Bound in Darkness

by Nicole Edwards

  “Those are the chains that keep you here. That’s simply fact, Acadia. I would never force anyone to remain here. That’s not how I operate. Nor do my brothers. But there’s no denying you’re a necessity for us. Without the blood of the Fae, the angels wouldn’t be capable of remaining here.”

  Not unless they’d found their amsouelot, anyway. Obsidian and Eclipse were safe because they had their own life source now. The other warriors, as well as the fiestreigh…

  “They could feed from the angels Michael’s providing to the trainees,” she said.

  “True. They could. And they will if it comes down to it.”

  “Do you think Michael’s considered that?” she asked. “He’s the one who made the proposition in the first place.”

  Obsidian smiled. “I honestly don’t know what goes through that male’s mind. But yes, I’d like to think he has our best interest at heart.”

  One would hope, but like Obsidian, Acadia didn’t know what spurred Michael’s decisions. She had never completely understood him.

  “Kaj has a huge undertaking ahead of him,” Obsidian continued. “And he’s going to need you at his side. He can’t go this alone.”

  “He’s not alone.”

  “He feels as though he is.”

  Acadia hadn’t considered that. With so many people around, she had just assumed he had more help than was necessary. Between the Zenith and the fiestreigh, there were a number of males willing to stand at his back, to protect him should it come to that. But it helped to explain what he’d told her the other morning when he’d come to her room. He had openly admitted to needing her at his side.

  “Perhaps now isn’t the time to worry about myself,” she said softly.

  “Then when is?” Obsidian stood tall. “Acadia, you’ve fulfilled your duty to me and my brothers, to the fiestreigh. Do we still need you? Absolutely. And not for your blood. We need you because you’re a vital part of this family. Don’t ever forget that. If you’re asking me to release you, then I do. Consider yourself free to go to the male you love, to stand at his side, to help him when he needs you most. It may seem like things are quiet right now because they are. We have no idea what’s going on, where the demons have disappeared to, but I’m not going to believe they’ve vacated forever. We’ve seen this before. They will be back. And when they return, we will be ready for them. All of us. No matter our role.”

  “Thank you, Obsidian.”

  “You don’t have to thank me. I’m forever grateful for what you’ve done for all of us. You might consider your duty punishment, but I see it as a blessing.”

  Acadia would’ve hugged him if it weren’t for the fact her touch would cause him tremendous pain. Instead, she curtsied low, showing her gratitude and her respect for the male she’d come to see as family.

  “Now, go to your male,” he said with a chuckle. “Let him claim you the way he needs so he can get his head back in the game. We need him as much as we need you.”

  Feeling lighter than she had in … well, possibly ever, Acadia spun around and hurried out of the room.

  No sooner had she stepped into the hall than she heard the chaos.

  “Someone help! Get Apollo!”

  It was Bijou.

  Obsidian’s heavy footfalls sounded behind her. “You get Apollo,” he instructed. “I’ll go up there.”

  “Of course.” On bare feet, Acadia took off toward the infirmary, down the stairs, past the bar, beyond the war room.

  She slammed through the doors that sealed off the medical facility.

  “Apollo!”

  The male came sauntering out from somewhere, his dark brows lowered. “What’s wrong?”

  “It’s Bijou. She’s calling for you. From the second floor.”

  The male nodded, then disappeared.

  Acadia followed suit, vanishing herself and reforming on the second floor. The door to Oliver’s bedroom was open, Obsidian standing just inside.

  “You should probably get Kaj,” he told her when she peeked her head in to see Apollo tending to Oliver.

  The human was sitting in a recliner, his body convulsing.

  “Acadia. Now.”

  She nodded, then took off running. Knowing she couldn’t materialize into the Lair because of the titanium that secured both residences, she settled for making her way on foot.

  As she ran down the hallways, she briefly wondered why she needed to get Kaj.

  Then it hit her.

