He couldn’t ignore Inanna’s threat from this evening. She rarely made idle ones. He pinched the bridge of his nose.
“Problems?” North asked.
Reynner found the warrior sprawled on the couch, eyeing him instead of the television.
It still shocked him to see the changes in North. A big male, but his skin seemed to have shrunk over his bones. Too lean, almost gaunt now.
How North survived without his mate, Reynner had no idea. Only knew he wouldn’t be able to handle it if anything happened to Eve. He realized, too, that no words he uttered in condolence could soften the male’s loss.
Still. “I'm sorry about your mate.”
North’s lips tightened. He nodded and stared at his laced fingers. He didn't say much—hell, he didn't ever speak about his dead mate.
North seemed to collect himself, his lean face set once more in its usual impassive lines. “Anything I can do?”
Reynner shook his head, aware North was referring to his problems. “No. It’s my mess to clean up.”
He picked up the horse sculpture Eve had given him and ran his fingers over the metal. “Eve… she’s all that is pure and good, and she ends up with one like me.”
North frowned. “We always thought we couldn’t soul-join with mortals. Guess we know differently now.”
“Soul-joined or not, I would never let Eve go. But I'm damn grateful to whichever fate brought her to me.”
“Our creator—”
“Messed up. There can never be aperfectrace. It’s time the ruling council faced the truth. It can never be how it once was. Urias created us, but to continue to exist, we must do what we can to survive. I think the Stone disappearing…maybe it’s a good thing.”
Reynner set the sculpture back on the shelf and crossed to the kitchen. “This proves that we can mate with mortals, though I can't see the ruling council agreeing. Can you imagine if I went back to Empyrea with Eve? They would never accept her. Her mortality—her fragility will work against her, and that I will never subject her to.”
“Then you're going to remain on this realm with her?”
“Yeah.” Reynner helped himself to a soda from the fridge, tore open the tab, and took a deep swallow of the ice cold liquid. “And we’ll live in Exilum,too.”
Aerén walked into the lounge, wearing only boxers—for which Reynner was eternally grateful.
The prince’s silver eyes narrowed. “You’re not coming back to Empyrea—to your home?”
“Eve is my home,” he said.
Sensing her still awake, he headed for her room.
***
Eve lay in bed, unable to settle, her body far too tense. Everything Reynner had told her about Inanna rattled around in her head like heavy stones.
Throwing aside the cover, she swung her feet to the cool, wooden floors and rubbed the heels of her palms against her burning eyes. God, she had to find a way to help him. No way would she ever accept that evil witch having control over him. Lowering her hands, her gaze fell on Reynner’s cell phone on her nightstand.
A thought flashed through her mind. Eve grabbed the phone, grateful it was unlocked, and pressed star one. It was answered instantly.Oh, God, please let this work.
“Reynner?” The familiar deep, commanding voice filled her ears. To know she was speaking tothearchangel sent goosebumps skittering along her skin.
“Er- no, Michael, it’s me.”
“Eve—is Reynner all right?”
“Yes, he’s fine. I…I er- need your help.”
“What is it?” He was precise and to the point, like before.
