Eclipse planted his shoulder against the wall and listened as Obsidian made their case, listing out a handful of incidents that had required their healing powers in just the last couple of months. Though those seemed few and far between, to hear them laid out like that told Eclipse they required a healer far more often than he’d thought.
“Fine,” Michael blurted, cutting Obsidian off mid-sentence. “You can have Apollo and Amethyst.” Michael’s silver gaze slowly slid over each of their faces. “Under one condition.”
Eclipse rolled his eyes. The archangel never did anything without getting something in return. Which reminded him, he’d yet to learn what Obsidian had put up as collateral for Michael’s participation in uniting Taayin’s and Asmia’s souls.
“Our previous agreement still stands,” Michael told Obsidian. “Within the time frame we previously outlined.”
Clearly he hadn’t forgotten about it.
“I know,” Obsidian grumbled. “What’s your stipulation?”
“You seven shall erect a training facility. Here in Darkness. Rather than undergo their training in Heaven, all new recruits will come here. Where the seven of you will bestow your knowledge and skills upon them.”
Eclipse frowned, peering over at his brothers. Seriously? Michael wanted them to be … teachers?
“Each class will be made up of fifty to sixty males—”
“Why not females?” Shadow questioned, the words coming out on a snarl.
“Fine … and females if there are any who’re interested.”
That last part was said on a huff of air, as though Michael couldn’t believe there would be any females interested in taking up the fight here on Earth.
“You’ll have one year for each class. Once they’re in prime condition, they’ll be returned for relocation.”
“I’ll need to discuss this with my brothers,” Obsidian told him. “You’ll have my answer by morning.”
Michael nodded. His wings expanded and then he was gone.
“Training?” Aphotic snorted. “Is he serious? Us?”
Eclipse noticed Obsidian was peering over at Stygian. The two males had been responsible for training the rest of them, so they had the experience. Made sense that Michael would request them to be at the helm. But the rest of them? Who was going to hold up the fight if they were all in a classroom with their thumbs up their asses?
“Amethyst and Apollo?” Shadow grumbled. “Has anyone even seen them in the past five hundred years?”
“They’ve been helping with Michael’s warrior offspring,” Obsidian explained.
“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 beautiful ereswa was 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 the fiestreigh, 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 comfortable exercise 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 c
hanges 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?”
Obsidian nodded though she wasn’t looking up at him to see his response.
“What does he want now?”
“To reside here with us.”
His ereswa pulled back, her golden eyes locking on his face. “Here? On Earth?”
Another nod.
“Have you told your brothers?”
“Not yet.” Because he had no idea how to tell them that he had agreed to Michael’s request in an effort to save Asmia and Taayin. In the grand scheme of things, it was a decision that would ultimately change everything. The structure of their very lives now rested on how Obsidian handled this.
“Why?” Her hand shifted to his chest. “Why does Michael wish to spend his time here?”
“I don’t know.”
“Perhaps he simply wants to be part of your life.”
Obsidian peered down at Penelope. “I doubt that.”
Her smile was sweet. “I don’t. I know there’s some animosity between your brothers and Michael, but as an unbiased bystander, I see the way Michael looks at you. He doesn’t see you as his creation, something he can control.”
A disbelieving grunt was all he could respond with.
“It’s true.” Penelope patted him over his heart. “Michael looks at you as a father would a son. I’ve seen it with my own eyes.”
“Michael doesn’t do anything without an agenda.”
“Maybe not. But that doesn’t mean his intentions aren’t pure. At least as far as this is concerned.”
“He wants my brothers and me to train the future factions,” he told her. “I’ve requested he provide us with healers. In return, he expects us to train.”
“But that’s not what you want?”
Obsidian grunted. “I don’t know what I want.”
Aside from taking care of Penelope and their child, Obsidian was foggy about his own future.
“You’d be a great trainer, Obsidian. All of you would.”
“It’s not the training that worries me.”
“Then what does?”
Obsidian exhaled slowly. “We bring the trainees here, spend a year teaching them to fight, then what? I’m supposed to let them walk away, go off on their own? That’s Michael’s plan. He doesn’t consider what else comes along with all that time and effort.”
“You’ll worry about them,” she said, hugging him tightly. “Tell him that. Let him know that you’ll expect to have a say in their future, not merely their training.”
Obsidian didn’t know what to say to that. He wasn’t sure Michael would even care.
“It’s the dawn of a new day, Obsidian,” Penelope said, her voice laced with amusement. “And I don’t mean that literally. However, might I suggest you look deeper into Michael’s requests. Perhaps he merely wants what you have.”
Staring down at his female, Obsidian frowned. “And what do I have that he doesn’t?”
“Family. Those who care about you, who are loyal to you.”
He lifted his gaze to the mountains in the distance once more. “Michael has that. In Heaven.”
“Who? You told me his ereswa died. That means he’s all alone, is he not?”
“He has plenty of loyal subjects.”
“Not the same, Obsidian, and you know it. What you’ve built here … this is a family. These aren’t your subjects, the fiestreigh aren’t merely fighters in your army. They belong to you and you to them. I wouldn’t blame Michael if he wanted to experience that.”
