CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR: ALPHA OF BLACK BANE

My ears were ringing with the absurdity of that statement.

"Well, hello, brother."

I couldn't believe it. My ears were playing tricks on me. This must all be part of a dream I hadn't waken up from. Because Alexander's brother was dead. Or supposed to be, at least.

I looked at Alexander and a myriad of emotions washed through his face. Disbelief. Guilt. Relief. Dread. And finally, fear.

I had never seen him at a loss for words, completely frozen and so pale, he looked like death.

Finally, his lips cracked open and he whispered one word, "Cassius."

Even the name rocked me to my core, eliciting a shiver that trotted down my spine.

I looked at the man only to see annoyance flash across his wickedly beautiful face. "Diablo," he corrected with a voice so deceptively smooth, I almost lulled at the tone of it. "The name's Diablo now."

Alexander's lips split into a relieved smile, "oh my god, it IS you. How is this possible?" His face contorted into an incredulous look, relief, pouring from h