Chapter Twenty-Nine

Felix

I understand now why my parents hate Nocturnus. Because these ubiquitous monsters have been running it from a place of greed and perversity. I also get how Riot and the others want to change that. But I'm here for her . For my little raven. I'll tell Holden Graves whatever he wants to hear just so I can watch her cut his heart out.

Riot snaps open the door to the library, and we barrel in. I try not to become distracted by the bookshelves that line the walls, spotting a first edition of Frankenstein to my left.

We charge toward the three old men in the center of the room. With vicious snarls on their lips, they break their conversation mid-stride.

"What the fuck are you doing here? This is a private meeting," the one who looks like an older, meaner version of Riot snaps. Holden Graves .

"I brought you a new initiate." Riot points to me.

A blond man with blue-green eyes looks up at me over his spectacles. "Aren't you Edgar Crane's son? Does he know you're here?" Fuck, he even sounds like Atlas. I wonder if people think that about me when they see my father.

"He's also the new poetry professor at Tenebrose," the third man grumbles. I'm guessing he must be Laurent Erebus. I can see where Valentin gets his death stares from.

Riot stalks toward them like a lion, fearless. He was raised around these men. While he knows what they're capable of, he also knows their weaknesses. Ego.

"Father, my apologies for barging in, but I realize you are right about everything. I fucked up. So… meet Felix Crane. My peace offering."

They eye me suspiciously as I stick out my hand. "Not hand shakers, eh?" I chuckle. I'd rather break their hands than shake them anyway.

Holden tries to get a read on his son. "This doesn't even begin to make up for the mess you made. But it's a start."

Laurent nods. "Well, since we're all here, I vote to initiate him tonight."

Pisces Thorn's eyes light up. "Are there any dolls here for us to play with?"

Holden nods. "Of course."

"Good," Pisces rasps. "I want one sitting on my cock while I watch the show."

My stomach turns. These men are vile and disgusting.

Laurent smirks. "Get one for each of us. Especially Felix. Part of being in Nocturnus is getting your cock sucked anytime you want."

"I can't wait," I murmur.

Riot's pulse quickens. I can sense it through the sigil on my thigh. The one he carved into me. "Then it's settled. Shall we?"

"Relax, son. We need to conclude our meeting first. Go wait outside until we're done." Holden turns his back, not caring for a reply as he dismisses his only son. Laurent and Pisces give their attention back to each other as well.

The rage oozes out of Riot's pores as we exit the room. "Fuck."

"Relax. We've come too far to mess this up with an outburst." Patience has become my best friend in these recent months of planning and moving to Raven's Gate. Waiting for the moment when my little raven would fly to me.

He narrows his eyes at me. "This is me relaxed."

We wait in silence for another twenty minutes before the Nocturnus elders file out of the library.

Holden clasps my back. "Come, Felix. Your whole world is about to change."

Riot rolls his eyes, but they don't see. They're too absorbed in their own greed and lust to notice anything other than the fresh meat in their hands—me.

Pisces laughs. "You're about to gain access to all the poison, pussy, and power you could ever dream of."

This one. He's the one who hired Maureen's stalker. He planned to kidnap her. I'd like to break his face first.

I smile back. "It's about time. I've been rather bored in Tenebrose."

We start to follow Holden across the foyer when he stops abruptly. "Where the fuck is Romulus?"

Riot snickers. "That old man is senile as fuck. No doubt he got lost in the east wing again."

I hold my breath as Holden taps on his phone, swiping up and down. "Everything okay?" I ask.

He nods. "It seems so. No security threats. Perhaps you're right. Romulus is getting quite forgetful these days."

Thank fuck.

Riot looks just as wound up as I feel.

We continue walking across the marble floors, past the grand staircase, and down a long corridor. The architecture alone is impressive, but the house itself is cold and soulless. Sinister. It makes me uneasy.

We come to a stop at a large steel door. "No turning back now, Felix." Holden pulls on the heavy door, revealing nothing but darkness beyond its frame.

I take a deep breath and pray to the ravens that Maureen, Val, and Atlas have succeeded in taking over the ritual room.

"I'm ready."

Riot nudges me forward. "Let's fucking go then."

As soon as I step into the dark abyss, a sconce lights up on the wall to my right. I grab onto the railing and take another step down. Another candle comes to life.

"That's it, boy. Keep going down. Your destiny waits at the bottom," Laurent drawls.

My destiny will be to help the woman I love destroy you.

"Get your hands off me," a woman shrieks at the top of the stairs.

Laughter erupts. "Look what I found slinking through the hall."

"Let me go!" she screams.

I know that voice.

Fuck.

I spin around and start to go back up when Riot grabs me. "It's your turn to relax. Don't give them any reaction."

"She's my sister," I growl.

He places his hand on my chest, over the sigil Maureen gave me. "I know. But we have to go along with it. I promise you, I won't let them touch her."

