Chapter 27
Will
Will woke in one of the palace bedrooms feeling far too alive for someone who’d almost lost their mortal form the night before. It was such a contrast; he began to question how long he’d been out. Instinctively he cast out his senses and found no areas of concern over any of his immortal ties.
Across the room, Vixen stood sideways in front of a floor length mirror, studying the size and shape of her belly.
His lips twisted into a mischievous grin. “If you’re thinking: damn I am one sexy female… you’d be right.”
She whirled around. “You’re finally awake!”
“Is everything okay?”
“I think so, I haven’t heard anything to suggest concern. Everyone in our corner survived the oathing.”
“That’s good, I’m glad.” His brow furrowed. “But I meant with the baby.”
“Oh, yes.” She came to sit on the edge of the bed next to him. “I haven’t got long to go. As much as I have enjoyed this, and I’m excited to meet our child, I’m… afraid.”
The fact her first child had been given up for adoption and the second had passed away, hung unspoken between them.
The simple words she’d chosen didn’t reflect the magnitude of the underlying issue in her mind.
Vixen wasn’t afraid, she was absolutely terrified; that something bad would happen to their little miracle.
Will would die before he let it, but her focus needed to shift from this mindset.
“Nobody said we had to stop at one child,” he said, grinning again.
While he was trying to give her hope for the future, and something more positive to focus on than all the things that had gone wrong, the idea of growing their little family gave him the warm fuzzies.
He rubbed a hand over her belly and met her gaze.
“Really?” She asked, appearing shocked at his response.
Will had already seen Vixen thrive as a mother. He kept her company through a great number of sleepless nights and fussy days. He knew what he was suggesting and what it would entail.
“Doll, we can make as many babies as you want. Let’s just get all the Undead and Unholy politics ironed out first. Plus, I’m sure we’ll want to get to know this one before we get started on the next.”
“I love you,” she blurted, throwing both arms around him.
“Love you too,” he said softly. “Everything is going to be okay, Vix, I promise.”
In his head, a telepathic connection flared to life, and Tobias began speaking. “Can you wake the fuck up and get your ass to the penthouse?”
“I see you arose on the wrong side of the Fade again.”
“Just get here. Bring Vixen with you.”
“Wait…”
It was no good, Tobias had severed the connection. Will gave Vixen a brief heads up, and they flashed out.
“I’m going to need to check in with my charges at some point,” Will announced once they’d materialized in the penthouse’s great-room. “But, I’m here for now.”
“Hopefully this won’t take long,” Tobias announced gruffly.
Will cast a gaze around the huge space and acknowledged Kitty, Westergaard, Marquez, and the rest of the mortal servants. Vixen went to sit with them, and Will took his place at the head of the room next to Tobias and Rion in one of the three fancy armchairs lined up facing the group.
Rion seemed ready to draw blood, while Tobias looked as though he’d rather be anywhere but in this meeting. Will glanced from one to the other, trying to read between the lines. Had something happened since they’d parted ways the night before?
As discretely as he could, Will allowed his gaze to pan across the room.
Everyone looked normal, or as well as they could do under the circumstances.
A second assessment could have proven the same, but he finally noticed something.
Kitty’s gaze had been on Rion and Tobias when Will arrived and she had not moved a muscle since. Well shit, Martelli…
Meanwhile, Tobias was still talking, recapping the previous night’s events for those who’d spent most of it unconscious. Apparently, Lyla was still babysitting Ngdugu and Yamamoto, ready to take care of any interference from the eighth lord, and none of the angels had returned.
“What are we going to do about that situation?” Marquez demanded.
“For now, we bide our time,” Tobias said.
“Are you not concerned with the cause of the mass restorations last night?” Rion suddenly interjected. “We speak of what is to come, and yet not one of you questions this miraculous healing?”
“I assumed the angels had done it.” Marquez shrugged.
Westergaard’s brows knit together. “Then who healed them? Even if they were rejuvenated by sleep, they would not have been at capacity and therefore unable to produce the resources to heal the entire palace.”
“Precisely,” Rion agreed. “It would be unwise to attempt to move forward without comprehending what or whom is responsible for this.”
Tobias made eye contact with Will. “Maybe, you should go the outer – ahem - upstairs and see what you can find out.”
“The outer upstairs?” Westergaard repeated in confusion.
“The what?” Marquez demanded at the same time.
“This is all part of the discussion we were supposed to be having and the enlightenment I promised,” Tobias said with a glare in Rion’s direction.
“I’m not sure leaving the two of you alone is a good idea,” Will said telepathically. Out loud, he continued. “I think it would be better if the entire trinity was present for this meeting. Kitty could go instead?”
“Very well,” Rion said.
“Would you mind?” Tobias asked her.
“No, of course not.” With a dramatic sigh that implied the opposite of what she’d just said, Kitty flashed out.
Will fished out a pack of cigarettes from his trench coat pocket and lit up.
Rion whirled around to stare at him incredulously.
Will rubbed at his temple and addressed Rion calmly.
“No, you’re not going to object to my cigarette.
