Chapter 26
Despite the King’s murder and the81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPiruumlJJ
man hunt taking over the city, the Orange Fox was still as popular as ever, if81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdBoTMdXMs
not more so. With all that was going on in their lives, more and more people81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbrFoBSWItf
needed an outlet for their angst and despair. Some of the people Vander had81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe97FEer3Kz
noticed, who had never been here before, were now here every night gambling or81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8HPaKsp8s
drinking their problems away. It made Ross happier than he had been in a long81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGK5OuNZfn
time, which made him thirst for even more riches.
Vander and Shea stopped at the81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDegIB88IiW
door that led into the man’s suite. Left was nowhere to be found, probably back81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGkzcM2p6y
outside with Right. Everyone knew you didn’t mess with the proprietor of this81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwsMtCPqph
establishment if you didn’t want your darkest secrets to come to light.81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESDnI9Jpym
However, there would probably come a time when he would meet someone who had81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08MkD7J2Wu
nothing left to lose and would come knocking so he hoped Ross knew how to81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatUqnpDkmX
fight.
There were noises coming from81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSnc2dVEI6
behind the door. Based on the sweaty smell and the grunting sounds coming from81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ14RemgSXhv
within, the two of them decided to wait until it was done before entering.
“I can feel you hovering!” Ross81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4JN3TnHBs6
called out. “Come on in, don’t worry, I’m decent.” Vander and Shea exchanged81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQTpTxk1u1
glances, but they pushed the door open anyway to head inside.
True to Ross’s word, he was81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCY5uCN5NsQ
decent. He was sitting behind his desk with his robe open showing off his81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFuD5sCm9n
heavily muscled frame. In his hand was a glass of amber colored liquid that81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VE8XKx8y2
smelled heavily like whiskey. However, the show was happening on the couch that81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ720Ean1BJg
Vander would have to walk past to talk to his patron. Two people, a man and a81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinQpXrnwNl
woman, were in the middle of some passionate sex. He was inside her, while81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCPWDAd7d2
playing with her breast, and thrusting like he would die tonight. Vander could81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkoaqbtVC1
feel his lust start to creep out, but he closed his eyes to center himself.
“Interesting, isn’t it?” Ross’s81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLD8Q82ZiU
voice brought him out of his stupor. “How much you can learn by watching.”
“I wouldn’t know.” Vander took the81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7xvJZhw4u
chair across from him making sure he could block the sight from his vision, but81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQn6RE0g7M
he could still hear them going at it. “Why have you called me here? Certainly,81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiw2WtMvDbw
it wasn’t to watch two of your workers fuck each other.”
“No, that’s for me.” Ross81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBXpAC4aKO
chuckled. “I called you here to see if you remember the terms of our81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMi1VccCe0
arrangement.” He wondered when the day would come Ross would ask about that. It81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVBqT8NJga
meant that he had something in mind, something he wouldn’t enjoy.
“I do.” Vander nodded. Ross81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79ki4sn9Tx
prompted him to continue. Sighing, he said: “In exchange for your protection81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MtvMCnWN7
and anything I need, you wanted me to fight down in the cage for the guest’s81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN074sC58BJ
entertainment.”
“Correct.” Ross put down his81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRA52iQqKnV
glass. “I have given you three months, generous of me, I know.” Vander rolled81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbw7ygxTqAd
his eyes. “But I’m calling in debt tonight. I can’t treat you as a champion,81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QMi7LnuTf
you must work your way up the ranks before fighting the bear.”
“I will not kill anyone.” Vander81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrgKPkmBM5
warned. “That was part of our deal, remember?”
“Of course,” Ross dismissed it81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVieCMmuAt
with a wave of his hand. “It’s not often our duels end in deaths, just against81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxC3fJC7UE
the bear.” He got up from the desk while removing his robe. Vander averted his81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNeehfrp034
gaze as the naked man walked past him to join the two on the couch. “Your first81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrsn1M0upE
fight is tomorrow night. I have sent some things to your room to help you81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8U3VaqL9ce
relax. Right will come get you when it’s time.” Vander waited for the81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QtTWP0UKM
dismissal, but it never came. When he left Ross was biting the other man’s neck81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5diVo176s
while stroking him.
