"That's none of your business."
"Isn't it?"
Cael started for the Daimon only to have him vanish. Two heartbeats later, he appeared at Cael's back.
"I'm not your enemy, Cael."
"How do you know my name?"
"I know lots of things about you, including your marriage to Amaranda. More than that, I know what you fear most."
He curled his lip at the Daimon. "You don't know shit about me."
"Oh no, that's not true. But tell me something? If I told you there was a way to save her, would you take it?"
Cael's heart literally stopped beating. "I won't let her go Daimon."
"What if there was another way to save her?"
Dare he even hope for that? "What other way?"
Stryker moved to stand just before him. So close that Cael could feel the heat from his body. "Join my army, Cael, and I will give you the secret you need to keep Amaranda alive as an Apollite past her birthday. "
He cut a suspicious glare at Stryker. "What army?"
"The Illuminati. We serve the goddess Apollymi, mortal enemy of Artemis and Acheron."
Cael stiffened at those words that asked him to betray two people he owed his loyalty to. "I made my oath to Artemis. I won't go back on it. Ever."
Stryker tsked at him. "Pity you then. I hope your oath keeps you company after your beautiful wife disintegrates in your arms. "
Cael sucked his breath in sharply as his dream came back to him in crystal clarity and again he felt his powers drain.
Stryker handed him a small medallion. "Think about my offer, Dark-Hunter, and if you change your mind-"
"I won't."
Stryker gave him an evil smile. "As I said, if you change your mind, use the medallion to call me."
Cael didn't move as the Daimon summoned a bolt-hole and stepped into it. He looked down at the golden medallion that held a dragon flying in the center of a sunburst. It was the universal sign of the ancient Spathis.
Was the Daimon serious? Could there be a way to save Amaranda's life?
He's lying to you, Cael. Don't be a fool.
But what if he wasn't?
Clenching his fist over the medallion, Cael went to the bathroom, then returned to his bedroom. He stood over the bed, staring at Amaranda, who'd returned to sleep. Her long blond hair was fanned out around her as she lay on her side completely naked.
He reached out and touched her supple arm. She meant the world to him. Before he'd met her, he'd been nothing but an empty shell who'd been incapable of feeling anything at all. She'd taught him to laugh again. To breathe. He owed her everything and the thought of living for even one minute without her crippled him with pain.
He put the medallion on the dresser, then dropped his plaid and joined her in the bed. If she were awake, she'd be angry at him for even thinking about betraying his oath.
"We'll enjoy what we have and be grateful for it, Cael. Don't wish for more than what the Fates have decreed for us. "
Her compassion and strength was only part of why he loved her so much.
And it was why he didn't want to lose her.