From behind the bars, a strangled sound came, drawing all their attention. Taayin dropped to his knees on the floor, head hanging down as though he’d been drained completely.
“He won’t survive without her,” Eclipse warned, turning his attention back to Obsidian as his anger renewed. “And what did you have to give up in order to make this happen?”
He knew Michael, like the Almighty, didn’t do anything for free.
“That’s not for you to worry about,” Michael inserted.
“We’re going to sedate him,” Obsidian said, clearly sensing Eclipse’s need to argue and wanting to change the subject. “Until we can get her back.”
Glancing between the two, Eclipse heard what they weren’t saying:which won’t be anytime soon.
Chapter Thirty
Orianna had no idea what was goingon, but something had happened. Whatever it was, it had everyone in the mansion on edge, where they’d been since last night when that archangel had appeared and ordered Eclipse to bring Taayin back. She had yet to see the angel in question, but there were rumors he was being kept in a cell below ground.
A cell. In the dungeon, to use Bijou’s words.
As for Eclipse … well, he was fit to be tied. Had been ever since his return, and Orianna was a bit hesitant to ask what was wrong for fear of setting him off.
Which was why she was feeling a bit selfish at the moment. No, make that needy. Yes. That was an apt way of describing it. Needy. As had been the case every single day for the past few weeks, as that lingering desire continued to build, growing steadier and more constant. Only these past couple of days it had intensified. She couldn’t seem to shake it no matter how many times she and Eclipse made love.
There was hardly a reprieve from when it abated to when it came back with a vigor that shocked her. She hated that she was constantly disrupting Eclipse’s night, seeking him out in an effort to assuage the heat that had become part of her chemical makeup. It didn’t help that she knew what it was, either. Nor did it help when Penelope warned her it would get significantly worse as time went by.
Perhaps a shower would help.
After hopping up from the chair she’d been occupying in the second-floor library—which was quite honestly the most impressive library she’d ever seen—Orianna made her way up to the third floor. Thankfully, she could come and go as she pleased, not having to wait for Eclipse or someone to let her in the door. It felt strange having full access to the mansion, but she appreciated the fact that they trusted her enough to give her the ability to roam freely. Then again, from what she’d seen, they could monitor her every move thanks to the many cameras mounted throughout. Not to mention, all the nifty powers these angels were programed with.
When she stepped into Eclipse’s bedroom, she came to a halt. She could hear something ringing and it sounded—
“Shit.” She raced to the nightstand, her hand slipping on the handle when she tried to open the drawer.
The second attempt proved successful, but then she nearly dropped the vibrating device in her attempt to answer.
“Hey, Mom,” she said on a rush of air.
“Orianna? Are you all right? I haven’t heard from you in a few days. I was worried.”
Worried seemed an understatement based on the fear she heard in her mother’s tone. Worse was the guilt that flooded her chest because her mother was right, she hadn’t called. She’d been so caught up in all that was going on she’d neglected her own mother.
“I’m so sorry, Mom.” Orianna perched on the edge of the bed, crossed her legs in an attempt to stave off the heat. “I’ve been busy. It’s no excuse, I know. I’m sorry. I meant to call you this morning.”
“Please tell me you’ve found Amber.”
A pain ghosted through her chest. It was the phantom reminder that she had yet to tell her mother what she’d learned about her sister. Looked as though she was in the running for the world’s shittiest daughter award.
“Not yet. But I’m still looking.” The lie tasted terrible on her tongue, but it wasn’t like she could tell her mother over the phone, even if she wanted to deliver the gut-wrenching news.
“I heard from your father.”
Orianna’s back straightened. “You what? What did he say?”
“He was calling to check in. To see how I was doing.”
Orianna grunted. Check in. Right. More like Erik had run out of money and he was hoping to hit up Elizabeth for a loan. That was how it always worked, and for whatever reason, Orianna’s mother always came through for him. Didn’t matter that the man would rob her blind if he thought he’d get away with it. The only reason he hadn’t was because Orianna had threatened him within an inch of his life.
She stared around the room, eyes bouncing across all of Eclipse’s things.
What was she going to do about her mother? It had always been her intention to take care of Elizabeth once she found Amber. To go back to Oklahoma, move in with her mom so she could help her with her day-to-day as well as find a way to get her weaned off those damn pain meds that had stolen her mind. Was that still the plan? Could she really leave Eclipse? The thought of never seeing him again … yeah, that wasn’t something she wanted to ponder. Not now, not ever.
