Sin of Fury

by Avery Duncan

  Lucian looked at the folder, realizing that she meant the real deal. She swallowed as she handed it to him, suddenly nervous. Would he be able to tell they were tainted with lies and danger? Once, someone had given him the wrong papers. Without even looking at it or the papers, he had fired the tech who had dared to try and betray them.

  The information on those papers could have killed them all if Lucian had believed him.

  Now, though, she prayed that her partner was smart enough to fabricate the papers with such secrecy, they wouldn’t give away anything damning. Devlin had been the one sent to do this years ago, and only because she was very good at hiding her aura and tracking others. If deceit surrounded her, no one knew it.

  His hand was tight around the folder. Unopened. Debating, sensing. The back of her neck started to tingle before relief washed through her. His hands worked at undoing the folder while he looked at her with suspicion. She held in the nervous breath that she had wanted to release. Thank lord he was actually opening the damn thing. Now to get him to believe it, she thought with determination.

  Long, thick fingers pulled apart the lips of the folder, a dark-skinned hand slipping inside to pull out a packet of papers. They were white, with information that she prayed he believed real. If he did, then everything would go smoothly and her overseer could take over the company.

  It would be a smooth slide, a very easy shift of power. Devlin might not know what he was capable — he let others do the work for him and took care of the orders — but she knew he was dangerous. The way he carried himself, how he talked and looked... It was all the making of someone who knew he had power.

  He flipped through them, then looked at her with unreadable eyes. “How did you get this?” he demanded, looking back at them again. His hands were tight around the papers, the tension in his shoulders visible.

  Devlin shrugged, placing a hand on his shoulder. He was so enthralling, so darkly beautiful when he was angry or determined. He ran a hand through his hair, a sound of frustration coming from him. His muscles shifted under her hand, and she ran her hand down his back.

  “I get a reward?” she asked, smiling up at him with a knowing look. The sex wasn’t part of the job, but she couldn’t help her. The first time she had had him, it had been too good to not want another chance with him. The withdrawls after their first time had been confusing, had left her wanting more. He never asked her, approached her, or even went out of his way to talk to her.

  He treated her just like he treated everyone else — like objects to be thrown aside. Not that she cared, but...still. A man that fine should not be passed up, she thought, eyes dipping down to his hips. He caught her chin with his hand, staring at her.

  His eyes were unreadable. Dark and swirling, the normally silvery depths were like molten coal, so cool and black yet liquid and heated. Devlin almost purred out loud, hand flexing on his thigh. His head started to dip, lips parting. Her heart raced with excitement. She twined her arms around his neck and lifted her head for him...

  He jerked back. Stood to his feet. Anger flashed through her as she realized she wasn’t going to get anything. “Don’t tease someone like that,” she hissed, standing as well. She took a breath, the fury she felt cooling the fire that had been rising within her. How could he pull away so easily from her? she thought, crossing her arms over her chest and moving to the door.

  Lucian walked behind her, shrugged as he opened the door before she could. “Teasing would mean that I actually wanted it, and that I plan to give into it.” His lips lifted at the corner. “I, my dear, did not do, or plan to, do either of those things.”

  He left.

  She didn’t notice until she sat down on the couch that he had taken the folder with him.

  Lucian held the papers in his hand, walking through the night. His shadow fell behind him, the moon rising full above. It was illuminating the sky, guiding his path of travel. Buildings loomed over him, people inside of the large apartments that he had built for them.

  They had been standing for years. The very first time someone had come to him for help, offering a part in a company with millions of dollars at his disposal, Lucian had been disbelieving. He had been nothing but a manager at one of the root beer factories at the time, working for his pay and bowing down before a narcissistic boss. People had been fired daily, and he had been put under stress.

  The job hadn’t been a loss, even when his boss had seen him speaking with a man in a black suit and fired him on the spot. Lucian had seen a lot, he had done a lot, and he had killed a lot. The man that had contacted him had warned him that this new financial power would come at a cost.

