The voice that called out from behind him was deeper, as though spoken from a great distance. “I can give you no more time.”
Had it not been for the fact he sounded remorseful, Kaj wouldn’t have stopped.
“While it is your choice, Kaj, there are devastating repercussions should you decline. Just know that without him, the vampires will not survive. Nor will the Fae.”
Before he could ask what the fuck that meant, the archangel vanished in a flutter of wings.
Son of a bitch.
Obsidian paced the hall beneath the mansion.
He would’ve been pacing his private quarters, but the last thing he wanted was to burden hisereswawith this bullshit. He knew Penelope would’ve gladly listened to him, likely offered good advice on how to handle, but he didn’t want to lay this shit on her. Not until he had no other option. Namely because, for her, this would be personal. After all, the fucking original vampire was currently riding shotgun in Oliver Calazans.
What.
The.
Ever-loving.
Fuck.
How the hell did he tell Penelope that the male she believed was her brother was actually not related to her, but instead, the vessel for the original vampire, manipulated by Michael? No matter which way he twisted and turned the information, he couldn’t make sense of the situation. Why Oliver? And why now?
The door to the tunnels opened, drawing Obsidian’s attention. He came to a stop, watching as Kaj appeared, looking as disconcerted as Obsidian felt.
“I was about to come look for you,” Obsidian told him.
“Looks like I did the work for you.” Kaj took a deep breath, exhaled heavily. “Mind if we find somewhere private to talk?”
“Office on the main floor? Or third-floor conference room?”
“Whichever has better booze,” the vampire replied.
“Main floor it is.”
As they fell into step together, Obsidian noticed the tension in Kaj’s shoulders. “What’s on your mind, vampire?”
“Every damn thing.”
Obsidian knew the feeling. For the past few weeks, it seemed as though the world had gone topsy-turvy. Between the healers arriving, Eevuhl’s intrusion, Michael inhabiting Obsidian’s body, Ari’el being born, Winnie leaving the mansion, Kaj moving in next door, the training center getting underway … and now this shit with the original vampire, he felt like the weight of the world was now riding on his shoulders and his thighs were weakening from the pressure. Before long, he expected to be trying to dig himself out of a hole he’d unknowingly dredged in his wake.
From the looks of it, Kaj was feeling the same.
They walked side by side, neither of them speaking, though the unspoken words were louder than their footsteps.
Kaj was the one to break the silence when they passed the area where they were currently keeping Taayin. “I meant to ask, how’s the male doing?”
Swallowing past the lump in his throat, Obsidian grunted. “Not well. We’re still keeping him sedated, but Apollo’s opposed to the continued treatment.”
“I can’t imagine it’s healthy. But if it’s in his best interest…”
Yeah, Obsidian wasn’t so sure it was anymore. He’d originally agreed because he thought for sure they would find Asmia, bring her home, and all would be set to rights in Taayin’s world. That hadn’t been the case. Instead, they had lost her trail, and no matter their efforts, they were no closer to finding her than the day she disappeared. He couldn’t help thinking Taayin would’ve found Asmia by now if they’d allowed him to go beat down doors. Problem was, how much destruction would he leave in his wake? Enough to have them sent back to Heaven? It was highly likely. Which meant he really didn’t have much of a choice.
The only positive in the whole thing had been Michael tethering Taayin’s soul with Asmia’s. It hadn’t been an easy request to make, but it had been necessary. And because the archangel had performed the miracle to ensure Asmia couldn’t be claimed as a demon’s mate—a convoluted and interesting twist because her soul was actually not in Heaven nor Hell—Obsidian now owed Michael. And in return, what did the archangel want? Oh, nothing much. Just to park his happy ass in the mansion for all of eternity and ride out the rest of their days alongside them.
Yep. That was the payment Obsidian had agreed to even though Michael had yet to take him up on it, and then shit like the original vampire popped up and he was once again doubting his decision.
Mostly.
