Bound in Darkness

by Nicole Edwards

  “I’m not sure what you mean.”

  Oh, for fuck’s sake. “Don’t mess with me, Doc. I see it in your eyes. You know what’s going on. Now spill.”

  “First of all, it’s called doctor-patient confidentiality.”

  Blāz barked a laugh. “Right. And next you’ll pass out your HIPAA pamphlet, right? Gimme a break.”

  There was a spark in the male’s eyes. One that had Blāz taking a step back as the healer neared.

  “You’re telling me you stopped by here to quell your curiosity about the human?”

  “Why else would I be here?” he countered, hating that the healer had his number.

  “Anyone ever tell you you’re a shitty liar?” Apollo countered, still closing in on him.

  “Unlike you, huh? Seems you’re up to par on dodging questions.”

  Blāz made sure to maintain eye contact as the male neared. And yep, that was a wall at his back now. Any closer and the doc was going to make a sandwich out of him.

  Not that he was hoping for that or anything.

  The instant Apollo’s chest brushed his, Blāz inhaled sharply. Ever since that fucking incident in the patient room, he’d been trying to figure out just what the hell was going on between them. He’d half expected the healer to seek him out, ask for a bit of repayment. Tit for tat and all that.

  Nope.

  Not yet.

  “You come back for more, Blāz?” Apollo taunted.

  “More what?” he rasped through clenched teeth.

  He grunted when Apollo’s hand slid between their bodies, grazing Blāz’s cock.

  “At least he’s hopeful,” the healer whispered, his mouth now dangerously close to Blāz’s. “Would you like me to help you with that?”

  Fuck, yes. “No.”

  The doc chuckled and the sound went right fucking through him. How was it the male could be that damn cocky and still be sexy? It defied logic. Blāz had never been into arrogant males, yet here he was.

  The lips that crashed into his were hard and insistent and so fucking good, Blāz was suddenly grateful for the stone at his back. Otherwise, he might’ve been on his ass, his legs kicked right out from under him.

  By some strange stroke of luck, Blāz managed not to topple them both as he grabbed for Apollo, jerking him closer, their tongues battling for supremacy. He hadn’t meant to touch him, shocked by the feeling as much as his desire to do it. But it was when Apollo nipped his lower lip that shit got real. That spark of pain lit Blāz up from the inside out, gave him half the mind to go to his knees right here and show the sexy healer just what he was capable of.

  “You won’t hear me complaining,” Apollo whispered.

  Blāz jerked back, his skull making contact with the wall. He glared at the healer as he rubbed his head. “Get outta my head, healer.”

  That hand that had grazed him a minute ago dipped into the waistband of Blāz’s jeans, those deft fingers brushing the head of his cock.

  “How about this head? Have any demands for me to stay away from it?”

  What the fuck had he been thinking coming down here?

  Oh, wait. He hadn’t been thinking. Not with the rational side of his body, anyway.

  “Say the word,” Apollo growled.

  “Not worried someone might see us?”

  “Not even a little. You scared?”

  Was he? Blāz wasn’t sure how to answer that question. He’d never much cared for exhibitionism, but it wasn’t like he was opposed to it. When it came to sex, he took it how it came. But for some fucked-up reason, he didn’t want to exploit whatever this was that was happening between them. The thought of someone seeing Apollo with his cock down his throat… Nope. Nuh-uh. And it had nothing to do with him worrying about someone learning he was gay. That shit was public record.

  No, for some dumb-ass reason, Blāz had the strange notion to keep this between them. The only person he wanted watching the healer taking him deep in his throat was him.

  He was so lost in his head, Blāz didn’t even realize Apollo had unbuttoned his jeans, lowered the zipper.

  “Not here,” Blāz snapped.

  Apollo glanced both directions, then pinned him with those pale blue eyes. “Scared?”

  “No.” He met that stare. “Possessive.”

  That seemed to shock the healer, because Apollo took one step back, his hands falling to his sides.

  “Scared?” Blāz shot back using the doc’s own word.

