“You weren’t on rotation,” Xander said. “So what, you just stumbled upon it?”
Axel cleared his throat. “I chased a hound.”
Riley glanced at Titus before returning to Axel. “Is it dead?”
He nodded, the subtle movement causing his head to spin.
Fuck. What was in that pill?
“I managed to kill it before the rest of its pack came back to the nest,” he continued. “Then I called the cleaners before it could be discovered by anyone else.”
Riley stood, the heavy leather chair rolling back to knock against the glass. “What’s the first rule, Axel?”
Titus shifted from one foot to another behind him, but Axel refused to turn as Riley repeated the question.
“Never engage alone,” Axel mumbled.
Daemons were powerful, as were the Veyns who crawled out of Hell along with them. They may have been trained specifically to fight, their bodies tortured and forced to control magic that wasn’t natural, but that didn’t mean they were invincible.
“I can sense Daemonic energy,” Riley said, his voice quietened as he stepped around the desk.
“No shit,” Axel sniggered. “I just found a nest, what else do you expect?”
“Careful,” Xander warned.
Riley moved until they were toe to toe, silver teasing at his irises. “No, I can sense Daemonic energy inyou.”
Axel dropped his gaze, unable to watch the disappointment he was sure would flash in Riley’s expression. He knew the red had gone from his irises, but clearly some remnants of the drug still lingered. “There’s something else I needed to discuss. Alone, Sire.”
Riley paused, head cocked before he nodded. They didn’t usually call him by his title, Riley preferring they didn’t, but Axel knew it was the one way to get him alone. He was their leader, the strongest and first of them to go through the ritual to gain his beast.
“I took something last night, a gas called Crimson Mist. It allowed my beast to take control while still remaining the man.”
A heavy pause. “Fucking hell.” Riley’s growl forced Axel’s head back up. “How bad?”
“It wasn’t that –”
“Axel,” Riley snapped. “I’m not talking about your beast. As you’re still in once piece, I’m going to assume that he released you quickly enough. I’m talking about you, and the fact you took some fucking gas not knowing the consequences. So, how bad?”
“It was nothing, something to take the edge off –”
“Take the edge off?” Riley’s voice had gone dangerously quiet. “What the fuck is wrong with you? I’m aware you take some shit, you’re an adult who can make his own decisions. But it hasn’t interfered with your hunting until now.”
“What do you mean?” Axel stepped back. “It hasn’t interfered with anything, and especially not me hunting.”
“Rule number fucking one. Do you truly believe you would have made the decision to engage in that hound alone if you weren’t fucking high?”
“What is this, shout at fucking Axel day? I wasn’t high!”
“Then why the fuck would you even take it? You’ve just admitted you’ve taken brimstone, and it resulted in you losing control to your beast. Talk to me, Axel. Because I know for a fact you’re not talking to Ti anymore. If there’s a problem, we’re here to help.”
Axel’s excuse was ready, but nothing came out. His face had become numb, the rain that had started to come down thicker once more glistened against the window like diamonds.
“You’re not even listening.”
Axel blinked, dragging his attention back to the conversation. “I’m sorry, it won’t happen again.”
“It better not, because I can’t risk you out on the field like this. Next time you find a Shadow-Veyn alone, you don’t engage without back up. Is that clear?”
