Notyet, at least.
Oleks noted that a line of guards stood on each side of Drago, an empty spot on his right which he quickly filed into.
Griffin knew. This entire time. Heknewwho the Creators were.
It was another dose of betrayal. Another heart-stabbing agony. He ran his tongue across his teeth as he attempted to keep his emotions under control. Drago led them to a large box on wheels, gesturing for just Oleks to join.
The carriage.
Oleks remained silent, keeping his head down, and attempting to once more fall under the radar as he was accustomed to.
His life before Griffin had been a dark and desolate place. One filled with a cycling of abuse and suffering. There were many people who aimed to hurt him.
But none had broken Oleks like the Rogers. They single-handedly tore out his last remaining tendrils of sanity. Had pushed him past the point of return.
Drugged him to beagreeable.
And he had made it his mission ever since to gain resistance to the poison they used. But no matter how hard he tried…it was the only one he still reacted to.
That brought him to his knees. That hardened his cock and sped up his heart. That made him want what he had not desired prior.
The carriage opened again and the rest of Raven’s men ducked inside.
Drago didn’t wait for them to find their seats, knocking on the cushioned wall behind him, and the carriage jerked into motion.
Raven’s men wore black hoods that Maverick was the first to flip off as he settled beside Drago, his vibrant hair a stark contrast to it. Oleks still wore a helmet, but he wasn’t planning on removing it. Even so, Maverick met his eyes through it, offering a slight quirk of his lips.
Oleks liked Maverick the most of her men. Enzo was untrustworthy. Levi was too much. Julian was clearly psychotic.
And Griffin.
Griffin was an asshole.
Levi settled at Oleks’ side, his oversized legs pushing against him in an uncomfortable way. He hated being confined. Despised anyone touching him.
Except her.
“Did you find him? Ivan?” Levi asked Drago.
Oleks watched Drago. The furrowing of his brow, the tightness of his lips. It appeared to be annoyance reflected there, but it didn’t translate well. Or perhaps Oleks’s own anger toward Griffin was being misdirected at his brother.
“No sign of Ivan, even after we cleared the ship. Amelia is safe, I sent Felix with her.” Drago sighed exhaustedly. “But Ivan can’t make it far here. He’s from Violencia, he wouldn’t know anyone, wouldn’t have any support.”
Except, that isn’t true. If Harold and Sharon are the Creators. If Griffin is from Grypheem. It is clear that Ivan could very well know anyone here. He could have met a citizen while living in Violencia.
But Oleks kept the thoughts to himself.
“What now?” Enzo snapped, flipping the hood back. “We start a fucking war?”
He sat on the other side of Levi, Maverick across from him on the opposite bench, their knees nearly touching in the confined space.
Drago let out a loud sharp laugh. “Yes. We go to war with Violencia. We clear out the corruption and make it inhabitable again. And then we all go on our merry ways.”
Maverick’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t speak. “Then why do we need Raven? Why do you need us?”
“The only way we can start a war isfora Sacred Cherished. And after all, her daughter is in Violencia. If Griffin is to marry her, then that child is a citizen of Grypheem and needs to be returned.” Drago leaned back into the dark purple velvet cushion stitched wall behind him.
Levi stiffened, his hands clenching into mallets on his knees.
