Chapter 15

AYRA




"It's funny how you keep me locked up during the day, but you practically drag me up to the top of a cliff late at night when we're the most vulnerable. We're past the border, aren't we?" I asked, taking in the view below me.




With the moon this bright, it illuminated the ocean below. The consistent overlapping waves and the soft wind blowing were like music to my ears, and the serenity of it oddly calming. 




"I'm not busy at night. I don't have to worry about something attacking you from a mirror."




"What? So, you're saying Dalia won't be able to do any damage if she attacked us right now?"




"She wouldn't dare. She might be a powerful Nighthowler, but she knows how far those powers of hers stretch."




There was that confidence again. Granted I'd never seen him in action in his wolf form, but it was rather surprising that even demons were scared of him.




"And how far does yours stretch?"




"Wouldn't consider it too far and too little. Somewhere in the middle. There are some creatures I wouldn't even think of fighting, and Dalia isn't one of them."




"And the demons?"




"Believe it or not, a bunch of them are just idiots. They're quite easy to kill. If you're dealing with a demon that's more than five hundred years old, then you should be worried. Less than that, and they're quite easy to kill. You don't want to fuck with the Millenniums though."




I cast him a sideways glance. "You seem to know so much about demons."




"I like to learn about others. Gives you an advantage if you have to fight them someday."




"True. Know a place where I can get those books on demons?" 




"No. I had them a while ago, but I tossed them out. Figured there was no need to keep them if no one was going to use them."




"There went my little hope."




He cocked his head to the side to look at me. "Why the sudden interest in demons?"




"As you said, it'll be nice to have an advantage over your opponents in a fight. Learning about them would be a great help."




"You have every advantage you could possibly think of."




"The dagger?"




"Yeah. No demon can survive an attack from the blade. Just like Wylim, Draenhium weapons were made centuries ago, until they weren't. Ishmael found a way to get back to recreating the weapons. Each one takes him about a hundred years."




My jaw dropped to the ground. "How old is he?"




Ishmael looked like he was in his mid-twenties. He had a perfect bone structure, and his body was in good shape.




Nathaniel flashed me a grin. "He's made, say, about five to six of those. Throw on a couple more centuries, and you have his age."




"Holy fuck. That's old."




"He's immortal. Immortals don't age, and it's difficult to kill one."




"Are werewolves immortal?"




"Not really, no. I'll say they're semi-immortal. They have a long life span, but not like that of demons or vampires."




I blinked to make sure I wasn't dreaming, and all of this was real. "Vampires exist?"




"Demons, werewolves, and Nighthowlers exist. At this point, vampires aren't surprising or new. It's the way it's always been."




"Ever met a vampire in your life?" I asked, my interest more than piqued.




"Yeah. She was sexy."




His answer was so unexpected that I found myself snorting. "Perv. I wonder what she'd say if she could hear you right now."




"Probably think that I'm interested in joining her harem. She propositioned me the last time we met."




"Gross. People still do stuff like that?"




"You'd be surprised."




"It feels weird."




"Tell that to Alan. He was interested in joining this harem of hers."




"Alan? Never heard of him before."




"He's my brother. I have two of them. Aiden is the second one. They're twins."




"Why do they not live here with you?"




"They don't want to feel trapped on the island. I can't force them to stay."




"How do you know if they're still alive?"




"There's a pattern we have. They both send wristwatches to me at the end of every month. That way, I know they're still alive."




"You're worried about them."




"They're my only surviving family. If something happens to them... "




He trailed off, letting out a sigh. It was clear that he loved his brothers dearly, and their being away from him was eating him up.




"I'm sure they're fine. If they're anything like you, then they should be able to take care of themselves, and something tells me they're just like you."




I gazed up at the starry sky, and a part of me couldn't help but wonder if there was someone out there worried about my whereabouts. Maybe they were even looking for me. 




"You'll get your memory back."




I wasn't as worried over my memory loss as I used to be. It would return when it wanted to, and if it never did, I was fine with it.




From the marks that had been around my ankles, it was clear whatever had happened to me was traumatic. Torture with silver wasn't fun for a werewolf. I was more interested in finding out more about demons. 




"I've made peace with it now. It was locked for a reason. Ishmael is still slaving away to find a solution to it. Do me a favor and tell him to stop when next you see him."




"Will do."




I yawned, stretching out my body. "I think I'm ready to head back now."




He shook his head at me. "All that punishment, only for you to spend a few minutes here."




"That should tell you I'm not built for late-night talks. Daytime is better."




"I have better ways to keep you awake. We have to get home first if you're gonna see it."




"I'm going to bed when we get home."




"We'll see about that."




***




***BENJAMIN***




"The plan is working just as we predicted. She's weakening him," I said with glee.




I could just taste the victory at the tip of my tongue. Revenge for the humiliation he caused me decades ago.




The mighty Nathaniel Black would fall, and everyone would be forced to worship me as their supreme leader.




Years after he left, they still whispered praises of his name, comparing my rule to his. All of that would end soon. Very soon.




"Is it?" Ryker, my right-hand man asked cryptically, but I knew Ryker enough to know he was just thinking.




I smirked, rubbing my palms together. "And maybe, just maybe, I'll take his mate for myself."




"No," Ryker lashed out. "The girl has to die. If she doesn't, there'll be an even greater upset to the balance we have. Hybrids are bad enough as it is. Their offspring will tip over that balance completely."




I stared at him curiously. "What do you mean?"




"Only time shall tell, but until then, get every thought of fucking her out of your head."




"Fine, then," I consented in a bid to placate him. "There are far more beautiful women than her."




I needed Ryker on my side or I might as well be fighting a lost war. If killing Nathaniel meant I had to suck up to him, then so be it. It would all be worth it at the end of the day.