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There was a rustle of covers, thumps of feet on the floor, and more rustling. “One minute,” Cara called out.

Than paced, his muscles tense and twitching with a combination of worry over his horse, fury at his brother for attacking them, and intense hatred for Regan’s betrayal. He wasn’t sure which was worse, but they were all blending together in a caustic stew that threatened to release a shitstorm of violence. He wanted to kill. Destroy. Wreak havoc and kill, kill, kill. Only his concern for Styx kept him from going into a complete rampage, but he couldn’t guarantee that wouldn’t happen once the stallion was healed.

If the stallion died… he could guarantee that nothing would stop him.

Cara and Ares threw open the door and rushed out, Cara in jeans and sweatshirt, and Ares in armor. “What happened?”

“Our brother happened.” Than led them out of the house and gated them to the site of the battle.

Though he expected his stomach to turn over at the sight of Styx lying on the ice in a pool of blood like a harpooned whale, he hadn’t expected it to hurt so much. His horse had been injured before, gravely. But Pestilence and his stallion had delighted in making Styx scream, and Than swore he could feel the animal’s pain.

Another gate opened, the flash of golden light streaking out over what little snow hadn’t been spoiled by battle and blood. Limos and Arik stepped out, and if they were a happily married couple, Than would eat his Seal. They stood apart, Limos in turquoise jeans and a leather jacket, and Arik in military BDUs, a puffy green military-issue coat, and a weapons belt circling his hips.

“Dammit.” Cara sank next to the stallion, who was laboring to breathe.

Ares moved in front of Than, blocking his view. “What was the battle about?”

“I don’t know.” Than closed his eyes. “No, I know. He thought my Seal had broken, and when he realized it hadn’t, he went insane. He tried to kill Styx to hurt me.”

“Why would he think your Seal had broken?”

Kill. He breathed through the desire to go after every Guardian on the planet. “Because the fucking Aegis betrayed us, and he knew about it.”

“You aren’t making sense,” Ares said.

“Regan.” Just the name pissed him off, and he couldn’t stop the bloodthirsty growl that condensed in his throat. “She wasn’t sent to learn our history. She was sent to seduce me. She betrayed me. They betrayed all of us.” Anger singed his control as the caustic sludge that had been brewing spilled into his veins and ran like acid through them.

“Calm down, Than,” Limos said. “What are you talking about?”

“Regan.” Than started to pace in a futile attempt to outrun his rage. “That bitch!” He spun around to Arik. “What did you know about it, Aegi?” He got up in the human’s face. “Tell me!”

Arik’s expression shuttered. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I’d appreciate it if you learned the definition of personal space.”

“Than.” Limos’s tone was the one she’d always used when she tried to bring Reseph down from a rare rage, but it wasn’t going to work with Thanatos, and he turned on her with a snarl.

“She fucking drugged me.” He needed to kill, and the souls in his armor screamed to be let loose. Soon. Very, very soon, he promised them.

Ares scowled. “When? With what?”

“After you left.” Than seethed at the memory. “She plied me with my favorite mead, spiked with something. Probably orc weed.”

“Oh, man.” Ares shoved his hand through his hair. “Yeah, I get why you’re upset, but obviously, it didn’t work—”

“Yes, it did.”

Everyone froze. Everyone but Arik, who looked between them all, clearly confused.

Finally, Limos cleared her throat. “It couldn’t have.”

“I don’t get what’s going on. What’s orc weed?” Arik asked.

“It’s an aphrodisiac,” Limos replied. “Than, I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

“I’m saying she drugged me. And…” Humiliation shrank his skin. “She took me.”

“And I’m still lost.” Arik’s gaze was wary. “You had sex with a beautiful woman. Why is that a problem? Are you a penis guy?”

Than lunged, but Ares caught him around the waist. “I’m going to kill your man,