Absolute quiet settled over the Governorโs office as Hunt and his friends took in the two newcomers.
One was dark-haired and brown-skinned, tall and finely muscledโthe Helhound. His jet-black wings shimmered faintly, like a crowโs feathers. But it was the wicked scar snaking down his neck, forking across the column of his throat, that snared the eye.
Hunt knew that scarโheโd given it to the Helhound thirty years ago.
Some powers, it seemed, even immortality couldnโt guard against.
Baxianโs obsidian eyes simmered as they met Huntโs stare.
But Polluxโs cobalt eyes lit with feral delight as he sized up Naomi, then Isaiah, and finally Hunt. Hunt allowed his lightning to flare as he stared down the golden-haired, golden-skinned leader of Sandrielโs triarii. The most brutal, sadistic asshole to have ever walked Midgardโs soil. Motherfucker Number One.
Pollux smirked, slow and satisfied. Celestina was saying something, but Hunt couldnโt hear it.
Couldnโt hear anything except Pollux drawling, โHello, friends,โ before Hunt leapt from his chair and tackled him to the floor.
Ithan Holstrom dabbed a damp washcloth at the last of the cuts healing on his face, wincing. Bryceโs bathroom was exactly as heโd expected it to be: full of at least three kinds of shampoos and conditioners, an array of hair treatments, brushes, curling rods of two different sizes, a blow-dryer left
plugged into the wall, half-burned candles, and makeup scattered up and down the marble counter like some glittery bomb had gone off.
It was almost exactly the same as her bathroom at the old apartment. Just being here made his chest tighten. Just smelling this place, smellingย herย made his chest tighten.
Heโd had little to distract himself today, sitting alone with her chimera
โSyrinx, Athalar had called himโon the couch, nearly dying of boredom watching daytime TV. He didnโt feel like trawling the news for hours, awaiting a glimpse of the new Archangel. None of the sports channels had interesting coverage on, and he had no desire to listen to those assholes talk anyway.
Ithan angled his face before the mirror to better see the cut lacing across his brow. This particular beauty had been from Sabine, a swipe of a claw-armed fist.
He had a feeling the blow had been intended for his eyes. Sure, theyโd have healed after a few days or weeks, sooner if heโd gone to a medwitch, but being blinded wasnโt at the top of his to-do list.
Not that he really had anythingย elseย on his to-do list today.
His phone buzzed on the counter, and Ithan peered down to see three different news alerts and photo essays about the arrival of Celestina. Had shit not gone down with Sabine, heโd probably be gearing up to meet the beautiful malakh as part of the wolvesโ formal welcome. And fealty-swearing bullshit.
But now he was a free agent. A wolf without a pack.
It wasnโt common, but it did happen. Lone wolves existed, though most roamed the wilds and were left to their own devices. Heโd just never thought heโd be one.
Ithan set down his phone, hanging up the washcloth on the already-crowded towel bar.
He willed the shift, inhaling sharply and bidding his bones to melt, his skin to ripple.
It occurred to him a moment after he took his wolf form that the bathroom wasnโt quite large enough.
Indeed, a swish of his tail knocked over various bottles, sending them scattering across the marble floor. His claws clicked on the tiles, but he lifted his muzzle toward the mirror and met his reflection once more.
The horse-sized wolf that stared back was hollow-eyed, though his fur covered most of his bruising and the cuts, save for the slash along his brow.
He inhaledโand the breath stuck in his ribs. In some empty, strange pocket.
Wolf with no pack.ย Amelie and Sabine had not merely bloodied him, theyโd exorcised him from their lives, from the Den. He backed into the towel rack, tossing his head this way and that.
Worse than an Omega. Friendless, kinless, unwantedโ
Ithan shuddered back into his humanoid form. Panting, he braced his hands on the bathroom counter and waited until the nausea subsided. His phone buzzed again. Every muscle in his body tensed.
Perry Ravenscroft.
He might have ignored it had he not read the first part of the message as it appeared.
Please tell me youโre alive.
Ithan sighed. Amelieโs younger sisterโthe Omega of the Black Rose Packโwas technically the reason heโd made it here. Had said nothing about her sister and Sabine ripping him to shreds, but sheโd carried him into the apartment. She was the only one of his former pack to bother to check in.
