“Do you know which two?”
“The two above you nearest in age. The eldest one didn’t fly home.”
That didn’t surprise Creed. Those two probably had hope that they may one day achieve their father’s approval. Though his brothers may just be humoring their father by listening to his rantings in their attempt. His oldest brother wouldn’t bother. Nebulas hated him almost as much as Creed did. “I will challenge him over this.”
“I don’t blame you.” Kelzeb turned, walking to the door. “Lock down your lair. I wouldn’t put it past them to attack in the middle of the night. Kado is a sneaky bastard, and if he’s smart, he knows he’ll be denied by Aveoth.”
Creed followed him to the door and bolted it when he exited. He turned, staring at the wall across the room that hid the exterior ledge. His father and brothers knew the location of the outside entrance. He dropped the rug he’d used to cover himself and walked to the couch, lifting it. He wedged it in place. They wouldn’t be able to slide the rock to sneak in without snapping the couch frame.
He strode into the kitchen, getting some glasses to place on one arm of the couch. They would fall to the floor and shatter if the couch was nudged, as an extra precaution.
He crept down the hallway and found Angel curled into a ball under the covers in the middle of his bed. She’d fallen asleep waiting for him. He turned, closing and bolting the bedroom door. He walked over to the fireplace and reached above the mantel, taking down one of the swords he kept hanging there. He carried it to the bed and put it within reach.
A fierce protectiveness filled him. He didn’t want to believe his brothers would help their father go after his mate. They all had issues with how coldly they’d been raised. He felt loyalty to his brothers and hoped they wouldn’t betray him. It would be a deadly mistake if they did.
He carefully pulled back the covers and climbed in the bed behind his mate. He wrapped his body around Angel, holding her close. She murmured something in her sleep that he didn’t understand but she did latch onto his arm with her hand. He examined her small fingers.
He hesitated, and then placed a kiss on her cheek before resting his head next to hers.
He’d kill anyone, regardless of their association to him, to keep her right where she belonged. That was with him.
Chapter Fifteen
Creed adjusted his sword. It would be logical for his father to assume he was out of practice with his skills fighting with one. He purposely gave that impression. But every time he’d flown to the cliffs, he’d secretly sparred with the defense teacher he’d had as a child. Delbius was his friend.
He’d always known the day may come when his father did something to make certain they battled against each other. He had no plans to lose. Especially now that Angel’s future hung in the balance. His death wasn’t an option. His father would make Angel his breeding vessel.
Kado entered the room alone. None of his brothers had shown for the audience with him. Creed wondered if that was a good or bad sign. They had either decided not to support their father, or he’d made a good call to allow Chaz and Fray to guard his lair to keep Angel safe in case of an attack.
From where he sat, Lord Aveoth appeared annoyed and bored at the same time. He didn’t bother to mask his emotions. “Begin, Kado,” he demanded.
Creed’s father cleared his throat. “Did you look at my formal request and my grievances?”
“Of course I did,” Aveoth stated. “I can read, and I know my duties as your lord. I’m insulted that you implied my punishment had been too lax. How dare you question it.”
“Creed broke the law. He had no right to take a mate. You dishonored our traditions.”
Aveoth stood and gripped his sword. “Watch it, Kado. That sounds like a challenge to my authority.”
“Not at all. It is an assessment.”
“I didn’t ask for your opinion.”
“I do believe your judgment wasn’t just. I swore Creed to service for the first hundred years of his life. I did so with the intention that he’d serve this clan. I see no advantage to him taking a mate, or you allowing it. The law is clear. He is to be lashed one hundred times and encased for ten years. I ask that you follow those laws.”
“Denied.”
Kado looked furious. “Our laws are above reproach.”
“Our laws are what I say they are. You gave Creed to this clan and that means he’s mine. What part of that don’t you understand? What I order him to do or what punishments I hand out to him are none of your business.” Aveoth glared at his father. “I don’t answer to you, nor does Creed.”