Shea asked him what the meeting81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLOlPaCTFJ
was about, so Vander explained it to her. She voiced her anger the entire walk81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PdLf5DDVv
back to their bedroom. She wasn’t happy with the deal they had made with Ross81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJPvhbQrhY
in the first place, but she didn’t think he would force Vander to fight like he81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodG0HTRUSA
said he would. He was just glad Ross gave him as much time as he did to get81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8N9GvfGHf
over what had happened.
When two of them arrived back at81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUJJwrjMtX
the room, both were on instant alert. They could hear giggling of two women81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjYoVFhgJF
behind the door, so they relaxed. He knew the scent of one of them as the81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHnDeSCZ0c
bartender he had met the last time he was here. The second woman was new. He81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIB4NBcjFy
heard that Ross had hired a new server just this morning, so it might have been81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG78c69Bj5E
her. He wouldn’t know until he opened the door.
“I’m going to stay out here and81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3g5bXUDVus
guard the door.” He could feel Shea’s judgement through their bond. It81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjGVVm4hbV
embarrassed him, but both knew that he wouldn’t be able to relax until the81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mjl9f6QLJ
demon was satisfied in all ways. It was the animalistic urge that filled him.81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NzRkE0Uy1
This was one of the few ways to sate that thirst. Ross knew what he was doing81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8U74c0iLVD
when he invited Vander to witness the display in his office. It had made him81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiW7vV0i5wO
hungry.
He stepped into the room to see81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdYeNCNyq3
two beautiful women sitting on his bed. The blonde bartender waved at him81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxpxdsdSM6
before giving him a coy wink. The second he didn’t recognize, however she81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNF9PSgC3Ss
seemed familiar. He must have seen her around the warehouse the past couple of81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvovSPUIqgl
days but didn’t think much of it. The two women got up from the bed, pulling81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVekvGVRBJ
him over to them. The blonde placed her mouth on his while the brunet started81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQPlfovWDTx
pulling off his shirt. For once he and the demon were of mind. They didn’t want81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYroBJGGIe
to leave here until it was time for the fight.
…
Vander snoozed in his bed81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSUPUV5kOd
completely drained. Despite what he wanted, he was only able to for an hour or81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwgHmmcHIF
so before the events from the night before caught up to him. Hopefully he left81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzAazcVzEVP
the two women feeling satisfied, but he knew it had more to do with what they81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76GxwQ1LuY
did for each other than he did, but it was still fun, so he had no complaints.81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cr7l7Qc8s
Shea refused to sleep on the bed until it was cleaned and the stench from his81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlE4I5TLb7
two visitors was completely wiped away. So, she slept on the floor by his side81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2WvcupGXG
of the bed as he rested.
Ever since the night of Malcolm’s81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigl1eRgjdS
murder, the gods had been quiet. He no longer received strange dreams from81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qouJaV7xg
either Veyar or Unna, which concerned him greatly. He couldn’t remember the81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmIXACsvQ7
last time he hadn’t had a visit, but he knew that he should enjoy it while it81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnunVa6TR1J
lasted.
He rested until about midmorning81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfn8FT9FN1l
when the sun was up, and he could hear the cleaners tidying up after the events81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjI40cq6hqf
from last night. He walked over to the bathroom to take a quick shower. He made81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlRCEIyvWU
sure that his hair dye hadn’t slipped while it was wet before getting dressed.81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPi4rboEiJK
He chose a pair of brown trousers, a white shirt, and his boots. As far as81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjgL0Sr8PO
disguises went, it wasn’t much, but that was exactly the point. He would be81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Ju1vsVWJO
able to blend in with the crowds.
“Where are you going?” Shea81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MtzElFD9p
asked. He could tell that she was tired because her eyes were drooping.
