Loyal Blood

REMINDER

Duvan and Cristian's response to Ethan made Nathan's brows furrow. At that moment, he was having a flashback of the night he fought Yannis and Victor while the Queen was pregnant with Ethan.

"Is that a challenge, young men?" Nathan asked.

Ethan smiled at the thought of fighting both of them. He stood up and took off his suit jacket, then rolled up his sleeves.

"Honey, no....please." Camille said, grabbing his hand.

"If the challenge is for her...absolutely."

Duvan stood up along with Cristian, and Euphoria interrupted.

"There will not be any fighting."

"Don't worry, Mother, this won't take long. Follow me, gentlemen."

Ethan kissed Camille, then walked away from the table with Nathan following behind him.

"Are they really going to fight?" Shamika asked Ares.

"Yeah....stay here with Camille."

She gave Ares a nod and sat next to her.

"I don't want Ethan to fight."

"I know...it's okay, sweetie." Shamika consoled a scared Camille.

The ladies stayed inside while the men went to settle their differences. Euphoria knew she could step in but allowed her son and husband to move how they wished. If things go too far, she'll step in.

The men walked outside to the back, and the land was plenty. Outside was a huge area where polo was played. Ethan led them to the center as the others, and a few guards stood around the three men in a circle.

"This dinner is turning out to be better than I expected." Cristian rolled up his sleeves.

"So...this fight is for the young lady, right?" Duvan asked.

Ethan stepped forward. "If you think so..."

"I say this is for Camille and your territories."

Cristian spoke, and Duvan gave him a nod in agreement.

"I thought you both weren't here to take over anyone's land..." Ares spoke.

"We weren't until the opportunity presented itself."

Ethan stared in their direction with no emotion. "Who's first?"

Amadi smirked at his big brother's fearless nature. That's all he's ever known him to be and has witnessed high levels of Ethan's savagery that their mother, Ares, or Gabriel has never seen before.

Before Duvan or Cristian could step forward, he got in a fighting stance. The Crestmont twins looked at each other with smirks on their faces, then Cristian stepped forward.

"It's going to be a delight getting to know her."

"Swing..." Ethan waited.

Instead of Cristian reacting, Duvan fist went instead. Ethan quickly blocked each blow. Duvan grew angrier with each miss.

Cristian soon joined his brother, matching fist by fist. Ethan was struck a few times with no effect, then continued to block them.

Is his jaw made of steel?

Duvan thought to himself after he and his brother landed some hits. Ethan shook the punches off, then landed his first hit to Cristian's jaw.

"AH!" The impact sent him flying backward.

This caused Duvan to get hyped but was met with two rights and an uppercut, causing him to hit the ground also.

Amadi knew Ethan wasn't at his full capacity. He was testing to see how skilled and strong his opponents are.

"That's not all you two got, is it?" Nathan asked.

Ethan picked Duvan up by the throat as he swung and struggled to get loose. While his feet lifted off the ground, Cristian came to his brother's defense but was stopped before he could throw a punch.

"NO!" Duvan's eyes widened.

Ares and Gabriel stood in shock while Ethan's hand went through Cristian's chest. He held his heart in his hand.

His eyes didn't even look away from Duvan, and fear took over as he watched his brother's body go limp.

"C-Cristian? CRISTIAN!"

Duvan called out as Ethan snatched his hand from his brother's chest. With his heart still gripped in his palm, Cristian fell to the ground, lifeless.

Amadi chuckled, not surprised. "He actually took it easy on them."

Gabriel and Ares stared in awe. "Like father, like son."

Nathan smiled. "I'm so proud."

The ground began to rumble, causing Duvan to fall from Ethan's hold. A red light shot through the cracked turf, and Duvan began to shift into his beast form. The clouds took over the sky, and a red moon appeared.

"What the hell is going on?!" Gabriel shouted.

Amadi's eyes widened. "The blood moon deity is awakening. Just like father warned."

***

Euphoria felt an anxious feeling take over her body. She knew something was brewing in the atmosphere.

"Mommy, something is coming!" Imani ran into the dining room with Oliver.

Euphoria gave her a nod and then stared at her future daughter-in-law. Camille's aura revealed that she was expecting Ethan's first child.

"Ladies, I want you all to follow Oliver to the great room."

They quickly got up, but Elva stopped.

"Do you need my assistance for anything?"

"Protect the girls and don't hesitate to kill when threatened. Give no mercy."

Elva smiled, ready for action. "Yes, ma'am."

She followed along with the girls and Oliver. Soon, a familiar presence came through, and Euphoria sat down.

Queen Euphoria, the time has arrived for defense against the evil that you were warned about many years ago.

Yes, Goddess Mother.

Abyssian, Crimsian, Eclipse, and Goldence....These are the four tribes that will descend from your sons.

This is a bloodline that is starting with them and will spread through their offspring and be followed by others if they succeed. All peace, honor, and natural order will blossom from these tribes.

Euphoria listened closely to every word Goddess Mother spoke. She chanted words of protection around her sons as the foundation shook and a loud roar could be heard from the outside.

She got up and walked towards the back as Nathan came towards her. He had a feeling this was what was prophesied before all her sons were born.

Amadi's eyes glowed gold as his body illuminated. Electric current surged from Gabriel's hands while his eyes did the same.

A red glow surrounded Ares' body. His eyes looked like lasers. Ethan's canines grew, and as a black abyss covered his eyes, a black mist swirled at his feet.

Duvan carried his lifeless brother off the turf while the four brothers surrounded the opening ground.

"No need to worry, my queen." Nathan grabbed her hand.

Euphoria took a deep breath.

"I'm not...they are ready."