“It’s intent. He is to serve the greater good of our people. He hasn’t done that. There are forty years of service remaining. I demand he serves it. That means he can’t have a mate, and he must be appropriately punished for dishonoring my name! I know you didn’t approve of your father killing women, so I believe enslaving her for forty years until his service to you is up would be a fair compromise.”
“You speak of bringing dishonor to your name? You do that well enough on your own. Creed and your other sons are your only saving grace,” Aveoth rumbled.
“You dare insult me?”
“Yes. I do. You come in here implying I made an error. You whine about the fact you think I’ve bent the laws, and yet you suggest the same thing. No mate has ever been enslaved for forty years. Ten years is the maximum time for punishment for this kind of offense.”
“Mine was a fair suggestion. I’m willing to let her enslavement stand at ten years. Read my formal request. Everything I have asked for is reasonable.”
“Bullshit. I can read between the lines. I’m not a fool,” Aveoth ground out. “It’s a veiled insult that you even filed it and are standing before me spouting this nonsense. I won’t even begin to tell you how disgusted I am that you want permission to make Creed’s mate your breeding vessel. What kind of father wishes to rape the mate of his own son and force his seed into her to birth his youngling? Then you want to expand it to forty years.
“What’s next? Should she solely be for your use? You had to know your son would challenge you before he allowed it, yet you believe you can ask me to help you get away with it by encasing him first to save your ass. I did read what you wrote. That part was very clear. You wanted him lashed immediately and encased before he could attack you. Denied,” Aveoth thundered.
“She is the reason my son cannot serve the rest of his service! It has caused dishonor in my family. I plan to disown him. I have lost a son and wish to gain another. It is only fair that she be that vessel. It is an appropriate way to make him suffer my loss as well.”
“You are a twisted bastard,” Aveoth muttered. “Please draw your sword. I dare you.”
“I am not challenging you,” Kado clearly stated.
“Too bad.” Aveoth kept hold of his sword. “I officially deny your request and call this to a close.”
“I demand a council assessment.”
“I disbanded your council. Denied.”
“You must realize our people won’t stand for this! You are being irrational, with all respect.”
Aveoth snorted. “You wouldn’t know respect if it stabbed you in the heart. What did I tell you the last time you stood before me with some stupid bullshit request? This isn’t a democracy. You want that? Go live with humans. They wouldn’t tolerate you for long, either. Return to Europe if you don’t like how I run things. I’m sure you won’t like how the full-blooded clans do things. It’s why you left in the first place. Your other option is to challenge me for leadership. Please do. Make my day.”
Kado fisted his hands at his side. “You stand there issuing threats to me but allow Creed to blatantly disregard our laws?”
“I like him. I don’t like you.” Aveoth took a deep breath. “You want justification? Fine. You gave Creed to me. I decide what he does with his time, not you. His length of service is at my discretion. I went over his accomplishments. Let’s talk about laws not fol
lowed, Kado. You sent your son down into our training area at the age of two. The standard is five. You made him sleep there with the scouts on duty rather than allowing him to come home. That is unheard of. Our men leave the cliffs for duty when they are nearing twenty years. You and your council decided to ignore the law when he was fifteen and assigned Creed to serve the north post.” He paused. “For fourteen years in a row. That’s blatant cruelty. He had no ability to complete his full training or to interact with his own kind. He had no chance to learn how to handle the temptations of being around women. There are none in the north. He lost control during the ravage and mated a woman. Whose fault do you think that is? Let me answer for you—yours.”
“He didn’t claim a mate during his first ravage. You’re wrong.”
“Then he got lucky once. The odds weren’t in his favor. That’s how I see it.”