  He hadn’t cared.

  Now, he had an empire and a lonely bed. It wasn’t important to him, though. He had never had someone sleep next to him during the night and had grown not to care. Devlin had been a pleasant enough lay, but something had seemed to so...empty about it. He had been tempted to take her once again only a few moments ago, but too much was on his mind and he knew it would have been a mistake.

  Now, though, he had other things to worry about like his missing objectives, the new policy that was getting arranged, business partners that were stuck in Orlando because of a flight delay, and so much more. His car was down the street, in its normal parking spot. His motorcycle was next to...his friends. He wouldn’t be able to say his name till the man was back. Staring at the pair, they really were the men’s pride and joy. The Agusta 1100 F4 CC was a top model, something that his friend had held immense pride in — not that he drove it much. It wasn’t meant for the business of the city that they were in, the bio of the bike closer to that of a town-bike. His car, though...

  Lucian pushed open the door to his office. Rarely did he stay at his own house. If anything, he lived, breathed, and ate his work. The office was his home, and it wasn’t like he had a choice. So many things would come up at once, and get over-pilled by other things. It was an overwhelming process, his work-life, but he put up with it.

  At least he had help...or, some. He had been taken while on vacation, and Lucian had strived to keep an eye on him. He knew more than most what it was like to be overwhelmed, but his friend had also been in such a danger that Lucian hadn’t been allowed a slip-up.

  The feeds from the camera earlier had shown him what he believed to be his worst nightmare. It had been fabricated delicately, as close and realistically designed as a butterfly's wing. If his tech hadn’t found it, who knew how longer he would have been in the dark about it.

  He rode the elevator to the top of the building, waiting for the ping to signal its arrival. It didn’t take long. In less than a minute, he was in his desk and listening to the voice machine read him the messages he had missed while he had been out. His secretary was busy enough that he had given her a small bit of vacation time, and it hadn’t been that big of a deal to take on the responsibility of her work along with his own.

  In his early days as an entrepreneur, he had been his own secretary, too wary of losing his newfound power to trust it with anyone else. He was hardened by life, by the things he had seen and done and how long he had lived, but it only helped him in his work. Dealing with snotty men with jewel engraved sticks stuck up their butt was nothing new, and he was known for his cool reserve when handling them.

  And how ruthless he was with his power.

  The lights flickered on automatically, the fluorescent lights casting a yellow glow because of the lamps that they were in. His desk was large, mahogany, and cluttered. It was probably the messiest it had ever been, and he wasn’t excited to clean it. He remembered the conversation that Levi, Devlin, and he had had as he sat in his desk and pulled the papers out.

  It was close to midnight, and the moon was at its highest. Except for the lamps, it was the only source of light that filled the room. The one-way window was open, thick curtains pulled back, and the pull the moon had on him was getting stronger.

  So subtle it was like the caress of a baby's hand on his shou
lder, he turned in his chair and looked up at the orb. It was white, pale and glowing, surrounded by darkness. As he stared at it, the more he realized that the moon was like Devlin. Lately, she had seemed...more demure, but it was tainted with... Lucian shook his head, unable to place it. Whatever it had been, it wasn’t something he wanted around his work.

  He turned around again, the swiveling sound of his chair the only sound beside the scrape of papers as he picked them up and studied them. He forced himself to focus, knowing that this was a big deal and he had to take care of the problem.

  An hour later, a call had been placed in New York and the news was being blown up.

  One of the most influential men in the United States was missing, and it was time everyone knew.

  Flesh parted beneath his hands. Talon roared, power rushing through him as he took Lyne to the ground and pounded his fist deeper into the man’s now-red skull. The sound of flesh connecting with flesh was resonating through the room, but the song it made in his soul pushed him forward.

