Kissing his mate, laughing, and disappearing as he led his vamp back into the house.
“Looks like someone’s happy.”
Luke sighed when he heard his brother’s sardonic voice. “No thanks to you.” He turned to face Leo, not in the mood for this shit. “We need to clear the air.”
“Is that why you summoned me?” Leo’s brows rose. “Because I thought you’d banished me from this island—”
“After you tried to kidnap the angel and you nearly killed Rose?” His arms crossed over his chest. “Yes, you’re not exactly welcome.”
Leo glanced toward the house. Luke thought he saw a flicker of fear in his twin’s gaze. Interesting. Did he fear the panther? Or the vampire?
“Is she…wrong?”
“No, I think she’s quite right. Finally.” Rose wasn’t fighting who she was any longer. She’d embraced her vamp side. She’d let go of her fear. And she was loving—wildly, fully, without reservation. She was good and so was Julian.
Luke figured they deserved their happiness…and speaking of what people deserved. “I’m missing…one of mine.”
Leo shrugged. “What does that have to do with me?”
“Simon Lorne was using a gargoyle to do his dirty work. The last time the gargoyle was spotted, well, Rayce told me that you picked him up and flew away with the guy.”
“He was on Simon’s side. He needed to be put down.”
Luke didn’t let his anger sweep out—it was too dangerous when he did. “If this is the gargoyle that I think it is…he was under a spell.” He had been, for a very long time. “Where, exactly, did you put him down at?”
Leo glanced back toward the ocean. “Stone sinks pretty quickly. If I were you, I might try the deepest depths.”
“You’re such an asshole.”
Leo smiled. “I could give you more of a map, if you were…say…willing to help me find a certain angel?”
Luke just stared at him.
“Do we have a deal?” Leo prompted.
“No.”
A faint rustle of sound came from behind Leo. It was the only warning his brother got. Leo whirled—and found himself face to face with Julian.
“I wanted to give my friend a wedding present,” Luke announced. “I figured he’d like a bit of payback.”
Julian’s claws slashed, cutting into Leo. Leo screamed and his wings shot from his back even as the blood poured from his chest. Then Leo was shooting up into the air—
But Julian’s claws caught one wing. They ripped it apart. Leo fell like lead onto the ground.
Julian started to go after him again.
“That’s enough.” Rose’s voice.
Luke smiled. “Sweet Rose, ever the voice of reason.” He strode toward his brother, and, for fun, gave him a little kick in the side. “You’re lucky she didn’t come back wrong.”
Leo groaned.
“Payback,” Julian snarled. “It’s a bitch.”
Or a very, very enraged panther.
Rose twined her fingers with Julian’s and they headed back toward the house.
For a moment, Luke just studied his brother. Then he smiled. “You’re not healing as quickly as you once did.”
Leo sat up, glaring.
“I think…you may be weaker, brother. A bite from a vampire can have repercussions, especially for someone like you.” He laughed. “You were worried about her being wrong, but maybe you should worry about yourself. Claws would never do this much damage to you before.”
Leo had gotten to his feet. He stumbled a bit, glaring. Scales began to appear on his body. He was transforming fully. The best way to heal from injuries.
Luke didn’t speak again, not until his brother had flown away. For years…years…centuries…there had been talk of a battle between him and Leo. He’d worried about the day when that final fight would come. Good versus evil. Blah fucking blah.
He’d worried but now…
Now he laughed again.
Because his dear twin was showing a weakness, and if there was one thing Luke knew how to do…it was exploit a weakness.
He turned and strolled back to the house. But he didn’t get far, not before a wolf shifter crossed his path.
“Glad you think the night is funny,” Rayce muttered. “That bastard is probably off, hunting down that angel right now.”
Luke clamped a hand over his shoulder. “Why not make this a challenge?”
Rayce lifted a brow.
“You have her scent. Why don’t you see if you can find her first?”
The wolf gave him a slow smile.
And the game was on.
THE END