Exclusive Content

Chapter One 

Razar

​

(unedited)

 

     “Where the fuck is she?!” 

      My voice is low and rough as I gaze upon the frozen landscape of the North American mountain I’ve found myself standing on. My heart pounds furiously in my chest as I take in my surroundings, trying to figure out where I landed since this is most definitely not the North Ridge.

     “What did you say? Wait… where the hell are we?” Nox rasps, then groans, rolling to his side as he tries to get to his feet. There is snow matted in his braids and beard, and his clothes are ripped and torn, similar to mine, as I give him a once over, ensuring he’s not wounded. I managed to shove him out of the way of the black magic that tried to encompass us in the rift, and then we were launched from the Rift and fell to the snow below. 

Neither of us had been prepared for the fall into the Earth Realm since it’s never been like that at the North Ridge. We crashed into the hard surface of the mountain with a force that rattled my teeth in my skull, sending pain down my spine and into my toes. I can feel my magic at work, healing my broken ribs and torn Achilles tendon as I spin in a circle. My nostrils flared as I try to find my Pup. 

     The moment Nox and I cleared the Rift, the Veil of the Demonic world snapping shut behind us, I knew my Pup wasn’t nearby, and panic immediately set in. My Beast snarls within me, and I can feel him pacing in my chest, clawing at me to be set free so he can find the girl he’s chosen for us.

     “What the hell!? This isn't the North Ridge,” Nox mutters; then I hear a long pause, and I know he’s realizing what I already know. “She’s not here,” he says more to himself than me, his voice cracking with fear as he spins on his heel and then lets out a bone-chilling roar. “Where the fuck is she?” 

     “That's what I said,” I growl, kicking at the snow under my feet before nodding up the mountain.      “The Castle is that way. Valen, Jesthren, and Creed aren't here. Maybe they made it to the North Ridge. Jesthren looked like he might have been able to grab her before whatever the fuck that was knocked us out of the rift. Let's go there and see if they made it back. If not, we can take a Hunters Legion to the North Ridge to find them.” 

     “What about the kid?” Nox rasps, looking around with an air of concern as he looks for the Drakos boy. 

     “He’s got to be with the others,” I growl, cracking my neck to the side as I try to rain in my Beast, but it's useless. He’s practically foaming at the mouth, furious that we have been separated from our family.      “Let go,” I manage to grit out as my Beast takes over, my skin stretching until it splits, the black needle-like fur erupting over my body as I try and fail to keep some of my control. 

     “He better fucking be there, or our balls are done for,” Nox snarls and nods, watching me closely as the world darkens, my Beast pressing for more control. 

     “Stop,” I command, making him snarl in response. He is trying to shove me deep into a mental cage so that he can track the people he needs to. I lash back out at him, managing to keep some of the control as he sprints towards the castle. His desperate need to find one annoying female, in particular, sets me even more on edge, my anger growing at our lack of control over this situation. 

     The snow crunches under our paws as my Beast sprints between the snow-laden trees of the mountain, Nox running beside us, matching stride. I make sure to keep my pace slower than usual to allow him to keep up with us, despite how I need to get to the castle and ensure my Pup is alright.

     In a matter of minutes, we reach the road that winds up the road, leading us to our destination. I can hear the heartbeats of the Hunters, their muffled voice that echoes through the air just as the cold, gray stone of the castle walls comes into sight. The gates are open, and the Hunters are moving freely within the courtyard, suggesting there has been no threat or attack on the castle, easing my worry to the smallest amount. 

     “Faster,” Nox grinds out, a tone of desperation in his voice, no doubt feeling the ache of not being with his new mate. I oblige, my own frustrating need to see the silly girl pressing at my mind and chest, making my Beast release a loud roar in warning as we approach. If I hadn't been so on edge and upset over our situation, I might have found humor in the way the two young DeLuca rangers turn ghostly white the moment they spot us. One of them steps back like he’s about to run in the opposite direction while the other’s hand falls to the hit of his Kalis blade just as a towering figure steps up behind them. 

