Chapter 16
Rion
“What’s wrong?” Lori asked. “You haven’t said a word since you got back. What happened out there?”
Rion stopped pacing and turned to face everyone in the room. The two females remained on the curved sectional leather couch, where they’d been when he left to go after Lyla. The angels occupied the space behind, as if standing sentinel. All eyes were upon him.
“I fear Tobias is about to do something incredibly stupid, though I cannot explain why. It is merely instinctual. I was outvoted and they departed without me.”
“Departed?” Vixen blurted in astonishment. “What do you mean? Where did they go?”
Belatedly, Rion realized nobody knew what had transpired in Althea’s bedchamber, or what Tobias had left to do. He sighed and pinched at the bridge of his nose.
“He is chasing a foolish notion. He believes he has found his next mortal servant, and I curse Will for suggesting her.”
“Did he go to Pittsburgh, per chance?” Uriel chimed in, his gold eyes sparkling with mischief.
Rion gaped at him. How dare he take delight in this precarious situation? This is not a means of entertainment! We have to get Kitty and Christo back, triumph over Marquez and assuming we survive, we will still have my father to deal with. How is he so fucking relaxed?
“Pittsburgh?” Lori repeated.
“Charisma!” Vixen exclaimed excitedly. “They’re going after Charisma!”
“…And, you’re okay with this?” Lori turned to face Uriel.
“It is not for me to approve or disapprove of. The Savior has recommended this female, Tobias and Will are simply following His advice.”
“They are considering it,” Rion said curtly. “They would be fools to go through with this insanity.”
“Khyterrion,” Kyriel began cautiously, “The Savior is privy to information we do not have. When we cannot witness the entire scenario with our own eyes, we must trust in Him to guide us to the right path.”
Rion growled.
Lori arose from the couch and closed the distance between them. She wrapped both arms around his waist and leaned into his chest.
“It will be okay, love. If we can cope with Charisma joining the crew, surely you can find a way to get used to it?”
“You do not understand, little one,” he whispered.
Lori opened her mouth to say something, and crumpled to the floor. Rion dropped down beside her a fraction of a second later and gathered her into his arms. “Lori?”
“It’s Tobias,” Vixen breathed, “He’s drawing energy from us.” With a hand splayed over her belly, she too passed out.
“I must go,” Uriel said casually, before disappearing.
In desperation, Rion looked to the angels for answers. “Why do you simply stand there?”
“All will be well,” Kyriel said with a smile.
“If you are not present to assist Tobias, then why have you come?”
“We are here for what is to follow,” Ramiel, another angel, said. “Uriel has not called for aid; therefore, all is well.”
Rion felt like screaming. The years of being forced into a persona not his own, hit him in full force. A lack of control over the simplest of things suddenly became too much to bear. He looked down at the unconscious female in his arms and had never felt more lost. I cannot do this anymore.
“You love her.”
He hadn’t heard Kyriel approach and her voice startled him. However, his answer came without conscious intent. “Yes.”
“She is safe. Your vampire has borrowed her energy, but all will be well once he returns.” Kyriel cupped a hand over his and squeezed.
Rion felt a sense of calm wash over him. Kyriel had woven a miracle to put him at ease. He wanted to tell her this act of kindness was unnecessary, but until her Holy energy seeped into his soul, he realized it would have been a lie. It was completely necessary.
“Thank you,” he said quietly.
“Do not forget the strength that lies inside of you,” she told him. “You are so much more than you realize. Now is not the time for doubt.”
Rion could not be certain how much time had passed during the infinite gaze he exchanged with his mother, but it was shattered by the arrival of the others.
Will was unconscious, with Tobias and Uriel close to it. Charisma and two males clung to each other, and she had a hand clasped together with Tobias’. In the center of it all, Lyla had been the one to ferry them home. Thank the Savior she went with them.
“Did you take on all three?” Rion asked, his gaze sweeping over the two nephilim with Charisma.
“Five,” Tobias said, his eyes pleading for forgiveness.
Rion took another look at Charisma and the open coat she wore. Her expectant state came as a slap in the face.
“Breathe, my son,” Kyriel urged. “If this is what is required to bring your sister and the mortal home, then it was unnegotiable.”
“Despite how this looks,” Lyla interjected, “we have performed an act of kindness. These three and the unborn would have been unlikely to survive without our intervention. Joining our ranks was a small price to pay.”
With both lips pressed together, and a stiff posture that always accompanied his displeasure, Rion nodded. “Very well.” He still did not like it, but the act had already been performed and could not be undone.
