Gideon [The Marujan Brothers Series] Book Two

by Hannah-Lee Hitchman

  They—the despicable kind he'd known to be the enemy for centuries as centuries more to come—came to a stop before the only opening; a large door directly before him some two hundred meters away.

  Gideon wiped at his sweat again, sniffing and knowing already what was to come. The dusty fog, that was generated as the soldiers had walked heavily across the dirt-packed flooring, finally settled and a brisk breeze slapped against him before the air itself, too, went still.

  Gideon did not know, for sure, where that breeze had come from. But it had come with the right timing, sending a rash of goose bumps across his bare arms. He wondered if Hadaen would make it there before or after he died.

  Like hell he would! Gideon chuckled inwardly at his own thoughts. He had his own type of heaven to look forward to so dying was not on his life list. He arched a brow as the Kankul soldiers roared all at once, sending a wave of stinking breath towards him. For the life of him, the only thing Gideon could think about at the moment was how good his humor was getting, and that these Kankul fuckers had better step up their intimidation technique.

  What did they expect him to do, cower like a bitch? Psssh! He was a third of the Marujan Dynasty. It was he that they should be intimidated by.

  Widening his stance and finding a newly found strength, Gideon met the gazes of each and every Kankul man on the field. The act that Deorci had pulled on him back in the cell a half hour ago had been cheap and cowardly. How the fiend had found a way to weaken his defenses was a mystery to him but he had no intention of ever letting it happen again.

  Deorci wanted a fight? A fight he'd get. And one he'd sooner never forget!

  Clenching his fists, he breathed deep, praying to The First for strength. This fight was for Esyth. He hadn't laid eyes on her for three years but he knew now that the universe could never be so cruel as to take her away from him.

  And this fight was for Sienna. He squeezed his eyes just, sending out another short prayer that she'd survive. If it hadn't been for her....

  He shook his head. He was going to wring Deorci's neck and rip his fucking heart out, right before he gave him a well-anticipated ass-kicking!

  Gideon looked around him one last time before fastening his gaze on the bloodthirsty soldiers before him. To be honest, he'd expected to see more of them. Hundreds more. The fact that there were so little of them, gave his confidence an upward push. It meant that Deorci's defense wasn't as strong as he'd first thought. Whatever the case, he wouldn't just stand here and wonder. He needed to find Esyth and see that she's alright. The First knows, only that knowledge alone could keep him going. Gideon didn't know if revenge possessed the strength to drive him anymore.

  Widening his stance, he wiped a trickle of sweat from his temple and stared at the soldiers. They are well protected in steel armor straight up to their wretched heads. Gideon smirked; things had certainly changed. Where had the days gone when they'd fight fists to bare fists, and with just the thin barrier of cloth on their backs.

  Something must certainly be off that he was yet to notice.

  "Why don't we all just skip the introductions and get on with this," Gideon shouted across the field, rolling away the knot in his shoulders and cracking his knuckles. "Deorci has got me right where he wants, right? Or is he too much of a pussy to face me now?"

  The soldiers neither flinched nor uttered a word. Gideon watched them as they but stared back at him for several more minutes. Just when he'd thought he could take the silence any longer, one of the soldiers stepped forward, his hand hovering over the handle of his sword.

  "They always talk too much when they know they're about to be fucked my death himself," the soldier muttered with a drawl, encouraging a few snickers from the rest of the group. "Do tell us exactly how you'd like to die so we'll make it a bit easier on you."

  Gideon barked out a harsh laugh. These dumb fucks… "Show me what you've got."

  The soldier smirked, glancing back at his fellow men and then returned to his original position alongside them. The more they all stood there staring at each other, the more Gideon grew anxious. If they were meant to fight, then why not fight and be done with it? Why the staring contest?

  Gideon shifted his feet restlessly. He was a firm believer in a fist-to-fist solution of problems and whoever won the fight must have been the party who had been in the ‘right’ from the beginning.

