She took it with a weak nod and popped it in her mouth. “Thanks.”
“Your turn, Bram.” Hunter’s gaze kept mine as I rose to my feet, shaking but steady.
Jesper gave me a nod. “Step back,” he told his agents, and they listened.
The student who usually shadowed him was gone today, and I was fucking happy for that. Something was off with that girl.
Chaos tilted his head, staring at me as if waiting for my command.
“Destroy the slab and this entire area,” I told him, funneling chaos magic into his form rapidly.
Chaos grew in size and surged forward. He let out a guttural snarl, his massive form nearly eclipsing the slab as the infernal glow from the trees pulsed.
I let the raw chaos of my magic take hold.
My lesser manifestations formed—my three other wolves, the serpent, and the monstrous hawks born from my rage and power. Anger raged. They ripped into the stone with unrelenting fury. Claws shredded the altar, fangs tore through cursed rock, and in the end, all that remained was dust and pebbles.
When the site was destroyed, my other manifestations faded.
Chaos turned to Pandora. He jumped up, placing his large paws on her shoulders, and licked her face.
“You did so good,” she cooed at him, giving him pets as Demo slithered from Pandora.
Demo rushed forward to help, winding around the ruins of the ritual site as if ensuring none of it remained. When she was sure it was destroyed, she threw her head back and howled.
Chaos pulled back from Pandora and trotted over next to Demo, tossing his head back and howling with her.
I let out a shaky breath. The heavy weight on my chest finally lifted. The past my father had given me still haunted my mind, but it didn’t own me anymore.
And this place?
It was nothing but rubble.
26
PANDORA
The Supernatural Council’s headquartersgleamed. As if every inch of it was designed to remind visitors of the power held within these walls. The marble floors were polished to a mirror shine, and the intricate gold-veined patterns caught the light of the sun splashing in from the windows. Towering columns framed the hall, each one carved with sigils that pulsed with faint, steady magic.
As we entered the meeting room, a long obsidian table stretched across the chamber, where council members were already seated.
My mates and I followed Jesper’s lead and sat at the table.
Dad, Joel, and Gloria were already seated on the Demon Council. Sabine, Rowan, Wren, Damien, and Jesper were the ones on the Supernatural Council’s side that were present.
Sabine’s green eyes were sharp as she scanned the room. “Jesper briefed us on a call, so we are aware the mission was successful. Great job.”
We nodded our heads in acknowledgment.
“We need to discuss Bram’s father.” Dad’s voice cut through the room like a blade. “We were told he was the serial killer that we’ve been searching for.”
“Unfortunately, he is.” Bram tensed beside me. The weight of his resurfaced memories flooded our bond. The father who had abused him for years was the same serial killer the Demon Council had been hunting for decades. It was no wonder Bram had seen me as a threat at first because I was a noble. He’d been conditioned to think that way.
I reached for his hand under the table.
Rowan spoke up, “We already sent agents for him. We’ll apprehend him before he has the chance to disappear.”
“Thanks.” Dad nodded at him. “There’s a reason we haven’t caught him yet. Let them know to be alert.”