This is totally necessary to wade through whatever unspoken bullshit you and Martelli have going on.
I’m here to help navigate a way forward.
” He redirected his attention to Tobias. “Martelli, switch seats with me.”
Tobias’ lips parted in astonishment. “What?”
“Just fucking do it.” As the words left his lips, Will happened to glance at Christo and noticed the smirk he wore. Savior have mercy, if I am the mature and responsible one, we are in trouble.
“You couldn’t have said something privately?” Tobias muttered as he arose and switched places with Will.
“Nope. Everyone in the room can see you two are pissed at each other, there’s no point in pretending.”
“Tell us more about the outer upstairs,” Westergaard prompted.
Sandwiched between two thunderstorms, and trying not to think about whatever had been said telepathically before his arrival, Will cleared his throat and jumped in to answer the question before anyone else could.
“It is merely one of many places where the Holy gather,” Will said carefully. “What is more important, is that you understand some of the inner workings of our kingdom.”
“Thanks,” Tobias said silently.
Will chose not to respond. “When Marquez sired Martelli, neither of them knew he had a guardian angel. That guardian is Kitty Silverwood.”
Marquez gasped and stared open-mouthed at Tobias.
“She fought to stop the transition from mortal to Undead. While she did not succeed, a portion of his soul was saved and still exists. Since Martelli is not completely Undead, and retains a link to the Savior, the eighth lord cannot dominate him.”
“Fascinating!” Westergaard said with genuine awe.
“This entire time?” Marquez could not seem to digest the revelation.
“Yes,” Tobias finally said. “It’s also the reason I survived that stake to the heart all those years ago. Kitty is still my guardian.”
“The web connecting you three is most complex,” Westergaard said, stroking his chin with a thumb and index finger as he digested the revelation.
“You are certain this will be sufficient to protect us?” Marquez asked.
“His link to the Savior, yes,” Will answered. “We just have to make sure Martelli doesn’t die in whatever battle lies ahead.”
“You speak of this as if will be child’s play,” Rion interjected. “Yet, you have been to the eighth realm, and met my father. Surely you are not so disillusioned.”
“If we cannot hold hope inside of us, we are doomed before we start.” Despite the words having fallen from his own lips, a chill ran down Will’s spine. “I refuse to accept there will not be a future for my child to be born into.”
“We will be enough, because we have to be.” Tobias’ conviction surprised Will after the earlier discord between him and Rion.
“Do you even know how to lose?” Westergaard quipped after a resonating laugh.
Will studied Tobias carefully. He knew how much Tobias had lost, and what had led him to become Undead in the first place. So did Marquez, who was casually gazing out the window, unperturbed by the direction the conversation had taken.
“He does,” Rion said simply. “Which has served as excellent motivation to prevent a reoccurrence.”
The corner of Will’s lips twitched, not quite a smile, but close. No matter how furious Rion was with Tobias, he still cared a great deal. Their relationship would survive whatever was going on between Tobias and Kitty. Thank fuck.
In the silence following Rion’s statement, Kitty materialized near the armchair-thrones. Her expression intrigued Will, and whatever emotions she was experiencing had caught Rion’s attention.
“Whatever is the matter?” Rion demanded with concern.
“I’ve been told what happened, but I’d rather discuss it privately with Tobias.” She pressed both lips together and couldn’t seem to make eye contact with her brother.
“Oh no you don’t,” Marquez’s gaze narrowed as he thrust his attention back into the thick of the conversation, making it evident he wasn’t as distracted as it first appeared.
“We are all in this together,” Lori spoke for the first time. “If there is cause for concern, we can face it as a team.”
“Uh, no, that won’t be happening.” Kitty coughed and turned in attempt to hide the furious blush racing up both cheeks.
“Holy shit, it was the sex…” Will blurted out loud.
Rion’s jaw dropped. He looked from Kitty to Tobias, and stumbled over his words. “Tell me this is not so…”
“Would someone care to explain?” Marquez demanded.
“Are you sure?” Tobias asked Kitty. The fact he didn’t even question Will’s theory spoke volumes.
Kitty sighed and rolled her eyes skyward. “Yes, it would appear I have the power to heal an entire palace via orgasm.”
“What?” Marquez roared.
“With who?” Christo demanded.
“Tobias,” Rion and Will replied in Unison.
Westergaard laughed again. “This is better than television.”
“It’s not funny!” Kitty shouted.
“You… and Tobias?” Christo echoed in disbelief.
“Well at least the side effects of their lovemaking are useful,” Lori said. “Healing is far better than causing a mass orgy.”
“Tell me you jest?” Marquez asked of Lori.
“No, no, I do not. These immortals are really something else, let me tell you.” She cast a coy smile in Rion’s direction. Rion pinched at the bridge of his nose and sighed.
Marquez looked at Vixen. “What about you and angel boy?”
She gestured toward her enormous belly. “Oh, I think the side effects of our love making are plain for everyone to see.”
“Kitty… And Tobias…?” Christo repeated, apparently unable to grasp the notion.
“So, now we know nothing ominous happened, can we get on with our meeting?” Tobias asked. He was met with no objections.