“We have a lot to discuss,” Michael said. “When you’re ready.”
Though he considered eliminating the male once and for all, Khari refrained. Only because Bijou was there. He had no desire to allow the female to see that side of him.
“I’ll find you when I’m ready,” Khari told him. “Until then, I suggest you stay out of my way.”
All eyes shot to Michael, as though they expected him to smite him where he stood. He wouldn’t. No, the archangel needed him too much for that. Not to mention, Khari was far more powerful than Michael, though it seemed no one knew that except for him and the archangel.
Khari shifted his attention to Bijou. “I’d like to go to my chambers now.”
She nodded once, then peered over at the Alpha. Something passed between them, then the male nodded.
With that settled, Khari held out his arm for the female. She stepped forward, sliding hers through his as though that was exactly where she was meant to be.
Of course, it was.
But he got the feeling it was going to take some time to show her as much.
Though she sensed there was nothing tofear from the ancient vampire, Acadia couldn’t help but wonder how long that would be true.
Like Obsidian, the male was enormous, towering over everyone else around him. But she could sense a power within him that was stronger than anything she’d ever encountered. She wondered if the others could sense it, if Khari even knew what he harnessed within him.
As though the male heard her thoughts, those ice-blue eyes shifted to her.
“Leaqua,” he said softly, bowing slightly.
When he stood, his eyes returned to hers and held for the longest time. Acadia didn’t look away. She couldn’t. There was something in his gaze that drew her in, as though he had something he needed to say to her.
Whatever it was, it seemed to pass as his attention shifted to Kaj. “Phaal.”
For the ancient vampire to acknowledge Kaj as his Alpha spoke volumes. And it seemed to settle the energy in the space. At least with the Zenith. They relaxed, though they maintained their positioning around her and Kaj, ready to protect them should it come to that.
Khari peered down at Bijou once more. “Asyra. Shall we?”
Bijou nodded, gripping his arm more firmly.
Next to him, Bijou looked so small, so delicate. Yet the way Khari was with her spoke to what was transpiring between the two. There was no denying the vampire recognized her as his mate. The way Khari looked at Bijou … it was the same way Kaj looked at her. As though he was ready to slay dragons for her, to eliminate kingdoms, annihilate anything and everything that threatened to harm her.
“Now what?” Blaz asked, his question directed at Kaj.
“We let him get settled. Give him a few days to acclimate.”
“I’d like to check on him,” Apollo noted.
“That’s up to him,” Kaj told the healer. “He’s not under my control.”
Acadia could only imagine how difficult it was for Kaj to accept that. Especially since the male was being protective of Kaj’s daughter.
But things were most definitely changing, which meant they would, too. They would adapt, as they always had. Those who’d been sent here to protect humans would work together, moving forward, shifting as the world did.
Acadia knew not what the future would bring, but she had to trust in those around her. They would do what was necessary. She had to believe that.
As she watched Khari and Bijou exit the infirmary, she had a feeling that male was going to play an integral part going forward. Sure, she knew what Michael had said, but it was more than that. She couldfeelit. As for what it was, she didn’t know, but her senses were finely tuned, the world around her clearer.
Yes, everything was changing.
And for once, she didn’t think it was a bad thing.
Epilogue
