LAILAH #3
I pulled him away from me so I could look him in the eye. We were now surrounded in that pure white light, making Micah fall to his knees. I knew what was coming next, but I didn’t know what his answer would be.
“Micah, Knight blessed with Fire’s power, Warrior for the angels.
I find you true of heart and mind, upholding the agreement given to your ancestors.
Do you accept the eternal bond to protect the people of this world, and vow to cherish the vessel that holds the gift of Synergy, who has been placed in your protection? ” I intoned with that angelic voice.
“No,” Micah answered, raising his head to look at me.
My heart clenched, making it hard to breathe. I knew he might reject the oath. He’d been up-front about his feelings on the matter, but hearing it hurt far more than I thought it would.
“I am not worthy yet to accept the oath,” Micah continued. “This vessel deserves more than I am able to give at this moment, but I hope someday that I will be able to accept this bond. I will promise to protect her, to become the man and warrior that is worth the gift of Synergy.”
Tears slid down my cheek as his words struck me with his honesty. “Your request is an honorable one, blessed Knight, and will be accepted.”
With that, the light was gone, and my body was released from its hold, causing me to crumble.
Micah was there in a second, wrapping me up in his arms and placing a desperate kiss to my lips.
I moaned at the contact, feeling the fire behind it, causing me to thread my fingers into his hair and hold him to me.
Nipping at my lip, I opened for him and let him rule over our connection.
Micah was an inferno burning me up from the inside out.
All too soon, he pulled away and gently brushed my hair out of my face as he gave me a searching look.
“What the actual fuck just happened?” Micah demanded.
I couldn’t fight back the grin. No matter what happened, Micah would always be Micah. “I got a visit from the Dark Lord.”
Micah jerked his head back as if I’d slapped him. His eyes were wide and filled with panic as he started to pat me down, trying to make sure I was still in one piece. I reached up and grabbed his face and forced him to look at me, needing his full attention.
“He didn’t hurt me. This time, at least. He wants me to choose him over you guys,” I explained.
Micah growled, his grip on my arms so tight it made me flinch.
“Surprisingly, that is not what we should be worried about at the moment. He told me that his plans were in the works, and I needed to grow and learn all I could. To become powerful.”
“We need to call the others, they need to know this,” Micah snapped, helping me to my feet as he pulled out his cell.
“No,” I said, grabbing his hands and stopping him from texting. “Let them be. Nothing will change between now and when they come back.”
I looked him in the eye and waited for him to agree. “We can work on this together, and when they get back, we’ll have more to go off of. I learned more from that interaction than I think that bastard realizes.”
Micah smirked at me as he relaxed, dropping his hands. “Parker was actually right about something; it is sexy hearing you swear when you're mad.”
“Asshole.” I chuckled, smacking his arm as I walked into the kitchen.
Moving about, I pulled what I needed out of the cabinets and fridge to make cookies.
I needed something to keep my mind busy to keep from freaking out while we talked.
Micah was here, and I was safe, having purified the house.
As long as I didn’t leave this place for too long, I wouldn’t have any trouble with demons.
“What did the Dark Lord tell you exactly?” Micah asked, sitting down at the counter with one of the boys’ laptops.
As I scooped out the flour, I went over the interaction again.
“Some of it was spoken, but much of what I figured out is from when he was messing with my brain. He wanted me to believe that you guys were failures and would never be able to win against him or value what I have to offer. The only way that he can get my power to work for him is if I choose to help willingly. There is something about Synergy that can’t be forced. ”
Micah nodded his head as he got up and poured himself a finger of whiskey. “At least we have that going for us.”
“The important part of what he told me is that his plan is in motion.”
Micah rolled his eyes at me. “That doesn’t tell us shit, babe.”
I paused a moment from measuring out ingredients to look at him. Had he just referred to me as babe?
“Don’t make a big deal about it or I’ll come up with a nickname you’ll hate,” Micah grumbled into his drink.
I set down the mixing bowl, rested my hip on the counter, and gave him a look with a raised eyebrow. “What if I hate that one?”
“Well, then, Cookie Monster it is,” Micah said with a wicked grin, seeming positive I would hate it.
I shrugged my shoulders as I turned to grab the milk out of the fridge. “Works for me.”