  She came to an abrupt halt as she stepped into the tunnels that led from the mansion to the Lair.

  Oliver.

  The original vampire.

  “Oh, my God.”

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Kaj rubbed his eyes, trying to maintain his focus on the computer screen in front of him.

  Not an easy feat considering he fucking hated this shit.

  Emails. Questions. Concerns.

  What the fuck was he supposed to do about all this? It wasn’t like he could simply shoot off a quick Sure, let’s do that or Hey, let’s get together and chat more about it. There had to be a precedent set, right? And where would he go to visit with these people making the requests? Not like he could show up on their doorstep and say, “Hey, I’m the Alpha. Want to chat?”

  Nope.

  Kardobahn had handled the task with grace and authority, but he’d also had an army of support. There had been significantly more Zenith, an abundance of vestrahn, plus office staff and helpers galore. Kaj had never really considered all that his father had done, all the trips, not to mention risks, that he took. It had been Kaj’s responsibility to lead the Zenith, to protect the Alpha. And he’d spent all his time focused on that, ignoring the minutia of Kardobahn’s responsibilities.

  The very same responsibilities that now rested firmly on his shoulders.

  Had he known it would come down to this one day, Kaj would’ve spent more time with his father, learning the ropes.

  Huh.

  He hadn’t realized until just then that he actually wanted the responsibility, he wanted to lead the race. All this time, he’d considered it a burden, something forced upon him without his consent. But somewhere along the way, the shoes had started to fit, and he realized he didn’t want to pass the buck, so to speak. He didn’t want Khari to rule their species. Not because he suspected the original vampire wasn’t capable—although that was certainly in question considering where the male had been for the past who knew how long. No, Kaj wanted this for himself. He wanted to matter in the grand scheme of things. This was his place in the world and it was the first time he’d accepted it.

  His gaze refocused on the computer screen. So how did Blāz expect him to respond?

  Sighing, he was about to flop back in his chair when the doors to his office flew open, Acadia stumbling inside.

  He was on his feet in an instant. “What’s wrong?”

  “I don’t know. It’s Bijou and Oliver. Something’s … wrong.”

  His blood froze in his veins. “Is she hurt?”

  Acadia shook her head. “Oh, God. No. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said it like that. Not her. She’s fine. It’s Oliver… He’s having another seizure.”

  Fucking great.

  Just what he didn’t need, that fucking ancient vampire getting antsy.

  “Obsidian told me to come get you.”

  Realizing she was out of breath because she had run over here, Kaj moved around his desk and pulled her into his arms. “Is Apollo with him?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then there’s nothing we can do. Not immediately. So take a deep breath, then we’ll head back over.”

  She nodded, then leaned into him, her lungs working overtime.

  Kaj brushed his hands over her back, wishing her hair was down so he could stroke through the fine, silky strands.

  Just her touch relaxed him, washing his brain of the stress and chaos stimulated by all those emails. Some fucking Alpha he was turning out to be. Couldn’t even tackle his
inbox.

  “Better?” he asked when she pulled back and smoothed the bodice of her gown.

  “Yes. Thank you.”

  He smiled, not sure what she was thanking him for.

  “Let’s head over there.”

  As he took her hand, Acadia nodded.

  When they stepped out of his office, he saw Kidel sitting at the dining room table.

  “Find the others. Bring them to the mansion.”

  The male’s eyes shot up to him, his expression turning serious. “Absolutely, phaal.”

  Because he didn’t have more details to relay, Kaj continued on with Acadia at his side.

  He had to slow his roll to ensure his female didn’t have to hurry. As they made their way down to the tunnels, he realized how he enjoyed the simplicity of this. Walking hand in hand with the female he loved, heading off to take care of some pressing issue.

