Raijin glared but didn’t argue in the face of the angry shadow beast. “My apologies, Floof.”
“It is okay, Floof. Here, have some fish,” Ruel said cheerfully as he walked into the kitchen and pulled out a plate of food. Floof gave a disgruntled yowl sound then shifted back to his tiny form as he trotted over to eat the delightful meal.
Once the guardian was suitably distracted, Ruel looked to Onyx with raised brows. “Aren’t they exiled Templars?”
“Yes. Long story. Can they stay here under your protection, hidden, of course? At least until we sort this all out? I have a feeling Raijin isn’t a bad guy; he’s just really misguided. And Callistra’s okay.” Onyx shrugged to Ruel.
“I’m okay?” Callistra huffed and crossed her arms. Then she cleared her throat and looked at Ruel. “Sorry, King Ruel. We would be very grateful if you would offer us sanctuary. My father was deceived. He is ill and needs time to recover so we can make things clear to him. I have a feeling his clouded judgment was the result of a magical spell.”
Ruel studied them as he picked up a fresh apple and bit into it. He chewed thoughtfully for several moments then nodded. “Sure, you can stay here. If you cause any trouble, though, Floof has my permission to eat you.”
Floof looked up at his name and narrowed his golden eyes at the Templars, his tail lashing in warning. They both cringed in response but nodded. Ruel snickered, then waved at the door. “My servant will show you to your rooms.” The man at the door bowed low to them and swept his arm toward the doorway to indicate he was waiting for them to pass.
Callistra murmured a thank you and helped Raijin from the room, clearly eager to put as much space between her and the capricious cat-guardian as possible. Onyx watched her go, leaning against the counter next to Ruel.
Ruel looked him over then looked out the door to watch them, too. “You like that one? Why? I don’t think she likes you much. She spent this whole time looking confused about whether she wanted to kick your butt or not.”
Onyx stretched slowly, then grinned at Ruel. “It’s the fact that she could, in fact, probably kick my butt. That’s attractive.”
“Wait, what?” Rebekah’s voice rang out as she sprung up from behind the counter and startled them. She leaned over the counter into Onyx’s face and glared. “Sir! I could have turned you inside out and made your skeleton dance like a puppet and that goody-two-shoes air-headed Templar turns you on?”
Ruel dropped his apple and stared at her in shock. “Rebekah!”
Rebekah huffed and shook her finger at Ruel. “You know I loved him. I have you and you’re much better, yes. But that doesn’t mean Onyx should go around chasing girls like that! He deserves someone who will take care of him and worship him,” she said then trailed off and her eyes went wide. She folded her hands and looked down at them. “Hmph! So that’s why you didn’t like me. You want someone who will fight with you. Fine, stupid boy. Go get your butt kicked by crazy knight lady instead.” She reached over and grabbed Ruel’s arm and pulled him toward the other door. “I have my handsome husband anyway! And he’s made me a Queen.”
Ruel just gulped and shrugged as Rebekah dragged him from the room.
“Technically, Niyx made you Queen!” Onyx retorted as he called after them. Then he rubbed a hand over his eyes. Maybe this part of his world wasn’t any less crazy. He almost preferred the dangerous antics of his strange blood-related family over Rebekah’s jealousy. She had been happily married to Ruel for three years now; she needed to let it go.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Onyx wandered Ruel’s manor for a few hours to let Callistra have time to settle in. He changed out of his armor and into his formal noble clothes and stopped to ask the servants to prepare a special candlelit dinner in one of the smaller dining rooms where they would have some privacy. Then he made his way up to the room where she was staying and knocked on the door.
Callistra opened it and eyed him suspiciously. “What do you want, Lord Onyx?”
Onyx did his best not to cringe at her tone and bowed to her. “I was hoping the Lady Callistra might accompany me to a private dinner. And that’s not innuendo for anything else. Just dinner.”
“I don’t have anything to wear,” Callistra sputtered, caught off guard by his charm.
“It’s just us. I don’t care. Clean up and come out. I’ll wait.” Onyx gave her his best smile. “I’d like to start over. We haven’t gotten off to a good start. I want to know you.”
