Everything did these days.
“But … how?”
Bijou knew she’d heard her father’s words, knew her brain had processed them, yet she couldn’t seem to make sense of it.
Oliver Calazans was the original vampire?
Or rather, the original vampire was stuck inside Oliver’s body.
In what universe was that even possible?
“I sensed it,” she whispered. “I sensed a darkness inside him.”
Kaj pulled back, peered down at her.
“Is that Khari?” Or was it the human that had been pushed down so Khari could take over?
“I don’t know,” he said softly. “I wish I had the answers.”
She wishedsomeonedid. According to her father, no one seemed to know the logistics and it sounded like that was the question of the hour. Everyone wanted to know what would happen once they were separated. Would Khari emerge knowing what was going on? Would Oliver retain his memories?
More importantly, why was she the last one to find this out? The way he’d laid it all out made her think he’d been chewing on it for a while. And yet, despite all that Kaj had waylaid her with, Bijou knew her father was holding something back. She probably should’ve questioned him, but it was obvious he was having a hard time dealing with this as well. Probably not fair for her to pelt him with more questions.
“Wait.” She met his eyes. “Does Oliver know?”
Kaj shook his head. “Because of the seizures, we’ve decided to hold off telling him as long as we can.”
“You can’t do that,” she countered hotly. “He deserves to know.”
“Even if it kills him?”
Bijou stepped back, the words coming at her like a slap.
Her father exhaled as though he was exhausted. “Look, I don’t like it any more than you do. I agree he deserves to know. But in his current state, it’s a risk we’re not willing to take.”
“We?”
“Me, Obsidian, Penelope.”
Bijou sadly wished she’d been included in that list.
“For the time being,” he said, his eyes locked with hers. “I’d prefer you to remain here. Once we have a better understanding of where we stand with Khari, it’s likely I’ll have you move into the Lair.”
She nodded, not because she understood his reasoning but because it no longer mattered to her. She was content where she was now that she had made up with Oliver. They were growing closer and the thought of leaving him didn’t sit well. Especially not now. Bijou intended to remain by him through … whatever was going to happen.
A resurrection. Wow. It still sounded strange even as she tossed the word around in her brain, and that was saying something considering she had seen plenty of strange in her life. But this…
Kaj gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze before he headed toward the door to the house.
“Oh, and Bijou?”
“Hmm?” She pivoted to face him.
“Thank you.”
She frowned. “For?”
“For accepting Acadia.”