Obsidian understood where she was coming from. He could even understand why Michael might want that. The problem was, Obsidian’s brothers weren’t all on good terms with Michael. And he feared he’d overstepped by making decisions without discussing with them first. He’d already agreed to allow Michael within the walls of the mansion for as long as he desired. He’d agreed with the best of intentions, in an effort to save his family.
“What are you going to tell him about the training?”
“What can I tell him?” he countered, repositioning so he was standing behind Penelope. He draped his arms over her shoulders and pressed his palms to her belly. “He’s promised to provide healers if I agree. How can I decline? We need them.”
Perhaps now more than ever. And there was a significant amount of selfishness in that belief. Their son or daughter would be arriving within weeks, and the thought of Penelope enduring any complications that might cause harm to her or their child… The ache in his chest was all the answer he needed. Those healers were a necessity for all of them.
“Whatever your decision, I know it’ll be the right one,” Penelope said, her fingers curling over his biceps as she held on to him. “Your heart’s in the right place, Obsidian. And we, as your family, will support you.”
Yeah. That was what he was worried about.
Chapter Forty-One
“It’ll need a little work to get it back to its original glory,” Kaj told the males as they strolled through the kitchen to the dining room beyond.
“How many bedrooms?” Mirakel asked.
“Forty.”
Blāz whistled. “Damn. Those angels don’t play around, huh?”
Kaj smirked. “You should see the new place.” Compared to the new residence, this was little more than a shanty on steroids.
“What about the underground space?” Huracān asked.
Figuring it was easier to show than tell, Kaj led them back through the main floor. It was open, high ceilings, large windows, plenty of space to house them and those they determined worthy of the fight ahead. Kaj wasn’t sure how fond he was of the decor, but that was simple to fix. They weren’t strangers to hard work, and fortunately, funds were not in short supply. They could bring civilians in to do the job provided the angels agreed to shift their cloaking spell a few miles to the north.
It was a damn fine place to put down roots. Not only was it large enough to house them, it gave Kaj options to expand the Zenith, grow them into the formidable army necessary to protect the race from everyone, including traitorous vampires.
“Right now, I want to get it furnished,” Kaj told Mirakel. “Hire someone to handle it. Check out their background first. But let’s get some furniture in here. Bring on a handful of vestrahn to maintain it. We’ll need a computer setup, get tied into the Misplaced Halos boards.”
Mirakel nodded, no doubt making mental notes.
The five of them made their way down the concrete steps to the space beneath the mansion.
“Now that’s more like it,” Blāz noted.
Yes, the angels had spared no expense with the underground residence. If he had to guess, this area was designed and built long before the aboveground structure had been added.
“Where do the tunnels go?” Huracān asked, nodding to a series of hallways that branched off in all directions.
“Likely through the mountain,” Kaj told him, though he wasn’t sure where they went. Something told him they connected with the angels’ current residence, but he wasn’t sure he was ready to tell the others that. Not until he’d checked it out for himself and secured it so no one could breach the angel mansion without his knowledge.
“We’ve got our work cut out for us,” Mirakel said, his words directed at the others.
“I need to check in with my daughter,” Kaj told them. “If you can spare me for a couple of hours.”
Mirakel bowed. “Of course, phaal.”
It still felt strange for them to refer to him as their Alpha, but Kaj had refrained from asking them not to. He knew it was important that they had a leader. Their very existence was based on it, in fact.
“I’ll be back shortly.”
He left the males to discuss next steps beneath what was being dubbed the Lair. Once he was u
pstairs, he stepped out into the crisp night air, vanished his form, and materialized on the front steps of Angel Central, as he’d heard the human male refer to it.
Speaking of the human … Kaj wasn’t sure what to think of Oliver Calazans yet. He’d noticed the male’s interest in Bijou, but he hadn’t the heart to tell him Bijou’s heart resided with another. For one, Kaj hoped she’d move past that ill-fated crush. Reve, the male she’d given her heart to, was nothing more than an opportunistic little shit who wasn’t even remotely good enough for his little girl. Then again, considering he was new to this father gig, Kaj wasn’t sure he had a right to suggest such a thing.
When he stepped into the main foyer, Kaj expanded his senses, noting where the others were. It was oddly quiet, a few conversations taking place, but the majority of the energy seemed to be in the main room below. He figured he would locate Obsidian to thank the male for being so considerate in offering accommodations, but he didn’t make it that far.
His boots were tracking over the rug when there was a distinct hum in his blood. He pulled up short, peering up at the ceiling as though he could see through it. His senses scattered once more when he managed to home in on the source.
Acadia.
Pivoting, Kaj strolled to the stairway, taking them two at a time to the top. He made a hard left, a quick right, then three doors down. He paused with his hand raised to knock. Rather than announce his presence to every soul in the place, Kaj dropped his hand.
Let me in, Acadia.
The door swung open, surprising him. Honestly, Kaj had expected Acadia to turn her nose up at him. After their last conversation in the stairwell, when he’d all but claimed her as his, Kaj was waiting for her to put him in his place.
“Where were you?” Her eyes were wide, concern pulling on the corners, adding a wrinkle to her smooth brow.
Kaj stepped into the room, eased the door shut behind him. “I’ve been taking care of some business.”
“I was...” Acadia inhaled, exhaled.
Kaj waited for her to finish, but right before his eyes, her expression smoothed out, giving away nothing. Just like her to tug that mask in place, pretend she didn’t care about him.
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