Releasing Chaos Read online

  "No. Those who follow Karen are different from other Magi. They were abused by Caspian and those close to him. Many like Karen were left for dead. They only wish to safeguard me from harm. Devlin has a knack for matching up energies, and he agrees they aren't compatible with us."

  "Are you afraid I'm going to use you, Gregori? Is that why you were frightened—upset earlier?" I asked tentatively. Gregori's body language said he'd relaxed the longer the conversation went on. I was afraid my question would put him right back where we'd begun.

  His eyes widened almost comically. "No, Tristan, I don't know how to explain why I—"

  Juan interrupted with another ugly noise of disgust. When he finally faced us, his expression was a mask of rage. "Kassian beat—" Juan spat the last word as if it were venom. "—Gregori now correlates pain and punishment with the use of the fire. Kassian made him believe he'd be the one to destroy the world, murder millions like he murdered his mother." Gregori flinched and some of the anger bled from Juan's countenance. "Every once in a while, Gregori's control slips."

  I'd always thought of Kassian as a self-centered hardass, but if what Juan said was true, he was a monster. Gregori'd had no one to protect him from Kassian's lies, to call Kassian out for his ill treatment. My dragon awoke, growling low with a growing sense of possessiveness. I promised myself Kassian and I would have more than mere words the next time I saw him.

  "You caught me off guard when you told me you sensed my fire. If you need me and what I can do, then I am yours to command." Gregori's voice was firm and gaze unwavering.

  I squeezed the bridge of my nose. I had no desire to cause him distress, but I needed his help and expertise. He and his magic would be vital to my plans.

  "Tristan, I'm fine. If I was lying, Juan or Ace would call me on it." Gregori paused as I glanced first to Juan and then to Ace. Both gave me encouraging nods.

  Before I replied, I met Brian's and Ushna's gazes. We had discussed our options and rehashed the possibilities until I could recite them all in my sleep. If either of them had any doubts, we'd find another way… somehow. But they both gestured for me to go ahead.

  Sighing in relief, I settled back, returning my attention to Gregori. "I need to ask you to do us a favor." I held my hand up, halting his automatic reply. "Let me finish first. You're the one most familiar with the prophecy. Go over the part where I'm responsible for Inanna's demise."

  Chapter Twelve

  The Goddess Inanna approached the gatekeeper to the Realm of the Dead, claiming she wanted to attend the funeral rites of Gugalanna, the consort to the Goddess Ereshkigal. Suspicious of Inanna's haughty behavior and how unsuitably she was attired for the funeral, wearing many garments, each the representation of powerful mes, the Queen of Irkalla instructed each of the gatekeepers to collect an accoutrement of power from Inanna before she was allowed passage. Seven gates Inanna passed through, and at each she handed over a garment or an item of jewelry until she was stripped of all her power, entering Irkalla naked. —Inanna's Descent To The Land Of The Dead.

  Tristan Janick

  The conversation with Gregori stayed with me for the rest of the day. Even the ongoing argument with Brian about Nathan couldn't make me forget what I'd asked of Gregori.

  "Are you even listening to me?"

  I turned from where I stared out the window. We'd returned to Sanctuary, waiting for Jynx, Devlin, and Nacht to bring the Council of Five to us.

  Sighing heavily, I rubbed my chest over my heart, trying to soothe the ache. Finally, I met Brian's angry gaze. "I hear you, but Nathan's my brother. I won't have him shot on sight. There has to be a logical explanation to his actions, something more than what we've seen so far."

  Brian was exasperated with me. As far as he was concerned, Nathan was a threat, but I didn't share his conviction. Our differences in opinion didn't stop Brian from trying to convince me to see things his way. "He's working with Daniel Sullivan, the one person whose life's mission is to see you dead. The very same person who set you up to find Mithra so that Verethragna would murder you—and he almost succeeded. Daniel, the one who sat down to chat with you as you were bleeding all over the goddamn floor and in labor. The man who gets off on seeing you in pain and told you how he'd use our pups. The sick son of a bitch who abused Theo's pups. This is the person Nathan seeks out after he thought you were dead? I don't give a good goddamn why. He betrayed you, Tristan. He betrayed his family and he deserves to die for it. Don't forget he already attempted to kidnap the pups. What if Nathan comes after you?"

