“Did I intend to capture Conor’s spirit instead of killing him? Yes. It was in the last book, the one your brother did not get to read, the one you still haven’t read because you are afraid of the truth as well,” Ania said quietly, her voice firm in her resolve to speak as honestly as possible.
Synar looked at Ania in shock, unable to believe she would accuse him of fearing the demon when grief and guilt about turning his brother into one already haunted him. She stared back at him defiantly, almost without sympathy.
“Did I intend to give what was left of Conor’s physical body to Malachi? Not at first, but eventually I did see it as a possibility. I do realize it is a lot to ask of you, but the benefits to both me and Malachi would be great, and it preserves your brother’s physical body,” Ania explained. “Can you not see this benefits us all?”
Synar stood and walked away from Ania. “You used information in the books to do this. Now you ask me to defile the dead, and not just any dead. This is my brother—my family.”
Ania looked at him and shook her head at his reticence.
“How many nearly dead creatures, including me, have hosted the Demon of Synar in all the centuries your family has controlled Malachi?” Ania demanded. “Why do you hesitate to do with your brother’s empty, inanimate shell what you were all too willing to do with my body while part of my spirit still existed within it? At least you know for certain that Conor isn’t in his physical shell anymore. I’m the one who’s had to share my body with another entity. I’m the one who knows what that’s like.”
When Synar just stared at her, Ania pointed to the body.
“That empty form is no different than the severed hand of Boca’s captor. It is merely organic matter that can now be put to some good use if you can see past your guilt to the bigger picture. From the viewpoint of a person who’s been living with Malachi as a constant companion, putting him in his own space seems like a really good idea to me. I’m not carrying the demon out of choice. The merging has helped, but it has not changed the fact that my spirit and Malachi’s battle within me all the time.”
Synar closed his eyes, opened them again. “What will happen to Conor’s spirit if Malachi is in his body? Where will Conor go when his spirit is redeemed?”
“I don’t know yet,” Ania said honestly, seeing clearly now that Liam still didn’t understand that Conor’s redemption was not happening anytime in the foreseeable future. “Conor’s essence is in the amulet and could one day be put into a host body to start his own redemption process. Only at the end did Conor realize that he had gained ultimate power only to lose control of how he used it. He now shares Malachi’s fate and he answers to me. With the help of the creators of all, I made him the Demon of Looren. I would never ask you to control your own brother. So now I share your fate in other ways. I have become a demon master myself.”
“Ania—what have you done this time?” Synar asked in a pained voice, appalled at her lack of compassion for his grief, her lack of respect for his family’s heritage, the arrogance of her taking on something that was never meant for her.
“Clear away your grief and see the truth. I have saved your brother from certain death. I have bound myself to being responsible for his spirit for the remainder of my life,” Ania said. “I have spared you having to fight him for the rest of your days. There was no deviousness in my actions. I know exactly what I have done.”
“Yes, well I am still not so sure that this was the only way, or that it cannot be undone when something better becomes evident. Don’t ask me to do yet another even more vile thing to my brother. I don’t want to add to the evil of this day,” Synar pleaded hoarsely.
“The evil of this day? Fine. Don’t do it if you honestly find putting Malachi into your brother’s inanimate body an act more grievous than putting him inside me—the female you swear is your mate,” Ania said snidely, looking away from him.
“Ania, try to understand. Conor’s body is still my family’s responsibility,” Synar implored.
“Family—okay, he’s family. Am I not family?” Ania demanded. “Synar, even Malachi is part of your family.”
“That’s not what I meant. You are choosing to misunderstand me,” Synar said coldly.
“No, I think I understand you quite well, but I withdraw my request. It was just one answer that would allow both the Demon of Synar and the mate of Liam Synar some measure of peace from each other for the span of time that Conor’s physical form survives,” Ania crawled to her knees, finding it much harder than she’d anticipated.
“Let me help you,” Synar said, stepping to her.
“No—don’t touch me. I am angry with you again and do not trust myself not to lash out,” Ania said, her eyes flashing red at the thought of him touching her now. “There is much you refuse to see about my true nature, starting with the fact that I never give up. I will find another answer one day even without your support. Then you’re going to have to stop resisting your destiny and be the demon master you were meant to be. Your destiny is already outside what your family wanted. I hope one day you figure that out.”
To keep from responding to her with the full force of his own anger and pain, Synar walked away from Ania and into the bathroom, closing and locking the door behind him.
Unable to restrain his response after hearing Ania’s proposition and seeing Liam walk away so upset, Malachi left her body and hovered in the air of the room. It was one of the few times he’d ever come out of her without asking first.
“So this is a way you found to restore me?” Malachi asked Ania, shock in his wavering voice.
“Yes,” Ania admittedly reluctantly. “I blocked you from knowing and didn’t say anything because I knew Liam in his narrow view of life would likely object to it. Without Conor’s spirit, his physical form will not survive long. It could be a host body that you would not have to share with another spirit. I realize it is not living completely again, but it is as close as I could get you.”
“You’re trying to keep your word about freeing me,” Malachi said, surprised despite all he knew of her.