She added,ย Just write back y/n.
Ithan stared at the message for a long moment.
Wolves were social creatures. A wolf without a pack โฆ it was a soul-wound. One that would cripple most wolves. But heโd been struck a soul-wound two years ago and had survived.
Even though he knew he couldnโt endure taking his wolf form again anytime soon.
Ithan took in the bathroom, the various crap Bryce had left lying around. Sheโd been a wolf without a pack for those two years, too. Yeah, she had Fury and Juniper, but it wasnโt the same as Danika and Connor and the Pack of Devils. Nothing would ever be the same as that.
Ithan typed backย Yes, then slid his phone into his pocket. Bryce would be home soon. And sheโd mentioned something about pizza.
Ithan padded out into the airy apartment, Syrinx lifting his head from the couch to inspect him. The chimera lay back down with a puff of approval, lionโs tail waggling.
The silence of the apartment pressed on Ithan. Heโd never lived on his own. Heโd always had the constant chaos and closeness of the Den, the insanity of his college dorm, or the hotels heโd stayed at with the CCU sunball team. This place might as well have been another planet.
He rubbed at his chest, as if itโd erase the tightness.
Heโd known precisely why heโd disobeyed Sabineโs order this spring when Bryce had screamed for help. The sound of her pleading had been unbearable. And when sheโd mentioned children at risk, something had exploded in his brain. He had no regrets about what heโd done.
But could he endure its consequences? Not the beatingโhe could weather that shit any day. But being here, alone, adrift โฆ He hadnโt felt like this since Connor and the others had died. Since heโd walked away from his sunball team and stopped answering their calls.
He had no idea what the Hel heโd do now. Perhaps the answer wasnโt some big, life-altering thing. Maybe it could be as simple as putting one foot in front of the other.
Thatโs how you wound up following someone like Amelie, a voice that sounded an awful lot like Connorโs growled.ย Make better choices this time, pup. Assess. Decide whatย youย want.
But for now โฆ one foot in front of the other. He could do that. If just for today.
Ithan walked to the door and pulled the leash off the hook on the wall beside it. โWant a walk?โ he asked Syrinx. The beast rolled onto his side, as if saying,ย Belly rub, please.
Ithan slung the leash back onto its hook. โYou got it, bud.โ
โApproachable Asshole, huh?โ
Bryce leaned against the bars of the immaculate cell beneath the Comitium, frowning at where Hunt sat on a steel-framed cot, head hanging. He straightened at her words, gray wings tucking in. His faceโ Bryce stiffened. โWhat theย fuck, Hunt?โ
Black eye, swollen lip, cuts along his temple, his hairline โฆ โIโm fine,โ he grumbled, even though he looked as bad as Ithan. โWho called you?โ
โYour new bossโshe filled me in. She sounds nice, by the way.โ Bryce pressed her face through the bars. โDefinitely nice, since she hasnโt kicked
your ass to the curb yet.โ
โShe did put me in this cell.โ โIsaiah put you in the cell.โ โWhatever.โ
โDonโtย whateverย me.โ Gods, she sounded like her mother.
His voice sharpened. โIโll see you at home. You shouldnโt be here.โ
โAnd you shouldnโt have gotten into a stupid fight, but here you are.โ Lightning forked down his wings. โGo home.โ
Was heโwas he really pissed she was here? She snorted. โWere you intentionally trying to sabotage yourself today?โ
Hunt shot to his feet, then winced at whatever pain it summoned in his battered body. โWhy the fuck would I do that?โ
A deep male voice answered, โBecause youโre a stupid bastard.โ Bryce grimaced. Sheโd forgotten about Pollux.
Hunt snarled, โI donโt want to hear your fucking voice.โ
โGet used to it,โ said another male voice from the elevator bay at the end of the white hall.
Bryce found a tall, lean angel approaching with a natural elegance. Not beautiful, not in the way that Hunt and Pollux and Isaiah were, but โฆ striking. Intense and focused.
Baxian Argos, the Helhound. An angel with the rare ability to shift into the form that had given him his nickname.