“A good start? You’re an assassin known for seducing and killing women. You killed my step-father. You helped get my real father captured.“ Callistra put her hands on her hips, fire flashing in her eyes.
Onyx could not help himself. He was drawn to that fire like a moth to a flame. Using his supernatural speed, he shoved her gently back into the room and slammed the door behind them. Then he pressed her up against it, seeking her lips with his.
At first, she struggled, but slowly gave in to the kiss, entwining her fingers in his hair and melting against him. When he finally pulled back, they were both breathless and she just gawked at him with wide eyes. Then she recovered and slapped him, yanking herself away from him. “How dare you?”
Onyx licked his lips, still tasting hers. He wanted more. So much more. He barely even registered the slap. “I want you. More than I’ve ever wanted anyone.”
“You can have any woman you want. Go find someone else.” Callistra wiped her mouth on her sleeve, shivering as she sat down on the edge of the bed, clearly shaken.
“You are the one I want,” Onyx insisted as he followed her. He knelt in front of her to look into her eyes, searching them. “I know you want me too. I can smell it on you; I can hear it in the way your heart is racing. Why are you fighting it?”
“I don’t want you,” she murmured but in the same moment she gently put her hands on the sides of his face and drew him up into another kiss. When she pulled back, she threw him down onto the bed and started to unbutton his shirt, leaning close. “It’s such a lovely shirt, I’d hate for something to happen to it.”
“I have a dozen like it. Please let something happen to it,” he muttered in response, breathless as she straddled him. He wasn’t used to this. He was used to having the control. Her taking it from him drove him crazy with lust.
She snarled and ripped the shirt off him and tossed it aside, then her hands were down his pants, grabbing, stroking. He gasped and surrendered to it, content to let her do whatever she wanted to him. Just as she got him to the point where he wanted nothing more than to get on with things, she gave him an evil smirk, got up, and backed away.
Onyx stared at her, confused. Then he scowled. “Hey, you can’t get me all fired up like that then walk away.”
Callistra gave him a cool look, walked to the door and opened it, then pointed. “Get out of here.”
Onyx used his Night Creature magic to rip the door from her hands and slam it shut. Then he used it to yank her back to him as he finished undressing. “Stop being ridiculous. You just proved you want it, so take it.”
Callistra stared at him, caught off guard. Then she undressed as well and threw him back down in a fevered passion. Even as they fell tangled and desperate on the bed, she grasped at his neck, lips close to his ear. In between her gasps of pleasure, she whispered. “I don’t want you, Onyx. I just want your body. You’re a jerk. You’re arrogant and rude,” She cut herself off with a loud moan as he pleased her especially well.
He snorted in amusement and threw her on the bed as she surrendered completely to him. “Tell me my flaws after we’re done,” he growled in her ear then bit her neck to taste her as they lost themselves in passion.
Much later he jerked awake, unable to remember falling asleep. Their bodies were still tangled, and she slept peacefully against his chest, her brilliant red hair caressing his bare skin.
She woke when he brushed the hair back from her forehead and her cheeks flushed as she stared at him. Then she smacked his chest a
nd sat up, scowling. “How dare you be so good at that?”
Onyx smirked at her and rested his hands behind his head, stretching lazily. “I have to be good for something, right?”
“I hate you!” She growled then got up to gather her clothes. She pulled her shirt on, then stared at him, looking lost. “I think I love you too. What did you do to me?”
“Come back here, and I’ll show you again,” he suggested, as winked at her.
She growled and threw his pants at him. “No, sir. I believe you promised me dinner. I didn’t eat like some Night Creature did during our fun.”
Onyx licked the remnants of her sweet blood from his fangs then pulled on his pants. “All right.” He rolled to his feet, picked up his shredded shirt, and looked at her through it, raising a brow. “ You utterly destroyed my shirt and you think I’m the animal?”
Callistra turned red again and stomped her foot. “You’re incorrigible! Aren’t you supposed to be charming?”
