Chapter 26
Despite the King’s murder and the120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54tVy1TUOd
man hunt taking over the city, the Orange Fox was still as popular as ever, if120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXzkXMCuU0
not more so. With all that was going on in their lives, more and more people120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SIqBU9YXn
needed an outlet for their angst and despair. Some of the people Vander had120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZe7WunX27W
noticed, who had never been here before, were now here every night gambling or120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl272EU4NIu
drinking their problems away. It made Ross happier than he had been in a long120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJIWhOLnQt
time, which made him thirst for even more riches.
Vander and Shea stopped at the120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUTHzLhRmU
door that led into the man’s suite. Left was nowhere to be found, probably back120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNJ2YlyGZ6
outside with Right. Everyone knew you didn’t mess with the proprietor of this120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwXiKQzKsl
establishment if you didn’t want your darkest secrets to come to light.120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHp3M0lNX9
However, there would probably come a time when he would meet someone who had120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MBP0TdZud
nothing left to lose and would come knocking so he hoped Ross knew how to120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshsYpb43hQ
fight.
There were noises coming from120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWNEnPOnpl
behind the door. Based on the sweaty smell and the grunting sounds coming from120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJ5beFAKll
within, the two of them decided to wait until it was done before entering.
“I can feel you hovering!” Ross120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YK7Y5jJr3
called out. “Come on in, don’t worry, I’m decent.” Vander and Shea exchanged120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡweay1n1983
glances, but they pushed the door open anyway to head inside.
True to Ross’s word, he was120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkxrD6ixCa
decent. He was sitting behind his desk with his robe open showing off his120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQgkJCiE18
heavily muscled frame. In his hand was a glass of amber colored liquid that120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wewFpZ58k
smelled heavily like whiskey. However, the show was happening on the couch that120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwo1hB7PZTG
Vander would have to walk past to talk to his patron. Two people, a man and a120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Seai5uhMC
woman, were in the middle of some passionate sex. He was inside her, while120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWdIEi7PEk
playing with her breast, and thrusting like he would die tonight. Vander could120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmslbqYxyCI
feel his lust start to creep out, but he closed his eyes to center himself.
“Interesting, isn’t it?” Ross’s120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjU3X6QCr6h
voice brought him out of his stupor. “How much you can learn by watching.”
“I wouldn’t know.” Vander took the120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8wKxWyhOy
chair across from him making sure he could block the sight from his vision, but120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjsqmSoFein
he could still hear them going at it. “Why have you called me here? Certainly,120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XNZpeTrai
it wasn’t to watch two of your workers fuck each other.”
“No, that’s for me.” Ross120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupuhq7cYvA
chuckled. “I called you here to see if you remember the terms of our120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZW6yvxv0S5
arrangement.” He wondered when the day would come Ross would ask about that. It120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9DYGU4zmW
meant that he had something in mind, something he wouldn’t enjoy.
“I do.” Vander nodded. Ross120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmdIaICQr3
prompted him to continue. Sighing, he said: “In exchange for your protection120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWFdJ83QvF
and anything I need, you wanted me to fight down in the cage for the guest’s120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnOrLvHZPQ
entertainment.”
“Correct.” Ross put down his120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh438P7K17K
glass. “I have given you three months, generous of me, I know.” Vander rolled120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLT875p6Ry
his eyes. “But I’m calling in debt tonight. I can’t treat you as a champion,120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMECnYKfdqq
you must work your way up the ranks before fighting the bear.”
“I will not kill anyone.” Vander120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXN0qr5Ybw
warned. “That was part of our deal, remember?”
“Of course,” Ross dismissed it120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9x3eipVq6O
with a wave of his hand. “It’s not often our duels end in deaths, just against120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZp7fzFJHxK
the bear.” He got up from the desk while removing his robe. Vander averted his120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQCZCRGZv1
gaze as the naked man walked past him to join the two on the couch. “Your first120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEaRx6uhOm7
fight is tomorrow night. I have sent some things to your room to help you120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7VRagUq2BP
relax. Right will come get you when it’s time.” Vander waited for the120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TXCypixR0
dismissal, but it never came. When he left Ross was biting the other man’s neck120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgxbdY82Gw
while stroking him.