  Apollo’s blue eyes narrowed as though he wasn’t sure what to make of this. A second later, he shook his head and turned away.

  “See yourself out, vampire.”

  Blāz remained where he was, fixing his jeans as he watched Apollo disappear around the corner, back where he’d come from. He was half tempted to go after him, but he’d seen that look. Apollo thought this was all fun and games.

  Wasn’t it, though?

  Oh, for fuck’s sake.

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Acadia awoke to the sound of the shutters lifting.

  She opened her eyes, scanning her surroundings. The first thing she realized was that she was not in her room.

  Then the memories of early that morning came flooding back. Instantly she tugged the blankets down as she peered at her chest. The puncture wounds over her heart had healed; however, they were still visible. She brushed the markings with her fingers and smiled, wondering if she felt different. She had the moment Kaj had pierced her heart. There had been a strange elation that flooded her when his sonavex had filled her veins. She hadn’t asked Kaj what the mating entailed but she’d done a bit of research. There wasn’t much documented about the phenomenon, but she’d learned enough to have an idea.

  Yet she’d been overwhelmed. In a good way, of course.

  And while she could’ve asked him to lay it out so she would understand, Acadia hadn’t felt it necessary. She trusted Kaj with her life, knew he wouldn’t do anything to hurt her. Even now, as she thought about what had happened when he’d pierced that artery, Acadia wondered why some referred to it as venom. Perhaps there hadn’t been a better translation for it.

  The smile was still planted firmly on her face when she forced herself out of bed. Kaj had woken her earlier to let her know he had some things to take care of but that he would meet her for the evening meal at Angel Central.

  As she retrieved her gown from the floor, she glanced around the space. Kaj had recently moved rooms because he said the other one was getting some updates. It made her wonder if he was actually going to decorate. That room was the very room she had nursed Kaj back to health in so long ago. Only now it lacked the color and decor that had once brought it to life. Or she thought it did. That could’ve changed in the past week or so, but she doubted it. From what she’d gathered, Blāz was fortifying the space for the Alpha. When Kaj had been explaining it to her, he’d referred to it as a panic room.

  For some reason, that made her think of steel panels and concrete floors. It didn’t sound all that homey. No more than this room. As it was, there wasn’t anything personal within the space, and the thought of living in a protected area only made it feel colder. She doubted Kaj cared much since he simply occupied it physically. If they were to share a space, which she assumed they would, Acadia wanted it to be welcoming and cheerful.

  A task for another day, she supposed.

  An hour later, having returned to her room within the mansion, Acadia had showered and made herself presentable for the night. Something had compelled her to wear red, a color she’d often forgone because of how bold a statement it made. But it suited her mood this evening. She wasn’t sure what it was, but she definitely felt different. Perhaps not physically, but emotionally for sure. As though she’d been made whole after all this time.

  When she made it to the main floor, she heard a cacophony of voices coming from the dining room. There was only one she was seeking out as she neared the open doors.

  “Acadia?”

  Her smile brighten
ed as she turned toward the male calling out to her from the kitchen. She turned to face him, unable to hide her smile.

  Though he was dressed similarly to how he usually was—head to toe in black—Kaj looked resplendent. Then again, she’d always found him utterly beautiful, but this evening, he stood out even more to her.

  Kaj offered his arm, so Acadia slipped hers into it, allowing him to lead her into the dining room. She could feel the eyes shifting in her direction, monitoring her as though something was different. She offered a smile to all familiar faces sitting at the tables, filling the space. For a moment, she was confused as to what was going on, but then she noticed them.

  “Oh.” Her hand came up to her throat as she stopped before the four males kneeling on the floor just inside the dining hall.

  Huracān, Blāz, Kidel, and Mirakel. The enormous males were bowing, steel daggers gripped firmly in both hands, the tips of the blades pressed into the hardwood flooring.

  “Rise, warriors,” Kaj instructed.

  All four males got to their feet. The daggers were sheathed and all eyes lifted.