Every corded muscle in my body is clenched. I want to attack until I remember that these clowns don't fight fair. They're old men who win their battles by drawing power from all the sigils they've carved into their initiates.

Villette's eyes widen when she sees me as they shove her down the stairs. While they're busy ogling her, I put my finger to my lips, motioning for her to stay quiet. She releases a quivering breath.

Holden smells her hair. "Expensive shampoo. Mmm, where'd you come from, sweet thing?"

I almost vomit in my mouth.

"I-I was looking for my boyfriend. He works here." Villette's voice shakes. She's never been a good liar, but they are too blinded by their lust to catch it.

He thumbs her lip. "Well, if he works for me, then he belongs to me. And so do you. Come, sweetheart. You're going to be part of something really special tonight."

Fuck.

Riot grabs my arm. "Keep walking, Felix."

Villette whimpers with every step we take. The descent seems endless. I hate myself so much right now. I never should have allowed her to come with us tonight. She should be back at Tenebrose, safe in her room at the Nest.

If we fail… I'll never forgive myself.

They surpass me when we reach the bottom of the stairs. With my sister sandwiched between the three of them, Riot and I follow like bloodhounds, watching their every move as they lead us to the ritual room.

Riot laces his fingers through mine. "I keep my promises, Felix. She'll be fine."

I squeeze his hand. "I'll murder them." I don't give a fuck if they are their fathers.

"I'll help," Riot mutters.

This moment might be my worst. But something flickers between Riot and me. A transfer of heat and energy through our fingertips. I believe him. I trust him . His loyalty is not to these men. It's to us. Me, Atlas, Val, and Maureen. We are the ones he will kill for. No matter who the prey is. He'll murder his own bloodline to protect us.

"I'm all in," I whisper. "No more doubts. Carve my entire body up with sigils. I belong with you."

"Mors tua, vita mea. Your death, my life, Felix."

It's not the death of flesh and tissue. Death is just an ending. A chance for rebirth.

I keep a trained eye on my sister and pick up the pace as we follow more closely. I can't for any reason let them take her somewhere I can't see her.

Riot jerks his chin up, motioning to what lies ahead. "Be ready."

I swallow hard and nestle up behind Villette. I touch her back. I got you baby sister.

The lights are brighter through the entrance up ahead. It's so fucking quiet I start to fear they failed.

One by one, we enter the ritual room, and it takes a second to process what I see. Holden, on the other hand, loses his shit immediately.

"What in the fucking name of my ravens happened here?"

The ground is covered with dead naked initiates, their mouths foaming, and a few have their throats torn open. I spot a bloody stiletto next to the altar, and my heart races. On the altar itself is the biggest fucking king cobra I've ever seen.

Fucking Atlas.

But what no one can take their eyes off is her. She stands quiet and still in a sea of ravens. They gather at her feet, guarding her, worshiping their shadow goddess. Val and Atlas stand on either side of her, shirtless and bloody, their eyes murderous.

"This is what happens when you fuck with us, Father." Riot walks to the center of the room and holds up his arms like he's about to be nailed to a cross.

While they argue back and forth, I grab Villette and stash her behind me. She clings to my back. "I'm sorry, Felix. I should have stayed hidden. I heard your voice, and I thought it was all over."

"It's okay Lettie. You're safe. Just stay behind me." I'm angry with myself, not her. She's my little sister. I should have done a better job of protecting her. Bones is gonna have my balls when he finds out about this.

I lock eyes with Maureen, and it sends my pulse racing. Barefoot, her dress torn and covered in blood, she is more beautiful than ever. My sigils come alive, burning and crackling as they ache to connect to her. Every part of me longs for her. Her eyes blaze with fury when she spots Villette behind me.

Maureen's eyes flick to the altar, and I nod. "Lettie, listen to me. I need you to get on that big stone slab over there."

She shrinks back in horror. "The one with all the snakes? No fucking way."

I cup her face in my hands. "They're Atlas's. They won't hurt you. Trust me."

She nods even as her lip quivers. I need her out of the way of harm, but I also need to help my little raven.

After I watch my sister climb up onto the altar, I spot Atlas's snakes circling around her like guard dogs. He controls them. When I heard how Zeus bit Maureen's thigh, I thought it was because, well, he's a poisonous fucking snake. But now I see that it was at Atlas's command. I'm in absolute awe of him for the first time. This makes him seem less unhinged and more just fucking badass.

"You ungrateful son of a bitch!" Holden screams at Riot. Pisces shakes his head as he looks around at all the dead initiates.

But it's Laurent who fires the first shot.

With just one murderous look, he drops Val to his knees.

Maureen cries out.

The ravens flap their wings, flying above her.

Her eyes glow bright gold, like burnt honey.

She turns toward the three elders… And chaos erupts.