“You’re making excuses for what he did? Outrag—”
Lord Aveoth cut him off with a roar. “Enough! I’m not asking for your opinion. I’m reminding you of the laws you broke. You and your council conveniently forgot to add his assignment to your reports when you sent them to me.” He paused. “For fourteen years straight. It was only brought to my attention when he was late to report in due to a storm. Scouts were sent out to see if he was in trouble. They were angry because he was sixteen days late before you mentioned it to them. They filed a grievance because your council put the life of one of our men at risk.”
“I knew he was fine. He’s my son.”
Aveoth snorted. “Fine? He had to shell against a cliff to protect himself from death when the blizzard hit. He would have had to remain that way until the area thawed if they hadn’t located him. No one flies alone in those conditions. That’s also law. Yet you still ordered him to report to the council in person at a time you knew flying solo wasn’t allowed. They had to light a fire to thaw the thick layers of ice that had formed over him. He was trapped inside his shell.”
“It wouldn’t have killed him.”
“It was cruelty. Plain and simple. He’d gone so deep to protect himself from the icy pain of cold that they had difficulty reaching him, to let him know they were with him.”
“It builds character to suffer harsh elements.”
“You’re a piece of work,” Aveoth spat. “No one is assigned to the north for more than one year at a time, and it’s always voluntary. It’s a barren wasteland of boredom and would test anyone’s sanity to watch nothing. It’s a necessary evil since someone could attack from that direction, but it’s hell.” He looked at Creed. “Did you enjoy those years?”
“No.” Creed glared at his father.
“I would have been stunned if you had.” Aveoth released his sword, his focus on Kado. “He’s owed something for the misery you put him through. Let’s talk about justice, shall we? I’ll tell you what, Kado. Why don’t I assign you to the north post for fourteen years in a row? I’ll call in every member of your disbanded council and assign them the same duty after your term is up. I’ll make certain they are aware it’s because of your grievance today, and how you accused me of being too merciful toward those who break the law.”
Creed enjoyed watching his father turn ashen. He also earned a new respect for Lord Aveoth. Well played.
“My lord,” Kado paused. “It was our job to make those assignments at the time. That was decades ago.”
“You broke the law. Don’t bother reminding me that he’s your son, since you’ve already stated repeatedly that you gave him to the clan for service. That makes your claim as his father null and void, if you want to spout off about how you can tell your own children what to do as ruler of your household. I’d also have to mention he hasn’t lived in your lair since the age of two.” Aveoth gripped his sword again. “There’s no time limit on crimes here.” He glanced at four of his enforcers standing nearby. “Am I wrong?”
Kelzeb shook his head. “No, my lord.”
Aveoth glared back at Kado. “Here we stand.” He tilted his head. “You wanted me to be harsher in my punishments. Do you still feel that way? Or would you rather bow your head to me, tell me it was an error coming before me this morning, and withdraw your grievances?” He wasn’t done. “I hear one word about how you disagree with anything I do, and I’ll have you hauled back here, along with the ex-council members. I would be happy to keep the peace amongst our people by showing them ruthlessness to law breakers.”
“That’s blackmail,” Kado hissed.
“Call it whatever the hell you want.” Aveoth shrugged. “Learn, Kado. You can’t win. It’s why you’re not reaching for your sword. You know I’d kill you. I’m stronger, smarter, and will beat you at any game you decide to play.”
Kado lowered his head and bowed. “I formally withdraw all grievances.” He looked up. “My request for an audience stands. I want it on record that I spoke to you, and why.”
Aveoth suddenly smiled. It was cold. “I was counting on you doing just that. You still hold the belief that with enough well-placed whispers and rumors you can one day gain enough support to try to overthrow me as lord. You want proof that you stood up to me so they might give you my title. You never change, Kado. Very well. That means Creed has the right to confront you.”
Aveoth backed up and waved his hand. “Proceed, Creed. This man has officially demanded to speak to me about turning your mate into his breeding vessel and removing her from your lair. He’s challenged your right to keep her. It’s public record.”
