Page 63 of Blood So Brutal

“What are you doing here?” the male in front of the group asked.

Wolf stepped forward, draping a protective arm across my shoulder. “We’re only here on a visit. We mean no harm.”

I straightened, trying my best to flex my wings as the group sized me up, taking in my new wings, my dagger, my everything. Hells, it felt like they stared directly into my soul.

“Not you,” a woman in the back asked. “Her.”

I opened my mouth to defend myself, but Wolf gave the back of my neck a light squeeze. “You know why she’s here.”

The group in front of us—all vampyres—just stood there, observing. Not one of them reached for a weapon. Not one of them even looked to be on the defense.

“We’re ready,” the male in front said. “We’ve been waiting for months now.”

“We wed on the summer equinox,” Wolf answered. I snapped my attention to him, wondering what in all hells was going on and why he suddenly knew these random vampyres. Were these the same ones who took Abigail? “I expect my father will be here in full force the next day or two.”

Wolf was the one who spoke, but still, all the eyes lingered on me. I didn’t trust myself to speak, didn’t trust myself to move.

“Is she as powerful as you say she is?” the male in front asked.

Wolf smiled softly, rubbing a thumb against the back of my neck before answering, “She is even more powerful than we could have dreamed.”

My breath hitched in my throat. I wanted to turn, wanted to run, wanted to scream. Why were they talking about me this way? And who in all hells were these people?

Vampyres, yes. The ones here in hiding, I was starting to guess.

The ones Wolf was sent here to scope out.

Unease washed over me at the thought of it. I didn’t know who to trust. Wolf was playing both sides. This was more than sneaking around. It was more than standing up to Wolf’s asshole father.

This was a rebellion against the archangel.

All thoughts ceased as the female in the back of the group took a knee. Another one did the same. Then another—all kneeling until the entire group before us bowed, lowering their heads.

“What’s happening?” I asked.

Wolf bent over to whisper in my ear, “All hail the blood queen.”

Wolf led me back to the tower, back up the massive staircase that led to the top floor, to the suite where Jessiah waited for us. He didn’t so much as glance at us as we approached, just kept his focus on the ceiling as he splayed across the sofa, his white angel wings relaxed on either side.

My chest tightened when I saw it. Wolf used to lounge that same way, his black wings a force to be reckoned with.

“We’re back,” I announced. Wolf walked straight past me and into the room I slept in last night.

Clearly, he wasn’t speaking to Jessiah.

But Jessiah didn’t seem to notice or care. His eyes widened when he finally turned to face me. “Well, well, well,” he cooed. “Did somebody finally learn some control of their magic?”

“I don’t know,” I pushed my power out, using all the control I had left to flare my wings. “Why don’t you tell me?”

He smiled and flung himself off the sofa, taking in my wings with his jaw hanging open.

“Hells,” he sighed. “These wings are massive. That’s damn impressive for a vampyre, Huntyr, even one of your lineage.” He stepped to the side to take them in fully, nodding slowly in approval. “I haven’t seen fae wings like these in years. Your magic is…it must bestrong.”

“It’s incredible,” I sighed. “It feels so normal, like I should have had wings this entire damn time.”

He smiled lightly. “Would’ve made your life a lot easier, huh?” His face slowly dropped, my small window into the cheerful Jessiah slowly vanishing.

They were both hurting. I knew that. It didn’t take a genius to see that their father had really done some damage on both of them. Still, Jessiah wasn’t the asshole, but he had no right to pile on Wolf the way he did.

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