     Victor, the Drakos Senior, scowls down at the boys in front of him, cuffing the one who looks like he’s about to run upside his head while barking at them to stand down, his stern, dark eyes falling on us as we rush up to him. 

      “Meyer,” Nox demands, not wasting a breath with an unnecessary greeting. Victor raises a thick, untamed brow and dips his head in a greeting. 

     “Sassy blonde girl you lot have an unhealthy obsession with… what about her?” he asks, his frown deepening as he looks between the two of us and a low growl that almost sounds Demonic breaks from between his lips. “If you hurt her, I will help Elaine tie you up and fillet you piece by, bloody fucking piece, Demon Princes or not,” he grinds out, and I’m both very pleased and annoyed at his immediate threat of violence toward us. 

     For a Hunter, he’s not too bad. I instantly shake my head at the thought and glower at the man, wondering when the hell I became soft for fucking Hunters! This is all my Pups fault! I was fine in my hollow little world, hating everyone and everything that wasn't my family; then she had to come into my life and mad be…. feel. I shiver in disgust and release a deep growl in warning at the Hunter.  

     “Where is she?” Nox snarls, unamused with Senior Drakos’ attitude, shouldering past him as he stalks into the courtyard. I follow close; my ears perked up, nostrils flared as I try to pinpoint where my annoying Pup is. 

     "What do you mean where is she? She left with you and Elaine, and one of the Drakos Hunting Legions went to meet you at the North Ridge.”

     “Meyer’s not here?” Victor frowns, a glimmer of concern furrowing his brow as he shakes his head. The sound of a twig snapping about two hundred feet away gains my attention, and I tilt my head to the left, my heart stalling as my Beast releases a calm breath. 

     “My brothers?” Nox asks, voice strained. I don’t hear Victor's response, only Lennox losing his fucking mind as he roars in frustration, black magic billowing around him. 

      “Wait, where the fuck is Theodore? I swear to the Gods, Regalis, if a single hair on that boy's head has been harmed,” Victor threatens as I step back and raise my nose to the air. I still can’t scent the mouthwatering smell of lemons and sugar, but it is the next best thing. 

      Instead of granting my little brother attention from his tantrum or helping him answer Victor's questions, I turn on my heel, the loud exhale of breath nearing as footsteps become audible. Pivoting, I race back out the gates and watch as Valen and Creed run up the road, hair disheveled and looking more than a little pissed off. Ranger Drakos trails behind them, limping a little as his brown eyes scan the castle walls, his shoulders tense like he’s waiting for an attack.

     “Lemon Drop?” Creed immediately asks, making my blood run cold as I realize she’s not with them. 

     “Valen!” Nox shouts, rushing to them, looking behind them, and then back at our brothers. One look at Nox causes Valen's eyes to shift from their normal light green to the gold, steely gray of his shade form. Magic dances at his fingertips as he shakes his head and steps back. 

     “She… she’s with you, right?” Creed whispers, big eyes darkening as Nox curses and shakes his head. “Are you fucking kidding me!” Creed roars, then shocks the hell out of us all as he launches himself at Nox, punching him in the face, sending the two of them to the ground as they begin to fight. 

      I roll my eyes, and my Beast huffs out a disgusted breath. Must we always be the smart ones here? I know the two buffoons are riding the mating high and are struggling with control, but fighting amongst ourselves won't solve this problem. 

     “We need to find her,” the young Hunter my Pup insists on keeping around as a weird pet, mutters as he runs his hands through his messy hair, gripping at the strands like he’s going to pull them from his head.  “The big scary one has to be with her, right?”