“I want to go to the safe house81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgPNfn8v29
and see if anything happened while I was here.” Vander explained. He strapped a81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BcgghUkT0
sword, a different sword than his Blade weapon, to his back before throwing a81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv7gIaJWXeO
messenger bag strap over his shoulder. “If the guards were paying attention81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssPaTpwmET
they would notice the carnage. I want to see who else shows up.”
“Are you sure that’s wise?” Shea81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tafF1NWtO
asked. “What if someone recognizes you?”
“In the unlikely event of that81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEb2g4VoYj
happening, I can lose them.” Vander promised. She wasn’t entirely convinced it81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMkdZqrSgn
was safe, especially if she couldn’t go with him. However, they both knew that81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSNmn7pjZr
was the only choice they could make. If they wanted to get back to their home,81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtZwcFaqQA
they would have to take risks. Vander kissed her on the top of her head81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWfjxipXkq
promising to return soon before slipping out the door.
He greeted all the workers as he81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF69cag0WP5
left, blowing a quick kiss to the blonde as she cleaned up the bar. Right and81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBOOR54Nrx
Left rolled their eyes but let him leave without stopping him. If he wanted to81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhVJwv1w3h
get caught that was his problem, not the bouncers.
The southern district looked a lot81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dzYIM5FTF
different in the light of day than the dark of night. The homeless scrounged81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gh92pNh32
around for food that was left behind during the night or robbing the drunks who81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxpNTF3T0v
hadn’t been able to make it home before passing out in the alleys. Vander kept81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pFE3GHeca
his nose to the ground unwilling to look any of them in the eye. Sometimes they81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyuBhQzEZB
saw it as a challenge and on multiple occasions he had been attacked. It was81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZt9x0PSvKn
over quickly, but it drew too much attention so he did what he could to not81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmE9lSKvTc
appear threatening.
Once he got to the gate separating81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu34m29TmAr
the districts, the two guards on duty stopped him. They told him about a house81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYEpNHFsAEQ
that had been broken into and the occupants had all been killed. They were81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvhHBpdBhD
given orders to question everybody coming in or out of the district. They asked81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJar3ZUuHP
for his name, of which he gave a fake one, then asked why he was coming into81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkaGv8eJsec
the eastern district that day. He explained that he was on his way to picking81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfV3mpGtZy
up some packages from the market then delivering them to several different81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJx5RxTtj7
people. Runners were quite common in the city, so the guards didn’t seem phased81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2eNnJfu3I
by his explanation. When questioned about the sword, Vander laughed. He told81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGAuXC1itG
them that they would also have a weapon on them if they knew where he was81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jIaeHy5Ld
going. Once they patted him down, they sent him on his way.
Vander expected some manner of81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3S3EfeP43
traffic due to what he did the previous night, but he didn’t expect so many81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXIZA4LTuyT
guards. He even caught a couple of teal uniforms talking to some of them. So,81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVKxgWphQV
the Blades were aware of what was going on, but the fact that the guards didn’t81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16Q4lrA4g6
know meant that they were keeping the identities of the dead a secret. That81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIBiyUbzPd
didn’t bode too well for him, he had to make sure that his disguise was perfect81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnv6UGa5cz
to avoid suspicion.
He kept to the edge of the crowd,81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Ufzd2o6Rb
carefully making sure not to bump the people in front of him. However, the81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdELeHvlRF
crowd was so thick that he couldn’t see over anyone. Annoyed with himself, he81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlPGQ2kAyP
did the only thing he could do. He snuck off to a dark alley, positioned some81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ejSA2ePNg
stuff in front of him so he couldn’t be seen, then bent down.
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He reached deep inside of him,81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1PSFUjjiV
touching the shard that was embedded into his body. It buckled in fought him,81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpxpRuT7sZ
but he twisted the powers to suit his own needs. He could feel many different81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoILSmiPr7C
creatures around him, but the one he homed in on was the raven on the roof top81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FC4kA0ar1
above him. He pushed his consciousness inside and when he opened his eyes once again,81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFs4AEUnKlL
he could see above the crowd and his own unconscious form down below. With a81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLV8nMWRoO
loud cry he beat his wings and flew.