  His other fist, which had been around Lyne’s neck, came up and grabbed his hair — just as it had been in Jamie’s. Fury flowed through him as he imagined Jamie’s eyes watering with pain because of Lyne. As he thought of her, the sound of Jamie’s scream of fear hit him. Blinded with rage, he dragged Lyne into the hall, shoving him through the closed door till it opened, and then slammed it behind him. He willed it locked, and began the onslaught of pain.

  Lyne brought up his hand, his claws gleaming in the light. Talon hissed, leaning forward to sink his teeth into his arm — he remembered the pain of Lyne’s nails sinking into his skin, pushing past blood and flesh, and then bone. He didn’t register that something was wrong, that he was too bloodthirsty. Lucian would have been proud —

  The thought cut off as Lyne brought his hand down his back. Sharp pain cascaded down his body, like droplets of fire. Talon roared, senses firing. He could feel Lyne’s pain, his fear. It spurred Talon on, made his lips curl back from his teeth as he brought his knee into the man’s groin and then reached for his neck. He felt his anger flare worse when Lyne spat at him.

  He was no longer an animal, he was a man who was about to murder the man who had ruined his life. Talon could hear the sound of foots pounding as they came down the hall. It was too heavy to be the thin Auro — he wasn’t worried about it. He forced the feet to be still, the use of his hidden powers absent in his vicious mind.

  Lyne’s death was near.

  Bloodlust curled in his gut.

  Talon sensed Jamie trying to open the door, but he refused. Lyne would not have another chance at her, of giving her pain. He roared, bring his clawed hand up. He saw the fear in Lyne’s eyes before recognition hit them. Talon’s hand buried deep in his chest.

  The door flew open.

  Talon jerked around to stare at the woman, eyes wild. Lyne took the chance. Talon didn’t see his lips peel back, didn’t see the his canines lengthen even more than they already were.

  He was too focused on what Jamie was holding.

  The collar. She surged forward, eyes glazed. Talon jerked back, furious at her betrayal before he saw that she was aiming for Lyne. Jamie let out an inhuman sound before lunging at the thin man. Talon moved on instinct, grasping his shoulders and holding him down, making sure to keep his neck away from Jamie’s hands and Lyne’s hands against the ground.

  Pure desperation flashed in her eyes before the collar latched itself onto Lyne’s neck and Jamie ran into the room. Talon forgot about her, lip curling with pleasure as he saw the pain overcome Lyne’s face. “This...can’t be...happening,” he gasped out, hands latching onto the collar. Talon let out a pleased growl just as Jamie came out of the room, a fire poker in her hands.

  Her face was drenched with sweat. Her hands were shaking. Her eyes were glazed. Her emotions...were gone. Completely gone. Talon watched her, wanting to grab the poker from her hands. Instead, he let her go to see what she would do.

  Jamie stared down at Lyne. Emotionless, she posed the long, wrought-iron stick against his chest. He was so thin...so weak as he lay beneath her. She stared at him, breath suddenly turning even. This was the man that had hurt Talon.

  She could feel him trying to pull her. It was as if his eyes were speaking to her and wrapping around her like a rope. The pull that she should have felt left her numb, and the fire poker in her hand felt like it was ice cold. Talon was beside him, staring up at her with unreadable eyes.

  He made no move to stop her.

  The poker came down as quickly as a bow being strung. It sliced through Lyne, piercing his chest and a hollow crunch sounded through the hall. His hoarse cry echoed through her soul as his life faded before her eyes. Crimson eyes slowly dimmed as blood bubbled to his lips. Except, it wasn’t blood. It was oily and black, and the more she stared, the thinner he became.

  She felt Talon get to his feet beside her. Jamie swayed, staring down at Lyne’s lifeless form. In a puff of dust, he was gone. There was no spilled blood where his form had been, only a pile of clothing that was floating to the ground. Light sprung from the floor the second the regal clothing hit the ground, nothing but a remembrance of the man who had enjoyed others’ pain.

