A Crown Of Shadows And Secrets - Sloane Murphy Page 0,4

Marie didn’t even have to be here for it to work. Her power is a little terrifying, not going to lie.

I hid in the gym first thing this morning, working out my nerves, and just thoroughly enjoying the burn, leaving the guys to deal with the butting of heads that started over breakfast. I want nothing to do with it. While it’s been the Hunters against the other factions for thousands of years, apparently the factions themselves have some inner battles between them. I’ve got enough to worry about without dealing with their politics too.

“Enough!” I hear Levi’s shout, so loud the walls practically rattle. I climb down from the treadmill and run towards the direction of his voice.

What the hell is going on?

I find him in the sitting room, steam practically coming from his ears, with the Lycans on one side and the Dracul on the other.

“This is fucking pathetic, you should all be ashamed of yourselves. Get your shit together and start acting like the leaders you are meant to be or get the fuck out of here. We do not have the time or the want for your pathetic childish squabbles. I’ve had e-fucking-nough.” I hover in the doorway at his words. Apparently when I left earlier, the petty fights didn’t leave too. Woe betide anyone that pisses my Angel off this much.

The supposed warriors in the room all look a mix of pale, or meek. Big bad Dracul and Lycans, but one pissed off Angel is enough to make everyone scurry off with their tails between their legs. I try to keep the smirk from my mouth, but I’m pretty sure I fail. Not that anyone is paying any attention to me when there’s a very close to exploding Archangel in the middle of the room.

“Well, now then ladies and gents, it seems we’ve got to the point where tensions are running just a little high. How about we all separate for a little while and come back when the Hunters and the Witches arrive in a few hours?” I casually say as I stride into the room, trying to be lighthearted in the wake of Levi’s anger.

“That sounds good to me,” Luc says with a wave.

“What he said,” Tobias says, winking at me.

“Oh look, they can get along,” Levi says, his chest rumbling and I try not to laugh.

“Thank you, I’ll have Everly come round and check on everyone once you’re settled back down. And then, once the others arrive, we’ll come and get everyone. Hopefully by then people can act like adults.” I laugh as people grumble, leaving after being glared at by my guys.

Once the room clears, just the four of us are left. Creek had dropped by to say hi yesterday morning, not having made it back that night as he said there were some issues, and then headed back out. I imagine the Hunters are imploding a little with everything that’s going on, like they haven’t had enough to deal with recently as it is. And with Creek being Colt’s best friend, and Bauer being unavailable, I get why he’s gone and helping so much. I just hate not having everyone here.

Even if I do have more important things to worry about.

“Any word from the Archangels?” I turn and ask Levi who shakes his head.

“Nothing yet, Angel. Sorry.” I wave him off, because he has nothing to be sorry about. He’s here. Even if his brethren, our brethren technically I guess, aren’t.

“It’s okay, I’m not really holding my breath for them anyway. Would just be nice, considering they typically handle Demon issues.” I shrug and walk over to him, wrapping my arms around his waist. “I’m not holding you accountable for them.”

“Is there anything I’m missing, anything else we need to know before everyone else arrives in a bit and all hell, pun intended, breaks loose?” I ask the three of them.

“We should probably have a rough idea of who is covering what areas, or are packs, Generals, and guilds going to work together to cover their own territories?” Roman asks.

“I guess, it makes sense to work that way. People know their own lands better, and we can cover more ground. We don’t know what Archer has planned, or how far spread it is. So far he’s only attacked here, but fates only know what he has lined up. I wish I’d managed to get more information from Bauer.”

“Don’t beat yourself up, mon amour. There was a lot going on and