“I figured you needed some space.”
No, what she needed was an explanation that made sense. Or better yet, if she could wake up now from this truly messed-up dream, that would be fantastic.
Continuing her efforts to wear the hardwood thin, she paced across the room, past the foot of the bed, over to the bathroom doors. She pivoted, returned.
“I guess in a way, it does explain why I’ve always felt a disconnect with Oliver,” she mused, still trying to make sense of this. “Everyone always asked about our twin bond, which we’ve never had. Now I know why.” She shook her head. “Because he’s not even related.”
Obsidian took a seat on the love seat, crossing his ankle over his knee. She glanced at him, smiled to herself. He was enormous. To the point it was amusing to see him sit on that little couch. To a normal-sized person, she figured the furniture wasn’t all that small. However, with his six-foot-ten-inch frame, it looked as though it belonged in a doll house.
Returning her attention to the problem, she kept moving. “And maybe it’s part of the reason he’s always been so angry. I mean, if Khari is aware of what’s happening to him, that he’s been trapped for centuries, you can’t really blame him for being pissed.” She continued her trek. “But I don’t understand why Oliver has to be left with no memories. Some poor boy’s been repressed for twenty-eight years? Has he any idea what’s been going on? And even if he did, will he have memories of what’s happened to him?”
Penelope knew Obsidian didn’t have the answers just as he knew she wasn’t expecting any. She simply needed to talk it out, and she appreciated that he understood her so well.
“What if the original Oliver emerges … pissed off, too? What do we do then?” She stopped, turned toward Obsidian. “Or what if Oliver’s scared because he has no idea where he is or what’s happened to him?”
“Then we help him,” herreuthetreplied as though it were that simple. “The human boy was brought to your parents to raise. Therefore, he’s still your brother. Regardless of whether it’s biological.”
He had a point there. “So we help him,” she echoed. “We bring him into this family like we would anyone else.”
“It’s up to you whether you let him know he’s not your brother,” Obsidian said. “You could share all your memories with him, of the times you had with him.”
Penelope nodded. It made sense. Only it would take effort to dig out the good ones. For as long as she could remember, Oliver had hated her. Or so it had seemed.
“What about Khari?”
“He’s not really our problem,” he replied with a casual shrug of his shoulder. “However, we’re here for Kaj, so we’ll help however he needs us.”
“Who requested Oliver be made immortal?” she asked.
“Kaj. Completely his idea. He said it was about the only thing he had to offer you, so he wanted to ensure you wouldn’t outlive your brother.”
The notion had tears prickling her eyes. Though she knew Obsidian and Kaj were extremely close, she hadn’t spent much time with the vampire. These days, she didn’t spend much time with anyone except for Ari’el and Obsidian. They kept her plenty busy.
Exhaling heavily, Penelope walked over to Obsidian. When he held out his arms to her, she settled on his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck and burrowing in close. She loved him so much, more than she’d ever expected to love anyone. These past few months had been chaotic, but she wouldn’t trade them for anything.
Well, maybe this whole Oliver debacle. She could’ve happily lived the rest of her life without her brother being inhabited by a vampire.
Shaking off the thought, she tried to focus on something else.
“Do you know if Eclipse and Orianna have decided to build a house for Elizabeth or not?” she asked, relaxing into his warmth.
“They’re leaving the decision up to her.” He pressed his lips to the top of her head. “I think for the first time in a long time, Elizabeth’s at peace.”
“I hate that she lost a child, but yeah, I can see how the not knowing would’ve been so much harder. I think it’s good she’s taken to Bijou. Sort of a surrogate daughter in a way.”
“Speaking of Bijou…” Obsidian’s hand began to gently rub her back. “Kaj told me she’s to mate Khari.”
Penelope lifted her head. “Does she know this?”
He shook his head.
She sighed, dropped her head again. “In my opinion, Michael made a mess of this.”
“That he did.”
And she would’ve hated the archangel if it weren’t for the fact he had single-handedly saved their daughter’s life. Had he not intervened when Eevuhl attacked the mansion, chances were good none of them would be here now. And since that evil demon had come for Ari’el, Penelope figured he would’ve disposed of her once she’d given birth. A chill ran down her spine the same way it did whenever she thought about it.
“I want to be there,” she told Obsidian. “When they do whatever they do to return Khari to his body.”