  Yeah, he could picture himself beating all these fools into bloody pulps already.....and still have plenty of time and energy to spare to face Deorci. Gideon chuckled to himself and flexed his shoulders. His confidence alone was what kept him going during the harder parts of these days. And damn it, he didn’t want to sound to sound harsh but if he didn’t fucking love Esyth; he sure as hell wouldn’t be here right now. He’d be somewhere in his own kingdom sipping on a couple beers and a few games of chess. And maybe finding another naïve maiden to fool around with, all the while dodging the angry mama.

  Yeah…he would certainly not be here, stinking like a skunk from a lack of a good bath and waiting on Deorci’s idiot ass to show up.

  As the seconds ticked by—and yes, somewhere in the depth of his subconscious, he was actually counting those seconds—Gideon fought against the urge to summon all the pent up anger he had been storing for all these long lonely years. He didn’t know he managed it, and only The First could explain it to him because he found himself uncharacteristically calm at the moment; when all he wanted to do was huff and puff and blow this fucking dungeon to pieces. But he needed to use his head in the matter; he had to think. Gideon had no idea when Hadaen would show up (he knew his brother would never let him down) but he had to play it safe for the time being. He had to remain calm.

  For Esyth’s sake.

  …….you Gideon, have always been so special. I saw it in your eyes for the few moments I held you in my arms. You'll be the one to hold both your brothers up. They don't have the patient will like you do…..

  He could hear his mother’s words drifting through him like a calming breeze. Closing his eyes for the briefest of moments, Gideon inhaled deeply, focusing on the image of her beautiful face. He hadn’t known her and yet…. It was as if he had. He opened his eyes and blinked twice. Yeah…he had known her. She had lived within him all these years, giving him a strength that set him apart of everyone else. He was special, that’s what she’d told him and he believed it.

  He believed it.

  Now all he had to do was focus on Esyth. She was everything to him. She…and his brothers. And Amelia too. They were a small and close knit family but they had been through a lot together; they were there for each other no matter what. Trust, dependability, love: his family. But now he wanted to explore and to enjoy all that that was meant to be his; to start his own family and to bathe in the love he knew was waiting for him with wide open arms. A love that he was more than willing to reciprocate. A love that he did reciprocate.

  ……. She'll be waiting for you. You'll know what to do, his mother had said. A slight smile twitched the corner of his lips as the image of his emerald-eyed darling came to him. Gideon glanced at the Kankul soldiers and smirked, cracking his knuckles. It was payback time and he knew firsthand and personally that payback was one hell of a bitch.

  He chuckled humorlessly and shook his head. They fucked with his father…he was too young to fight back. They fucked with his kingdom...they’d lost that time. But they fucked with his woman… Big mistake!

  When he left this damn stink hole, it will be swept off the damn map. And he sure as hell was not going to leave without Esyth.

  * * *

  Deorci’s nose flared hotly as he observed the Marujan brother down in the field. Things were not going as he had planned. Why was the damn idiot so fucking calm?! He’d expected the filthy bastard to be stomping his way across the field, spewing his abominable red energy and wiping out his worthless soldiers already. It was plain and simple.

  Deorci was pissed.

  He ran the tip of his index fing
er along his jaw, thinking. He was half tempted to go down there and show the Marujan just what he was made of but one and only one reason alone stopped him…

  His Plan B.

  Deorci smirked, the grin on his face a crooked attempt at a smile, as he rubbed his palms together in thought. He wanted all of them there when he decided to dispel his plan; and by all of them, he meant, all three Marujan brothers and whatever else fucking idiots they’d be bringing along with them. Including Malakai Baamel.

  He’d learnt of the traitor’s whereabouts for some days now. Frankly, Deorci had thought the little fool had died…thrown himself over a cliff, better yet. But to know that Baamel was actually planning against him made him angry beyond belief. No…. Angry was a big understatement. He was feeling murderous. The man hadn’t been the best right-hand man and Deorci had disliked his presence for months, like a terrible itch crawling under his skin. But the mere fact that his ex-man was now teaming up with a Marujan made him want to rip his own damn heart out. Deorci chuckled. Well, his metaphorical heart.