“Only when I’m being fake and trying to seduce someone. This is the real me. Enjoy it; few get to see it.” Onyx shrugged as he strolled to the door. An odd expression crossed her face, and he raised a brow at her. “What?”
“That’s kind of sad,” Callistra murmured and turned to find a brush arrange her hair.
“It’s the truth. I’ve never had anyone I trusted enough that I could be myself.” Onyx leaned against the wall, watching her.
She closed her eyes and paused. “Neither could I. So, I was myself to try to drive you away. It didn’t work like it has with all the other men.”
“No,” Onyx laughed. “It drove me crazy wanting you.”
“Wonderful. Guess I’m stuck with you.” Callistra rolled her eyes, but it was clear she was mostly teasing. Mostly. She walked over to him then laced her arm through his. “Let’s go to dinner.”
“I should get a shirt,” he reminded her.
She trailed her nails across his bare chest in a way that made him shiver as she leaned close to whisper. “You don’t need one.” Then she tugged on his arm and pulled him from the room.
He laughed as he led her down to the dining room where dinner awaited. The servants scattered to bring them fresh hot dishes as they ate, but Onyx barely noticed them. He was too lost in her presence.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Niyx glared at Onyx. “Raijin is where?” he demanded. Onyx squirmed at the harsh tone but crossed his arms. Niyx could smell the woman all over Onyx and he sighed. Foolish of him to think his brother wouldn’t be persuaded by…he trailed off that thought as he glanced at Demi. The man-dragon smirked at him as if he could read Niyx’s thoughts and that unsettled Niyx into turning away and storming over to sit on his throne once more. Niyx stared out over the cursed graveyard. “You let him go so you could have the woman?”
“No. Well okay, maybe. Sort of,” Onyx admitted. “She thinks that Raijin was corrupted by that dragon magic infused light they were training with. He seems to be coming to his senses since he’s been away from there and you freed the dragons.”
Demi stirred from his place behind Niyx’s throne and sauntered over to sit on the throne’s arm, his long ears pricked forward with interest. He ignored the annoyed look Niyx gave him and focused on Onyx. “Dragon magic has never bound well with the light. They were fueling the Templars with it?”
“More specifically, with yours,” Niyx pointed out. “The corrupted Templars were part of the House that held you prisoner.”
Demi raised his brows, then laughed. He laughed so hard he actually fell off the chair and to the ground.
Niyx looked at Demi as if he had lost his mind. Maybe he had. If he had even been sane to begin with. “What is so funny?” Niyx asked, confused.
Demi propped himself up on the side of the throne and wiped real tears from his eyes as he gasped for breath. “Oh, that’s just beautiful. They hated your kind so much they decided to poison themselves with the power of the mad dragon king as though their puny little mortal frames could handle it. No wonder Raijin’s mind is addled.”
Niyx rolled his eyes. Perfect. His new lover was insane. That explained a lot, actually. He sighed. “So when he attacked me in the woods, he was lost to madness already?”
“I think so. That’s why he saw you as a monster and not a child,” Onyx agreed though he, too, gave Demi a wary look. “But the good news is, now that he’s not being fed the poisoned light, he seems to be coming back to his senses. All the corrupted Templars should recover. Ruel went to meet with the council today to explain those findings and try to persuade the few houses still being stubborn about releasing dragons to let them go.”
“Ah yes, that brings us back to the unfortunate matter of your adoptive brother’s pact with a dragon who should be dead, but is somehow not.” Demi sobered and narrowed his eyes at Onyx. “That magic is also really dark and corrupt you know. It will poison him.”
“I don’t think so. Ruel’s strong enough to handle it.” Onyx played with his daggers. “Why don’t you mind your own dragon business and leave the dead ones for me to worry about?”
“If I were a dragon, I would eat you as a snack, you arrogant little Night Creature,” Demi threatened with a growl.
“You would not,” Niyx said firmly with a warning glare. “Watch your words, Demi. That is my twin, and I cared for him first.”
“But you do care for me, yes?” Demi smirked at him with a shrug, then slunk off back to the village when he earned yet another glare.
Onyx crossed his arms and raised his brows at Niyx. “And you give me a difficult time over Callistra. Why are you playing with an insane, annoying not-dragon?”