  Something touched her elbow. Something warm, something strong. Jamie turned and stared at Talon for all of a second before dropping the poker and falling into his chest. Hard shudders wracked her body as the poker clanged against the ground. Everything around her seemed to slow down as Talon’s arms wrapped around her, holding her to him as a sob ripped from her throat.

  Was it over? It was the only thing she could think as Talon led her from the hall, picking her up. She didn’t know what he planned to do, and at that point she couldn’t care less. She had killed a man — a vile, sadistic man whose goal had been to bring them pain. Jamie’s mind reeled at the thought, pushed it away as cold air hit her shoulder.

  Oh, God — Talon set her down the minute she started to gag, held her shoulder with an awkward comfort that didn’t help her at all. As she heaved up her stomach, he gathered her hair and held it back in silence. So many things were running through her head, it was like the wheel was also turning her stomach.

  It kept coming, the rancid taste in her mouth permanent. Jamie had thought about killing Chris many times. After he was done with her body, she would lay there in silence and sob softly, wishing that she could just kill him.

  He listened to her sob softly, the gagging sounds coming from her throat making his chest hurt as he watched her bowed back. The pain that came from her was devastating, and he felt like he could do nothing to stop it. Talon was heartless, he loved to inflict pain, he loved to make people hurt — but listening to her cry and hack and grieve over killing someone almost had him on his knees.

  Talon forced himself not to focus on how soft her hair was and helped her to her feet. Her cheeks had no color at all, her eyes red and puffy, along with her nose. She looked absolutely traumatized. Talon pushed aside the feeling in his chest, the one that screamed at him to take her and run. The fact that Auro was not avenging his brother was a fact that Talon was grateful for. Wherever the man was right now, he had a feeling that whatever he found when he came back was not going to be good.

  Chapter 10

  Something was wrong, terribly wrong. Auro dropped his case and almost fell against one of the stalls. His heart raced in his ears as he met the confused eyes of the accountant.

  “Must go,” he said, almost choking.

  Lyne, his mind shouted. It was Lyne.

  Everything was a blur from them on. He ran to his car, telling his driver to get to the house as soon as he could. Horns honked, people cursed, red lights were ran, and all he could think of was the pain in his chest that was slowly seeping throughout his body.

  His eyes watered as he shot from the car. It had taken only minutes to get to the house, but already the torment he was feeling was so dangerously high that it felt like knives were shredding his heart.

  The do
or opened sluggishly. It felt like his feet wouldn’t pick up fast enough as he ran through the house, calling for Lyne. Why couldn’t he feel him? It had always come so naturally to him, so why couldn’t he now?

  Auro knew what was wrong a second before he entered the hall. The door was open. A fire poker lay on the floor.

  A pile of his brother’s clothing lay in a heap, nothing but a speck of dust to account for the body he had had.

  Auro stared, steps slowing as he came before the remains.

  Auro could have sworn later on that he had never felt such fury in his life. Rage and grief overcame him, filled his heart and soul as he fell to his knees. The howl of pain that came shortly after rang through the room. He would never forget the feeling that he felt this day.

  Tears dripped down his cheeks as his hands fisted in the clothing that his brother had worn. Life, without him, was empty. How was Auro to live? His mind rejected the thought that Lyne was gone, that he had been killed...

  His watery gaze snapped to the fire poker. Who had done it? He stood unsteadily to his feet. “Who did this?” Auro cried, the sound of utter rage bringing forth the stomp of feet. Power swirled around him, spurred on by fury. A group of weary men stood before him, one pushing another in front of them.

  “Who has killed my brother?” No one answered, a couple of coughs and then flinches when he screamed, “Tell me now!”

  An almost demonic wrath overcame him at the lack of response. He surged forward, maniacal hand latching onto the neck of a man with a scar running along his cheek. “Tell me,” he roared.

  “We didn’t see it,” he growled, pulling against Auro’s hold on his neck. He tightened his hand, watching with mild pleasure as the veins started to pop on the man’s face. He saw movement from behind him and turned deadly eyes on the man. He stopped moving.