“That’s why he wants us to resume the training down here?” Cimmerian noted.
“Yes,” Obsidian agreed.
Unable to keep his mouth shut any longer, Eclipse pushed off the wall, strolled toward his brothers, his eyes locked on Obsidian. “Before we take a vote, I think we deserve to know what agreement you and Michael came to. What did you have to promise him to get Taayin’s and Asmia’s souls aligned?”
All eyes turned to Obsidian, and Eclipse would go so far as to say they all weren’t privy to this new development.
Obsidian held Eclipse’s gaze, but as was the case any time his back was to the wall, their oldest brother didn’t say a word.
Chapter Forty
“What ails you, sire?”
Michael cast a dismissive glance at the female. “You may go.”
Her golden eyes widened, but she slid from beneath the silk sheets on his bed. In a hurry, she wrapped herself in her white silk robes and left him alone as was his request. With a sigh, Michael went over to the windows that overlooked the gardens below. Here in Heaven, everything was pristine and perfect, much the opposite of Earth, though in some strange way, he could see the beauty of both realms. Oddly, he found he preferred the latter these days. Hadn’t always been the case for him, though.
At one time, Michael had cherished his life in Heaven. But that was long, long ago. He’d lost so much, and though he’d made efforts to fill the void in his heart, he knew he would never be complete as he had once been. The closest he’d come to feeling whole had been after Obsidian’s creation. Those first years after the young male was at his side had renewed his spirit, given him something to live for. Obsidian had been his child for all intents and purposes, though he hadn’t shared the birth with his female.
He swallowed the lump in his throat, forcing back the memories of his beloved. Those intrusive thoughts had no place here. His beautifulereswawas no longer with him, lost forever despite the fact he knew she still breathed. Those breaths existed in Hell, alongside Lucifer, the male who had ripped her from Michael’s arms, only one of Lucifer’s many betrayals, but perhaps the most painful on a personal front.
Wispy white clouds drifted overhead, nothing more than smoke against the clear blue sky. Below was the expanse of the great mansion Michael called home. All white marble, sparkling in the never-ending light that contributed to its vibrancy. Inside its walls were thousands who had pledged their loyalty to God, the Almighty Creator, and had vowed to serve in whatever way necessary to ensure his father’s creations led an oblivious existence. And as a means of repaying his debts to his father, Michael ensured their safety, cared for them, loved them. As much as he could, anyway.
His gaze shifted to the south. On the far side of the vast estate was the residence for those who devoted their existence to the creation of warriors. The strongest males and the most formidable females were hand selected to reside there, paired by Michael himself, sometimes shifted around to suit his mood.
Time was irrelevant here, as was most everything else. Michael spent his days watching over his warriors, those he’d relegated to Earth, as well as those born to the archsires and archdams, the first hundred years of their lives molded so they were prepared for their duties.
Most of those males were soldiers, relegated to thefiestreigh, providing support to the seven males who’d proved stronger than all others. With the birth of every male, Michael prayed the young would be strong enough, resilient enough to lead an army of his own one day. Like Obsidian.
Unfortunately, his prayers had yet to be answered.
Or so he’d thought.
It wasn’t until he’d observed Obsidian training with his brothers that Michael recognized the error of his ways. While he had given Obsidian life, Michael hadn’t made him into the male he was today. No, Obsidian had thrived because of his brothers. It dawned on him that perhaps the way to build stronger males was to have them led by the strongest. While Michael wanted to believe he was that male, he knew that wasn’t so. Not when it came to instilling those values that kept the males together, fighting for one another.
Perhaps it had been deceitful, but Michael had grabbed hold of the opportunity that presented itself. He had waited centuries for Obsidian to call upon him, to request a favor. He should’ve known it would be one to save a member of Obsidian’s family, as he referred to the males and females who fought alongside him.
Now that his favor had been granted—Taayin’s and Asmia’s souls forever aligned—Michael could only wait while Obsidian maneuvered the rest of the pieces into position so that his plan would be set in motion.
It wouldn’t be long now.
He hoped.
Obsidian realized pacing had become a comfortableexercise these past few weeks. He did it in an effort to clear his mind, to process his thoughts, to deal with the frustrations that plagued him and his family. There seemed to be so many these days, but there was only one that had the ability to make him see red.
Small hands spread out over his back as Obsidian stared at the vast expanse of darkness laid out beyond the balcony where he stood.
“What’s on your mind?” Penelope asked, her voice soft.
He breathed in deeply when she pressed her cheek to his back, her presence the only comfort he seemed to find these days.
“The future,” he admitted. And all it encompassed.
There were so many changes coming for them, most dictated by Michael, laid at Obsidian’s feet so he could bring them to fruition.
Shifting, Obsidian drew Penelope to his side as he slid his arm over her shoulder, hugging her small frame to him.
“It’s Michael, isn’t it?”
