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Uriel’s own lips stretched into a full-blown grin. “Hell no. I don’t have the balls for either role. In other news, the Jao Syndicate wants to have a face-to-face with you. Antonelli isn’t as respectful or graceful in his request. What do you want to do?”

He let out a slow breath, controlling every other response from showing. “Mai Jao isn’t a female who is good at waiting. Contact her directly and set up a meeting for tonight. Paulo Antonelli is a pussy dressed up like a man. Mai has bigger balls than him, and she’s a woman. Did Antonelli say anything about an Onyx token?”

The four members of his chosen family sat back, shock written on their faces, at his question. “You gave that fuck a token?” Castle asked.

When Uriel was quiet, his focus was deadly, and he preferred tackling things head-on. If he wanted to kill, he did it without mercy and without apology. After he was turned, he swore vengeance on his maker. Few could do it, let alone live to boast about it. Uriel not only took his maker out but also freed two recently turned brothers, Casteloni and Enzo. When Severin found the trio, they’d been half-starved and almost feral, needing guidance and an anchor.

Having lost his own family, Severin took the males under his wing like little brothers. He’d assumed they were true brothers because the trio shared the same red hair and green eyes, but Uriel had only been turned by the same maker. When he met Eliana, Castle and Enzo’s younger sister, he couldn't mistake their familial connection.

Uriel snorted. “He inherited, brother.”

“Should I pay a visit to him and retrieve the artifact from his possession?” Eliana asked, her bright green eyes glittering like emerald gemstones. As Castle and Enzo's younger sister, she’d made it her mission to liven up the group. Whether it was leaving bouquets covered in glitter on their desks or gift boxes that exploded with sparkly shit when they opened them.

“That would be harsh, don’t you think?” Severin asked, leaning back in his chair and tapping two fingers on the pristine white tablecloth.

Eliana shrugged one shoulder. “One person’s harsh is another’s form of free entertainment.”

“Fair,” Severin agreed.

“I always thought the two of you would make a good couple.” Enzo lifted his coffee cup toward Sev, then toward his sister, Eliana.

“Fuck that. He’s a dick. I love him like a brother, like I do you three, but to think of...of him like that.” Eliana made a gagging sound. “No, thank you.”

Severin chuckled. “I’d be offended if I didn’t feel the same way. I love Eliana like a sister. Most of my feelings toward her border on wanting to throttle her, coddle her, or ground her like a recalcitrant child for all of eternity. Sadly, she’d only just figure out ways to make my life more miserable if I tried.”

“Hello, I’m right here.” Eliana waved her hand in the air.

“Settle, deirfiúr beag. You know we all love you despite your attitude and tendency to try and kill us at least once a year.” Castle dodged the triangle of toast she lobbed at his head and caught it with easy efficiency. He looked at the already buttered piece of bread and grimaced. “Why did you order such an inferior breakfast, Eliana?”

Severin rubbed his brow, wondering why he’d joined them. “Enough. The four of you are giving me a migraine.”

“Maybe it’s a tumor.” Eliana grabbed her slice of toast from her brother as she finished speaking, popped half into her mouth, and her eyes danced with mirth. Severin wasn’t sure if her laughter was aimed at him or the others.

“I’m still debating whether to ground or throttle you. The possibility of doing both is getting very close,” Severin warned.

“I think you should tell us what has you so on edge, deartháir.” Uriel’s fist clenched on the table, his knuckles turning white from how hard he squeezed.

“Enough. I do not answer to you. Set up the meeting with the Jao for this evening. Get eyes on Antonelli and see if he’s got people here that could fuck with Scepter’s crew.” He pushed back from the table and looked down at his watch. “Let me know when Jao agrees.”

“Sev, wait,” Enzo growled, standing up. He moved to stand next to Severin.

He let out a breath and closed his eyes. “I’m good. Finish your breakfast and make sure they don’t get arrested. Again,” he said, adding the last word with a faint grin.

Without waiting for further discussion, Severin blurred the other guests’ minds with minimal effort and disappeared in a blink.

Chapter Three

Severin stared down at the New York skyline. From his perch atop One World Trade Center, he could see the observation deck below. Dozens of humans gathered as if looking to the heavens for a savior. He could tell them there was no such thing if they wanted an answer, but alas, he wasn’t so callous as to destroy their last bit of hope.

A bolt of lightning lit up the sky, illuminating the clouds. His hands twitched on his thighs. He used to hate fucking storms until after Bianca died. She’d always made a scene, throwing tantrums that still set his teeth on edge hundreds of years later. He stood up, balancing easily on the small edge.

“The humans below look like tiny little ants.” Severin imagined himself baselining from where he stood. He held back, thinking about the shocked expressions on those who might see him free-falling, thinking he was trying to end his life.

His phone vibrated in his pocket. He slid it out and saw Mai Jao’s name at the top. “Good evening, Mai. How’s it going?”

“Severin, I hear you agreed to a meeting for this evening. I have a bad feeling, and you know how I get with things like this. I don’t walk blindly into situations when my sixth sense is telling me something is wrong.” Her slightly accented voice was soft but resolute.

“Hmm. What do you suggest?” He would listen to her reasoning even if he didn’t get it. Hell, if she gave him a chance, he’d reassure her everything was fine, and he’d keep his word. Nobody would kill her except him.