Chapter 26
Despite the King’s murder and the44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdDDqdvzre
man hunt taking over the city, the Orange Fox was still as popular as ever, if44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjAVpd7fgU
not more so. With all that was going on in their lives, more and more people44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJH8Uqv94az
needed an outlet for their angst and despair. Some of the people Vander had44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8xaHoFdsH
noticed, who had never been here before, were now here every night gambling or44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VSoeOtSyE
drinking their problems away. It made Ross happier than he had been in a long44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdA2VREYtjK
time, which made him thirst for even more riches.
Vander and Shea stopped at the44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfN5zuoYKQm
door that led into the man’s suite. Left was nowhere to be found, probably back44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6TDgVklAAa
outside with Right. Everyone knew you didn’t mess with the proprietor of this44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4XqsTJFLb
establishment if you didn’t want your darkest secrets to come to light.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSJcA6tr6Y
However, there would probably come a time when he would meet someone who had44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡki36ZWsyo2
nothing left to lose and would come knocking so he hoped Ross knew how to44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdPH7v1cMY
fight.
There were noises coming from44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCD8yZbcobY
behind the door. Based on the sweaty smell and the grunting sounds coming from44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SEVN4UjOk
within, the two of them decided to wait until it was done before entering.
“I can feel you hovering!” Ross44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7E9KDYse8i
called out. “Come on in, don’t worry, I’m decent.” Vander and Shea exchanged44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPhZA4cFFw
glances, but they pushed the door open anyway to head inside.
True to Ross’s word, he was44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Xto9PBPbH
decent. He was sitting behind his desk with his robe open showing off his44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrs05ZlVr28
heavily muscled frame. In his hand was a glass of amber colored liquid that44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXHCLQihC8
smelled heavily like whiskey. However, the show was happening on the couch that44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpQl5D3cZV
Vander would have to walk past to talk to his patron. Two people, a man and a44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpCVwMFHK9
woman, were in the middle of some passionate sex. He was inside her, while44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPxoJAgA4F
playing with her breast, and thrusting like he would die tonight. Vander could44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhjOipUp4l
feel his lust start to creep out, but he closed his eyes to center himself.
“Interesting, isn’t it?” Ross’s44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWQ3a4XWuM
voice brought him out of his stupor. “How much you can learn by watching.”
“I wouldn’t know.” Vander took the44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2R5LiNMjDc
chair across from him making sure he could block the sight from his vision, but44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JJQEbcWoV
he could still hear them going at it. “Why have you called me here? Certainly,44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfnKeZoFC5
it wasn’t to watch two of your workers fuck each other.”
“No, that’s for me.” Ross44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqDCprHmt1
chuckled. “I called you here to see if you remember the terms of our44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjUGrzu0Kj
arrangement.” He wondered when the day would come Ross would ask about that. It44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42Ik22QxeA
meant that he had something in mind, something he wouldn’t enjoy.
“I do.” Vander nodded. Ross44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCMplA1moh
prompted him to continue. Sighing, he said: “In exchange for your protection44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvc4uSr6DB
and anything I need, you wanted me to fight down in the cage for the guest’s44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0Wcy5wXUi
entertainment.”
“Correct.” Ross put down his44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7HxN7p5eQ
glass. “I have given you three months, generous of me, I know.” Vander rolled44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fCW33kEuF
his eyes. “But I’m calling in debt tonight. I can’t treat you as a champion,44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRT1alt0t0t
you must work your way up the ranks before fighting the bear.”
“I will not kill anyone.” Vander44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkfQd0N2lH
warned. “That was part of our deal, remember?”
“Of course,” Ross dismissed it44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6daGYThzC
with a wave of his hand. “It’s not often our duels end in deaths, just against44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIM7emUHanQ
the bear.” He got up from the desk while removing his robe. Vander averted his44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25IrLF8fgy
gaze as the naked man walked past him to join the two on the couch. “Your first44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUmGaLeafa
fight is tomorrow night. I have sent some things to your room to help you44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0uOZ0am2K
relax. Right will come get you when it’s time.” Vander waited for the44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZaI4hwPzx6
dismissal, but it never came. When he left Ross was biting the other man’s neck44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8xDNJyraG
while stroking him.
