Acadia smiled. “Many lifetimes.”
“How did you meet?”
“Michael came to the orphanage where we were being kept. I was but a teenager, as the humans say. Still young, uncertain of my future. Or whether I even had one. He made a proposition, one designed so that we could not refuse.”
Kaj frowned, prompting her to explain.
“My ancestors defied God and were therefore banished from Heaven, punished upon Earth. Michael offered us the opportunity to atone for their sins by serving the needs of his warriors. At the time, he had yet to send Obsidian here to Earth, needing to ensure that they would be properly nourished. Evidently he made a deal with God in that we would supply their blood, which both gave them strength and allowed the Almighty to monitor their whereabouts.”
At times she wondered whether Michael had done so as a means of saving her race. Then he would do or say something to remind her she was here for one reason: to provide a direct line from Heaven to Earth, a means of tracking the warriors and providing them with life.
“Is he good to you? Obsidian?”
Acadia nodded, settling into the chair she’d pulled over. “So very much. He has never treated us as his servants, never taken advantage. Nor have his brothers. As far as he’s concerned, we’re a part of his family, even if we have no freedom outside of these walls.”
She wasn’t aware of how sad she sounded. Not until she felt a warm hand brushing her cheek. She peered up to see Kaj watching her intently, his fingers gentle as they swept over her skin. It was all she could do to keep her breaths even. His simple touch was more powerful than she expected. Acadia figured it had more to do with the concern she detected than the actual brush of his skin to hers. She wasn’t sure she’d ever seen that look on anyone’s face before. Certainly not for her.
“I’m sorry,” she said quickly, pulling away from his touch. “I mean not to bring down your mood.”
“You could never,” he replied, his arm retracting to the bed. “So if you feed him, I assume you feedfromhim as well?”
Acadia shook her head. “Fae are fueled by energy produced by the soul. Hence the reason we provide ourselves in a sexual manner to the males. The sexual energy sustains us for much longer, though it’s possible for us to maintain our strength without the heightened emotions.”
“Have you provided these … services to Obsidian?”
She studied his face for a moment, curious as to where this line of questioning was going. If she didn’t know better, Acadia would’ve sworn she sensed something possessive in his tone.
Of course, that was ridiculous.
“No,” she told him. “He does not take from us in that way. He uses us solely for a blood source.”
Obsidian was a noble male, one who seemed to understand the predicament they’d found themselves in. Being that he’d been created for a purpose, to be used as a weapon in the war against Lucifer, he knew what it meant to serve for someone else’s betterment.
“Why do you stay with me?”
Acadia detected the insecurity in his tone, as though Kaj could not understand why someone would want to care for him.
“If you’re asking whether it’s my duty, the answer is no.” She canted her head to the side. “I am not a servant to vampires. I am merely here because I choose to be. I happen to enjoy your company.”
The smile he offered was one she found herself looking forward to. They were rare, which was why she’d made it her mission to pull more of them from him.
She tried to tell herself it was for his benefit, but she knew the truth deep down.
Acadia simply liked to see him smile.
Kaj didn’t know what he’d done todeserve this.
The care this female offered him was unlike anything he’d ever experienced before. Even as the son of the Alpha, Kaj had never received the regard of his father’s status. He was a lowly servant, the right hand to the leader of the race as well as the Alpha’s protector. Not since his mother had Kaj known the sort of kindness Acadia was showing him.
Sure, he sensed she was truly concerned with his well-being, her need to nurture fierce, her protective instincts honed. However, he got the feeling she did not provide this level of care to just anyone.
Or perhaps that was simply wishful thinking, because Heaven knew he’d caught a glimpse of that possessive spark that continued to flicker within him. Every time he heard one of her stories, he wanted to reach out, to hold her, protect her, ensure her everything would be all right. And when she spoke of another male, his inner beast began to pace, baring his fangs and eager to rip out the throat of any male who’d had the pleasure of her touch.
Of course, he sensed Acadia would not be keen on him doing either of those things, but that didn’t change his reactions.
Regardless, Kaj was growing fonder of her every moment he spent in her presence. Listening to her voice was now one of his favorite pastimes, something he looked forward to whenever his eyes opened.
It was almost a shame he would have to leave soon, but it was inevitable. As soon as he was at full strength, Kaj had to get back to Kardobahn. As it was, he was neglecting his duties to his father. The only reason he did not walk out of this mansion and make his way back to Seattle was because he knew the Zenith could handle things during his absence. Not to mention, he was no good to anyone in his current state. Despite the fact he’d been on the mend for weeks now, Kaj felt no stronger than he had when he’d been shot. Something did not feel right, but he figured that was due to the nature of the injuries. Like Acadia continued to remind him, it took time to heal from the devastation his body had suffered.