Shea asked him what the meeting120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBGsEg4u2N
was about, so Vander explained it to her. She voiced her anger the entire walk120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBtSqiCfkP
back to their bedroom. She wasn’t happy with the deal they had made with Ross120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVu3ceVUm4c
in the first place, but she didn’t think he would force Vander to fight like he120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQTq5lBAkM
said he would. He was just glad Ross gave him as much time as he did to get120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURdfGb608q
over what had happened.
When two of them arrived back at120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kE0cDBuLB
the room, both were on instant alert. They could hear giggling of two women120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOUgD5VmgX
behind the door, so they relaxed. He knew the scent of one of them as the120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsMlbRbfch
bartender he had met the last time he was here. The second woman was new. He120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAFqNI0ymF
heard that Ross had hired a new server just this morning, so it might have been120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL541dhmd7L
her. He wouldn’t know until he opened the door.
“I’m going to stay out here and120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6yr8nf2kdG
guard the door.” He could feel Shea’s judgement through their bond. It120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPF7QpNlKVY
embarrassed him, but both knew that he wouldn’t be able to relax until the120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCUiQ3fO6I
demon was satisfied in all ways. It was the animalistic urge that filled him.120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUZV2QZMqI
This was one of the few ways to sate that thirst. Ross knew what he was doing120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6sHLMX43R0
when he invited Vander to witness the display in his office. It had made him120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡduF5AJMzsg
hungry.
He stepped into the room to see120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Sm9HQUu36
two beautiful women sitting on his bed. The blonde bartender waved at him120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuabGdSyoTK
before giving him a coy wink. The second he didn’t recognize, however she120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHNKuQRPYN
seemed familiar. He must have seen her around the warehouse the past couple of120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNiPDKGazd8
days but didn’t think much of it. The two women got up from the bed, pulling120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8J9Kab72c
him over to them. The blonde placed her mouth on his while the brunet started120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAKcZXH4X6I
pulling off his shirt. For once he and the demon were of mind. They didn’t want120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXjHEWEO4R
to leave here until it was time for the fight.
…
Vander snoozed in his bed120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4oLUK5OH1
completely drained. Despite what he wanted, he was only able to for an hour or120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkp9kbokWa5
so before the events from the night before caught up to him. Hopefully he left120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjXvl5RTfh
the two women feeling satisfied, but he knew it had more to do with what they120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgzAxXDev0
did for each other than he did, but it was still fun, so he had no complaints.120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5XuM0W7X7
Shea refused to sleep on the bed until it was cleaned and the stench from his120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLs5KrVKLuF
two visitors was completely wiped away. So, she slept on the floor by his side120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNcg6Byu4k
of the bed as he rested.
Ever since the night of Malcolm’s120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqICGEEgPg
murder, the gods had been quiet. He no longer received strange dreams from120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBP1vi1Z95J
either Veyar or Unna, which concerned him greatly. He couldn’t remember the120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmm1FO6aSmA
last time he hadn’t had a visit, but he knew that he should enjoy it while it120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kCL04zHRB
lasted.
He rested until about midmorning120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4FvCxn4YT
when the sun was up, and he could hear the cleaners tidying up after the events120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4BeMyBplU
from last night. He walked over to the bathroom to take a quick shower. He made120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydcUMh9PUA
sure that his hair dye hadn’t slipped while it was wet before getting dressed.120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERWeYOvlRR
He chose a pair of brown trousers, a white shirt, and his boots. As far as120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCDbQX40VD
disguises went, it wasn’t much, but that was exactly the point. He would be120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xorkAs5nJ
able to blend in with the crowds.
“Where are you going?” Shea120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6CZ6lquBN
asked. He could tell that she was tired because her eyes were drooping.
