Bound in Darkness

by Nicole Edwards

Kaj ground his molars together.

  Bijou nodded at the healer, returning her attention to Khari. “That’s fine. For now. They’re going to move you,” she told the vampire. “I’ll be right here with you. But you have to remain calm.”

  The vampire nodded.

  Kaj had yet to hear him say anything more after he’d acknowledged that Bijou had stayed with him. He could only assume whoever had been prevalent in Oliver’s body had been successfully transferred to Khari since he recognized Bijou. Granted, he sounded nothing like the human, his voice far too deep. As for what he remembered, that was still the question of the hour.

  And until Oliver came around, they really didn’t know what they were dealing with.

  “I’d like you to give us some space,” Apollo announced. “I’ll allow two guards. One vampire, one angel. That’s it. The rest of you can head out.”

  Kaj glanced over at Huracān, nodded. The male responded in kind. He would stand guard for now.

  “Reidar, you stick around here. I’ll have you relieved in a couple of hours,” Obsidian stated.

  There was some murmuring as the others began trickling out, all of them headed into the mansion. Probably going to gossip for a while about the shit that had gone down.

  “And you”—Obsidian pointed directly at Michael—“you’ll stay here for now. Should something happen, it’s on you.”

  Michael opened his mouth, probably to add some smart-ass comment, but then closed it just as quickly, instead offering a nod of compliance.

  “I expect updates hourly,” Obsidian told Apollo and Amethyst. “Both on the human and the vampire.”

  “Same for me,” Kaj noted.

  “Hey, boss?” Blāz said as Kaj began walking back toward the Lair. “I thought maybe you’d want to meet Leilana.”

  “Who’s that?” he asked, head down as he moved forward.

  “The female we interviewed to be your assistant?”

  Oh, right. Kaj recalled Blāz mentioning her.

  “Did you hire her?”

  “Not yet, no.”

  “But you think she’ll be a good fit?”

  “I do.”

  “Then hire her. Get her here. Let’s get a move on this.” Those damn emails weren’t slowing, and Kaj figured they would only increase once they got word out that Khari was alive. Which was another task she could handle. Draft something to go out, something that made a little sense, maybe.

  Christ. There was so much to do and Kaj wasn’t even sure where to start.

  He stopped, spun around.

  “Where’re you going, phaal?”

  “To get my female,” he said. Because right now, he suspected she was the only one who might possibly be able to calm the chaos in his head.

  Acadia was sitting in Ari’el’s room, holding the sleeping baby as she rocked the little one.

  She’d been in here for some time now, though she wasn’t sure how long. From the other side of the door, she’d heard Penelope pacing the room. Part of her had wanted to go to the female, to assure her all would be fine. Offer platitudes, spew words that held little meaning because, truth was, no one knew the outcome. However, she’d opted to keep her thoughts to herself, to allow the female to pace the floor to expend some of her restless energy.

  “I have a feeling your uncle’ll be just fine,” she whispered to the beautiful child. “He’s strong. Like your mom.”

  As she stared down at the baby, Acadia wondered whether one day she would have a child of her own. She’d always wanted one, though she’d spent no time in the presence of children. That had never stopped her from fantasizing.

  Of course, that was all she’d been capable of doing because she was infertile thanks to God’s punishment of her race. According to Kaj, Michael had relieved them of that punishment, but was it really true? Only time would tell, she figured.

  There was a soft knock on the door, drawing her attention.

  “The Alpha’s here to see you,” Josie whispered, peeking into the room.

  She nodded, overwhelmed with worry. Had he come up here to find her because he wanted to see her? Or because something had gone wrong?

  Acadia got to her feet, ensuring she didn’t jostle the tiny bundle in her arms. She settled Ari’el into her crib, keeping a gentle hand on the infant’s belly until she settled. Once she was peacefully at rest once more, she hurried out of the room and into the small hallway that led back to the third-floor living area.

  Kaj was pacing the room, hands in his pockets, chin resting on his chest as though he was deep in thought.