Malachi truly hadn’t believed Ania capable of such a level of objectivity about him. He truly had not believed she would keep her word. Something moved through his energy, realigning it. Suddenly many things he had not understood before were made clear.
For the second time in his very long life, Malachi actively felt the creators bending him to their will. But he was going to delay thinking about it all he could.
“How kind of you, Ania Looren—my most unusual demon host. You’re trying to grant your genie’s sincerest wish and release him from being tied to his bottle. I can only imagine the boon I would owe you for such a feat.”
Ania nodded and smiled wistfully, unable to laugh at Malachi’s attempt at humor this time. “Yes—I was trying to give us both more hope and grant my fondest wish as well.”
“Technically—it is still within your power. Liam’s agreement is not strictly necessary. You can order me into Conor’s body,” Malachi said, testing her resolve.
“Technically—yes, I could do that,” Ania said, climbing unsteadily to her feet. “If it was a random body, I would do so without another thought. But it’s Conor Synar’s body, and what happens to his brother’s body is Liam’s responsibility. As are you, Malachi. And Shades of Kellnor—as much as I hate the fact—as am I.”
Ania weaved unsteadily, but in the end staggered to the door on her own legs.
“Pay attention to this life lesson about doing good, demon. In the end you and I have accomplished our task of saving all other creatures from the walking evil of Conor Synar, but nothing has changed for us personally. Liam still holds our fate in his hesitant hands as much as any Lotharian tyrant does his captive’s,” she said.
“That’s a little harsh, don’t you think?” Malachi asked, seeing her mood was not going to be shifted by humor, but he couldn’t resist.
“One day I will find another empty body for you, my demon f
riend. Or raging fires of Helios—I’ll create one. Our time together is just beginning. Stay to look after your master or leave with me. You may suit yourself. I’m going to my room,” Ania said fiercely.
“Your mate is grieving and compromised in his reasoning at the moment. I will stay to see to Liam’s return to sanity. Remember, I see your feelings for him beyond your anger over his actions. Now go in peace and do not worry for him,” Malachi said gently, watching her holding the walls for support as she walked out the door.
Malachi did his misty version of sighing just as the bathroom door opened and Liam came out, looking around in panic when he didn’t see Ania.
“She is gone, Liam. But do not worry, others are waiting just outside your quarters to aid her,” Malachi said. “What can I do to help you?”
Liam clenched his fists and stared at his brother’s body lying lifeless on the floor. He wanted to blame the demon, wanted to blame Ania.
“I grieve for Conor as well,” Malachi said, “but Ania was right. He was beyond redemption in this incarnation. He would have killed you as surely as he did Bogdan, without any remorse. Today he was set on the path of redemption instead of dying for his evil. It is a gift.”
“What do you know of redemption?” Liam demanded.
“Only a little, but all I know of it is what your mate has taught me,” Malachi said sincerely. “Do you wish me to leave? I can see my presence is just upsetting you more.”
Liam shook his head. “No. Stay. I have a task for you.”
Malachi quivered as he saw what was in his master’s mind.
***
From her guard post nearby, Gwen came rushing up when she saw Ania emerge from the room.
“Is it over? The supply ship is ready to depart. They didn’t seem concerned that their passenger wasn’t returning. I don’t think they worked for Conor Synar. We were just planning to send them on their way when Synar headed to his quarters in a run.”
Ania took a couple steps and faltered. Gwen caught her the second time she almost fell. “Hey—where’s Synar? Why isn’t he with you? You can barely walk.”
“Don’t ask where my so-called mate is,” Ania said bitterly. “It will only upset me further. Just help me to my room. Malachi stayed to keep him company, and I am weak without the demon’s strength in me. The fight with Conor took all I had to endure it, not that anyone seems to care about my wellbeing.”
Dorian came rushing up to both of them, looking strangely at Gwen’s struggle to support Ania’s full weight.
“Where’s Liam?” Dorian demanded, frowning at Ania’s paleness and her sagging body.
“Synar is fine. Let him be for now. He is of no use to me in his current frame of mind anyway,” Ania said resentfully, falling against Gwen again. “Sorry. The fight took everything. You should be happy that someone was almost able to kick my ass, Gwen.”
“Not celebrating as much as I thought I might,” Gwen replied, hugging Ania to hold her up. She looked at Dorian and saw help. “Can you carry her? Ania weighs more than I can manage.”
Ania snorted as Dorian lifted her into his arms like she was a child.
She was a child, she thought wearily. Malachi called her his child. And that’s what she was, she was a demon child. Probably her parents thought that as well now. She needed to call them, tell them they were safe at last.
“Indeed. Gwen speaks the truth. Since your change, you are a little bigger than I remember,” Dorian teased softly. “Not as heavy as Gwen, but still a sizeable load of female to pack around.”
“For Ania’s sake, I’m letting that one go, Zade,” Gwen said firmly, walking along with them. “First you tell me my hips are big and now you’re talking about how much I weigh compared to other females.”
“No wonder Gwen stays upset at you all the time,” Ania joked back, her head rolling as she blipped in and out of consciousness.