  “What’s going on?” she whispered, though she knew everyone had heard.

  “They’re welcoming you as their queen,” he said softly.

  Ah. Well, she was no one’s queen, but Acadia wasn’t going to say as much. She had a lot to learn when it came to vampire tradition, and the last thing she wanted to do was offend them in some manner.

  “At ease,” Kaj told them before glancing over at her. “Shall we eat?” Kaj nodded toward the table where Obsidian was sitting, his hand on Penelope’s chair, the female beside him with Ari’el in her arms.

  “I’m not sure that’s appropriate,” she whispered to Kaj, refraining from telling him she was but a servant in this world.

  “Sit,” Obsidian urged, as though he’d heard her thoughts and wasn’t at all pleased by them. “Within these walls, we are and will always be family, Acadia.”

  When Kaj pulled out her chair, she settled into it, not sure where to look, so she let her gaze land on Ari’el, who was sleeping soundly in her mother’s arms. It wasn’t that Obsidian had ever treated her lower than him, but Acadia had always been aware of his status. Although she had fed him for centuries, she had never shared a meal with him. Not like this. In the breakfast nook, yes. In the kitchen, sure. At the dining room table … never. And she was more than aware of Kaj’s status in the hierarchy, so it made sense because he had claimed her that she would sit with him.

  Still, this felt awkward.

  Voices sounded from behind her, causing Acadia to peer over her shoulder to see who had joined them. The heurosp were entering the space, heading for Obsidian and Eclipse first. But it wasn’t the servants who had her heart missing a beat. It was the way Bijou had stepped into the room and come to an abrupt halt.

  Kaj must’ve sensed her because he also looked back. Only then did Bijou smile and come forward.

  Rather than go to her father, though, Bijou came over to her, stopping at the side of her chair.

  “If you’ll excuse me,” she said kindly to Obsidian and Penelope, then took Acadia’s hand.

  Not sure what was going on, she got to her feet, watching the young female closely.

  The next thing she knew, Acadia was being pulled in for a hug. She immediately embraced Bijou as was polite.

  “Congratulations,” Bijou said softly in her ear.

  “Thank you?” Yeah, it came out as a question, but Acadia was confused. “How did you know?”

  Bijou pulled back and met her gaze. “His scent is all over you.”

  Acadia lifted her hand, sniffed her forearm.

  Bijou chuckled. “You can’t smell it, but vampires can.” Bijou released her. “Congrats, Dad,” she said, patting him on the shoulder and heading across the room.

  When she sat, Kaj reached for her hand, lifted it to his lips.

  “Do they all know?” she whispered, feeling a bit like a spectacle.

  “The males, yes. They’re quite aware that you belong to me now.”

  Perhaps it really was time for her to do a bit more research into this whole vampire mating thing.

  So he probably should’ve warned Acadia before she’d come down. Honestly, Kaj hadn’t expected his males to react that way, but he greatly appreciated the gesture. For what it was worth, it had helped to solidify his decision to embrace the role as Alpha.

  As the food was brought forth and consumed, Kaj relaxed as the others in the room did. Everyone went back to their normal routine, shoving food in while they chatted amongst themselves, laughing at jokes, teasing each other, and enjoying this brief moment before the night got underway. It was a routine he’d always admired, the sharing of meals, the opportunity to catch up and stay caught up with the goings-on around them. He even hoped one day to introduce a similar tradition for the kirlesgun, once the regime was in place, the positions filled.

  When Michael had told him Khari would be taking over as leader of the race, his first reaction had been relief. He enjoyed leading the Zenith because being a fighter was what he knew, what he was good at. Despite his best efforts, he knew he would never be the leader his father was. He had no desire to sit behind a desk and snap orders, create laws, and solve the problems of those who couldn’t solve them for themselves. Kaj wanted to be on the front lines, where he could be beneficial.