  "He won't," I snapped, hurting because everything Brian said was true.

  "You don't know that. What if he comes for you, and you hesitate to defend yourself because you still have this familial bond with him? He'll cut you down while you deny he's a danger to you."

  My heart squeezed at the thought of Nathan actually lifting a hand against me. Just the knowledge of the deals he'd brokered made my stomach churn. The turmoil must have shown on my face because Brian's fury dissipated, replaced by sorrow. He crossed the room from where he'd been pacing and pulled me into his arms.

  "I'm sorry. I'm just so pissed, and I'm worried your love for him will be used against you. Sometimes I don't know when to shut my mouth." Brian grunted on the last word because I squeezed him hard, laughing into his neck. "What?"

  "I can help you figure out what to do with your mouth. Put something in it to shut you up. Help you save your dignity—or something." My shoulders were shaking with suppressed laughter.

  Brian attempted to shrug me off, huffing with renewed ire. "I knew you weren't taking me seriously!" He struggled but couldn't break my hold. I tightened my arms, biting the column of his neck. He stiffened, his struggle halting as he cupped the back of my head, holding me in place. I took that as an invitation and I worked on unbuckling his jeans. I was being a bastard, but I didn't want to talk about Nathan right then, and if I had to redirect Brian's thoughts with sex, then so be it.

  He grabbed my wrist. "What are you doing? The elders will be here any minute."

  I released his neck, pleased with the love bite blooming there. Lifting my eyes to his, I said, "They can wait. I'm going to take care of you now."

  He released his hold when I dropped to my knees, fumbling with his belt as I held his gaze. I loved how he watched me, how his breath sped up, and how his tri-ring eyes darkened. That was me. I did that to him. With his jeans finally pushed to mid-thigh, I dropped my gaze to his long, hard length. A pearl of moisture formed on the tip and I licked it, the sweet and salty precum coating my tongue.

  "Fuck!" Brian's fingers carded through my hair. I loved how his gaze was trained on my mouth wrapped around his thick cock. Everything fell away as I reveled in his hunger, his need, and I gave to him all of myself.

  The snarl startled me because it didn't come from Brian. When I glanced up, he was grinning at someone behind me. Knowing he wouldn't allow just anyone on this private moment, I relaxed.

  My guess was correct when I heard Ushna's voice. "Brian, go sit on the bed."

  With reluctance, I allowed him to pull out of my mouth, but I made the motion as lewd as possible. He whimpered low as the tip of his cock left my lips. I hid my pleased smirk. From behind, I was gripped under the arms and hauled to my feet.

  "The elders are waiting in the pavilion." Ushna's breath huffed over the shell of my ear. "We only have time for quick and dirty. You ready?"

  "Fuck yes." I drawled, drunk on lust, love, and the pheromones filling the room.

  Ushna slid his hands around my waist and loosened my belt as he shuffled us toward Brian, sitting on the edge of the bed with his pants around his ankles and cock in hand. Ushna squeezed my length through my jeans. "Are you ready for me to take you?"

  The please perched on my tongue turned into a garbled gasp when Ushna shoved my jeans down and wrapped his fingers around my dick. He ground his groin against my ass, his other hand splayed across my stomach. Even though the angle was awkward, I turned my
head to kiss him. It was hard and sloppy, but I didn't care. When he pulled away to push me toward Brian, he didn't need to tell me what he wanted. I bent over and took Brian's cock into my mouth, swallowing the precum-coated length as my jeans were tugged past my knees. I could spread my legs only so far.

  Brian fell back as I worked his length, his fingers sliding through my hair, his grip guiding me to the pace he wanted. Gel coated my hole, but I'd anticipated the coolness. Ushna didn't prep me, only made sure I was slick. We had sex regularly—halle-fucking-lujah—and as long as he was liberal with the lube, I really didn't need the slow stretching. That was foreplay, something we didn't have time for. He'd promised me fast and hard, and I was so fucking needy for exactly that.

  Ushna pressed his slick length against my hole and slid in with one long, steady push. I moaned around the cock in my mouth, pushing back into Ushna, silently telling him I didn't need time to adjust. Gods, just fuck me. He gripped my hips and set a hard pace. I floated there between Ushna and Brian, filled by both of them, savoring every whispered word of please, every touch, and I let all of my problems and worries drift away until the only things in my world were Brian and Ushna. Whatever happened in the coming days, as long as I stood by their side, I could face anything and anyone, even my brother. These two wonderful strong men would catch me if I fell.

