Creed Read online

  “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