  Yes, he definitely liked this whole being needed aspect. For so long, he’d felt alone, putting one foot in front of the other. He’d spent his entire life taking care of others, ensuring their safety. Now it was his turn to lead, and his desire to do so was compounded by the fact he had the support he needed. He had the four males he trusted most in the world to back him and the female he loved more than life at his side. And with his daughter close, Kaj felt as though he could tackle any task presented to him.

  “I spoke to Obsidian,” Acadia said softly, her words washing out the sound of his heavy footfalls on the hard-packed earth at his feet.

  Because he heard the underlying meaning in her words, Kaj stopped, turning so he could look at her. His eyes searched her face, trying to read her, to figure out what she was telling him.

  A smile pulled at her mouth and he released the breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding.

  “He’s given me his consent,” she said softly.

  Warmth filled every crevice of his body, heating him from the inside out.

  “I want to be at your side, Kaj. I want to spend the rest of my days in your bed, my nights working alongside you, supporting you.”

  So much emotion filled his chest, he thought for a minute he would explode. To hear those words from her mouth… They made him feel invincible.

  Hell, it took everything in him not to drag her back to the Lair, to lock them in his bedroom so he could claim her appropriately. It was the only thing he could think about. He didn’t want to waste another second, to risk her changing her mind.

  Unfortunately, there were more pressing issues to deal with. Namely an unruly vampire soul hell-bent on staking his own claim on a female.

  Kaj leaned in and kissed Acadia. Just a gentle sweep of his lips over hers.

  “Is something wrong?” she whispered.

  “Nothing, balisra. Absolutely nothing.”

  He would find himself eating those words a few minutes later when they emerged into the chaos that was Angel Central.

  What the holy ever-loving fuck?

  Oliver had no idea what the hell was going on, but seriously. This shit had to stop.

  Now that the convulsions had ceased, he was attempting to get his head on straight. Not easy to do when there were so many people staring at him like he’d just appeared from another realm. All those eyes raked over him as though they were searching for … shit, he didn’t even know what they were looking at but it wasn’t comforting.

  The bright flash of a light in his eyes had him wincing. Once more when Apollo shifted that brain-piercing beam into his other eye.

  “What’s going on?” Bijou asked, her voice soft as she spoke to the doctor.

  Apollo sighed and that didn’t sit well with Oliver, either. Something was happening, and he got the sense the angel knew something he wasn’t sharing with the class.

  “I want to keep an eye on him for a little while.” Apollo’s attention swung to him. “You want to go downstairs?”

  “Not really, no.” Not to mention, he didn’t want to be someone’s guinea pig, and that was what he felt like.

  “Maybe you should,” Bijou suggested.

  “No.” He didn’t mean to be curt with her, but right now, he had no intention of being led around by the nose while they all tiptoed around him.

  “What brought this on?” Apollo asked, though the question didn’t seem to be directed at him.

  Oliver thought back to the moment Bijou’s fangs sank into his neck. The feeling had been surreal. An overwhelming sense of euphoria had consumed him. Hell, it had been so good he’d come in his fucking jeans without touching his cock.

  Just the thought had his cock thickening once more. Which was completely inappropriate considering those who were in the room. Obsidian, Penelope, Kaj, Acadia, Bijou, Apollo. And yes, Oliver was almost positive that was Amethyst standing near the door, the other doctor probably curious as to what was sending his brain into chaos. Oliver was curious, too. Whatever it was, it felt… God, he didn’t even know how to explain it. There was a strange feeling inside him, as though there was a battle brewing.

  Like the first time, it felt like something was emerging, attempting to push beyond the realm of his body. Whatever it was, it didn’t want to be bound to his body, held captive. Or at least, that was the sense Oliver was getting, which was absolutely crazy, he knew. Probably best not to voice it. Last thing he wanted was a straitjacket.

  Shifting in the leather recliner, he attempted to sit up straight. His efforts failed him. His body was weak, his muscles refusing to coordinate.

  This was fucking ridiculous.

  “Are those … puncture wounds?”