“He broke the law, and I was told he’s been confined to his lair for six months. A prisoner has no right to defend anything.” Kado had a smug look on his face, and it sounded in his voice.
“What a big surprise that you’d attempt to use that ploy to avoid a fight. Your cowardice is known to everyone.” Aveoth snorted. “Denied. Creed is still in service to me. We came to an understanding. You didn’t see that one coming, did you? He wasn’t detained to his lair—his mate was, and she’s there right now. You should have asked more questions and checked your facts, Kado. Creed is in good standing with our clan. His mate begged to take his punishment…and I conceded to her wishes.”
Creed walked forward and faced off against the man he had called father for all of his life. Metal scraped as he withdrew his sword from the scabbard and gripped it with both hands. He kept the tip down as he glared at Kado. He’d never think of him as a father again.
“To the death.” Those were three words he’d always wanted to say—and they felt good.
“Stand down!” Kado ordered.
“Raise your sword or die a coward.” Creed wasn’t willing to let it go. Angel would never be in danger again from the man who’d mated his mother. “Either way, I will strike.”
“I wasn’t challenging you, Creed.” Kado stumbled back a few steps.
“You wanted to take my mate, rape her, force her to become a breeder.” He advanced a step and lifted his sword. “Defend yourself or bow your head so I can get a cleaner cut. Your choice.”
“I’m your father! I’m ordering you to stand down!”
“You hold no authority over me.” Creed refused to take his gaze off him. “Are you ordering me to stand down, Lord Aveoth?”
“No. It’s your right to challenge him to the death. He did so already by attempting to steal your mate away.”
“I’m not challenging you,” his father hissed.
“You are a danger to my mate and your lack of care caused the death of my mother. Defend yourself or bow down for the removal of your head. It ends today.”
Kado gripped his sword and withdrew it. Pure rage darkened his eyes. “Then you shall die, and I will remove your head!”
“Try your best. I’ll even be sporting about it. You better leash that temper of yours. It never serves anyone well to take rage into the battlefield,” Creed warned.
“I’ll enjoy your mate’s screams when I have her chained down. Your body will still be cooling on the floor when I do it. I will not be merciful to
her.”
“That won’t happen,” Kelzeb called out. “I’d challenge him first and personally return her to her pack, under my protection. He won’t ever get his hands on her. I have your back, Creed. Don’t allow him to distract you.”
Kado shot him a contemptuous look. “Stay out of this!”
Kelzeb crossed his arms over his chest. “I’d be paying attention to him. I know I’m not going to have to fight you. Dead men can’t lift swords.”
“Get your sword ready, Kelzeb,” Kado taunted. “This won’t take long.” He lunged, slashing the tip of his weapon at Creed.
Creed jumped back, blocking the killing blow directed at his throat. Metal clashed and sparks flew. Kado roared in rage and swung again, aiming for Creed’s middle. Creed spun, blocking that one as well.
Kado leapt up, attempting to jump over him to land at his back. Creed was ready for that maneuver. He wasn’t a novice. He ducked and went to one knee, spinning and throwing his blade up, preventing the killing blow from landing.
His father stumbled back and Creed kept low, throwing out a leg as he used his knee to support his weight, catching the bastard at the ankle. Kado crashed to the floor on his back. Creed rose and backed away to give him room to stand.
“Get up. I won’t finish you that fast. I’m enjoying this too much.”
Kado bent his knees, one hand bracing against the floor. Creed tensed, knowing what his opponent planned.
Kado shoved hard against the floor, using the strength of his three limbs. It propelled him upward fast and it pissed Creed off. It wasn’t an honorable fighting move when an opponent allowed them to recover from a fall. Kado spun when he landed, trying to nail Creed with the side with his blade.
Creed gripped the handle of his sword with both hands to make up for the strength of battling against a full-blooded Gargoyle. He met the blade with enough force that it sent Kado off-balance. Creed lunged forward and spun, throwing his arm out to the side.