7. Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

Casmir

S omething inside of me snapped.

The dark monolith of a man had said those two words and I couldn't bear it. That wasn't fucking okay. He couldn't turn up and take what was rightfully ours.

She was sacrificed to us. Not to him.

She was mine.

And yes, I knew I'd been fighting it, and hating it, hating her, but it had clearly taken this asshole shoving it in my face for me to realise how wrong I'd been. And now, faced with this guy maybe running away with her, there was a part of me that couldn't let her go. Fuck knows what that was about. Probably something to do with the sacrifice or some shit.

I watched as Korbin tried to hold Nox back. Normally he'd easily manage that, being as they were similarly matched in physicality. Both were tall and broad whereas Rook and I fell into the leaner category, but Nox's reaction was intriguing. He was almost feral with his need to reach Raevyn. But I couldn't blame him, the need to reach her was rampaging through me as well. Which I didn't understand. What the fuck had the Raathmore Coven done to tie me to a slip of a girl, with no control over her power? It felt wrong. My other half didn't like it and I knew he was going to cause trouble over it. I might accept that she was connected to us, but I didn't think he ever would and that was a little bit terrifying. I could feel him pushing to take control, to run, and he was bleeding through into my actions. If I wasn't careful, he'd push me out the way and then we'd all be in trouble. That guy was crazy and cruel.

Rook ran towards Hawk, dodging the blows the giant threw at him. Fuck me, I'd forgotten just how powerful Hawk was. He was an Ancient, a Moroi , and the creature responsible for all the vampire myth. Legend has it, Hawk was the original Moroi, but no one has ever actually asked the guy. Or, if they did, no one survived asking the question. If my memory served me right, Hawk had been executed for the murder of Hades' lover at the time. They'd never seen eye to eye, but I guess with them both being Ancients, perhaps it was an ego thing.

Hawk hit Rook with a blast of shadow, and I knew it was time for action. I snapped in front of Hawk, giving him a dangerous smile. I wrapped my arm around Raevyn and pulled her out of his arms. I threw her over my shoulder while surprise filled his gaze, but it was too late.

I disappeared from his sight and emerged behind Nox and Korbin. I swung Raevyn into my arms, bridal style, and looked into her face. It was the first time I'd really taken the time to look at her closely. She was stunning. Her lilac hair caught in the breeze, and I caught the smell of lavender and fresh rain as it brushed against my cheek. Her eyes were wide as she stared straight back at me, her fingers absently stroking my chest. Fucking hell, it made me want to purr like a goddamn kitten.

My breath hitched. This is what had terrified me when she'd turned up. Why I'd been angry and hostile. One moment I was ready to bathe in chaos and violence because I enjoyed it, and the next, I was ready to burn the fucking world for this woman. It terrified me that she would have that kind of hold over me.

Her fingers continued to trail my chest. I don't think she even realised she was doing it. She looked at me with wariness and curiosity. I didn't blame her; I'd been an asshole. Something that, oh Gods, something I'd have to… apologise for.

"Stop eyefucking each other and help us!" Nox shouted as he darted past, ready to attack Hawk again. I'd lost track of what was happening and when I looked up, I saw the guys surrounding Hawk.

There were flashes of light and shadows followed by loud yells and grunts as they all fought to subdue Hawk, but the guy was huge. Literally. His form was expanding again, and I had no clue how to defeat him. I didn't even know how powerful the guy really was. I knew how to defeat vampires, but he was a Moroi and they, whilst sharing similar traits, gave immortal a whole different name. The guy was probably as powerful as Hades himself.

Shit . I was going to have to call our maker. There was no way we would win this otherwise.

I took a deep breath and mentally sent a plea for help to the King.

I wasn't kept waiting long. There was a flash of light followed by a boom that rocked the ground. Hades swept into the cemetery looking like the God of the Underworld he was. His back was straight, his oil-black hair slicked back from a face that would make angels weep. I didn't swing that way, but even I could tell he was beautiful. Raevyn gasped in my arms, no doubt feeling his power sweep over her. It was oppressive, and I had to fight the urge to kneel. He strode purposefully towards the battle taking place, his cold assessing gaze taking in the scene before he jumped into the fray.

Everything happened quicker than I could follow it and all too soon, Hades had Hawk kneeling at his feet. The king didn't even seem to have a hair out of place.

"Have you all quite finished?" Hades asked, his voice deep and rich. There was a chorus of agreement followed by several nods. "Would someone like to explain why I've been called to deal with this mess?" Hades looked directly at me, before dropping his gaze to the woman in my arms.

I clutched her to me tighter and something akin to interest flared in Hades' black eyes.

"Casimir, would you put me down?" Raevyn looked up at me, her voice a soft melody that had my cock taking its own interest in her. I didn't want to put her down. Now that I'd acknowledged what she was to me, I didn't want to let her go.

"Casimir?" she asked again. I realised that everyone was looking at me, even Hawk. I placed her on the ground gently and reluctantly let her go.

Raevyn looked up at me. "Who is that?"

I tucked a lock of her vibrant purple hair behind her ear. "That's Hades."

"As in…" she gulped.

"Yep," I said with a smile. Hades was pretty intimidating. Even when you got to know the guy, he was still an asshole. The only person he seemed to like was his little reaper and even then, she bore the brunt of his anger. "The King of the Underworld, God and the owner of the quickest temper."

She eyed him again, taking him in from head to toe. "He looks like a bully. I don't like how he's holding Hawk. It makes me want to—" Her words cut off as a wave of her magic brushed against my skin. It was dark and mysterious and smelt like lilies and lavender. There was a power in it that I'd only felt in the Depths of the Underworld, and I knew, without a doubt, she had the potential to be one of the most powerful beings there ever was, in life or in death. And that had me worried where Hades was concerned. Would he feel threatened by her? My gut clenched at the thought. Hades was arrogant and egotistical. If he thought Raevyn was more powerful, would he wipe her out like he did those who threatened his throne?

Hades crooked his finger at her. "Come here."

I grabbed her hand and held it close. "Be careful. Don't piss him off. Please." She nodded. "And don't lie to him. Ever."

"Don't make me repeat myself." Hades' voice boomed across the cemetery and Hawk visibly flinched under his tightening grip. Admittedly, I was intrigued by what it was that made Raevyn bring him back to life. Of all the monstrous creatures down in the Depths, what made her bring him back?

She stared up at me for permission which only made my cock harder. I nodded and she walked towards the King of the Underworld with her head held high. Hot damn, that made me want to disappear with her and fuck her until all she could think about was my name, my cock, and me. Her lack of fear was intoxicating. It made my dominant side wake up and demand she bent to our will. I wanted to try and scare her. To see if there were limits to what she'd endure and, fuck if that didn't spark my interest.

I'd been struggling with living for a while, but maybe I just needed something to focus on. No, not something, but someone .