Gwen punched the override commands on Ania’s room, letting Dorian carry the mostly unconscious, exhausted warrior inside.
Dorian laid Ania gently on the bed and straightened, noticing she was totally passed out before he’d finished the movement.
“If you’ll check on Sarinnea, I’ll check on Synar,” Dorian offered. “Unless you think we need to watch over Ania.”
Gwen shook her head and walked to the wall com to call the only other crew member she knew for sure would not be afraid of the demon when Malachi returned to Ania.
“Medical—this is Commander Jet. Is Boca Ador there?”
“This is Boca,” a distant voice answered from across the medical room.
“Ania is unconscious and in her room. Her demon is with Captain Synar and she’s in a weakened state. She’s fine, but probably needs to be watched. Will you come wait with her until she wakes up? Lieutenant Zade and I have other things to do.”
“Certainly—I’m on my way,” Boca answered.
Gwen looked at Ania sleeping and then at Zade.
“You better check on your mother yourself. I wouldn’t know what to say to her. I have to get Synar to clear the supply ship to leave and I need to know if he’s fit for command,” she said.
Dorian nodded. “Okay. I left Sarinnea in my room, and hopefully she’s still there. I shouldn’t be long. If Synar is grieving he may be acting strangely, just stay with him until I get back.”
Gwen nodded, accepting his request as it was meant. Now that she knew Zade better, she realized he only gave commands that he felt were necessary. She supposed that meant she was learning to trust him.
Dorian lifted a hand to her face, mesmerized by the epiphanies occurring in her eyes. “All is well, Commander. Ania has defeated our biggest threat. Can you not feel the change in the energy around the Liberator?”
“Yes, but I guess I don’t feel as good about it as you do,” Gwen said, making fun of his advice as usual.
Her gut was still churning. She had been an adrenaline mess while she waited for Ania to come out of the captain’s quarters to say it was over and done. Some of it had been alleviated, but some of it remained. For the first time, Gwen wished she was intuitively trained enough to figure it out.
Before they could discuss her misgivings further, Boca showed up, rushing to the bed to check on Ania.
Smiling at Zade one last time, and feeling more at ease with him than Gwen could ever remember feeling, she took off to her tasks.
Chapter 30
Gwen knocked on the door of the captain’s quarters and waited. It wasn’t long before Synar opened the door to her. He looked as bad as Ania. For two people who had accomplished the amazing feat they had today, neither of them looked very happy about the positive outcome.
“Captain. Request permission to enter your quarters,” Gwen stated, talking more formally than she usually did to her superior. He looked like he needed the deference.
Gwen stepped forward when Synar nodded and motioned her inside. She saw Issa asleep on the bed and a male sitting beside her, a male who looked like Synar’s twin.
Gwen pulled her weapon instinctively and pointed it at him.
“Please do not harm this body,” the male requested. “It was all I could do to repair the decay that had already occurred. It takes a lot of energy to heal organic matter.”
Leaving her weapon drawn, Gwen’s gaze shifted between the irreverent male and Synar.
“I thought your brother was . . . gone,” she said finally, not knowing what an appropriate term was for what Ania did to Conor Synar.
“He is gone. This is not my brother and only Ania Looren would call him a member of my family despite our physical likeness,” Synar said dryly.
Synar lifted his chin as he recalled his argument with Ania who had called Malachi “family.” He would never think of the demon as anything but a burden and curse, but his decision was made now.
Who was left to judge if it turned out to be his worst mistake to date?
His mother was the only Synar that survived, but the demon passed through the male li
neage anyway.
Regardless—the deed was done, and it was useless to think of what might have worked out differently. Perhaps Ania was right about looking at the bigger picture. Conor was exiled more completely now than he’d ever been. He just hoped his father’s spirit would understand.
“If that’s not your brother talking to me, who is it?” Gwen demanded, motioning to Synar’s twin with her weapon.
Malachi stood and walked towards her, the movement of his strong male limbs thrilling him in a way nothing else had in longer than he could remember. He was almost willing to say a gratitude prayer to the creators for it, but was too afraid they might change their minds about letting him use the body. He was under no illusions about who had influenced Synar’s mind to act.
“Come now, Commander Jet. There is no need to threaten me. You and I are old friends. I helped Ania bear the Siren’s call with you. I’m at least as intimate with you as your former bonding partner Chiang,” Malachi said.
“Demon,” Gwen whispered, shocked as her gaze raked him. “You are in Conor Synar’s form. No wonder Ania is ill.”
“Ania will be fine. I would prefer you address me as Malachi,” he said politely. “Though with a little more affection in your voice, I could get used to hearing a whispered ‘demon’ trip off your agile tongue now and again.”
Gwen lowered her weapon to stare at Synar. “You put the demon in your brother’s body?”
“Yes. Conor’s spirit was gone from it completely. His empty body would have had to be destroyed. This,” Synar said snidely, lifting a hand towards Malachi, “is what Ania asked me to do. That doesn’t mean it’s permanent. I can just as easily undo it.”
Gwen shook her head trying to wrap her mind around what was happening. She blinked, but Synar’s demon still walked around in his brother’s body as if it were his.
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