“Did you just quote Sarah McLachlan?” Layla blinked. “And isn’t that song about heroin?”
“Why do you think humans use heroin, Layla Price?” Heathren spoke mysteriously as he sipped his tea. “They want to feel the ether flowing through their bodies at any cost – even the most final one. It is both blissful and terrible. And the need to feel it again can drive a person insane.”
“So working with you could feel like heroin to me, and might be just as addictive.” Layla blinked, sitting back on her barstool to process.
“Working with an Archangel can be both brighter and darker than you’ve ever imagined.” Heathren spoke simply, though his eyes still had that shine to him. “Insanity can happen; severe addiction to the Archangel’s presence. Death is not unheard-of while your mind and body flow so boundless in the etheric state. You will be confronted with every deep, terrible secret of your life while you are there. And they will feel very real while we scour those realms, cleansing you to become light enough to ascend into the etheric state and move it to your will. Every demon you hidewillcome out to play. And every love of your life will break you wide open – until your heart screams with agony and ecstasy all at once.”
“Jesus.” Layla breathed.
“Indeed.” Heathren stated simply, still holding her with his intense gaze. “You would be able to contact Hunter – and he you – after we are finished, and go to him, most likely. Though your dark attraction to him, for which you are punishing your drakaina and banishing it from your consciousness… that I cannot help you with. Only going to Hunter and facing him in person, getting to understand who he really is in his heart of hearts, would absolve you of that, I’m afraid.”
“You think if I went to him and spent time with him,” Layla breathed, horrified as much as the thought thrilled her, “that my drakaina and I would figure out if he was a worthy mate or not.”
“Undoubtedly.” Heathren’s gaze sparked with something dire now, and deadly. “Though if you chose at the end of the day to become Hunter’s mate, Layla, and Bind him… I would have to kill you both. Hunter must pay for his crimes. And I will let no-one stand in the way of that.”
“I understand.” Layla spoke softly, feeling how much Heathren meant it. He was beautiful, but he was a wrathful angel. Layla could see it, burning in those pale silver eyes as he stared her down.
“Do you wish to undertake my training?” Heathren spoke softly now, watching her.
“What about helping me find these other Royal Dragon Binds for training?” She countered.
“You trust them even less than you trust me.” Heathren’s lips curled up in his exquisitely knowing smile again now, though his eyes brokered no bullshit. “I feel deeply that you want to find your father, Layla Price, so he can train you in etheric magic and help you understand your Dragon’s current predicament. King Ruslan Aristov’s whereabouts are known to me, yes, but he is guarded by a force even the Intercessoria cannot penetrate, though we would love to. There is a possibility I could get you through to him by Archangelic means – him and the other Binds hiding from Hunter. But I would never let you or anyone else undertake training in etheric magic with a parent. It would… destroy your mind to face such boundlessness with someone related to you. Your only option is me. And I will only acquiesce to this deal if at the end of the day, you lead me to Hunter’s lair. And help me acquire his head on my plate.”
Swallowing hard, Layla weighed her options in one final assessment.
And then stuck out her hand, offering it to the Fallen Ephilohim. “Done.”
“Done.” He spoke as he took her hand, iron in his tone as his silver eyes sparked with pleasure.
CHAPTER 13 – PATHS
Layla couldn’t help but feel like she’d made a deal with a devil as she let go of Heathren Merkami’s hand in his opulent penthouse apartment. He was quiet as he watched her, only pouring them both more tea from the pot of Earl Grey between them, now that their agreement had been made. As they sipped in silence, Layla felt a strange energy rise between him and her – as if this deal they’d just struck would be a challenge to them both. Setting his tea down with a precise gesture, Heathren reached into a pocket of his trousers and retrieved a small white stone that scrolled through with golden runes similar to Layla’s white cube.
“Insinio.” Heathren spoke quietly over the stone. “Please inform the Intercessoria I will not be in for the week, perhaps two. I have gone into Contemplation and wish to be undisturbed, and may take a Wander for part of it. That is all.”
As Heathren put the stone away, Layla lifted an eyebrow at him. “Is that all you’re going to tell your partner about what we’re up to?”
“Contemplationandtaking a Wanderare Insinio’s and my code for private matters we do not wish the Intercessoria to be party to.” Heathren spoke as regarded Layla. “He’ll not question me and will simply inform the Intercessoria that I’m unavailable right now. Fallen Ephilohim are generally…adjacentto the Intercessoria’s workings, rather than bound by them. We have no contracts written with the Intercessoria in our blood, we simply believe strongly in law and order. The entirety of the Intercessoria only has about thirty Fallen Ephilohim, actually.”
“So you’re sort of a rarity working with them.” Layla blinked, having not expected that.
“In a way.” Heathren answered with the tiniest smile, before his gaze strayed to Layla’s bags by the door, then back to her again. “I have not had a houseguest in ages, Layla. Unfortunately, I have no guest bed. You shall have my room while you are here, and I shall take the couch. I assume you might want to contact your men as to your whereabouts?”
“Adrian wants me to call, to tell him I’ve at least arrived safely. And he would probably want to know I’ll be working with you for a while.” Layla spoke, crossing her arms and leaning on them at the counter bar, feeling a sudden heaviness in her heart thinking about Adrian.
“Do you not wish to call him?” Heathren chided her gently now, not smiling anymore but watching her closely. “Those are fairly simple things to say.”
“I don’t know.” Layla’s heart felt heavy as she rubbed her chest, wondering why she was balking at calling her primary lover.
“You do not wish to lie to him.” Heathren’s gaze was piercing now as he figured out Layla’s problem before she did. “Nothing about what we will do together is safe as we study the ether, and will most likely lead to far more dangers, even if you are successful at it. You do not wish to have Adrian hear that in your voice.”
“No.” Layla shook her head, feeling awful but knowing Heathren had read her like a book.
“Very well. I shall call him. One moment.” Rising, Heathren went to a pure gold cell phone Layla saw charging in the kitchen – Intercessoria electronics. Tapping it and then breathing on it to unlock the magical encryption, he dialed a number and held it up to his ear.
“Adrian.” He spoke curtly. “Yes, It’s Heathren. Layla’s arrived and she’s safe. You’ll be pleased to know she shall be staying with me for perhaps the next week or two. I shall be tutoring her in opening to the ether and learning etheric magic.”
Heathren went quiet on the line, then nodded. “Yes, I understand. No, I cannot tell you whether she’ll be able to reclaim her Dragon – that is entirely up to Layla, and whether she can clear her heart of the truths that lay heavy upon it. No, I will not coddle her if Hunter contacts her through the ether, only if she asks me to create protection for her. I understand. Yes, I will be as careful with her as I can be. Yes, you may share with the others where Layla has gone and why.” Heathren looked at her with his eyebrows raised and Layla gave a nod. But then he lifted an eyebrow at something Adrian was saying on the other end of the line, and suddenly went very still.