  He must’ve heard her because his head instantly lifted and he redirected, coming right for her.

  “Is everything all right?”

  “For now, yes.”

  “And Oliver?”

  “The healers are looking him over. Same with Khari. Both are alive.”

  The relief she felt nearly had her staggering.

  Luckily, Kaj was there to hold her, pulling her into his strong arms, securing her against his body.

  “I’m so glad.”

  “We’ve got a long road ahead of us,” he said softly. “Who knows what it’ll bring.”

  “And Bijou? How’s she taking this?”

  “She stayed with Khari.”

  Acadia pulled back, peered up at Kaj. “And how do you feel about that?”

  A small smile pulled at his mouth. “I don’t think I have much of a say.”

  “You’re her father, Kaj. She’ll listen to you. You just have to speak to her logically. Leave the emotion out of it.”

  “Easier said than done.”

  Oh, how she knew that to be true. Life, no matter how it was laid out, who you were surrounded by, or even the gifts you’d acquired whether material or in the manner of people, was never easy. Perhaps because humans, angels, vampires, and especially Fae tended to make it more difficult. Acadia didn’t know. However, over the past fifteen hundred years, she had learned to take things one moment at a time. Not even a full day at a time. A moment. A single breath. That was the only way she found she could make it through.

  It was immensely easier now that she had Kaj to lean on. Someone created specifically for her. But that didn’t mean it would be rainbows and unicorns.

  “Blāz wants me to meet the female he’d like me to hire as my assistant,” Kaj said softly. “Would you do me the honors of joining me in that meeting?”

  Acadia pulled back, peered up at him. “Me?”

  “I’d really like your opinion.”

  She wasn’t sure what to say to that. No one … absolutely no one had ever asked her for her opinion before. She’d given it, sure, because that was in her nature. However, she’d never had it requested. The feeling that swelled within her chest was unfamiliar, completely foreign, and it filled her with a warmth she hadn’t expected.

  “I’d like that,” she admitted. “Very much.”

  “Perfect.” Kaj stepped back, retrieved his phone from his pocket, and tapped something out. When he tucked it back away, he was smiling. “Shall we?”

  When he offered her his arm, she smiled, sliding hers through.

  “How’s Ari’el?” he asked as they headed for the stairs that would take them down.

  “She’s perfect.” Acadia grinned, warmth infusing her as it always did when she thought about that precious child. “She’s getting bigger every minute.”

  Together, they made their way down two flights of stairs, through the main hall. They continued on, chatting about the mundane. Kaj would ask a question, Acadia would answer. It was a warm conversation and it felt surprisingly … normal.

  Even the thought made her smile. She’d honestly never considered what normal would feel like. Up to this point, her normal had consisted of being the blood bank for an army of angels. Now, she was mated. To a vampire.

  It was a ridiculously pleasant feeling to acknowledge that.

  By the time they stepped through the doors of the Lair, her cheeks were hurting from smiling so
much.

  “Where’s Blāz?” Kaj asked Kidel when they approached where he was sitting at the dining room table, his laptop open in front of him.

  “He went to meet Leilana, drive her in.”

  “And Mirakel?”

  “He went out to interview for the vestrahn position. We had five candidates Blāz thought would be good.”

  Kaj nodded. “We’ll need them in place sooner rather than later.”

  “Of course, phaal.”

  Acadia listened to the interaction between the two males. She noticed how Kidel dutifully paid attention to what Kaj wanted, even taking notes as though he might forget.

  “At the top of the hour, I’d like you to relieve Huracān at the infirmary.”

  “Absolutely.”

  “Shoot me an update when you get there. I’d like your take on what’s going on.”

  That seemed to please the vampire immensely, to be utilized for his opinions. Funny how such a minor request could change your status from simple employee to valued contributor.

  “Let Blāz know we’re in my office,” Kaj concluded, taking her hand and leading her toward the other side of the residence, through the double doors, and into the enormous space they’d allocated for the Alpha’s private workspace.

