“Oh, my goodness,” Sofia tittered, her hand rising to her chest to steady her fluttering heart. “Of course…the more the merrier I always say.”
“I’ve always found that to be true,” Vasile murmured, holding out his arm. “Should we begin, then?”
Jackson watched the three of them leave, taking note of Sofia’s euphoria as she basked in the glow of Vasile’s attention. Shaking his head, he sat down behind Steel’s desk, wondering if there was something between the two of them. Could they be meant for each other? It was a real possibility since his knowledge of vampires was limited to the information taught in school, which certainly had never addressed this situation. Sighing, he shelved his questions for the time being until Brady returned, hoping he might have some answers.
“Hey Jackson, got a moment?” Norm asked, standing in the doorway.
Rousing himself from his musing, Jackson smiled. “Yup…c’mon in.”
Sitting in the chair opposite Jackson, Norm asked, “Do you have a problem with Theo and me marrying Smokey? I know it can be a problem in the human world, so I did a quick online search through paranormal laws and there doesn’t seem to be any objection to it. The reason I’m asking is because we want to propose to Smokey, but if there’s an issue…”
Holding up his hand, Jackson said, “Stop right there, Norm. There is nothing preventing the three of you from marrying each other and you definitely do not need my permission. But if you are asking for my support and blessing, you have it.”
Breathing a sigh of relief at the news, Norm’s tension eased quickly. He hadn’t realized how worried he was that Jackson might refuse to permit it. But now, he and Theo were free to proceed with their plan to give Smokey a swoon-worthy proposal, and that brought a smile to his face.
~/~/~/~/~
“Fuck!” It came out as a whisper, but it was all Cain could manage at the moment. Groaning at the loud pounding in his head, he kept his eyes closed, trying to recall what his jailors had done to him that had induced it. His memory came back slowly and, when he finally remembered the last words the woman had spoken to him, his eyes shot open. Ignoring the pain caused by the drug used to sedate him this time, Cain’s eyes looked at the door, finding himself still behind bars. A stab of disappointment shot through him before he quickly wiped it away as he had done throughout his life.
Closing his eyes again, Cain just wanted to give up and stop fighting what had turned out to be a futile battle. If that woman was telling the truth, he’d be better off dead than living as someone’s bitch. Hell, he would rather surrender himself to the fucking assholes who got him into this jam in the first place. Life under them would be tough but at least there was a chance to escape. Here there was none—as he had finally realized.
Reaching up, Cain rubbed his forehead, trying to sooth the pain gripping him, when he realized his world had changed. Yes, he was still in the cell, but missing were the restraints keeping his body in a painful position. Instead, his cell was warm and he was stretched out on a mattress, fully clothed, and covered with a soft blanket.What the fuck?But before he could figure out what that meant, the scent of food reached his nose. Opening his eyes, he looked around the cell, finally locating the source.
Holy shit!Cain sat up. Keeping the blanket wrapped around him, his mouth began to water as he stared at the tray with multiple covered dishes on it. He could tell it wasn’t the tasteless shit the guards would shove through the opening in the door three times a day, but real food—the stuff dreams were made of in prison. Glancing up at the camera, he saw the red light, letting him know they were watching him.Fucking assholes!
Swallowing his excess saliva, Cain lay down, refusing to give in to his hunger. Rolling over, he turned his back to the camera, declining to play along with this new game his jailers were trying after the last one with the whore didn’t work. Biting his lip, Cain pulled the blanket over his head, giving him some privacy for the first time in a long time. It wasn’t much, and he didn’t know how long it would last, but it certainly beat being cold and naked.
Frank turned away from the camera feed and looked at Oracle. “I told you he wouldn’t eat. I’m surprised he didn’t reject everything since I’m sure he thinks it is another effort on our part to get information from him. Giving him clothes, bedding, and food won’t buy his cooperation…instead, he’ll view it as a sign of weakness on our part…that he’s close to winning…whatever that means to him.”
Oracle kept her eyes on the prisoner, waiting for what, she wasn’t sure, but for the first time since learning of the Fates’ plan, she agreed with their selection. The man had hidden strength which would be needed for what lay ahead of him. His refusal to give in against all odds would give the paranormal world an edge against the evil forces that were amassing to challenge it. Finally turning to her friend, Oracle said, “Turn off the cameras, Frank.”
Startled, Frank asked, “Why? It’s standard protocol for anyone kept in high-security cells.”
Smiling now, Oracle replied, “Because it will give Cain the one thing he wants more than anything else…privacy.”
Chapter 6
Lying on his bed, Kahn stared at the ceiling, searching for answers to the many questions filling his mind, but so far, none had appeared. So lost in his thoughts, he never heard the bedroom door open.
“Kahn?”
Sitting up quickly and swinging his legs over the side of the bed, Kahn looked at his mother and asked, “Is there a problem?”
Letting out a soft sigh, his mother entered the room, shutting the door behind her. “Are you all right?”
That was the one question he was still trying to figure out the answer to. Patting the space next to him on the bed, he waited until his mother joined him. “How’s CeCe and Suzie doing?”
“After arguing about who would have which room, they finally reached an agreement, thank goodness. Presently they’re busy unpacking and making lists of things they absolutely must have or their lives will be ruined forever.”
Chuckling, Kahn gave his mother a reassuring pat. “Glad to see some things haven’t changed. What about you? Can I do anything for you?”
“Honestly? I don’t think there’s anything anyone can do to make this right. My husband…your father…charged with mass murder? What do I tell the girls? What will happen to us? What will happen to all of the members of our pack? Will they be forced to leave the only home they know?” his mother asked.
The tears on his mother’s face broke Kahn’s heart. Gently wiping them away, he hugged her tightly, resting his chin on her head while trying to find words to comfort her. It was themoment he’d dreaded ever since reading the arrest warrant. The seriousness of their situation was slowly becoming apparent to his mother and it was only going to get worse. He had no answers for her and, for the first time ever, he agreed with his father who had always taunted him about how useless he was.
~/~/~/~/~
Signing the last of the orders Brady had drafted for him, Remy set down his pen, stretching out his cramped fingers. “I don’t think my hand will ever recover.”
