sure the Thrones were made aware of his trespass.”
I attempted to temper my fury, but it was nearly impossible. If what Seneser had said was true, then Azrael was responsible for not only my incarceration, but the death of Lior. Most immediately, he was a threat to you.
“Was it you who orchestrated my fortuitous reunion with Lucian and Seneser,” I asked. “Or was it Lena?”
He gave no response, only offered another cold, hard stare.
“It’s strange how I’m only just realizing that so many of our exchanges are based on deception,” I said. “How fortunate for you that I am so incurious.”
“I prefer to see them as motivations,” Azrael said with an unflappable calm. “It might encourage you to know that you are only a brush stroke against a much larger canvas, one you couldn’t possibly comprehend.”
I comprehended it perfectly. Azrael sought absolute power and control. He took what he wanted, then maintained his supremacy through the enslavement and subjugation of our kind. The Thrones allowed it because he was a competent administrator, and they benefited from his rule. Like the emperors of ancient Rome and imperialists of the modern era, his scheme was as old as time.
And I had been a good soldier, conditioned to obey. To question meant death on the battlefield, for myself and others, and when it was a matter of kill or be killed, politics were largely irrelevant. I gazed upon the human carnage surrounding us and wondered if it was me who had chosen this setting, or if this was Azrael’s attempt to further destabilize me.
“Tell me what it will take for you to let Vincent go unharmed,” I said. Surely, some dark deal must be made. Sacrifice. Such a noble word for an ugly deed. In my long life, Azrael had never shown me mercy, even when I’d thought differently.
“I want his eyes.”
Your eyes, which were the bedrock of your abilities and the source of your powers.
“You want him incapacitated?” I struggled to mask my emotions.
“Be grateful I’m not demanding his whole head. The bloodborn do have a reputation for losing them.”
His eyes burned brightly as I met his gaze. Lena had been right all along. The only difference between angels and demons was where you got your orders. Right and wrong were notions defined by those who ruled on high, and Azrael was no more righteous or honorable in his design than our own demoness mother.
“Thank you, my lord, for allowing me this opportunity at redemption.” And this revelation, I silently added.
This time I would not attempt to bargain.
35
Vincent
You were moaning in your sleep and rolling fitfully from side to side, edging me off of our bed. I leaned over and tried to soothe you by pushing the locks of hair out of your sweaty face. I pressed my hand flat against your chest to find your heart racing.
“Henri,” I said softly, not wanting to wake the others. Your eyebrows pinched in distress and you murmured again, so I cupped your face in my hands and whispered at you to wake up.
“Vincent.” Your eyes flew open and you assessed me as though still trapped in your nightmare. Your chest heaved as you sat up and dragged me onto your lap, kissed the top of my head, and buried your nose in my hair.
“Nightmare?” I asked and you nodded. “Want to talk about it?”
You opened your mouth, then faltered. “We need to wake Lucian, but I want a moment alone with you first.”
I leaned my cheek against your palm while you pushed the hair out of my face and studied me.
“Your hair’s growing back.” You tugged at my silver tips as if just noticing.
“Do you like it?”
You nodded, then traced my lips with your rough fingertip. I leaned forward and tilted my head upward for a kiss. Your warm tongue filled my mouth, but it wasn’t desire motivating you. More like desperation.
“Why are you kissing me like it’s the last time?”
“Something is terribly wrong.” You dropped your head in defeat. I untangled myself from your arms, slid my still-damp tunic over my shoulders, and walked over to where Lucian had fallen asleep alongside Mater. The cot was barely wide enough for the two of them. I nudged him awake and told him to join us. Once we’d found a spot away from the others, you told us about your visit from Azrael.
“How do you know it wasn’t your own subconscious?” Lucian asked skeptically. “Perhaps your overdeveloped sense of duty created this dream?”