  With them, I felt invincible.

  *~*~*

  Ushna Ahura-Yazda

  I wrapped my arms around Brian from behind, nuzzling his nape as he stared after the group being led away by the Shadow Movers. "Do you think we can trust Elder Bacchus?" he asked.

  Jynx, Devlin, and Nacht stood with us while Corey directed the shadowmen to wait by the low huts on the hillside where they would take the Council of Five back to Bahbelle. Elder Miguel Luis was a longtime friend. Elder Janus Koller was also a family friend of the Janick's and had been my boss when Tristan and I served as enforcers for the council. He'd earned Tristan's, and therefore my, trust. Elder Jasper Lewis used to be a tracker, the best actually, for Elder Koller. Over the years, Tristan and I had worked several missions with him. Those three I trusted without question.

  They were also the ones who weren't surprised by Tristan's request. They were aware of the problems and issues we'd faced since the magic binding Tristan was broken, freeing his alpha nature. But Elder Ajax Bacchus hadn't earned my trust, especially after he and Elder Ion Argus had initially denied Tristan's birthright.

  With Jynx sitting in on this meeting with the Council of Five, his ability as a Truthseer ensured everyone stayed honest. We didn't have time to second guess. Watching the elders walk away, any worry I'd normally have had was eased knowing the first part of the plan was in place and there was no duplicity on the council's part. Finally, we were accomplishing something in this silent war against Inanna.

  Tristan, Brian, and I watched the elders being led to the amphitheater where we planned for the public coronation to take place. Once Corey finished showing them Sanctuary, the Shadow Movers would usher the council back to the Hall of Shamash to make the arrangements. When the elders returned to Bahbelle, they would unleash the second part of the plan, spreading word of the coronation. They'd coordinate the influx of people who'd travel to see the crowning of the first Lycan king in their lifetime.

  Jynx shrugged, bringing me back to Brian's question: could we trust Elder Bacchus? "His answers were truthful enough, but that doesn't mean he won't change his mind, or run into a situation that will compromise him. He was genuinely surprised to hear Sasha committed treason."

  The elders had a group of assistants who helped them with their day to day activities. Early on we'd discovered there had been a security breach, and someone fed confidential information to the assassins. We had evidence Sasha had met with Daniel Sullivan often, and was his lover. She was wanted for questioning, but she'd disappeared before she could be apprehended. Only a handful of people knew Ace had identified her as one of the faces Inanna wore.

  "At least he's aware now," I replied, feeling tired already, and it wasn't even mid-morning.

  "Xenres."

  We all turned to find Leora and a couple of scorpion-men standing at a respectful distance, waiting to be acknowledged. "May we have a word?"

  He gestured for her to approach. "What can I do for you?"

  Ladon shifted on my shoulder, tongue slithering out to taste the scents of the newcomers. Satisfied they were no threat, he laid his head back down.

  Leora blushed and ducked her head before she squared her shoulders, as if marshalling her courage. "I believe it is we who can do something for you. We'd like to offer our assistance. We've been talking about what we could do to weaken Marduk, and we kept returning to the human worshipers. If we remove them from the equation, Marduk's power will drop and become stagnant again."

  I frowned. "How would you remove them?"

  "We could place then in a sleep of sorts, or with access to the Anunnaki Gates, we could take them to another plane. If we remove their influence, he won't be able to replace them before he meets you on the battlefield. Training devotees takes months. Even if he's not one of Inanna's allies, he'd still challenge you to keep you from freeing us." The longer Leora spoke, the faster her words came, as if she wanted to get her reasoning out before Tristan denied her.

  Her plan had merit. Since Marduk drew his power from worshippers, if they were removed, his threat to us would definitely lessen. "And what would be the cost to you and your people?" I asked.

  Her lips pursed into a grim line. "Nothing, as long as we aren't caught. But if we are, then our lives will be forfeit."