Hunt had told her about him, too. Baxian hadnโt ever tortured Hunt or others, as far as she knewโbut heโd done plenty of awful things in Sandrielโs name. Heโd been her chief spy-master and tracker.
Baxian bared his teeth in a fierce smile. Hunt bristled. Like Hel would these males make her back down.
Pollux crooned from his cell, his pretty-boy face as battered as Huntโs, โWhy donโt you come a little closer, Bryce Quinlan?โ
Hunt growled. โDonโt talk to her.โ
Bryce snapped, โSpare me the protective alphahole act.โ Before Hunt could reply, sheโd stalked over to Polluxโs cell.
Pollux made a show of looking her over from head to stilettos. โI thought your kind usually worked the night shift.โ
Bryce snickered. โAny other outdated jabs to throw my way?โ At Polluxโs silence, Bryce said, โSex work is a respectable profession in
Crescent City. Itโs not my fault Pangera hasnโt caught up with modern times.โ
Pollux brimmed with malice. โMicah should have killed you and been done with it.โ
She let her eyes glowโlet him see that she knew all heโd done to Hunt, how much she detested him. โThatโs the best you can come up with? I thought the Hammer was supposed to be some kind of sadistic badass.โ
โAnd I thought half-breed whores were supposed to keep their mouths closed. Fortunately, I know the perfect thing to shove in that trap of yours to shut you up.โ
Bryce winked saucily. โCareful. I use teeth.โ Hunt coughed, and Bryce leaned forwardโclose enough that if Pollux extended an arm, his hand could wrap around her throat. Polluxโs eyes flared, noting that fact. Bryce said sweetly, โI donโt know who you pissed off to be sent to this city, but Iโm going to make your life a living Hel if you touch him again.โ
Pollux lunged, fingers aiming for her neck.
She let her power surge, bright enough that Pollux reared back, an arm flung over his eyes. Bryceโs lips quirked to the side. โI thought so.โ
She backed away a few steps, pivoting toward Hunt once more. He cocked an eyebrow, eyes shining beneath the bruises. โFancy, Quinlan.โ
โI aim to impress.โ
A low laugh whispered behind her, and Bryce found the Helhound now leaning against the wall opposite the cells, beside a large TV.
โI take it Iโll be seeing more of you than Iโd like,โ Bryce said.
Baxian sketched a bow. He wore lightweight black armor made of overlapping plates. It reminded her of a reptilian version of Huntโs suit. โMaybe youโll give me a tour.โ
โKeep dreaming,โ Hunt muttered.
The Helhoundโs dark eyes gleamed. He turned on his heel and said before entering the elevator, โGlad someone finally put a bullet through Micahโs head.โ
Bryce stared after him in stunned silence. Had he come down here for any reason other than to say that? Hunt whooshed out a breath. Pollux remained pointedly silent in his cell.
Bryce gripped the bars of Huntโs cell. โNo more fights.โ
โIf I say yes, can we go home now?โ He gave her a mournful pout almost identical to Syrinxโs begging.
Bryce suppressed her smile. โNot my call.โ
A fair female voice floated from an intercom in the ceiling. โIโve seen enough. Heโs free to go, Miss Quinlan.โ The bars hissed, the door unlocking with a clank.
Bryce said to the ceiling, โThank you.โ
Pollux growled from his cell, โAnd what of me? I didnโt start this fight.โ The shithead had balls. Bryce would give him that.
Celestina answered coolly, โYou also didnโt do anything to defuse it.โ โForgive me for fighting back while being pummeled by a brute.โ
From the corner of her eye, Bryce could have sworn Hunt was grinning wickedly.
The Governor said, voice taking on a no-bullshit sharpness, โWe shall discuss this later.โ Pollux was wise enough not to snap a reply. The Archangel went on, โKeep Athalar in line, Miss Quinlan.โ
Bryce waved at the camera mounted beside the TV. When Celestina didnโt answer, Bryce stepped back to allow Hunt out of the cell. He limped toward her, badly enough that she looped her arm around his waist as they aimed for the elevator.
Pollux sneered from his cell, โYou two mongrels deserve each other.โ Bryce blew him a kiss.