Page 46 of Branded By Shadow
Damon moved to the center of the speaking circle, his presence seeming to suck the air from the space. “I claimed Cora Ellis according to House Hades tradition, before anyone knew her heritage.”
He spoke my name as if I were property being catalogued, not a person fighting for her life. His clinical tone was a violation, stripping away my choice and reducing us to a power play. Iclenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms so hard I almost drew blood.
One of Damon’s shadows curled around my leg and squeezed, a silent command. I bit my tongue and stayed silent.
“I understand your point of view, Madam Dawnfield, but the reality is you simply didn’t find her in time.”
Lyra refused to back down. “You arrogant… Cora is and will always be House Demeter. We don’t abandon our Omegas to Houses that take without asking.”
Helena leaned forward in her seat. She looked from me to Damon, hesitation flickering over her stern face. “House Hera supports House Demeter’s position,” she said at last. “Above all else, we must prioritize the Omega’s wellbeing.”
My heart leaped. She was defending me, just as she’d promised. But what did that mean here, in front of the Council?
Cassandra wasn’t here. That could only be for one reason. Helena had known her presence and testimony would only make things worse.
It was Alexander who’d arranged this summons, and I didn’t believe for a second that he’d done it for House Demeter’s benefit. He didn’t seem inclined to claim me for himself, but that didn’t mean a thing. “House Zeus maintains that bloodline rights supersede claiming traditions,” he offered. “Dr. Ellisshould have been approached through House Demeter, not taken by force.”
His gaze found mine for just a moment, not threatening, but assessing. Was it all just a show? I couldn’t tell. House Zeus’s aura had been a powerful weapon at the conference. If he was using it now, I’d never know.
I supposed it didn’t matter. The lines were drawn. House Demeter for my bloodline, Damon for his claim, and Alexander playing the righteous referee over it all.
“Dr. Ellis,” Lyra called out, cutting through the political maneuvering. “House Demeter requests permission to verify your heritage.”
Julian considered the request for a long moment. “Permission granted for verification.”
Lyra approached the speaking circle and extended her hand toward me. “Come home, sister,” she whispered. “Let us show you where you truly belong.”
Her touch felt warm and nurturing, like finding something I’d never known I’d lost. The moment we made contact, my skin tingled with a surreal sense of familiarity. Flowering vines and grain patterns appeared across my body, intricate designs that spoke of growth, abundance, and life itself.
The marks were so beautiful my breath caught in my throat. For a moment, I understood what it meant to belong somewhere, to be part of something larger than a forced claiming.
Then darkness surged from within me.
Shadow marks erupted from beneath my skin, chasing Lyra’s flowering patterns away. Where her designs had been warm and welcoming, these were cool and claiming. They wrapped around my flesh like protective bonds that tolerated no competition.
The display made gasps echo throughout the space. Observers left their seats to witness the battle. “Gods above,” someone whispered. “She’s branded by two Houses.”
“Nonsense,” Damon growled from beside me. “What matters is that Cora bears my marks. The claim is established.”
“On the contrary,” Alexander practically purred from his seat. “The competing manifestations prove neither claim is absolute. The bond is weak, incomplete, vulnerable to challenge.”
There was something almost perverse in how quickly he built a legal argument from what should have been concern for my wellbeing. Even if he hadn’t forced my heat, he was still the dangerous snake I remembered. And at that moment, I hated him more than ever.
Heavy footsteps echoed across the stone floor, interrupting the exchange. A massive figure strode into the speaking circle without permission. Battle scars marked his muscled arms liketrophies, and he radiated a raw violence that made civilized talk feel like a fragile lie.
“Marcus Dred, House Ares,” the newcomer announced, each syllable carrying a threat. “If we’re discussing incomplete claims, let’s stop going around in circles. I think we all know what this is all about. We saw it the moment Blackwood stepped into the amphitheater, practically rut-addled.”
The temperature in the space dropped noticeably as Damon’s shadows responded to the direct challenge. Marcus’s gaze fixed on me, then shifted to Damon.
“Stop pretending, Blackwood.” Marcus’s challenge echoed off the stone walls. “The situation’s more than clear. The Omega bears two marks because her Alpha lacks the strength to maintain dominance.”
Damon moved before thought, shadows exploding outward as he positioned himself between Marcus and me. “Oh? And I suppose you deem yourself stronger than me.”
“Enough!” Julian commanded sharply. “This isn’t what we’re here for.”
Marcus didn’t even look at him. “Of course it is. House Ares’s protection is the natural solution for an Omega of such worth.”
This was ridiculous. First Alexander, now this stranger? Where had he even come from?