  Yep, that was Kaj’s voice and he didn’t sound at all pleased by the acknowledgement.

  Of course, Oliver didn’t respond because he wasn’t about to get into it with Bijou’s father. What happened between him and Bijou was their business. They were both consenting adults.

  “Bijou, I’d like to speak with you. Alone.” Kaj’s words were a demand, not a request, and the intensity in them sparked something dark within Oliver.

  “No,” Oliver said, but the voice that came out of him sounded nothing like his own.

  Evidently everyone thought so because all eyes shot to him.

  “It’s all right, Oliver.” Bijou’s soft tone and gentle hand on his arm settled the strange darkness inside him. “I owe him this much. But I won’t be gone long.”

  Oliver met her pretty green eyes and finally nodded.

  “Please stay with him until I return,” she told Apollo before slipping out of the room.

  He watched her go, and when she was out of his sight, there was a strange churning within him. A disconnect, maybe? Like a piece of him had been shifted, rearranged like puzzle pieces working their way into the overall picture. So freaking weird.

  “So, hit me with it, Doc. What’s the prognosis?”

  Apollo’s pale blue eyes leveled on him. There was concern there, definitely. But there was something else.

  “What aren’t you telling me?”

  Before the angel could answer, there was a flutter of wings. A second later, Michael appeared.

  Oliver jumped back, his body slamming into the recliner. Why the archangel always scared the shit out of him when he did that, he didn’t know. But … fuck!

  “Not yet,” Michael told Apollo.

  The doctor nodded but Oliver wasn’t sure if it was agreement or resignation.

  “I think it’s best if we move you to the infirmary.” Amethyst spoke up for the first time since she entered the room. “I’d like to get you hooked up to some monitors. At least until we can get you stable.”

  Stable? He was stable.

  His gaze shot from Amethyst to Obsidian, over to Penelope, on to Apollo, and finally settling on Michael.

  No sooner had he met the archangel’s strangely swirling eyes than he began to vibrate again. A second later, his body was convulsing. Not long after that…

  Pitch. Fucking. Black.

  Hmm.

  Interesting way for the human/vampire t
o greet him, that was for sure.

  Not that Michael had expected a warm greeting by any means, but come on. A seizure?

  A bit extreme, no?

  With a heavy exhale, Michael stepped back while Apollo and Amethyst did whatever it was they needed to do.

  “I don’t think your presence is comforting to him,” Obsidian noted.

  Yeah, well. He had that effect on people, now didn’t he?

  “Move him to the infirmary,” Michael insisted, not bothering to look at Obsidian or Penelope when he made the decision.

  Expecting a rebuttal from the female, he steeled himself for an argument. When one never came, he forced his eyes over to Obsidian’s ereswa. She looked sincerely concerned for her brother. And from what he could tell, she had absolutely no idea what was going on. Which could only mean Obsidian hadn’t bothered to share the … interesting news with her yet.

  Michael glanced up at Obsidian. The quick shake he got in response said he didn’t want to go into it now, either.

  Fine.

  “Can I come with you?” Penelope asked the healers as they discussed moving him.

  When they called down for someone to bring a gurney up, Michael took that as his cue to make an exit. He wasn’t surprised when Obsidian followed him out into the hallway, then down a few doors to the library. Meant he was about to get an earful.

  Without haste, he stepped into the elaborate room filled from floor to ceiling with literature in every size, shape, and form. The door closed behind him.

  “What’s the plan?” he asked, figuring he would launch right into his reason for showing up.

  “That’s not my decision to make,” Obsidian grumbled.

  Michael pivoted to face him. “It is if you want to keep Penelope’s human alive.”

  “Are you controlling this?”

  Dropping all sense of levity, Michael met the male’s stare head on. “Not at all. I’m going to assume the healer’s accurate when he said Khari is seeking his mate. Now that he’s found Bijou, he’s acting as all bonded males do. He’s looking to keep her safe.”

  “She is safe.”