Shea asked him what the meeting44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrgw7TAZMm
was about, so Vander explained it to her. She voiced her anger the entire walk44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7lRPNIaWz
back to their bedroom. She wasn’t happy with the deal they had made with Ross44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtFXXEcWIg
in the first place, but she didn’t think he would force Vander to fight like he44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDi7WLBPs1
said he would. He was just glad Ross gave him as much time as he did to get44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsABVKCBsB8
over what had happened.
When two of them arrived back at44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡazZLQg9BMV
the room, both were on instant alert. They could hear giggling of two women44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimTeL7lP7a
behind the door, so they relaxed. He knew the scent of one of them as the44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPPcaRypV6
bartender he had met the last time he was here. The second woman was new. He44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHF59UsLvI
heard that Ross had hired a new server just this morning, so it might have been44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiraOmByDg3
her. He wouldn’t know until he opened the door.
“I’m going to stay out here and44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3DWnIdKN4
guard the door.” He could feel Shea’s judgement through their bond. It44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxw8DnAHBiZ
embarrassed him, but both knew that he wouldn’t be able to relax until the44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TE7010y71
demon was satisfied in all ways. It was the animalistic urge that filled him.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSA0MFVxxjA
This was one of the few ways to sate that thirst. Ross knew what he was doing44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTsvVkVV4t
when he invited Vander to witness the display in his office. It had made him44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzv9QXBoIt
hungry.
He stepped into the room to see44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXR0iAY7wiF
two beautiful women sitting on his bed. The blonde bartender waved at him44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpJEltpTKm
before giving him a coy wink. The second he didn’t recognize, however she44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTvJwcURWk
seemed familiar. He must have seen her around the warehouse the past couple of44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdK3tQNZml
days but didn’t think much of it. The two women got up from the bed, pulling44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5by9P7uRdZ
him over to them. The blonde placed her mouth on his while the brunet started44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cVBkPVYme
pulling off his shirt. For once he and the demon were of mind. They didn’t want44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfnu2Acw9X
to leave here until it was time for the fight.
…
Vander snoozed in his bed44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bLMAPMj9G
completely drained. Despite what he wanted, he was only able to for an hour or44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxVZzXnaM66
so before the events from the night before caught up to him. Hopefully he left44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LqaozP70A
the two women feeling satisfied, but he knew it had more to do with what they44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmwMTw4trO
did for each other than he did, but it was still fun, so he had no complaints.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDXD0kHfLw
Shea refused to sleep on the bed until it was cleaned and the stench from his44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAXtQA3cod
two visitors was completely wiped away. So, she slept on the floor by his side44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnk2UWqUKN
of the bed as he rested.
Ever since the night of Malcolm’s44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgsRG353gl
murder, the gods had been quiet. He no longer received strange dreams from44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hJ4Uq3TlS
either Veyar or Unna, which concerned him greatly. He couldn’t remember the44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35eXaTdDCJ
last time he hadn’t had a visit, but he knew that he should enjoy it while it44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTrIbEMqMM
lasted.
He rested until about midmorning44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9xU9bIVp8
when the sun was up, and he could hear the cleaners tidying up after the events44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHgbSdoQWI
from last night. He walked over to the bathroom to take a quick shower. He made44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmalfz113B
sure that his hair dye hadn’t slipped while it was wet before getting dressed.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHlek6PBj7
He chose a pair of brown trousers, a white shirt, and his boots. As far as44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQoYvhwPxic
disguises went, it wasn’t much, but that was exactly the point. He would be44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKra2yysyb5
able to blend in with the crowds.
“Where are you going?” Shea44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡASLYmOcjTr
asked. He could tell that she was tired because her eyes were drooping.