  The fireplace had clearly been tended to lately, the flames licking brightly, warming the room nicely.

  “I’m starting to wonder what the point is in having those shutters,” Kaj noted as he moved toward the entire wall of windows at the back of the house.

  “It’s a lovely view,” Acadia said, peering out at the grounds. “It’ll be pretty as a picture once spring arrives.”

  Kaj smiled. “Thanks to the dhira, I’m unable to see.”

  Oh. Acadia hadn’t thought about that. She reached up and placed her fingers on his temples, slid them down, and let them fall back to her sides. “How about now?”

  “Definitely beautiful,” he rasped, but he never turned to look out the window.

  She felt her cheeks warm with her blush. “I was referring to the view beyond the glass.”

  He chuckled, then turned away, his smile brightening. “I can’t tell you how relieved it makes me to see out and not be met with total blackness. I understand Obsidian’s reasoning, but it’s a bit disconcerting for the rest of us.”

  “Consider it resolved,” she offered. “I’ll take care of it for the Zenith and anyone else you deem worthy of seeing.”

  His eyes shifted back to her face, and the warmth she saw in them melted her. Acadia briefly wondered if that would always be the case. Centuries, even millennia in the future, would he still look at her as though she mattered? She couldn’t imagine the reverse being the case. What she felt for this male … it had been building for so long. It almost didn’t seem real.

  A soft knock on the door behind her had Acadia turning. Kaj offered his arm, and she gratefully took it as their guest stepped into the space.

  “Phaal, I’d like to introduce Leilana Torvolyan, youngest child to Sir Markiel Torvolyan.”

  Acadia was tempted to curtsy to the female but she refrained. For vampires, only those who were considered noble were assigned surnames. All others simply had one. Which meant this young female was from a regal bloodline.

  Leilana’s eyes were wide as though in shock, and the moment they landed on Kaj, Acadia feared the female was going to pass out.

  “It’s an honor to be allowed in your presence, my Alpha,” she said softly, speaking in the language of vampires.

  While Acadia wasn’t exactly fluent, she’d learned enough over the past few months to keep up.

  “No need for formalities,” Kaj told the female. “I’d like to introduce you to my mate, Acadia.”

  Leilana shifted her full attention and curtsied respectfully.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Acadia said kindly.

  “The pleasure’s all mine,” Leilana returned.

  Acadia considered the young female as she stood before them, clearly nervous to be in the presence of the Alpha. Her blond hair was pulled back in a tidy ponytail. Her pretty, round face had minimal makeup. Probably a couple of inches shorter than Acadia, she stood taller thanks to the heels she wore on her feet. The outfit she wore was modern, though it seemed better suited for someone quite a bit older than she. The boxy jacket and calf-length skirt were a bit large on her small frame, as though she’d borrowed the clothes from someone else.

  “Let’s sit,” Kaj prompted, motioning toward the seating area near the fire.

  While Acadia wasn’t sure what this meeting entailed, she found herself oddly interested in participating.

  For the first time in her existence, she felt almost … necessary.

  If it were possible to be any more nervous, Leilana had no idea how that would be.

  Here, sitting before the Alpha and his mate, she felt as though she was about to plead her case to be allowed to live. The problem was, she had no words, nothing that would make sense, anyhow.

  “Would you like something to drink?” Kaj offered.

  He was just so … casual. It was oddly disconcerting.

  “No, thank you. I’m…” She swallowed to wet her dry, scratchy throat. “Actually, I could use some water.”

  The Alpha smiled, then peered toward Blāz, the male who’d met her and driven her in. Good thing, too, considering she hadn’t been able to see two inches in front of her.

  “Blāz tells me you’re a teacher.”

  Leilana nodded. “Yes, sir.”

  When he looked at her as though he expected her to elaborate, Leilana found herself tongue-tied.