  Ladon perked up and hissed, a picture of his disgruntlement flashed through my mind, making his distinct dislike of Marduk clear to me. Before I'd left with Tiamat—had it only been a couple days?—I could communicate with Ladon and the other dragonets with a shortened version of sign language, allowing him to answer me with more than a simple yes or no. Since returning, I understood all the denizens of Sanctuary much more distinctly. I tried to describe what I saw and heard to Brian and Tristan, but the explanation seemed inadequate. They could now speak with me telepathically, using images and chirps that made perfect sense to me. My dragon side was closer to the surface than either Brian's or Tristan's. I believe my connection to the dragonets and snakes was linked to my ability to take the half-form—half-man and half-dragon.

  Now, Ladon sent me a picture of the hunters being accompanied by dragonets and serpents. They'd help the hunters sneak in, keeping them safe. I argued with him. The hunters couldn't hear or understand them like I did. Sending dragonets would be disastrous. Annoyed, Ladon pushed the image of a necklace into my mind. Acolytes to the priests and priestesses of Tiamat wore amulets, allowing them to understand dragon speak until they learned how to hear Ladon. They would lend the amulets to the hunters for this expedition.

  Nodding one last time, unable to come up with another argument, I relented. When I glanced up, everyone watched me carefully. I grinned sheepishly. "Ladon will choose a dragonet or serpent for each member of your team. They will accompany you on your mission."

  "Our mission," Brian added. I squinted at him, my blood running cold. Tristan's reaction was more volatile. His exposed skin rippled. He'd taken off his eyepatch and gloves when we'd arrived, and now his tri-colored eye flipped to match his sea green serpent eye. Jynx gestured to Devlin and Nacht. They edged away warily.

  The hunters were clearly too shocked by Ladon's and Brian's offer to be aware of the danger Tristan posed. "Sirs!" Leora gasped, glancing between Brian and me. Quickly, she and the two with her bowed. "We would be honored."

  "Leora, Jynx, will you give us a moment alone?" Tristan's request came out sounding more like a protracted growl, the words barely discernible. She'd done nothing wrong, but I sensed Tristan's dragon saw her as threat. Her plan would take our mate into the den of our enemy. With her shoulders hunched, Leora hurried away.

  I grabbed Brian by the arm, hustling him into th
e nearest building before Tristan lost his shit for everyone to see. What happened between the three of us was no one's business but ours.

  Brian pulled from my grasp. "Tristan—" His argument was halted by Tristan's very dragonlike rumble. Tristan visibly fought the change. If he allowed his dragon out, he wouldn't be able to yell at Brian, and he was definitely gearing up for an argument.

  Ladon licked the air. He didn't need to tell me Tristan was scared, more so than I was. I crossed and grabbed Tristan where he gripped his hair, tugging as he fought for control. "Calm down," I soothed. "Nothing has happened yet." Ladon reached over and patted Tristan's hand.

  Outside, I heard the scribbles of claws over stones. Tristan's distress could be felt by all the denizens of Sanctuary. Dragonets and serpents spilled through the open doorway, some moved quickly to Tristan, climbing his pant legs and forcing Tristan to hold the two attempting to scale his chest. Others moved to Brian, giving him the same treatment, his distress just as potent as Tristan's. Ladon nuzzled my ear as a fiery red serpent climbed to my torso and wrapped around my arm.

  "Did I hear you wrong, Brian? You can't mean to go with Leora." Even though Tristan snarled, he seemed calmer.

  Brian held his gaze, squaring his shoulders. "So you're the only one who can face danger, do the hard tasks? The only one of us allowed to fight the assassins, Daniel, or Inanna?"

  "I never said that," Tristan snapped. "You and Ushna have been included in everything we've done. I know you two are going into battle alongside me, but this is different. You are—" A pleading tone had entered Tristan's voice right before he cut off his words. Streams of smoke trailed out of his nostrils. "You're stepping into Marduk's place of power, where he will be the strongest. If he catches you, he will kill you. Where would that leave us?"

  I understood Tristan's worry, his pain. I, too, remembered all the reincarnations where we fought to be together. The number of times we almost made it, then something came along, tearing our happiness from us. Brian had only been reunited with us for a short while. Now he proposed to sneak into Marduk's lair. Tristan wasn't alone in his worry Brian would be caught. If something happened to him, there would be no coming back. We no longer had the gift of reincarnation. And yes, we were much stronger now that we were demi-Gods, but Marduk was a full God, with rising power given to him by his newfound worshipers.