"Confirmation of what?"
Acheron's gaze cut through him. "What he really is to Apollymi."
Urian gave a low whistle. "Yeah, that would freak him out. Maybe we'll get lucky and he and the Destroyer will kill each other."
Acheron shot him a look that made him take a step back.
"Sorry," he said quickly.
Acheron started pacing. With his robe flowing eerily out behind him and his silver-soled boots clicking against the black marble floor, he was a spooky sight.
"Why would Desiderius try to take over Tabitha's body?"
"What do you mean?" Urian asked.
"He tried to take over her while I was there. After I blasted him out of her, he came for me."
That didn't make sense. How stupid could... well, it was Desiderius, after all. "Why would he attempt that if he knew what you were?"
Ash gave a low, ominous laugh. "I don't think Stryker shared that information with Desiderius. He wouldn't dare. It would undercut his own authority in Kalosis if he did so."
Good point. "So I guess the real question is who will be the body donor."
Acheron cocked his head as if he just realized something. "He's after Kyrian and Amanda. Since he couldn't get either Tabitha's body or mine, he'll probably go after someone else they know and trust. And that's the next bit I need you to find out. Stryker has me blocked so that I sense nothing in regard to Desiderius."
"For the record, I'm beginning to feel like cannon fodder here. There are a lot of people in Kalosis who rejoiced the day Stryker cut my throat. If one of them finds out that I'm there spying on them, they'll send me back to you in pieces."
Acheron gave him a wry, wicked grin. "It's okay. I'll just put you back together again."
"Thanks, boss. And I find that thought even more disturbing. Humpty Dumpty here doesn't want to fall off the wall, okay?"
Acheron's face hardened once more. "Go, Urian."
Inclining his head, Urian stepped back and willed himself to Kalosis.
Acheron stood silently in his throne room, listening. Still, he heard nothing from the other side. More lightning clashed outside as the winds whistled against the glass panes.
"Talk to me, Apollymi. What are you doing?"
But for the first time in eleven thousand years, she was utterly silent.
The only sound he heard in the deafening silence of his mind was his sister's faint voice. "Be careful what you wish for, little brother. You will get it."
Tabitha hung up the phone from talking to Amanda. Kyrian and Julian had been in the process of taping up Nick's ribs while she'd warned her sister about Desiderius's attack just outside of their house.
"I'm scared, Val," she said as she put her phone down. "Really scared. I keep hearing Amanda's voice telling me about her dream where she and Kyrian die. I know you hate the man, but-"
"I don't hate Kyrian, Tabitha. He hates me."
She nodded as Valerius pulled her into a tight hug that she really needed. He held her carefully against his chest while one hand played in her hair.
She inhaled his rich, welcoming scent, which soothed her even more than his touch.
"Acheron won't let her die," he said comfortingly. "You know that."
"I hope so, but her vision..."
"Those can be altered. Acheron is always saying that fate is helpless against free will. What she saw was one possible outcome."