“I want to go to the safe house44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7qupFkYIi
and see if anything happened while I was here.” Vander explained. He strapped a44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfshQOb88T
sword, a different sword than his Blade weapon, to his back before throwing a44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPkZPWpAnY
messenger bag strap over his shoulder. “If the guards were paying attention44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLD722Gt68m
they would notice the carnage. I want to see who else shows up.”
“Are you sure that’s wise?” Shea44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlViRTbqaG0
asked. “What if someone recognizes you?”
“In the unlikely event of that44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOhZRoYuLm
happening, I can lose them.” Vander promised. She wasn’t entirely convinced it44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv7h3EfTm8a
was safe, especially if she couldn’t go with him. However, they both knew that44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQiXS500GI0
was the only choice they could make. If they wanted to get back to their home,44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrrLKGgBDI
they would have to take risks. Vander kissed her on the top of her head44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84L4uHPERV
promising to return soon before slipping out the door.
He greeted all the workers as he44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTDW4IZTtl
left, blowing a quick kiss to the blonde as she cleaned up the bar. Right and44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoy4jiw0Jy
Left rolled their eyes but let him leave without stopping him. If he wanted to44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJmi1cdmOu
get caught that was his problem, not the bouncers.
The southern district looked a lot44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVjHrO6Fgp
different in the light of day than the dark of night. The homeless scrounged44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3AHlLulXvO
around for food that was left behind during the night or robbing the drunks who44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGOG71MXZ6
hadn’t been able to make it home before passing out in the alleys. Vander kept44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ004zYOMbRB
his nose to the ground unwilling to look any of them in the eye. Sometimes they44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ918Ytljux1
saw it as a challenge and on multiple occasions he had been attacked. It was44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPiGSifzPD
over quickly, but it drew too much attention so he did what he could to not44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PbEfdLxqB
appear threatening.
Once he got to the gate separating44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGIUyn3bgj
the districts, the two guards on duty stopped him. They told him about a house44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANy4aboNX7
that had been broken into and the occupants had all been killed. They were44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡue0NZosFL9
given orders to question everybody coming in or out of the district. They asked44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKn4gh3ut2L
for his name, of which he gave a fake one, then asked why he was coming into44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYlh9iTv3a
the eastern district that day. He explained that he was on his way to picking44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNDk0f7w12
up some packages from the market then delivering them to several different44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpj3DvbTLRj
people. Runners were quite common in the city, so the guards didn’t seem phased44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexQtu2lz8B
by his explanation. When questioned about the sword, Vander laughed. He told44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55v7JF8hqu
them that they would also have a weapon on them if they knew where he was44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GPNtoCVVq
going. Once they patted him down, they sent him on his way.
Vander expected some manner of44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQOibn7W9n
traffic due to what he did the previous night, but he didn’t expect so many44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTtTvVwarX
guards. He even caught a couple of teal uniforms talking to some of them. So,44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFrdrkeDMO
the Blades were aware of what was going on, but the fact that the guards didn’t44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7sSG7wL0gB
know meant that they were keeping the identities of the dead a secret. That44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYkzgqlL6o
didn’t bode too well for him, he had to make sure that his disguise was perfect44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUzUVpBV0U
to avoid suspicion.
He kept to the edge of the crowd,44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wx1WTX3YZ
carefully making sure not to bump the people in front of him. However, the44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYc01h9Q2qF
crowd was so thick that he couldn’t see over anyone. Annoyed with himself, he44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdY4g0frqt
did the only thing he could do. He snuck off to a dark alley, positioned some44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrbTTYMHoct
stuff in front of him so he couldn’t be seen, then bent down.
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He reached deep inside of him,44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnM2rAZH0Mo
touching the shard that was embedded into his body. It buckled in fought him,44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0XUJA4fsZ
but he twisted the powers to suit his own needs. He could feel many different44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlstwADmfp
creatures around him, but the one he homed in on was the raven on the roof top44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeiJqk5a9GM
above him. He pushed his consciousness inside and when he opened his eyes once again,44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NOth6ja7s
he could see above the crowd and his own unconscious form down below. With a44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFtgd0y1sX
loud cry he beat his wings and flew.
