Chapter 21

NATHANIEL




"Nate, come sit for breakfast."




There in my kitchen was Aiden with an apron tied around his waist as he moved around the kitchen like he did it every day.




"Where is Alan?" I asked, plopping down on a stool. 




"He went for a run. We figured things are going to get hectic around here. Relieve the stress while we can and all that."




He placed a plate of hashbrowns and eggs in front of me, but I couldn't bring myself to reach for it. Food was the last thing on my mind.




"We checked through security footage of the party. At what point did you know Acheron was gone?" He asked, going into business mode. 




"A few minutes after I had a glass of champagne? I can't remember," I replied, rubbing my eyes.




"Who gave you the glass of champagne?"




"I took it from Ayra."




"Bingo. We saw the security footage, and aside from the champagne, you didn't have anything else."




"No. Ayra would never do that," I said, my brows knitting together. "She would have probably had the drink for herself. I was the one who took it from her. She didn't give it to me."




"I don't know, Nate. You don't know how conniving some of these females can get. Sandra said you two have been living together for a while now."




"What does that have to do with anything?"




"She knows you. You two have been fucking after all. She could've probably predicted it. That happens if she has been watching you closely."




"Ayra would never do that," I repeated.




"Wouldn't she? She could be a spy just like Sandra said."




"Sandra is just bitter that Ayra is here. I wouldn't take her words seriously if I were you," I said, pushing away from the kitchen island.




"Where are you going?" Aiden asked.




"That's not why you're here, Aiden. You're here to protect Ayra, not meddle in my life."




"I am your brother."




"I realize that."




We had a stare-off for a while before he backed down and broke eye contact. 




"If you die because of your stupidity, then that'll on you," he said to my back as I made my way out of the kitchen.




I opened Ayra's door to check on her, but she wasn't there. I didn't have to search around to know she was by the poolside. That was where she mostly stayed, whether or not she was swimming.




This morning, she wasn't swimming, but she sat by the pool, staring at something in the sky with a lost look in her eyes. It was still the early hours of the morning, and the sun wasn't out yet.




"Ayra," I called out, jarring her out of her thoughts.




"Oh, I didn't see you there."




"I know. My brothers are here. They're here to protect us from the demons. They'll only be here a while."




"Okay. Are you headed somewhere?"




***




"I don't understand why you felt the need to come along," I said watching the waves crash against each other below.




"You refused to take your brothers with you."




I chuckled. "And if something were to happen now, you think you'll be able to protect me?"




She shrugged. "You never can tell, and there's something about your face that still hints that you're not okay. Sue me if I was worried you'd try to kill yourself."




Her last comment had me full-on laughing. "Kill myself? What goes through that head of yours?"




"At least it made you laugh. If things ever get too much for you, you can always take a break."




"Take a break?" That term was foreign to me. "I can't take a break. Not when I manage the lives of over a hundred people."




"I'm sure they know what you do for them, which is why a little break here and there won't hurt."




"Isn't this cozy?"




My spine straightened as fear ran through my body. I knew that voice. I could never forget it. How could I? He had once been a brother to me.




"Fuck," I cursed as I rose to my feet. "Benjamin." I glared at the other demon that stood next to him. "Ervin."




"Nathaniel Black. A pleasant surprise." His gaze fell on Ayra, and I resisted the urge to push her behind me. He would see it as a sign that meant I cared about her, and that would only give him ideas. "Ayra Staxton. I'm honored to make your acquaintance."




"Who are you?" Ayra asked, eyeing Benjamin warily. If only she knew how dangerous he was, she wouldn't bother holding a conversation with him.




"Didn't Nathaniel tell you? We're old friends. Right, Nathaniel?"




"Let her go. She has nothing to do with this."




Benjamin shrugged. "Fine by me."




Ayra shook her head vehemently, gripping my hand tightly in hers. "No. I can't leave you here all by yourself."




"You need to leave, Ayra. I'll be fine."




"We're just going to talk, Ayra. There's no need to worry," Benjamin said with a malicious grin.




"If you hurt him, I promise I'll hunt you down and kill you myself," she threatened, and I knew her well enough to know she wasn't joking.




For some fucked up reason, a part of me was glad she didn't want me dead. This solidified the trust I had in her. There was no way she had been the one to add something to the drink. She looked genuinely worried for me. Such emotions couldn't be faked, right?




Ervin sneered at her. "Such big threats for a weak she-wolf."




I nudged her forward, keeping my eyes locked on Benjamin and his every move. "Go on."




She nodded, squeezing my hand one last time before making her way down the top of the cliff. As she left, I wondered if this was the last time I'd get to see her.




There was only so much damage I could do to both of them in my wolf form, and if I knew Benjamin well, he'd make sure to leave me dead before he returned to his lair.




"Are you going to shift or what?" Benjamin asked with a triumphant smile, cocking his head to the side. "Don't worry. I'll be sure to take care of your mate after I'm done with her. Tell me, do I propose to her with your head?"




Ervin threw his head back in laughter. "That'll scare her. She looks so delicate. Wouldn't want to scar her for life."




Benjamin pretended to muse on his words before nodding in agreement. "True. I have a better idea. I'll just pump her full of my seed until she gives birth to my little demons. I'll send her to you after that. You can have your little romance in the afterlife, but of course, it depends on if it exists."




I shifted into my wolf form, hearing my clothes rip to give way to my new form. I knew I couldn't survive the fight, but I'd go down fighting.




Benjamin stood to the side as Ervin Changed into his demon form. Horns protruded from his head, his claws elongated, his tongue forked, his eyes turned into an even shade of black, and his skin turned scaly. 




All of that didn't surprise me, but I knew I was in for a fight when wings snapped out of his back. In the demon world, you got wings based on hierarchy and the amount of power you held.




The last time we met, Ervin didn't have wings, granted that was a long time ago, but it was still surprising. 




I didn't give him time to get in place before I lunged at his legs, digging my fangs into the skin and yanking back, taking a piece of flesh with me.




He hissed in pain, kicking his leg forward, successfully sending me flying backward. I had barely regained my composure before Benjamin attacked me from the side, sending a ball of fire against my side.




Pain filled my side immediately, but I shook it off, determined to stay focused. 




"Fighting is pointless, Nathaniel. We're going to win either way."




I growled in reply, my mind temporarily drifting to Ayra. I hoped she knew her way back to the border.




"Give up. You won't have to watch me take your mate every night, hearing her screams fill my- "




I didn't allow Benjamin to finish before I flew at him, my gaze hazed with rage. That was the stupidest thing to do, but I didn't think so when I lunged for him. Another time my rage had caused me to act stupidly. 




Ervin sunk his claws deep into my side. I fell on my side, grunting at the pain that filled my entire body.




"It's poison, Nathaniel."




*Poison?*




"That's right. It's Wylim. The more you try to fight the madness, the more it will poison you. It'll slowly fill your system, heading for your heart until you can't breathe. It's no ordinary Wylim. It's mixed with magic. Perks of having a sorcerer on our side," Benjamin said with glee.




I was slowly weakening by the second. I changed back into my human form, the pain blinding me for a second. I couldn't give in to the madness. Lots of lives would be lost if I did.




"Goodbye, Nathaniel."




He kicked my side, sending me off the cliff. Everything was in slow motion until the moment I crashed into the water below, my head hitting a huge rock. 




From then on it was pure bliss - unconsciousness.