     Valen nods, and I huff in agreement. The knowledge that Jesthren was closest to her in the rift and is also missing helps settle my anger and blood lust that courses through me like a drug. My brother has her, and she’s fine. She’s probably talking his ear off, making all her absurdly annoying yet somehow adorable comments that she won't shut up about as they make their way slowly back to the castle. My Pup is slow and absurdly clumsy, after all. That’s the logical explanation. Yet I can't stop the deep curl of dread that my Beast feels, and I know that I need to trust him over me. He’s never wrong and that thought makes bile crawl up my throat. 

      “Theo? What the hell? Get the fuck out of my way!” 

      I growl in annoyance, eyes bouncing to where Nox and Creed are still punching each other to where my Pup’s other unnecessary human pet comes out, shoving through the small crowd of Hunters gathered behind Victor, watching my brothers fight. I wrinkle my nose at the Hunters and sigh in frustration. My pet is so much better than my Pups. Granted, she is the one who discovered my tiny orange beast before I laid claim to him, but her choice of pets since that point has been seriously lacking. 

      I look away from the fight to the trees, knowing I must find my Pup myself. I wanted to check in with my tiny feline when I returned, but that will have to wait. My Pup decided to get lost on the mountain, and I’m going to have to fetch her before my brothers decided to kill each other. My Beast growls in agreement, watching our brothers in disgust, wondering if the two idiots could manage to gather all two of their dumb brain cells and rub them together and come up with something helpful, but it's looking highly unlikely the longer they fight. 

     I glance at Valen, the only one of my brothers who hasn't done or said anything, and I almost grin at the darkness surrounding him. His shade form is out in all its glory, the dark energy radiating from him like a wave of death, calling to the dark stain on my soul. I gesture to one side of the mountain with a nod of my large head, and he nods in agreement, his movements quick and precise. Valen is no longer the sweet prince and heir of the Dreamwalkers but the terrifying harbinger of death that I can’t help but admire. 

     Good. I at least have one brother who I can rely on. 

     “Ow! What the hell, Jordan?” Theo snarls, stumbling back, holding his hand to his now bloody nose as Ranger Jennings glares at the boy. 

      “You went to the Demon realm without me! Are you mad? You could have been killed!” Ranger Jennings raises his arm, going for another hit as Ranger Drakos kicks out, catching him in the shin as he glowers at his friend. 

     “You told me to leave you alone!” 

     “Yeah, leave me alone. Not run off and try to get yourself killed!” Jennings roars, eyes flashing with anger and something I’m unsure I understand. Victor sighs and wraps a thick arm around Jenning's neck, then Drakos’ waist, separating them with ease as they try to kick each other's asses. 

How the hell is this my life? I’m surrounded by dim-whited fools. 

     I glance back at Valen, then freeze, an unease curling through me and my beast when I see he’s already left, and we didn't hear him go. My Beast growls low, not liking the feeling of being unaware of the people around us, but I only push him to leave, needing to find our Pup and bring her back here. 

     It doesn’t take much convincing, considering he’s just as obsessed, if not more so, than I am with the girl. Racing through the trees, I finally relinquish my control to him, knowing he will find her faster than I ever will and hoping that wherever she is, she’s unharmed. 

     Apparently, my Pup needs a lesson on staying close to us, and I’m more than willing to teach her that and divi out whatever punishment is required to ensure she doesn't scare us like this again.

​

​

​

 

     

Chapter Two

Meyer

 

 

     I keep my hand clamped over my mouth, stifling the sobs threatening to break free as Elaine's magic slowly withers around me, the magical binding she wrapped around me the moment Jesthren entered the cave, releasing its confining hold as her lifeless body drops from his big hand. 

      My eyes slam shut in disbelief, trying to decide what to do next. I hear the man I thought I could trust grunt in annoyance, the skittering of the rocks under his feet shifting as he steps back. 

      This isn’t happening… this can't be happening!

