Page 62 of Right Hand Of The Reaper
Roux
“Whatthefuckareyou doing here?” I asked when I saw who the idiot was that knocked on the door.
“Is that any way to greet an old friend?” Magnus asked with a smug curl to his mouth.
The twins growled behind me, and Rayne launched past me, grabbing Magnus by the throat and slamming the guy into the ground.
“How did you find us?” Rafe barked as he ran towards his twin, dropping to his knees the other side of Magnus who was now squirming in the dirt, trying to escape. Thane stood to one side, his hands tucked into his pockets, his face showing nothing but boredom. Atticus watched the scene unfolding with curiosity, his arms folded, and his head tilted to one side.
Magnus gasped some incoherent words, and I was undecided about stepping in to save the bastard. Part of me was enjoying his discomfort immensely but we weren’t going to get any answers out of the vampire this way.
I sighed and stepped towards the twins. “Let him go, Rayne.” He let out another growl and squeezed tighter. “We need to know why he’s here. You can play with him after.”
Magnus’ face paled a little at my words. Good. He should be worried but at least Rayne listened. He stood from the floor and went back into the house without a backward glance, slamming the door behind him. I cast a quick glance at Rafe but he was already standing and following his twin into the house.
I looked at the vampire currently laid out at my feet and propped my foot on his chest. “Be a good boy and stay there.”
He had the audacity to grin up at me, so I pressed firmer on his chest and rested my weight on my knee.
“This place is warded to the heavens. How the fuck did you find us?”
Magnus said nothing, just turned his arm over so I could see the matching sigil on his arm to the one I had. “I had a conversation with the Fates. They told me where I could find you.”
“And why would you want to find me?” I asked. “Aren’t you busy with all your kingly duties?”
His red eyes flashed at my jibe. “Yes, but this is important. There’s more at stake than just finding Thane.”
I narrowed my eyes. “What do you mean? And don’t fucking say you can’t tell me.”
“Can we have this conversation inside?” he asked. “I’ll tell you everything. I promise.”
I stared at him for a moment, trying to decide if I could trust him. I expected to see the mask that he usually wore but all I saw was him. There was an openness in his eyes that I hadn’t seen for a long time, and I was hopeful that this was going to be the moment when he would finally tell me everything.
“Don’t lie to me and don’t piss the twins off. I will let them eat you.”
He grinned. “Promises, promise.”
I rolled my eyes and stepped off him, leaving him in the dirt and walking into the house. The twins were in the entrance hall waiting to dissuade me from hearing him.
“You can’t let him in,” Rayne spat. “He’s got nothing but lies and half-truths.”
“Look, he’s here for a reason,” I said walking past them. “Let’s hear him out.”
“No,” Rafe said firmly.
I span around and stared at the defiance I could see in their eyes. “I get that you two have history with him, so do I, but if the Fates sent him here there must be a reason. We’re paddling up shit creek and we’ve got a hole in our fucking boat. We need all the help we can get and if Magnus is here to help, I’m not turning him away.”
“You’re blinded by your love for him, Roux. Can’t you see that?” Rafe said, stepping closer.
“And you two can’t see past your hate!” I spat, causing the pair of them to flinch. “I get that he hurt you, fuck, I can’t look at him without feeling my heart crumble again, but this is bigger than us. Bigger than him. And I can’t do this without you.”
They looked at each other, indecision warring in their expressions as they silently communicated with each other.
“If it helps,” I said, “I’ve told him that you’ll eat him if he pisses you off.”
They both huffed a breath, but I could see some of the tension leave their shoulders.
“Fine,” Rafe growled. “But we don’t like it one bit.”