  Turning, he straightened the lapels of his long leather cloak and stared at the large eight-inch thick iron door directly before him. He gazed around his study, taking in all the ugly furniture and accessories. He smiled. He loved every piece of it. His eyes returned to the door. Behind it was the key to his victory over the Marujan kingdom this time and he had no intention of fucking his chance up.

  His own kingdom was weakening…more than three-quarters of his men had been wiped out. He had to act today! Before the Marujan found out just how weak his stronghold was becoming and swopped in for the kill. He wasn’t naïve…and he wasn’t stupid either. All three brothers together against him would be a fight to the end. His end. So, he had to prepare the best weapon he could discover and use it. It was his only choice.

  Inhaling deeply, he summoned his own energy and held his hand up, whispering a slow chant. “Sinjei manaueri epii…”

  The door opened in one swift motion, creaking loudly and almost shaking the entire room. He released a heavy breath and stepped inside. There it was…his weapon. Deorci observed it thoroughly, feeling beyond pleased with and proud of himself. He smiled and crossed the empty room to take a better look at his possession.

  “I know he’s here.”

  Deorci chuckled and looked down the blonde beauty, he green eyes sharp with the highest levels of hatred and disgust. He’d kept her comfortable despite the fact she irritated him beyond belief. She was his now. At least, for now. “He is.”

  “You…won’t…win.” She said each word with firm shakes of her head.

  “Sweetheart, I’ve already won…” And he reached out to touch her face.

  She grimaced and drew back. “Don’t you dare touch me. I hate you!” And she grunted deeply, working up a fat blab of phlegm and spat it in his face.

  His nose flared and his mouth curled into a snarl that could make any grown-ass man piss his pants. And this was one of his good days. Deorci flicked the mass of saliva from between his brows and looked at her silently for a while. She looked back, chest heaving with fury and dread and eyes wide with open contempt.

  Then he grabbed her by the throat, her sparkling green eyes now glittering with fright and fresh new tears. He had her pinned up against the wall, his grip only tightening around her neck by the second. He was a man without a conscience, man with no remorse whatsoever…and certainly no care about any other fuck but himself. So when he had the Marujan’s bitch by the throat, and with most of his intention geared at crushing her damn windpipe, he expected her to believe that he would do just that.

  “Let me tell you one time!” he growled so close to her face, spittle rained all over it. “Do not fuck with me. I will cut you from end to end and send you off as minced meat to your beloved boyfriend, you got that?” She didn’t answer so he grabbed her harder, encouraging a pained wince from her trembling lips. Her eyes actually bulged, and it satisfied him. “Do you understand me?” He even nodded for her.

  Esyth clawed at his hand, wheezing loudly as she tried to fight him off, her feet kicking against his shins as hard as she could. But to no avail. Nodding frantically, she jammed her fingernails into his knuckles and released her anguish in a pained groan.

  Then he released her. She fell to the floor in a crumble, clutching her then bruised neck and blinking wildly as she fought to regain her oxygen debt. Then she glared up at him and coughed. “You ”-coughs-“you son of a bitch!”

  Deorci chuckled and turned away, heading in the direction of the door. He’d had enough of this. It was time for the Marujans to meet their true maker. Flicking up his collar, he swaggered from the room and slammed the door shut behind him, cracking his knuckles and grinning.

  Yup, shit was definitely about to go down!

  The moment, he stepped out into the darkness of the hallway leading from his private quarters, Deorci’s instincts went beyond that of his normal capacity…or rather, that which he would normally allow himself to do on a regular basis. He stopped momentarily in his tracks and inhaled deeply, enraged by the change in the air. Running both hands through long thickness of his hair, he stood akimbo, tapping his foot lightly.