      I had managed to slip into the cell with her, the mindless Wraith's attention solely on her as she killed everyone she could. I had three minutes to talk with her and devise a plan to escape as Elaine ranted and raved at how stupid it was for me to follow. Then Jesthren’s voice rang through the cave, silencing our whispered argument. At first, the sound brought a wave of relief, and I started to move from behind the small boulder I used as a hiding spot. Only, I paused as Elaine hissed a warning at me and bound me so fast I didn't understand what was happening until the door swung open. 

      Her magic was so much stronger than I thought it would have been, keeping me frozen in place and silent as Jesthren Drahka murdered my friend right in front of me. Tears pour down my cheeks, my chest heavy with shock and grief as Jesthren sighs in disgust. 

     “Get me the girl. She’s still on the mountain. Bring her here before the others find her. Meyer is the key. If I have her, our brothers will lose hope and surrender without a fight. But I have to get back to them before they suspect something.” There is another shuffle of feet, and I open an eye as Jesthren steps further from the cave I’m hiding in. “And Archer,” he whispers, making the other man still at his voice. I strain my ears, trying to hear Jesthrens whispered threat. “Don't fail me again.”

     My heart stalls at the mention of Razar’s twin, and I think I might be sick as I try to comprehend everything I just heard. Archer and Jesthren are working together? Why are they doing this? Why betray their family?

     “Leave! Jesthren bellows, and I can feel a cold whip of air run through the cave, making me shiver in response as I hear more footsteps and the unnatural hiss and rough sounds of the Wraits as they listen to their master. “Find me the blonde human girl and bring her to me.” I hold still, keep my breaths low and shallow, eyes locked on Elaine's motionless fingers as I slowly creep forward, unwilling to wait a moment longer to reach her side. I can still hear the heavy footfalls of Jesthren leaving as I get to my friend's side. 

     “Elaine,” I rasp, my voice barely audible to even my ears as I reach for her, my hands shaking, fingers pressing to the thin column of her swollen and injured neck. I hold my breath, eyes closing as I realize there is no heartbeat, and I shake my head, refusing to comprehend what that means.

     “No! You can't!” I choke out, hands moving to her chest as I start compressions, a pain like nothing I’ve felt before blooming in my chest as I perform CPR, desperately praying that, by some miracle, it will work. “Please,” I beg, as I lean down and breathe air into her lungs, then start the compressions again, working on her for so long I lose feeling in my fingers and toes. “I need you!” I whisper as I stare down at her, my tears dripping from my cheeks and landing on her peaceful-looking face. “Theo! Theo needs you! Please, Elaine! Please! You can't leave us! This will break him!” I finally scream, no longer caring if something or someone hears me! 

     My trembling arms finally give out as I slump over her, sobs racking my body as I cling to her. “Don't go,” I whisper, knowing my pleas are hopeless, that the strongest and most loving woman I have ever met is now gone—the woman who showed me kindness and was there for me no matter what is gone. The thought breaks something in me as I cry into her fighting leathers.      

     After a long moment that feels like an eternity, I slowly sit up, looking down at Elaine's face. If I didn't know better, I would have thought she was sleeping as I reach out and gently stroke her soft brown hair off her face as I gasp for breath, my lungs feeling like they’re on fire as I try to regain a small amount of control. 

     “I wish you hadn't done that,” I whisper to her. “If I wasn't bound by your magic, maybe I could have helped.” My words come out in a choked whisper before I scoff and shake my head. Despite my words, I already know that if Jesthren had known I was here, the situation would be one hundred times worse, and my guys would be in even more danger. “Dammit!” I rasp, fresh tears pouring down my face as I look at her.  “You were always trying to protect me… us. All of the Rangers. You were a better mother and friend to us than we deserved.”

     Time passes by as I sit next to Elaine, body, holding her cold, limp hand in mine, refusing to leave her side while I try to figure out what to do next. All I want to do is cry and lose myself to the grief I feel, but I know I need to find my guys and make sure they’re okay. They need to know about Jesthren and his betrayal. Then, I need to do what I can to help Theo. 

