Kaj nodded, pushing his plate away. “Yeah. Scrubbed her mind, sent her back.”
For whatever reason, Blaz found that amusing, based on the chuckle he let out.
“You meet the healers yet?” Kidel asked, speaking up for the first time since they’d sat down.
“No. But they’ve arrived.” Clearing his throat, he wanted to bring the conversation back around to business, the intention of this gathering. “I need an update on the status of the electronics.”
Blaz began spilling words that made little sense to Kaj, but he trusted the male to know what he was talking about. Something along the lines of sensors and detectors, moving on to cameras and the official status of the steel shutters.
“No more bugs?”
“None,” Blaz confirmed. “I’ve tested them for the past two days. All settled. The house is now safe to traverse during daylight hours.”
“Good. Let’s get some furnishings in here and we can officially move in.” Kaj peered over at Mirakel. “Any updates onvestrahncoming to work here?”
Mirakel’s neon blue gaze settled on him. “At this time, I’m not comfortable bringing any into the mansion, so I had a conversation with Phillip. The male informed me they would gladly loan a few of theirs to manage the place until we can hire our own.”
Kaj wasn’t going to intervene in that regard. As hisadighrielin, Mirakel would expect to have the final approval on all souls who would be within the residence of the Alpha. Considering he was Kaj’s first line of defense, it only made sense he was being precautious. And for now, they were capable of cleaning up after themselves. Not since the Seattle camp had they hadvestrahnin residence. They’d been doing it for long enough, grown males and all that shit.
“I know it’ll take time for us to settle in completely,” he told his males, “however, we can’t get too lax. I doubt Darko has nixed the idea of taking me down, and that’s a situation I can’t let fester. We can show absolutely no weakness as we get our reign established.”
“Understood,” Mirakel said. “And agree. Which is why I’ve set up meetings with the noble families within the region. Huracan and I will be meeting with them starting next week.”
“Really?”
The male nodded. “The meetings are twofold. I intend to gauge their stance on thekirlesgun, as well as identify all males who are of fighting age.”
Kaj remembered doing the same thing for Kardobahn. Not getting input on thekirlesgun, because the king’s regime had already been established before Kaj’s birth. However, he had ventured out, seeking those who were not so much willing but rather strong enough to fortify the ranks within the Zenith. It had taken years to find worthy fighters to fill those spots, and decades to train them to be the most powerful amongst their species. The task laid out before them wasn’t a simple one, but it was doable provided they remembered this would require patience.
One day at a time was sometimes easier said than done.
Unfortunately for them, it was not merely a suggestion but a way of life, because they were officially back to square one.
Chapter Forty-Six
There was a wealth of emotion thatflooded Obsidian as he stood with his brothers and thefiestreighoutside the mating chamber far beneath the mansion. Every member of their family—warriors, angels, and Fae—had descended belowground wearing the traditional black, weaponed up and prepared to stand vigil over Eclipse and Orianna for the next forty-eight hours.
Even Penelope would be joining them, despite his argument. His female insisted she was fully prepared to remain with them, even if he demanded she sit comfortably in a leather armchair he’d had brought down. Initially he’d been prepared to deny her the opportunity, but thanks to Amethyst, who had assured him her pregnancy was smooth sailing and that she’d be close by, he’d had no leg to stand on. For perhaps the first time in his existence, he’d been overruled by females. Obsidian got the feeling that wouldn’t be the last time.
From the moment Eclipse came to him, told him of his decision to officially mate Orianna, Obsidian had shared his brother’s pain. Seemed like just yesterday he’d undergone it himself, and if he lived to be two billion years old, he would never forget what it had felt like to pierce Penelope’s heart, to watch the life drain out of her. There was still an echo of pain deep in his chest from the memories alone.
So, for the past couple of days, they’d done what they could to pass the time. The never-ending minutes had ticked by, and after an intense sparring session in which Eclipse took on all six of his brothers, Obsidian got the feeling he was as ready as he would ever be. Now the male was down to the final hour. Orianna had to die exactly twenty-four hours prior to the full moon, and behind him, Eclipse was already inside, awaiting his female’s arrival.
Every so often, Obsidian would glance over his shoulder to ensure his brother was still holding it together. As it was, Eclipse was on his haunches, head bowed, breaths sawing in and out of his chest, his back rising with every draw of oxygen. Once in a while, a soft sound would escape, the sort you’d expect to hear from a wounded animal. Obsidian would wince, a renewed sense of solace for his brother. Obsidian knew how Eclipse felt, and he fucking hated that they had to endure this, but death and resurrection were necessary in their ritual. More so, ultimate faith in the Father who art in Heaven. In the end, Orianna would be safe, and Obsidian figured that was what Eclipse was hanging on to as he fought the urge to run far and fast.
Obsidian remembered being in that mating chamber, looking into Penelope’s eyes. She’d been the strong one that day. If it hadn’t been for her insistence, he knew he never would’ve gone through with that. From what he’d seen of Orianna over the course of these past couple of months, she was equally strong. Any female who mated them would have to be, he figured.
The door to the stairwell opened, Zeus and Aphrodite strolling in, the canines seeming to sense what was taking place. They’d become close to Orianna, and it made sense they’d want to accompany her down here.
Penelope stepped out next, Orianna behind her, and Acadia pulling up the rear. The female procession moved forward, all angels standing tall, wielding the weapons they would rely on to fight off anyone who attempted to harm them in the coming days. The same as they would every day for eternity.
As Orianna neared, Obsidian could hear the rapid thump of her heart. She appeared stoic, but there was definitely fear. He knew she was aware of what was going to happen because she’d seen the vision herself. That was more than Penelope’d had going into this, and he hoped it was enough for her to get Eclipse through it.
Penelope kept one hand linked with Orianna’s as they stepped up to Obsidian.
“You are a brave female,” Obsidian said softly. “And my brother needs your strength right now, the same as you need his. Go forth with the knowledge the two of you are in this together. From now until eternity.”
There were tears forming in Orianna’s clear blue eyes, but she nodded, then took a step forward when Obsidian moved aside and allowed her entry into the room.