  Where the fuck was his guards?

  You know what, fuck those idiots! He marched down the hall, the hair on the back of his neck standing ramrod straight. Something was definitely off and he was not pleased about it. Not pleased at all. He strode around a corner, basically flew down the long staircase and then down a much more secluded hallway. It was the one that lead to his dungeons, where he kept his prisoners and concubines. He peered down the long stretched hall, his blood now boiling. Still no damn guards. He didn’t know why he even had the fools! He might as well just kill them all and be done with it!

  As he passed by each door, he peered through the tiny barred window on each, observing the prisoners inside. He counted them off too. One…

  Two… Yeah, that’s it.

  Three…. Just two more. He cracked his knuckles. You got this!

  Four…

  He glanced inside once and then away, prepared to move along to the last door when something caught his eye. Well, to be exact nothing caught his eye. Deorci spun on his heel immediately, jaws clenched tight as he knocked the door down with one slam of his right palm. And for a moment, he just stood there. Staring. Wondering what the fuck had happened. There was a thunderous anger rising up within him and for a moment, he wanted to howl the whole damn place down. But then again, he was not the ‘howling’ the type and ‘howling’ did not sit well with him either.

  So, he swallowed down the uncharacteristic yell and exhaled one harsh breath. He stared around the empty jail one last time and then looked at the dark ceiling. And then…

  And then…he laughed. He laughed because he knew exactly what had happened. He knew that he simply was not hallucinating and there really was no prisoner inside the room with him. In other words, he knew he wasn’t fucking stupid and that meant the red-head Marujan wench had escaped.

  ESCAPED! Deorci shook his head and chuckled. Yup, he was screwed. And not only because he knew she had escaped but because he knew the youngest Marujan brother was currently cornered by his other dimwit soldiers in the field. And he also knew that there was absolutely no way the bitch could have gotten out all by herself either.

  So that meant… Fuck it! There was no use thinking it anyway.

  The other fucking Marujans were here. And this time… This time, he laughed a little harder.

  Did you get her here out?

  Gideon looked on at the Kankul soldiers as he talked telepathically with his brother, Hadaen. From earlier correspondence, he found out that Haden had arrived some ten minutes ago with a few others in tow. Amelia had managed to contact him long before Gideon had regained consciousness in Deorci’s jail and given him the coordinates to the dungeon.

  Yes! I think Deorci just realized she’s missing though. He’s very close to us now. I can smell him as if he’s right under my
nose.

  Gideon chose to refrain from saying that Deorci was in fact right under his brother’s nose and kept his expression passive as to not give himself away to the watchful soldiers.

  OK! What do I do now?

  Just remain where you are. Remember, we want to make this sweep as quick and clean as possible. We’ve already caught Deorci off guard and we’ve managed to wipe out the rest of his guards.

  Gideon fought against the urge to screw up his face. Well, this is boring… Just standing here waiting on something to happen. Come on, man! I wanna kick some ass!

  You want something to do?

  Hell, yea! He cracked his knuckles and flexed his shoulders in his mind.

  Find a good fucking explanation to give me as to why there is this fucking Kankul soldier here right now breathing down my fucking neck!

  Gideon chuckled inwardly. Oh, he’d totally forgotten about that part. Malakai’s presence must have shocked and angered the hell out Hadaen. Oh, about that. Amelia can explain for me. She understands.

  She’s the only one stopping me from killing HIM and then choking the life out of you after! What the hell were you thinking?

  I’ll explain everything later.

  Chapter Twenty

  Gideon cut the contact before Hadaen could say another word. Both fists clenched, he looked on as the Kankul soldiers chatted good-naturedly among themselves. The scene annoyed him beyond any imaginable belief and he'd seriously started to reconsider Hadaen's advice. He couldn't just stand there and do nothing while Deorci could be off somewhere choking the life out of the woman he loved. Yeah, he loved her alright; and he didn't need to convince himself of the fact anymore.