Blood Ties

41

All that we have
~
Lycus
~

The shadows offered nothing to them, but protection from what they could not see. But what couldn't be brought into the Fenris pack was what was already inside. The beast caged in the realms of the dungeons down below the woodland flooring they all stood upon.

"What's after him?" Alexene's question broke the numbing silence the wood was engulfing them with.

Lycus didn't want to know. That was all he knew from being in the pit of lies and hell. He wanted to know nothing.

For minutes, no one uttered a single thing, too warped in their minds from Vaela's words.

Vaela trembled against the vampire's question and Alexene looked ready to throttle her, her patience wearing thin.

The oracle straightened up, her face becoming cool and collected even as her silver eyes wilted with an emotion Lycus couldn't detect.

"A vampire," Vaela confessed.

Lycus felt the shadows descend on him, around him, demanding to swallow him whole. All this time, all the prophecies, all the extents Lycus took, it was because of an immortal being. A vampire was after Rexton this entire time.

It was plaguing regret charging into him like a punch through the chest. The only demand was that Lycus wished someone would rip his heart out.

"The very vampire Cole has been in contact with this entire time," Vaela added shortly after everyone managed to swallow that pill of information.

Lycus found his eyes on Rexton who stood by a tree trunk, looking as doe-eyed and innocent as ever, as if no harm could ever come to a boy like him.

"Son of a bitch!" Lycus roared and his lethal gaze drew back to the stairway to the dungeon.

Accalia was at his side, faintly brushing her hand down his arm that offered only an inkling of comfort, the rest had him simmering beneath her touch.

"Lycus," Vaela stepped toward him and her eyes gleamed with worry.

The oracle captured his attention, looking desperately into her eyes as if she could hold the key to something higher than them, a being close to the heavens.

"This explains why I couldn't access all of his memories through his claws. She manipulated him to her liking, making him shift when she wanted him to and compelling him whenever she desired. This vampire is dangerous, Lycus, she's been playing at this war since the beginning. She wants all of you to die, and she wants Rexton all for herself." Vaela said breathlessly, each word falling from her lips like a desperate plea.

"Then let her come." Lycus seethed thoughtlessly.

Vaela shook her head fiercely and pointed at Rexton, trying to force Lycus to see reason. "No, no, you misunderstand me, Alpha Lycus. You took Rexton from her, you took her trophy by making everyone believe Rexton died. She wants revenge, and she has manipulated Canus and Thrax to her liking. She wants to kill you and everyone around you."

Lycus would've preferred denial to downright belief. It would've been easier that way, just as it was when he locked Rexton up.

"What's her name?" Alexene demanded, her speed whisking her in front of Lycus and Vaela.

Alexene's thin strands of hair curtained the madness drilling into her blood eyes. "Her name!"

"Cole calls her Adriana," Vaela answered.

The name rang no bell of familiarity to Lycus nor everyone around him.

But the vampire took a step back, her pale hands finding the roots of her black hair and she tugged desperately.