Page 11 of A Fury Of Shadows

Vedran’s gaze twinkled with amusement. “Ourplanis to keep you safe and sound by my side, where you belong. Oscar will go to New York and deal with her.”

Oscar furrowed his brow. He didn’t seem to like the sound of that.

Vedran ignored his evident displeasure and looked over at Rose. “Barquiel and Dietrich have cooked up a little surprise for the Witch Queen and her friends. I’m sure they’ll…enjoy it.”

Malice underscored his words.

Dietrich Farago was an Immortal and genius alchemist who had been in the service of the Dark Council for the last decade. He had known Barquiel longer still, their past a mystery even to the Sorcerer King.

Frustration churned Nikolai’s stomach. He ground his teeth. “I appreciate that you want me to stay close to you, father, but I’m not some weakling who needs your constant protection. Let me go to New York and settle this once and for all!”

His irate words reverberated around the chamber.

Rose arched an eyebrow. Even Oscar stared at him like he’d lost his mind.

For a heart-thumping moment, Nikolai wondered if he had. No one openly defied the Sorcerer King and lived to see another day, even if they were related to him by blood.

“It appears you are yet to fully recover from the effects of Mae Jin’s bewitchment,” Vedran said calmly. “I was warned your emotions would remain volatile for a while.”

“I—” Nikolai faltered. His nails sank into his palms. He felt like a hotheaded child in the face of his father’s benevolent attitude. “I’m sorry.”

“You have nothing to feel sorry for, my son.”

Nikolai’s pulse quickened. He met Vedran’s eyes.

Even though his memories were muddled, he was pretty certain the Sorcerer King had never called him that before. Nor even Oscar.

A strange expression danced across his brother’s face. If Vedran noticed, he didn’t show it.

“You and Barquiel should have a chat,” he told Oscar mildly. “And make full use of what your brother has gifted you and our council in the short time we’ve had him back in our fold.”

A muscle twitched in Oscar’s cheek at their father’s command. He nodded curtly and twisted on his heels. Drabek mewled softly around his legs as he headed for the exit.

Rose cast a thoughtful look at Nikolai and followed Oscar to the door. It closed soundlessly behind them.

Vedran stood up and indicated a seating area by a window, like he’d been waiting for this moment. “Come.”

Nikolai steeled himself as he fell in step behind his father. This was a part of his new daily routine he would never get used to.

They settled opposite one another.

“Show me,” Vedran ordered.

Nikolai took a deep breath. Heat surged through his and Alastair’s cores as he summoned their Hellfire Magic. A dark red blaze engulfed the crow.

Excitement brought a faint flush to Vedran’s cheeks. The Sorcerer King leaned closer, his gaze bright with the reflection of the flames Nikolai and his familiar had brought forth and a hunger he could not quite mask.

It took all of Nikolai’s willpower to suppress a shudder when his father pressed a hand to his stomach. Black magic bloomed around Vedran’s fingers, the bands so thick with corruption Nikolai felt fairly sick as they kissed his skin. He gritted his teeth when his father’s powers seeped beneath his flesh, the echo of Alastair’s pain stinging him more than his own. Despite his instinct to pull away, he accepted it all.

After all, this is necessary to defeat the Witch Queen.

CHAPTER5

“Dammit all to hell!”

An ugly expression darkened Oscar’s face. He stomped across his suite and punched the wall viciously, his magic protecting him from harm even as his fist cracked the stone.

“I can’t believe my father is keeping that asshole by his side!” he raged, spit flying from his lips. “And he even called him,” his mouth twisted in an expression of pure disgust, “—son!That guy is nothing but the dirty bastard of a whore! Howdarehe think he can take my place?!”

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