Chapter 64
Venom is the only vampire of my Making who inherited some of my gifts on his transition. I have my suspicions of late that he may have gained the ability to mesmerize.
—Archangel Neha to General Rhys (Before the War of the Death Cascade)
Caliane had spent the week following the Cadre meeting getting up to speed on her territory. It had proved a smooth undertaking—because the Cadre had left her people in place, just added archangelic oversight into the mix.
“They took you at your word that you’d return,” Jelena had told her at their first meeting.
The angel had been on one knee at the time, her sword held across her upright knee as she bowed her head to her sire, the dark scarlet of her hair in a tight braid and the bronze-edged gold of her wings spread behind her in a ceremonial position.
“There was no reason to cause disruption when the territory was stable due to your stewardship over the centuries.”
A long exhale. “Still, my lady, I’m so very happy to see you again.”
Tugging her to her feet, Caliane had exchanged the forearm clasp of warriors with the other woman, for Jelena had ever been a warrior and wasn’t affectionate with many.
Perhaps she dropped her tough shield with Avi, but Caliane had never seen so in public.
Only with Tasha, when she’d been a child, had Jelena appeared soft.
Jelena and Avi and their daughter hadn’t been alone in maintaining the watch over Caliane’s territory. A great many of Caliane’s senior people had stayed behind, and they had kept her faith, their hearts loyal.
She’d never forget their service, and she made sure they knew it.
Her son had also sent a team to assist, and the leader of that team was a man the vampires of India knew well. Because he was one of them, Made of the bloodline of the archangel who’d been in power when the vast majority of the older and more dangerous vampires here were created.
With Venom had come his lover and mate, Holly, who was also a most interesting vampire.
“He’s deadly,” Jelena had told Caliane. “He’s also basically Raphael’s third at this point and ruthlessly efficient.” A scowl that went up to the pale hazel green of her eyes. “It galls me to say it, but while the vampires of India respect me, they fear him.”
And with vampires, fear was the most important motivating factor.
Now, Caliane walked with Venom through the walled pathways of the ocean-side palace she kept in India. He wore a sleek black suit in the newest style, which incorporated straps akin to the straps in some angelic wear; his hair was cut with precision, his boots polished.
None of it diminished the lethal power that pulsed off him.
“You have served my territory well,” she said. “I thank you for that.”
“But it’s my time to go now, isn’t it?” A sharp grin, the slitted viper green of his eyes dramatic against the dark gold of his skin.
He’d removed his mirrored sunglasses as a sign of respect to Caliane, and to her, it seemed as if the green was even more vivid than when she’d last seen him, the nictitating membrane that moved over his irises at times so quick that it was as difficult to catch as a viper’s venomous strike.
“I would keep you if I could.” He was an undeniable asset. “But”—her lips tightened—“it’s possible you’ll be needed in New York soon.”
Venom’s cheekbones cut against his skin. “Aegaeon.”
She should have chided him for not using “Archangel” in front of Aegaeon’s name, but that would’ve been asking for hypocrisy on his part. None of Raphael’s loyal people had any respect or liking for Aegaeon, for he threatened Illium, who would ever be considered a member of Raphael’s Seven.
“My spymaster,” she told Venom, “informs me that preparations are now overt on both sides. The feeling is that Aegaeon will strike in the next two days.” It appeared that Illium had never yet started any of the fights.
Venom swore low and hard under his breath. Something flashed on the slim black device he wore on his wrist at the same time.
Glancing down, he said, “Message from Dmitri, asking me to call in.”
“They need you home,” Caliane said. “But my son would not take you from me if I still have need of you.” Because despite all that had gone before, Raphael hadn’t condemned her; not only had he helped maintain her territory, but he was also permitting her to be a grandmother to his and Elena’s child.
The gift of it was so enormous that she could hardly bear it.
“So because Raphael will not ask for your return, I must be his mother and send you back.” Caliane stopped and faced Venom, while behind him rose the barrier wall of the citadel’s eastern flank.
“I thank you for your service, Venom of the Tower, but it is now my wish that you return home to your city, to help hold it should war shatter the world.”
Venom bowed deeply, a handsome and suave man who had become ever stronger in the years since she’d first met him, but who’d never lost the gleam in his eye that seemed to be such a deep part of all of Raphael’s closest people. They had a spark inside them—even Jason, the quietest of them all.
“It has been my honor, Lady Caliane.” He rose back up. “Holly and I’ll be gone by nightfall, and the rest of the team will follow as fast as they can pack up.”
She didn’t detain him when he stated his intention to go to his quarters to call Dmitri. No doubt his mate was already organizing their departure—per Tasha, Holly was whip-smart and worked hand in hand with Venom while appearing to be nothing but a stylish and dazzling presence.
“She likes fashion, likes pretty things,” Tasha had said, “and because of that many people never see her as a threat. Those people are stupid.” A tilt of her lips. “I am not stupid. So Holly and I are—to our mutual surprise—good friends.”
A happy thought, that Caliane’s people had meshed so well with Raphael’s, but the happy thought didn’t distract her for long.
Coming to a halt on a lower part of the eastern wall, from where she could look back toward the distant mountains while the ocean surf pounded to shore behind her, she considered the news her spymaster had brought that morning.
War is inevitable. Aegaeon’s own senior court has attempted to talk him down, but nothing is getting through to him. He has been stewing in his anger for centuries, wants blood.
Arrogance and rage made for a bad combination.
Caliane’s hands clenched on the edge of the wall. She knew she should keep her distance, keep herself in reserve to help Illium when war did break out—for none of the Cadre could go anywhere near him right now without igniting the entire thing. But…
Taking a deep breath, she turned and strode into the citadel. Jelena, meet me in my suite.
Caliane was already in old and well-worn white leathers by the time the angel appeared at her door. “My apologies.” Breathless words. “I had headed out to meet with a scout-wing commander deep inside the territory.”
Her thin face settled into a frown as she took in Caliane’s clothing, the way she’d done her braid. “You are flying elsewhere already?”
“Yes.” She told Jelena her intent.
The other woman sucked in a breath. “Sire, that is a mistake,” she said, her cheeks burning hot. “Archangel Aegaeon is on a dangerous edge. You know he won’t see you as a friend or compatriot, not now.”
Caliane looked at the sword that she often carried in battle, but which she’d left in its sheath on the bed.
“I know. But I must attempt this. Not just for the world—but for Sharine.” Her best friend had been through too much pain in her life, and Caliane had been gone for centuries upon centuries of it.
No more.
Today, she’d stand for the woman who’d stood by her side as her friend for eons. A woman whose son had ever been loyal to Raphael. “I won’t be unwise in how I approach Aegaeon,” she promised. “But I can’t live with myself if I don’t try.”
Jelena, tall and lithe, her build all muscle, didn’t get out of the doorway. “My lady, what makes you think he’ll even listen to you? He isn’t listening to anyone else—and you are Raphael’s mother. He hates our Rafe.”
Our Rafe.
Because Jelena had carried Raphael on her hip, too, had seen him come of age through all the seasons of his young life.
“I have my reasons,” Caliane said. “Move, Lena. You know you can’t stop me.” She touched the other woman on the shoulder. “Hold my territory safe. I leave it in your trusted hands until my return.”
Jelena’s cheeks still burned hot. “Be careful, sire.” Then she walked Caliane out to the border wall, from where Caliane took flight into the flat blue sky, on her way to meet an archangel in the grip of a blind rage.