“I wouldn’t do that if I were you, Storm. I can snap her neck before you can hit me.” The man behind me said. “Selene just wants to talk to her. She’ll be returned alive.”
His play on words was interesting. A lot of damage could be inflicted on a person without causing their death. I didn’t see Pantar or Mira, and Zeke and Zane seemed to have disappeared as well.
“Calvin, there is no chance you’re taking her anywhere. I won’t allow it.” Oren growled.
“Nexus, Jet, and Nathan have made their way near you. One is to your left, and one is above. The twins are going to distract him, and that’s when you’ll have your chance.”Oren sounded worried with a good dash of rage mixed in.
“We’ll see about that.” The man, Calvin, said in a rather whiny voice. I don’t think Selene sent her most high-level Faction member. Was it weird that I was a little insulted?
I felt his arms tighten around me, preparing to teleport me who knows where, just before Mira and Pantar raced in with a Moon twin on each of their backs. Both men were screaming an Aurathion war cry that hurt my ears.
Calvin loosened his hold on my neck for a split second, and that’s all it took. I grabbed his nuts and squeezed with all the strength I had. He screamed and then struck me on the side of my head, trying to make me release him. I saw stars, but I didn’t let go; my hand began to heat with my ability.
Suddenly, his nuts were ripped out of my grip when Jet dropped from somewhere above him. He punched Calvin in the kidney, causing him to stagger and fall to his knees. Nathan appeared and grabbed his hair, pulling his head back, and slit his throat.
“That was my kill, motherfucker.” Jet growled, blood covering his face from the spray that had erupted from Calvin’s throat.
Nathan used his shirt to wipe the blood from his knife.
“She’s my Nexi,motherfucker. You’ve just seen fit to pull your gigantic head out of your ass. Until she trusts you fully, you’re just afriendand nothing more. I get the privilege of killing for her.”
Zeke and Oren had rushed to my side to check my head while Zane stood between the two hotheads, trying to keep them from killing each other.
I pushed the two men away. “Enough! That’s enough," I yelled, then grabbed the side of my head from the pain. “We have enough threats out there to let who-got-to-kill-who divide us.”
Zeke pulled me into his arms and laid his hand on my head where I had been injured, and I felt a soothing coolness. When he removed his hand from my face, all the pain was gone.
“Did you just heal her?” Zane asked incredulously.
“Did I?” Zeke turned me in his arms so he could examine my head. I felt him reverently glide his fingers down my face. “I did. I healed her.” He whispered in disbelief, then pulled me tightly against his body.
Oren walked over, and I was sandwiched between the two men. There were zero complaints from me because I could use the comfort. For all my training, I had never faced any real danger. I can’t say I was afraid exactly, but for a second, I forgot about my abilities in the heat of the moment. I needed to work on that; a war was coming, and I refused to be the weak link in this Faction.
Oren reluctantly released me, “This is bad. I knew who he was because I’ve intercepted communication between Selene’s
Faction and my father over the years.” He rubbed his temples, “Between the death of Beatrice and now him, she’s going to be enraged.”
Nathan paled a little at his remark, and that scared me more than anything. “That woman is true evil. She needs to be destroyed sooner rather than later.” He walked over and pulled me from Zeke, holding me and swaying from side to side.
“There is no argument there, but for all her wickedness, the real danger lies with the Brummond. If she embodies Lilith, then he represents Lucifer in the flesh." Oren met each of our eyes, “And we have to get through my uncle first to destroy him.”
“Nothing will ever happen to you as long as I draw breath,” Nathan whispered, still rocking me in his arms.
“A tremendous malevolence resides within Ubel Brummond. He is the chief architect of all that has transpired. He must be destroyed to restore our world to its former greatness,"Mira said, approaching our group.
“You should let me go to Aurathia and destroy them all.”
Pantar prowled over and nuzzled my temple.
Mira chuffed,“I admire your bravery, but you’re not ready for such action yet. If there is any lesson to be learned from my Faction, it’s that staying together is essential. A pack is at its strongest when it attacks together.”
I knew Mira spoke the truth and was relieved when Pantar nodded in agreement.
“I thought your Uncle Trent was the strongest of the Dark Faction?” I asked Oren, confused by his and Mira’s comments.
“He is. But Ubel controls him through lies and manipulations. That’s why Trent doesn’t have a Faction. There is no way Ubel would take the chance of losing his influence over Trent. Unfortunately, my father helps with this.” Oren hung his head in shame. I approached him and took his face in my hands.
“None of that. I can feel your intent inside me. You want the best for our people.” I kissed him gently, “Even if you won’t admit it out loud.”