“Tobias, you should feed your servants to revive them,” Uriel announced. “We must save the angels for the next phase.”
“Take from me first,” Lyla instructed. She offered her wrist to the vampire, still watching Rion and Kyriel.
“What about Will?” Tobias asked before his fangs elongated and pierced her flesh.
“He recharges with sleep, yes?” Lyla implored. “We have several hours before we meet Marquez, there is time.”
“What is this place?” Charisma asked, staring in wonder at the extravagance surrounding them.
“My home,” Rion said.
“This is where the inner circle meets. We’ll get you settled at Diabolus Loco later,” Tobias said as he knelt down beside Lori.
“In the underground palace?” Charisma’s eyes widened.
“You are mortal servant to the king, where else would you reside?” Lyla asked with a smirk.
Charisma’s eyes blurred with tears. “Thank you, Mr. Martelli. Thank you so much.” Without looking away from him, she reached for Dominic’s hand and clutched it tightly.
Lori’s eyes fluttered open after just a few drops of Tobias’ blood. “You’re back,” she said with a soft smile.
He gave her a pat on the shoulder and went to help Vixen.
Rion watched everyone behave with such normalcy that his earlier panic seemed ridiculous. After planting a kiss on Lori’s forehead, he got to his feet. He felt compelled to be useful, and needed to be more than the emotions he’d lost control of earlier.
“I will take Will to the guest room to sleep it off.” He picked up the angel with ease and set about the task.
By the time he returned to the den, Uriel had fallen asleep on one of the couches.
Vixen and Charisma were chattering excitedly on another.
Tobias stood engaged in quiet conversation with Lori and the two nephilim near the fireplace, and Kyriel and Lyla were staring at each other from across the room. None of the other angels had moved.
Rion approached Lyla and took her by the hand, leading her over to Kyriel. “You were friends once,” he said. “There is no reason you cannot be again. There is room in my life for both of you.”
“Are you certain?” Lyla paired her bemused tone with a glance around the room. “It seems somewhat crowded just now.”
Kyriel laughed. It was the icebreaker they all needed. Tentatively at first, Kyriel embraced the taller female, and Lyla hugged back with a fierceness which surprised him.
“I am glad to see you after all this time, my friend,” Lyla said.
“Well, I am relieved to see you have escaped the eighth realm,” Kyriel returned. “Lylathia, I am forever in your debt for what you have done for my children.”
Lyla shook her head. “I disagree. Raising them was a privilege.”
Inwardly, Rion sighed with relief and left the pair to reunite without an audience, to approach Tobias.
“Are you done throwing tantrums?” Tobias asked, with arms folded and one brow cocked.
“I would never…” Rion feigned shock.
Beside Tobias, Lori snorted.
“This is Rion Le Roux,” Tobias said to the males. “Half demon, half angel, and the third member of our immortal trinity I spoke of. Rion, this is Dominic and Aaron.”
Rion gave a polite nod, before addressing Tobias telepathically. “Are you certain what you have done tonight will be adequate?”
“No, but it’s the best we’re going to get.”
“I cannot believe you took on a pregnant female and two nephilim in one session. You are fortunate Uriel came to your aid.”
“I’m going to need all the reserves I can get my hands on to face Marquez. You know that.”
“That’s another thing you’ll have to get used to,” Lori said to the nephilim. “They talk telepathically to each other sometimes. It’s a pain in the ass.”
“Damn,” Aaron said with a hollow laugh.
“Seriously though,” Lori added. “If you have any chance of navigating this crazy life, being bound to Tobias is your best chance.”
“I’m starting to see that,” Dominic agreed. “The number of immortals in our corner is mind boggling.”
“Not just immortals,” Lori said with a knowing smile. “The best immortals.”
“Unfortunately, you are biased.” Rion slipped an arm around her waist, brushed his lips against her temple, and looked back at the males with a smirk.
“I’m going to have to check on the other two nephilim.
They might need resurrecting” Tobias spoke of the other two males he’d paid previously to form an alliance.
At their request, they would never be part of the inner circle, and contact only occurred when Tobias drained them in a crisis.
Taking them on had been an act of desperation prior to the quest to bring Rion back from Hell, but responsibility for their wellbeing remained.
“I will transport you,” Rion decided. “I should feed before dawn.”
“All right.” Tobias turned back to Lori and the males. “I’ll be back in time to take you and Charisma to the palace before dawn.”
With a soft tender kiss on Lori’s lips, and a respectful nod at his two mothers, Rion placed a hand on Tobias’ shoulder and dematerialized.