“I want to go to the safe house120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhnJHN31vm
and see if anything happened while I was here.” Vander explained. He strapped a120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIGX693bFX
sword, a different sword than his Blade weapon, to his back before throwing a120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ532Vw954bm
messenger bag strap over his shoulder. “If the guards were paying attention120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KYp15v2EN
they would notice the carnage. I want to see who else shows up.”
“Are you sure that’s wise?” Shea120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWyt6fsF6I
asked. “What if someone recognizes you?”
“In the unlikely event of that120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvks2A4IdP2
happening, I can lose them.” Vander promised. She wasn’t entirely convinced it120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnp0IbnhLMo
was safe, especially if she couldn’t go with him. However, they both knew that120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pVaRlkOol
was the only choice they could make. If they wanted to get back to their home,120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSlF32UeNw
they would have to take risks. Vander kissed her on the top of her head120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pKau8yxUd
promising to return soon before slipping out the door.
He greeted all the workers as he120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7iNMI2bd0R
left, blowing a quick kiss to the blonde as she cleaned up the bar. Right and120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa6TktB04fi
Left rolled their eyes but let him leave without stopping him. If he wanted to120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16GaVnAJv3
get caught that was his problem, not the bouncers.
The southern district looked a lot120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHLNozqw2X
different in the light of day than the dark of night. The homeless scrounged120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2u1NMLV3xS
around for food that was left behind during the night or robbing the drunks who120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZlOvf5GGr
hadn’t been able to make it home before passing out in the alleys. Vander kept120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4U5q8qZd6
his nose to the ground unwilling to look any of them in the eye. Sometimes they120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9CwPapGX6
saw it as a challenge and on multiple occasions he had been attacked. It was120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVq7ulb3Mq
over quickly, but it drew too much attention so he did what he could to not120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yEzaJdf8T
appear threatening.
Once he got to the gate separating120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NPAolJ6E6
the districts, the two guards on duty stopped him. They told him about a house120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQoiPevwZxn
that had been broken into and the occupants had all been killed. They were120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgmWUEvjRL
given orders to question everybody coming in or out of the district. They asked120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtuLoKUfBy
for his name, of which he gave a fake one, then asked why he was coming into120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01mHrrJWnh
the eastern district that day. He explained that he was on his way to picking120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQDysB2dlt
up some packages from the market then delivering them to several different120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vn3eXfVtU
people. Runners were quite common in the city, so the guards didn’t seem phased120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQFkvXel8Z
by his explanation. When questioned about the sword, Vander laughed. He told120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKBQGcbKe5
them that they would also have a weapon on them if they knew where he was120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GzhmxmlO6
going. Once they patted him down, they sent him on his way.
Vander expected some manner of120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZB8XkBImW
traffic due to what he did the previous night, but he didn’t expect so many120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfAfccM1iN
guards. He even caught a couple of teal uniforms talking to some of them. So,120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkNx6O8l6h
the Blades were aware of what was going on, but the fact that the guards didn’t120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3Oz8iXGIx
know meant that they were keeping the identities of the dead a secret. That120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmHZJhhY4i
didn’t bode too well for him, he had to make sure that his disguise was perfect120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogsFelcazB
to avoid suspicion.
He kept to the edge of the crowd,120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrGHQRUIXH
carefully making sure not to bump the people in front of him. However, the120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7KIbCHRgR
crowd was so thick that he couldn’t see over anyone. Annoyed with himself, he120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGamQsBhqEz
did the only thing he could do. He snuck off to a dark alley, positioned some120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTbUgkSf5o
stuff in front of him so he couldn’t be seen, then bent down.
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He reached deep inside of him,120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykXeY4i7t5
touching the shard that was embedded into his body. It buckled in fought him,120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT33qH4zG1p
but he twisted the powers to suit his own needs. He could feel many different120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV90JQ7vcfg
creatures around him, but the one he homed in on was the raven on the roof top120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVaDYwvYpWU
above him. He pushed his consciousness inside and when he opened his eyes once again,120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhy6TcnZVR8
he could see above the crowd and his own unconscious form down below. With a120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSr812tX5LJ
loud cry he beat his wings and flew.