Niyx let out a frustrated sigh. “The same reason you are playing with a Templar that would rather kill you than bed you. Neither of us can help ourselves. Blame the Night Creature magic and the bloodlust.”
Onyx grinned. “We do have something in common. Does he smell like flowers? Callistra smells like flowers and it drives me absolutely crazy for some reason. I don’t even like flowers.”
Niyx wrinkled his nose. “No, he smells like power. Magic. Something mysterious and dangerous. Irresistable.” Niyx rested his cheek on his hand. “It’s really quite irritating.” Niyx raised his gaze to meet Onyx’s. “What is the plan now? Are you any closer to rooting out the corruption in Aderaan, or are you too busy fighting with your woman?”
Onyx gave Niyx an aggravated look. “All business and no play makes for a very boring life, Niyx. Give me a break. I’ve been chasing her for a while now; let me enjoy the satisfaction of the catch.” When Niyx gave him a harsh look, he sighed. “All right. I’ll go back to garroting and stabbing tonight, just for you.”
“The enemy, Onyx. Not your woman,” Niyx reminded him with a smirk, then rose to return to the village.
Onyx trailed behind him. “What will you do?”
Niyx dodged Night Creatures running back and forth with supplies. He paused to watch them attempting to construct a wall from sharpened tree trunks. “We will build my city. A king must have a kingdom, yes?”
Onyx blinked at him and looked at the Night Creatures running around. “Niyx, why don’t you just make it out of ice? Actual ice, I mean, not your dragon pet.”
Niyx stopped short to look at him, startled. “What?”
“No, really. I’ve seen you summon ice to cover things, to make walls, so just make an ice city. Why not? It’d be a lot faster and more impressive.” Onyx laughed. “Didn’t you think of it?”
“I…no,” Niyx admitted. He realized suddenly that he had never thought to use his magic to build, only to destroy. “Do you think it would work?”
“Why wouldn’t it work? You can make it do whatever you want right?” Onyx asked, excited. He rubbed his hands together. “So make an ice fortress! Then Aderaan will know you mean business.”
Niyx turned back to the cursed graveyard and walked to the entrance. He pulled his giant blade and set it firmly into the ground in front of the graveyard and clos
ed his eyes. He willed the moisture in the air around him to freeze, summoning a sudden blizzard. He ignored the startled shouts of Onyx and his people as the snow piled around them. He used it to create slick walls, floors, and a ceiling of ice. When he opened his eyes, he stood within a huge, crystallized ice fortress. His Night Creatures slowly filed in behind him to stare in awe.
“You couldn’t build it out of something less frigid?” Demi complained, rubbing his scaled arms as his breath misted in the air.
“It’s beautiful!” Kiril exclaimed, tears in her eyes as she hugged Nial close. The little boy was staring at the throne room with eyes as wide as saucers.
Niyx crossed the throne room. The graves were now entombed safely in crystallized ice caskets that glittered like diamonds beneath the floor. Ice flew in one of the windows and landed behind the throne to curl up around it as Niyx sat down. Yes. This felt like home now. “Good idea, Onyx,” he said, grinning at his twin with pride.
“Glad I could help. I’m leaving before I freeze to death,” Onyx said as he disappeared through the door with a wave.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Onyx growled as he tightened the garrote. The man struggled and clawed at the wire around his neck, but Onyx kept behind him and out of reach of the man’s flailing hands. This was the last noble on his list and his arms were starting to ache and his hands hurt. It had been a long time since he had killed so many in a short time. He watched the man’s eyes bulge and it disappointed him. They were all the same. First it was disbelief, then anger, then denial, and then their eyes pleaded for mercy as the light went out of them.
Finally, the man fell limp and Onyx dropped the corpse on the floor. He wound his garrote wire back around his wrist, then hauled the body over to the massive trunk in the corner. He threw the body inside and locked it. Someone would come and retrieve it later. No one would ask about the mysterious group of missing nobles, or wonder why they all went missing today. It was how the game was played in Aderaan. Oppose the ones in power, and you died.
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