  Boy, if her family could see her now. She was screwing this up royally, she knew it. The funny thing was, when she wasn’t feeling intimidated by someone in power, Leilana found it difficult to shut up. Always talking, sometimes to the point of aggravation. At least where her brothers and sisters were concerned.

  Wouldn’t know it based on this epic failure of an interview.

  “Leilana?”

  Her eyes widened. Had she missed a question? Oh, crap. Not good.

  “I’m sorry, sir.”

  “Distracted?” His expression reflected bemusement.

  Exhaling heavily, Leilana forced herself to calm.

  “Why don’t I give you two a few minutes,” Acadia offered as she got to her feet. “I’ll bring drinks for all of us upon my return.”

  Leilana nodded. What else could she do?

  The female strolled out of the room, and Leilana couldn’t help but watch her as she seemed to glide over the floor. Had she not been looking at the hem of the dress, she wouldn’t have noticed… “She’s barefoot.”

  Kaj chuckled. “She is. I’m not sure Acadia owns a pair of shoes. She prefers it that way.”

  For whatever reason, that lightened some of the strain on her nervous system. To know the mate of the Alpha strolled around without shoes … yeah, it helped. How, she didn’t know, but Leilana wasn’t going to question it.

  “I’d like to apologize, phaal,” she told Kaj. “I’m not normally this nervous. But I’ve never been in front of royalty before.”

  “Don’t consider me royalty,” he said simply. “Trust me, when you’ve been here long enough, you’ll see me as just another male.”

  She seriously doubted that.

  “And call me Kaj. Unless we’re in public. Then you can use your discretion.”

  Leilana narrowed her eyes. “You’re saying … I … I have the job?”

  “If you’d like. I assume that’s why you’re here.”

  “Of course,” she blurted. “It’s just … I thought you’d want to interview me.”

  He chuckled. “In case it’s not obvious, that’s not really my forte. In fact, I’ll look to you to handle that going forward.”

  A strange giddy feeling stirred in her belly. Leilana hadn’t known what to expect from today, but this certainly hadn’t been it. Oh, she knew she was qualified and all, but she figured she would have to
jump through hoops to get this job.

  “You should know this is new to all of us. Blāz, he’s one of the Zenith. As are Huracān, Kidel, and Mirakel. With you in the mix, that’s the extent of my support at the moment. Hell, we don’t even have vestrahn yet. But I’m hoping you’ll be able to rectify that in the near future.”

  Leilana felt as though she should have a notepad.

  As though he read her mind, Kaj shook his head. “Trust me, there’s no need to write it down. I’m sure we’ll go over it all again. The question I have for you is, when can you start?”

  “As soon as you need me.” She smiled. “And no, I’m not abandoning my current job. In the past couple of months, we’ve brought on a few additional teachers for our clan’s school. They’re aware of what my intentions are, and we’ve got a replacement. Considering the opportunity, my clan wasn’t willing to let it pass me by.”

  He seemed confused by her statement.

  “The Torvolyans have always been a big supporter of Kardobahn. We were devastated to hear of his death. When we learned that you had survived the attack and would be the reigning Alpha, my clan was quite pleased. There’s a lot of respect for you, phaal. The only request my clan has is that they have the opportunity to get to know you better. Similar to the way your father interacted with the race.”

  He nodded, as though that made sense.

  “I’m more than willing to help you build the kirlesgun so that you have the support you need. It’s an enormous task, but I’m up for it.”

  “It’ll require you to use that backbone you’re hiding in there,” he said, a smile on his face.

  “Yes, I know. And I assure you, I will. I’m not easily intimidated, which is saying something considering how overwhelmed I am in your presence. But I figure with time, I’ll get used to it.”

  Kaj nodded. “I hope so. There’s a lot to do. Due to … recent events, we don’t have any more time to waste.”

  Though she wasn’t sure what events he was referring to, Leilana understood.

  “When would you like me to start?” she asked, feeling far more confident than she had when she walked into the room.

  “Considering there are probably three thousand emails that need tending to, I’d say as soon as possible.”