With a sigh, and a bit more animosity than was probably appropriate, Eclipse relayed Michael’s command.
“The dungeon?” Magnar asked, his voice steely. “What the fuck are we putting him down there for?”
“His own safety.” Not the first place Eclipse would’ve picked, but again, they didn’t have the luxury of questioning the archangel’s motives. “Now get him there.”
Because he knew the Fae would do what was necessary, Eclipse relocated himself back to the mansion, this time taking form belowground, at the entrance to the rooms they’d allocated for prisoners. No one aside from Michael referred to it as a dungeon, but for all intents and purposes, that was basically what it was. A handful of ten-by-ten cells lined with stone on three sides and iron-over-titanium bars on the front. The iron was for strength, the titanium to keep anyone from materializing in or out.
“Where is he?” Michael asked, his voice as cold and hard as the rock lining the inside of those rooms.
“Basker is—”
Suddenly Taayin’s lifeless body appeared, flat on his back on the unforgiving stone. Good thing he didn’t know where he was.
When Basker stepped out of the cell, Michael immediately closed the door, locking it with his mind.
“Why the urgency?” Obsidian asked, appearing beside Michael.
Before the archangel could answer, Taayin’s eyes flew open and a blue light filled the space. The male shot to his feet, body braced for a fight. His fangs were descended from his jaw, and there was an air of menace surrounding him.
“That’s why,” Michael said when Taayin let out an earsplitting roar.
Eclipse took a step back when Taayin rushed the door, the thick iron actually bending under the impact.
Michael waved a hand and the bars returned to their original form. “Reinforced now. It’s for his own safety.”
“Orianna said Asmia’s hisamsouelot,” Eclipse told Obsidian, not sure if his brother was aware of the new development.
“The Fates confirmed,” Michael stated. “It’s the reason I’m here. Their souls have been aligned.”
“I don’t understand.” Eclipse turned to face Michael. “They’ve been together for a long time. Why’s this just coming to light?”
“Because it’s a recent development,” Michael said, glancing between Obsidian and Eclipse.
“You did this,” Eclipse accused.
There wasn’t a hint of remorse on the archangel’s face. “I did.”
“At my request,” Obsidian interjected, his concerned gaze trailing over Taayin, who was now pacing like a caged animal.
Eclipse spun around. “What? Why the fuck would you do that?”
“To protect them both.”
Eclipse motioned to the male behind the iron bars. “How the fuck is this protecting him?”
Obsidian stood tall, clearly ready to defend his own actions. “Perfidious was going to claim Asmia as his mate.”
“And this”—Michael motioned toward Taayin—“keeps Lucifer from taking her soul.”
Eclipse glanced between the pair. “I’m confused. The reason we have to locate ouramsouelotsis so Lucifer can’t get his hands onoursouls. Why is this different? Won’t he now get a two-for-one?”
Obsidian was the one to answer. “The Fae…” He swallowed, as though the words were bitter on his tongue. “Their souls belong to no one, Eclipse. Because of their race’s past transgressions, God won’t claim their souls or permit them in Heaven.”
Eclipse felt a cold pit opening in his stomach. Why would the Almighty do that? And why the fuck hadn’t he known that?
“By aligning their souls, my father has no choice,” Michael explained.
“With her soul aligned with Taayin’s,” Obsidian continued, “we can safeguard her. For the time being, he can’t take her to Hell. As long as we keep Taayin safe, essentially, Asmia is as well.”