  In the same regard, he felt as though he had something to contribute, and the longer he’d thought about it, the more he realized this was an opportunity he had to embrace. Not for himself, necessarily, but for the entire species, the males and females he wanted to protect, to nurture. He’d thought about Bijou and her future. He wanted her to live in a world that was safe for her to traverse, and the best way to ensure that happened was to have a hand in it.

  But what had encased his decision in stone had been Michael’s reference to his heir. If the male was to be believed, Acadia was pregnant with his child. Their child. A male. The news had shocked him to the roots of his soul, but there had been absolutely no disappointment. The opposite in fact. The idea of having a child with the female he adored … it only added to this sense of peace even if it made him panic at the same time.

  There was time to fall apart later, though. Right now, he had shit to do, people to talk to, decisions to make.

  Of course, he knew it would take time before he could get everything in order. Right now, he had enough challenges to deal with. Namely, relaying to Penelope that the brother she’d known all her life was, in fact, not her brother. He was a ten-thousand-year-old vampire who needed to be separated from the human vessel he’d been residing in for the past twenty-eight years.

  The mere thought of being the bearer of that disturbing news had Kaj pushing his plate away, wiping his mouth with his linen napkin, and depositing it for removal as well.

  As he took a sip of coffee, he realized Obsidian was staring at him.

  “You wanted to talk to me?” the angel asked.

  “I do.” He glanced at Penelope and Acadia. “I think it’s best if the four of us went somewhere more private, if that’s all right.”

  “I’d like Eclipse to join us,” Obsidian stated.

  “Of course.” Kaj didn’t care who was there to hear this, provided the news didn’t get back to Bijou until he’d had a chance to discuss with her personally. Though this particular conversation—relaying the information to Penelope—wasn’t something he looked forward to, he knew it needed to be handled first. After Oliver’s sister knew what was taking place, he could share the news with his daughter.

  Penelope, clearly surprised by the request, glanced over at Obsidian, then down to the babe in her arms. “I’ll have Josie take the baby.”

  Josie being the Fae who’d been appointed as the child’s nanny.

  “I can take her up there,” Orianna offered. “If you don’t mind, of course.”

  Penelope smiled at her sister-in-law. “Of course not.”

  Orianna beamed bri
ghtly, clearly pleased to spend time with the child.

  Obsidian downed the rest of his coffee while Orianna and Penelope got to their feet. “We’ll meet in the conference room on the third floor. I’ve got a few things to take care of first.”

  Kaj nodded. “We’ll be up in a few minutes.”

  When the five of them left, Kaj turned to Acadia. She had been staring at her coffee mug for the past few minutes, as though she had no idea what she was doing there.

  He shifted his position, turning in his chair so he was facing her. “I need to share something with you.”

  Her beautiful amethyst eyes bounced over his face, and he could see a wealth of uncertainty.

  Reaching into his back pocket, Kaj retrieved the paper he’d folded up and stuck there before he left their bedroom. He passed it over to Acadia.

  Her eyebrows lowered as she took the papyrus paper from his hand, her delicate fingers unfolding it. When she began reading, he watched her face. Truth was, he wasn’t feeling all that confident about what he’d done. Not because it wasn’t the right thing, but because he hadn’t considered how Acadia would feel about it. They’d briefly discussed it when she’d entered his mind and read his thoughts, but no further.

  When she looked up at him, there were tears in her eyes.

  His muscles tightened, fear trickling in his veins. Those tears could mean anything—good or bad—and he wasn’t about to get his hopes up.

  “We’re truly free?” Her words were so soft.

  “Completely.” Kaj held her stare. “He’s also lifted the infertility. However, while you’re still immortal, your people are no longer indestructible. It was a compromise on his part.”

  When her tears began to fall, Kaj quickly cupped her face, wiping the wetness with his thumbs. He figured now was probably not the best time to share the news about those trapped in the in-between.

  “Please tell me these are happy tears, Acadia.”

  “They are.” She nodded, smiled. “I promise.”

  “I’d like you to go with me to talk with Penelope. Obsidian and I agreed we would deliver the news to her together.”