     The thought of my best friend and the fact that his mother is now gone makes a whimper tear from my lips as I slowly release Elaine's hand and climb to my feet, determination flooding me. I won't leave her here; I can’t. 

     Leaning down, it takes longer than I want to admit before I finally manage to lift Elaine's body enough to press her over my shoulder, grunting under her weight. She is taller than me, but thinner. It is awkward but not impossible to stand with trembling legs as I slowly make my way to the cave door and peer into the cavern beyond the small room we’ve been locked in. I try to ignore the bodies of several men lying on the cave floors, their empty eyes staring into nothingness as I carefully step over them. Sniffling back my tears, I hesitantly walk out of the cave and into the now dark night of the snow-covered mountains, the blistering cold winding setting my teeth on edge as I slowly and carefully make my way down the gradual incline that leads to the cave. 

     The path is well-trodden down, and I sigh in relief, grateful I don't have to wade through the snow while I try to get Elaine's body back to the castle. My eyes slowly adjust to the dark, and I have never been so grateful that whatever has happened to my body over the last few weeks has improved my vision. Otherwise, I don't think I could travel at night. 

     Shoving my pain aside, I cling to my anger, letting it fuel me as I move. For the first hour, I think I might be able to handle the trip back home by myself. I hold tight to Elaine, my heart heavy as I keep my eyes forward, searching out the nearby trees for any threat that may appear. Jestheren and his Wraiths are still on this mountain and looking for me. But after I've walked for what feels like forever, my shoulders begin to ache, my arms and legs tremble as the path I followed from the cave slowly disperses, and I’m left trying to keep Elaine and me from falling into the deep snow.

     A sense of hopelessness washes over me as I whip my head back and forth, trying to figure out which direction to head as the bone-chilling wind picks up, and snow starts to pelt my face. I shake my head and grit my teeth, refusing to stop. I need to get us home and get Elaine’s body back to the castle. There is no other option. 

     “I can do this,” I whisper to myself, though the words taste like a lie on my lips. Tears spring back to my eyes as I try to readjust my hold on Elaine, and I wince at the numb pain that aches in my knuckles, the cold making my hands stiff. “I can do it,” I repeat, trying to convince myself as I take one step at a time down a steeper part of the mountain, turning sidewise so I can shuffle us through a narrow path of trees. 

     “See,” I whisper to Elaine, trying to keep my mind off how I haven't been able to feel my toes for at least thirty minutes or more as the tears trickle down my wind-chapped cheeks. “I got this. I’m going to bring you home.” Just as I say the words, my foot catches on a fallen tree branch I didn't see, and suddenly I’m falling forward as I desperately try to stop the fall, but with Elaine's added weight, it’s useless. I land hard on my hip, making me cry out when a rock digs into my side. 

     “Fuck!” I grind out as I lay on the ground, panting from the long walk in the snow while moving Elaine back to the ground. “I don’t think I can do this,” I finally rasp as I lay on my back and stare at the cloudy dark sky above. There is no soft moonlight, no peaceful sounds of the woods, only the howling wind and chill of the bitter frost setting in. My head is pounding from the excursion and crying I’ve done, my body feels cold and weak, and I feel… broken. The only thing I wanted to do is get my friend's body back to the castle, and I’m not even strong enough to do that. 

     “I’m so sorry,” I whisper as I lay there, letting myself fall apart once more. My tears only grow stronger as a familiar thrill of excitement races down my spine. My eyes slam close, and I release a humorous laugh. 

     Of fucking course, the Beastia would find me. They always do, whether it's real life or my dreams. I don't think I’ll ever fully escape them.  

