Michael shrugged. “I’ve never had this happen before. Khari’s always been a docile passenger in the human vessels he’s occupied. If I had to guess, Bijou’s his trigger. He wants out and he’ll do what’s necessary to make that happen.”
“So you’re saying Oliver’s prominent? The human is repressing the vampire?”
“No.” Michael’s face grew serious. “Though he doesn’t understand what he is, Khari’s fully in charge of the human vessel. Those readings the healer’s getting are those of the vessel, nothing more.”
“He’s in there,” came a voice from behind Michael.
Apollo appeared.
Obsidian and Michael turned toward him.
“The human. I can sense his soul. And Michael’s right. The vampire’s conflicted right now. And he’s short-circuiting the vessel. Hence the seizure.”
Andthatwas what Obsidian had suspected Apollo was keeping from Penelope.
“How is it you sense Khari, but I don’t?” Obsidian inquired.
Apollo’s gaze shifted to Michael, clearly looking for him to answer.
Obsidian waited, gaze darting between the two males. Someone would answer him or they would fucking stand here all day.
“It doesn’t matter,” Michael finally said.
“It does mat—”
“Look,” Apollo stated firmly. “We can stand out here all day and hash out the why and how of our existence, but it’s not going to solve the problem.”
“The problem being what, exactly?” Obsidian studied Apollo.
“The fact that Khari’s growing more irritated being confined,” Apollo stated firmly, his voice lower than before.
Son of a bitch.
“Where’s Kaj?” Obsidian asked, though he knew neither of them would have the answer.
“I’ll get him,” Michael said before vanishing.
Obsidian turned his attention to Apollo. “I assume someone’s made you aware of what’s going on?”
The healer’s pale blue eyes leveled on his. “I’ve detected him before. In the other vessels Khari has hitched a ride in. But never has he attempted to free himself. I agree with Michael. Bijou’s his trigger. He’s trying to bond with her, but he’s trapped by the human. I hate to say it, but as long as they’re in each other’s presence”—he motioned toward the door—“as long as their affections are building for one another, there’s the potential for this to get worse. For the human vessel.”
“How do we stop it?”
“Short of restricting them from seeing one another, I don’t see how you can. And even then, it’s possible Khari’s made enough of a connection that he’ll get violent. If that happens, he’ll incinerate the vessel. The vampire’s strength, even in his current state, is far more powerful than the human. If Khari believes you’re keeping her from him, there’s no telling what he’ll do.”
“He’s on his way,” Michael said when he flashed into existence.
Sure enough, the doors at the end of the hall opened and Kaj came strolling through, his eyes narrowed, black eyebrows pitched low.
“What’s going on?”
Apollo gave the vampire the high-level details of what had transpired. When he got to the parts about Khari becoming uncivilized because he was attempting to bond, Obsidian thought he would have to stand between Kaj and the healer.
“Get her out of there,” Kaj demanded.
“That’s probably the worst thing we can do right now,” Apollo said firmly. “As her father, you have that right. At least, I assume you do. But there is a serious risk of you sending Khari into a frenzy.”
“So what are you saying?” Kaj’s gaze shot between the three of them.
