeing.
Meanwhile, Lyla had abandoned Marquez in favor of Westergaard. She parked herself on his knee and wrapped both arms around his neck.
“What…” Westergaard began, but was silenced by the French kiss to end all French kisses. With both hands embedded in his blonde hair, she pressed their bodies closer.
“Holy shit, she is going to kill you.” Will laughed out loud.
A moment later, Lyla’s stunning demonic form transitioned into a perfect replica of Christo, which let out a sinister laugh and walked over to stand beside the armchair-thrones. Elsewhere in the room, the real Christo leapt to his feet.
“What the Hell?” He cried, as the imposter dissipated without a trace.
“Sit down,” Lori said with a grin. “Tobias is putting on the show everyone demanded. He only used your image so we’d know it wasn’t really Lyla.”
Vixen gasped. “Really?”
“This was a delight, truly.” Westergaard ran a thumb over his lower lip.
Marquez got to his feet. “Speak for yourself. Assholes, all of you.”
“Now, does anyone else have doubts on where we are at?” If not for the tick in his jaw, Tobias’ expression would have been unreadable.
Rion, still smirking, lazed back in his chair, watching Marquez and Westergaard with bemusement.
Tobias had definitely grown exponentially in power.
If not for the dilemma of Lyla’s twins, he might actually indulge the hope trying to take root.
For, if they were only concerned with defeating the eighth lord, they might actually have a chance.
Something else occurred to him in that moment. If Tobias’ power had increased this significantly with all the goings on, the same could be true for Rion and Will.
“We need to renew our trinity oath,” he said silently. “It will solidify the new powerbase we have created. If all three of us may draw from it, we will create a more stable energy force.”
“Good call,” Tobias responded at once.
“Yeah, I’m totally down with that,” Will agreed.
Tobias arose. “Well, I need to feed, as I’m sure Le Roux does, and Jones needs to check in with his charges. We’ll convene again later. Kitty, would you mind checking on the real Lyla for me? See how she’s doing with Ngdugu and Yamamoto. If she needs me, come get me.”
“All right.” Kitty shrugged and dematerialized.
With the exception of Lori, Christo, and Vixen, the mortal servants spoke in hushed tones across the room.
“Would anyone like to be transported back to the palace?” Rion asked.
The servants froze and all turned in unison to stare at him.
“I don’t think they like travelling that way,” Vixen said.
“She’s right, we don’t,” Charisma said at once. “But, I’d rather do it that way than crawling through traffic in a cab to get back to Brooklyn. We’ll cope.”
“Very well.” Rion strode over, ready to fulfill the offer.
Tobias’ voice reappeared in Rion’s head. “When you’re done, and fed – because I’m not doing this while you’re hangry – we need to talk.”
“Of course.” Rion nodded before flashing out with the servants in tow. Once they were safely ensconced within the palace walls, he flashed out again to feed.
Much of his fury over Kitty and Tobias’ indiscretions had dulled. Most of the reaction had stemmed from the shock of it, while the rest had been tied to the male Tobias had been up until recently. The one who collected bed partners like baseball cards.
Rion had to keep reminding himself that the male had changed. Perhaps more accurately, he’d returned to a more mortal version of himself. Morals and honorable intentions had been creeping in for some time. Now, in a feat not seen before, Tobias had a light inside of him.
It was something he could identify with first-hand. Before Rion had known half his ancestry was Holy, he’d felt like a fish out of water. He’d wondered why there was a light inside and it hadn’t made any sense at all.
A similar thing was unfolding with Tobias right before his eyes. It had started when they’d agreed to help Will’s charges a year ago, which had evolved into this of a war. The more Tobias fought to do the right thing, the brighter the light grew.
The emotional energy coalescing around Tobias and Kitty when she’d returned to the penthouse after discovering what her orgasms were capable of, had surprised Rion. He had expected to notice the lust, but the love had been unexpected.
They are adults and Kitty shouldn’t have to justify herself to her mother or brother. The fact this is more than just something physical amplifies this.
I would be a hypocrite if I opposed his relationship with my sister based on the fact he is undead, or the male he used to be. The words I spoke to Kyriel were truthful. Tobias is worthy of my sister. However uncomfortable it makes me; I need to get over it.