     I bring my hand up and wipe at my running nose, knowing I look and sound pathetic, as I take a deep breath. I don't even know if I have enough strength to stand up and defend myself, but as the sound of a haunted howl echoes through the air, my fingers move to the last throwing blade I have sheathed at my side. Palming the small weapon, I press myself up on my elbows, my arms feeling like Jello as I climb to my feet and stand in front of Elaine's body. As a twig snaps to my right, I brace myself, praying I have enough energy to fight off whatever monster is coming my way. 

     I twist, bringing my blade up in front of me as a dark shadow slowly stalks out between the trees. Its soulless black eyes are pinned on me with such intensity that it brings me to my knees. Gasping, I fall to the frozen ground as I stare at the enormous Beast before me. My blade slips from my fingers as I watch him snarl and leap forward, his chest vibrating with a growl. 

     “R-Razar?” I breathe out through a hiccuping sob as the Beast stops in front of me, his black eyes moving from my face to my shoulders. A loud huff escapes his thick snout as he nudges my shoulder, making me groan a little as I’m pushed back on my ass, the big Beastia sniffing me, starting at my shoulder before moving down my chest and then all the way to my toes. I watch him in confusion, shocked and relieved to see him, then gasp when the Beast raises his head when he finally decides I’m practically uninjured and lets out a threatening and angry growl in my direction. His eyes lock with mine, and I can see the furry alight in those dark eyes, like an endless wave of blackness encompassing the soul and snuffing out all forms of light. 

     “What?” I ask, as I hesitantly reach forward and place my hand on his big snout, earning another growl as he bares his teeth at me, then snaps them at my fingers. I glare at him, yanking them away as I shake my head. He wasn't even close to biting me, he’s just being an asshole. 

     “It wasn't my fault! I showed up to the North Ridge alone,” I hiss at him, my head and side still throbbing from falling and crying so much. “I had to follow them. She was all alone, and the Wraiths had her and…” A sob breaks through my words as I shake my head, and his Beast stops growling and steps back, taking me in with a tilt to his head like he’s trying to figure me out. The move makes him look more like a scary Demonic puppy than a murderous killing Beastia, and I almost smile through the tears that are pouring down my face. Cursing, I wipe at my cheeks, not wanting to look weak in front of him and have him mention how pathetic I am.  

      He growls as his head snaps to the side, and he leans on his right paw, a huff of air releasing from his flared nostrils as he sees Elaine's body behind mine. He takes a small step around me, his nose gently touching Elaine’s cold, still hand before a low growl rumbles through the air, the black needles that cover his back standing on end and making him look even more terrifying than before. 

     “I was too late. She didn’t let me help, and he killed her, Raz.”

      Suddenly he’s back on me, his heavy paws pressing on my stomach and pushing me to my back as his Beast’s nose presses to my throat, then my head, then my chest, ears cocked as he presses the side of his enormous head to my chest, right over my heart. I hold my breath, eyes wide as I stare at all the black needles of his fur so close to my skin. 

      “Umm…” I whisper, trusting Raz to not intentionally hurt me, but he’s acting weird, and I really don't want to feel those dig into my skin after all that’s happened today.  The air shifts around us, and suddenly, Razar’s large black form shrinks in on itself. I gasp as I stare into the green-black eyes of Razar’s human form. His face is twisted into acute rage, his long black hair whipping around his face in the wind, lips pulled into a menacing snarl as his hands rest on either side of my head that’s pressed into the snow. 

     “Who?” he growls out, the word so rough I almost don’t understand it. “Who, Pup?” he snarls, hand moving to my shoulder to shake me out of shock at seeing him shift in front of me. I bite my lip as I stare up at him, a thread of fear wiggling into my mind as I try to figure out what to say. Will he believe me when I tell him it was Jesthren? That his oldest brother is to blame for Elaine's death and has betrayed them. Or will he call me a liar and ignore my warning? 

     “Pup!” Razar snarls, leaning even closer to me, and I swallow and close my eyes, knowing that if he doesn't believe me… it will possibly break my heart. 

     “Jesthren… It was Jesthren.”