Their Wife: Book 2

Fifteen (Part 2)

I watched wide-eyed as Ares pulled his fist back, pulling drops of blood with the blades that landed on his bare hands. My hands trembled at my side from the sight of the gentle giant being so violent.

Zev prodded at the bleeding wound in disbelief, reality not yet setting in. It still hadn't when he looked up at his twin in confusion.

"Why?" He asked. His voice was barely audible in the breeze, but the pain it arrived was crystal clear.

The blades vanished in whisps of smoke from Ares's hands, all except one that he readjusted his grip on. "Restitution. For all the lives innocent I've had to take under fathers control. He wouldn't have been able to gain that control if it wasn't for you. The blood that stains my hand's stains yours just as deeply."

Zev's mouth wordlessly opened and closed.

"And," he said stepping forwards. "It's not like you gave it a second thought before plunging the blade of betrayal into my back. Why should I?"

Zev's eyes widened when he lunged for him again. Ares moved so quickly that he appeared to blur as he leapt forward. Zev tried to dodge the trajectory of the blade, but Ares was right, even though he was powerful, Zev was no match compared to him.

I was enraptured by the scene playing out before my eyes, watching each movement the two made with bated breathes.

I was feeling conflicted. On one hand, I wanted to look away, wait until Ares finished the job then wait for the relief of the danger Zev no longer posed to come. On the other, I couldn't help but feel that Ares would come to regret what he was doing. When his anger was gone, he'd come to realize that they were both victims of Mira.

I clenched my fingers tightly as I stood still, making my decision and watching the scene play out.

Even if this Mira person wronged the two of them, that wouldn't excuse Zev's action. I didn't know what the specifics of the domino effect the person triggers were, but going off my own personal experience with the white-haired twin, I could only imagine the worst.

"Argh!" Ares grunted with a stumble when he took his next step. Coming to a stop while keeping his guard up, he hitched the leg of his pants up on one side.

Zev gasped when his eyes locked onto the moving image that danced across Ares's calf and disappeared into his boot.

"Slate," Zev whispered in disbelief.

Ares rotated his ankle before setting his foot down. "What? Thought I killed him. No, he's been a good boy and heeling at my feet ever since I realized I could take him. Well until now. I thought it would be unfair to punish him for your actions because he's your familiar." He released his pants, letting the material cover the moving image of a white wolf. "Hopefully Slate can make it through your death and continue to live off me."

It was clear that Ares held more sediment for the ink on his leg, which I assumed turned into a furred beast like Thorne, than his brother who he had gutted and planned to finish off.

I didn't know whether that was a sign he was a good person or a sociopath.

With those final words, Ares dove towards Zev again, blade raised high. Smoke danced around the blade in wisps as it lengthened a few more inches.

Zev was able to make it out of the path of the blade, saving his head from being severed, but he hadn't been able to get away completely intact. Strands of his white locks fell to the forest floor, turning black as they went.

He landed on the ground dishevelled a few meters in front of me. I stepped back as Ares seemed to prepare for another attack.

Breathing heavily, Zev look around with frightened eyes as death grew closer. He, I, and everyone around knew that this was the end for him. His eyes jumped from Ryder's unconscious body to Jaxon who had drops of blood flowing from where Thorne had the tips of his teeth buried as he struggled to get enough air past the smoke tendrils still toying with him. He reminded me of a frightened doe until his eyes landed on me.