God of Malice (Legacy of Gods #1) by Rina Kent

We didn’t have to waste time finding the location Eli sent because Bran was already familiar with the place.

I don’t even want to think about why he knows of Lan’s torture chamber—or worse, if something happened to him there before.

In the midst of the chaos, I contemplated calling Killian’s friends, but Gareth wouldn’t have cared and Jeremy, and especially Nikolai, would have undoubtedly killed my brother, and that just wasn’t how I wanted this dealt with.

As much as I’m not a fan of Lan sometimes, Bran is right. He’s our brother. Family.

Killian appears peaceful when asleep, his eternally beautiful face caught in a serene expression that I want to sketch and breathe life back into.

When we brought him in earlier, I called Gareth on the way and he was waiting for us at the front gate. He helped Bran carry him upstairs. Then he changed his brother’s clothes to dry ones and called the family doctor.

The latter said he has a fever, prescribed him some meds, and left.

I stroke the half-damp strands off his forehead and a sudden chill rips down my spine.

When I saw him on the ground earlier, all wet, half-conscious, and completely out of it, fear like I’ve never experienced before made me lose control.

It wasn’t courage, it wasn’t anger, it was pure fear that made me give Landon a piece of my mind. It was my feelings of horror that allowed me to finally confront him after years of avoiding, placating, and living by his rules.

I was that much of a coward before. I’m not now and it’s all because of the freaking bastard lying unconscious.

Since when has he become such a vital part of my life that I feel on the edge just at the thought of him being hurt?

He coerced, threatened, and gave me no choice but to submit to him. He’s as much of a villain in this story as my brother is.

Actually, he’s way worse.

But I can admit to myself that I’m attracted to him, I’m attracted to how he confiscates my control and leaves me no choice but to let go.

I can also admit that he’s the reason I’m out of my shell. That I’m no longer the conflict-avoiding, pacifying, no-say-in-anything Glyn.

It wasn’t until I saw him in danger that I realized he brings out the best and worst in me and I’m addicted to the feeling.

I’m addicted to how he puts me above everything else, how he goes out of his way to make sure I eat—even bugs Anni about it. I’m addicted to the way he looks at me when he thinks I’m not looking and how he didn’t listen to my brother’s demands and, instead, chose to stay with me.

I’m addicted to him.

The door swings open without as much as a knock and I startle as Nikolai peeks inside. “Heard Kill nearly got killed. See what I did there? Also, whose head do I have to cut from their body, rip the flesh from, and hang on a stick—

He interrupts himself and fully stalks inside with a rare shine in his eyes. He’s half-naked—I swear the guy is allergic to clothes—and all his tattoos are on full display like a map of destruction. Those, coupled with his massive build, make him intimidating as hell.

At least Killian is easygoing sometimes unless provoked. Nikolai never appears nonchalant—his cutthroat exterior is his true self.

And he’s watching my brother closely, with chilling calculation. “Now, what do we fucking have here? Did a lotus get lost?”

Bran remains still, but his fingers have found their way to his hair again and they’re tugging stronger than earlier.

“Was it this one who hurt our Kill, Gaz?” Nikolai asks slowly, menacingly, and the bulging of his muscles matches the hostile energy.

He’s honing himself for a fight, a quarrel.

Or any form of violence.

My heart beats in an irregular rhythm. Shit. What if Gareth tells him and Nikolai chooses to hurt Bran just to get back at Lan?

Before I can step in to try to smooth out the situation, Gareth says, “No. Brandon and Glyndon drove him here. They found him near their campus. For more details about the culprit, we have to wait for Killian to wake up.”

If I could hug Gareth, I would. And I’m not even a hugger. He got us out of this situation with enough ease to baffle me.

“Is that so?” Nikolai speaks to Bran. “You carried the motherfucker Kill all on your own? I thought you were a dainty lotus, but maybe you’re stronger than you look.”

“I’m going back,” Bran says in a low voice. “Want to come, Glyn?”

“No, I’m staying the night.” If I’d done so from the beginning instead of fighting for useless independence, then maybe none of this would’ve happened.

Or maybe I’m just placating myself.

Bran frowns, but then he nods, tells me to call him if I need anything, then leaves. Nikolai silently follows him and I have a feeling it’s not because he just wants to show him the way out.

Maybe I should’ve gone with Bran, after all.

“You can go if you want. I’ll take care of his meds,” Gareth tells me from his unmoving position on the wall.

“I want to do it.” My voice softens. “And thank you for covering up for Lan just now.”

“I was only leaving the ball in Kill’s court so he can personally deal with the situation when he wakes up. Besides, Niko is the kill first, ask questions later type, so he shouldn’t be privy to any details until a plan is in place.”