Salvation in Darkness

by Nicole Edwards

  Standing just inside the door, Eclipse leaned closer to Obsidian. “I take it you didn’t know he had a daughter.”

  “Not a fucking clue.”

  Eclipse studied the pretty female, who was being introduced by Penelope. Now that he really looked at her, he saw the remarkable resemblance to her father. Same onyx hair, same green eyes. He pegged her to be in her mid-twenties, though he could’ve been way off. Like angels and Fae, vampires didn’t physically age past twenty-five. However, there was an innocence about her, one that was usually chipped away by the hardships of life, privations he wasn’t sure she’d seen just yet. Considering the vampires had been put on Earth to protect the humans from the supernatural created by Lucifer, they were fighting the same battles the angels were. It was easy to detect those who’d been at it a while from those who were too young to have seen all the horrors.

  “If this isn’t a social visit, what brings you to my front door?” Obsidian asked, motioning Kaj to a table as everyone split up, positioning themselves at the tables around the room.

  Eclipse moved with them, remaining on his feet while Obsidian pulled Penelope’s chair out. The three of them waited for her to take a seat before taking theirs. Although he suspected Kaj had intended to occupy it, Eclipse snagged the one that would keep his back to the wall, giving him an unobstructed view of the room.

  “I heard whispers you’d mated,” Kaj explained as he relaxed in the chair, snagging the white linen napkin from the table. “Thought I’d check it out for myself. Congratulate you in person.”

  Obsidian’s face glowed with pride when he said, “I most certainly did.”

  Kaj nodded at Penelope. “It’s a pleasure to meet the female strong enough to keep our boy in line.”

  A round of laughter sounded from around the room, the peanut gallery clearly listening in.

  “She’s strong enough to keep us all in line,” Eclipse said, lifting his glass in a mock toast.

  Kaj grinned at Obsidian. “Lucky bastard.”

  Obsidian’s eyes locked on something across the room, causing Eclipse to glance over to his left.

  “She can join us if she’d like,” Eclipse told Kaj when he noticed Bijou taking a seat at an empty table.

  The vampire exhaled heavily. “She’s shy. And stubborn.” He winked at Eclipse. “Kids.”

  Eclipse laughed though he couldn’t relate at all. Until recently, he’d had very little interaction with anyone who hadn’t hit a century mark or ten.

  “I didn’t realize you had a child,” Obsidian prompted as the heurosp made their way through the room, delivering plates of food and glasses of water, juice, and coffee.

  “I didn’t realize you were with child,” Kaj countered, his gaze darting to Penelope.

  “We are expecting,” Obsidian acknowledged with an enormous grin.

  Kaj’s expression sobered. “Bijou showed up on my doorstep about a year ago. Introduced herself.”

  “How old is she?” Penelope inquired. “If you don’t mind me asking.”

  “Not at all.” Kaj smiled. “Twenty-seven.”

  “I take it she’s a vampire like you.”

  Kaj’s green gaze held hers. “We can reproduce only with our own kind.”

  Penelope blushed. “Forgive me. It’s been all I can do to catch up on angel life.”

  “Good news, vampires are similar in many ways,” Kaj noted.

  That was definitely true. At times, Eclipse often wondered what Michael had been thinking when he’d created Obsidian, then molded the rest of them after him. Considering Michael’s original warrior had technically come before vampires, it could be said that vampires were similar to angels, just without the wings. Chicken, egg, yada, yada.

  “Where’s Bijou’s mother?” Obsidian asked.

  “Dead.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  Phillip approached the table, carrying a tray with a silver-domed plate on top.

  Obsidian glanced over his shoulder. “Thank you, Phillip,” he told the heurosp as he set Penelope’s plate in front of her.

  “You’re very welcome, sire,” the male replied, bowing as he removed the silver dome and carried it away.

  “And the rest of your clan?” Eclipse prompted, curious as to what really brought the vampire to their doorstep. Congratulations were all good and fine, but he sensed there was another reason.

  “Which one? They’re all mine now,” he muttered, his tone somber as he glanced between Eclipse and Obsidian. “I’ve had to go to ground in recent months. The shadow beasts have been wreaking havoc on my race for going on a year and a half now. They’ve taken out a number of our females, including Bijou’s mother.”

  “Shadow beasts?” Penelope’s golden eyes were locked on Kaj.

  “Essentially a demon, although these are part human, part dog,” Kaj answered easily.

  Curiosity glittered in Penelope’s eyes. “Like a werewolf?”

  Eclipse glanced at Obsidian, grinned, and earned one in return. Penelope had shocked them all when she’d come to the mansion roughly three months ago. Thanks to the demons seeking the amsouelots, Obsidian hadn’t had much choice in bringing her here before he’d had a chance to give her the deets on their true identities. Though they’d all expected the then human to freak out being immersed in a world full of what she’d been taught were merely fiction, she’d surprised them all with her acceptance. And become one herself, in fact.

  “More apt would be a hellhound,” Kaj told her. “Only this species can shift at will, and they can walk in the sun. Thanks, my good man,” Kaj told Phillip when he placed a plate before him.

  “I don’t mean to sound callous, Kaj, but how exactly did you find me?” Obsidian asked.

  Eclipse offered a thanks to Phillip, but kept his attention on Kaj, eager for the answer.

  Kaj smiled. “Remember the last time you offered me refuge?”

  “Two years ago.” Obsidian looked at Penelope. “He’d sustained a mortal wound and I brought him here, healed him myself.”

  Yes, Eclipse remembered that. The vampire had nearly died, but thanks to Obsidian’s quick thinking, not to mention Acadia’s blood, he’d bounced back. Had taken six months, but the vampire eventually walked out of the mansion under his own steam.

  Kaj nodded. “If it hadn’t been for you and Acadia, I wouldn’t be here today.”

  “I thought vampires were immortal,” Penelope noted.

  “Immortal, yes. Not indestructible.” Kaj glanced at all the faces staring back at him.

  “That’s how you found us,” Eclipse said as realization dawned.

  “What does that mean?” Penelope asked, clearly wanting all the details.

  Kaj smiled. “Because I fed from Acadia, I have a direct link to her.” His thick shoulders shrugged. “Granted, this place still wasn’t easy to find, but I’m a male on a mission.”

  Obsidian paused, his fork suspended between his plate and his mouth. “What mission is that?”

  Kaj’s gaze swung over to Bijou. “I’m seeking refuge for my daughter. I’m not sure whether you’ve heard or not, but I’ve taken on the role as Alpha.”

  So it was true. They’d heard rumors that Kaj had been forced to assume the position because their presiding Alpha—his father—had been taken out.

  There was a hint of sadness in Kaj’s tone when he said, “It wasn’t a position I’d been looking to fill, I assure you of that.”

  “I’m sorry,” Obsidian said softly. “We heard rumors, but they were unsubstantiated. You’re not an easy male to track down.” Obsidian peered over at Kaj’s daughter. “And you’d like us to provide her safe harbor?”

  “In exchange for my help, yes.”

  Obsidian’s dark brow rose slowly. “With?”

  “I know your brothers are seeking their mates, and I’m willing to offer our help in any way you might need.”

  That certainly got Eclipse’s attention, but Obsidian waved him off. “Hold that thought until after the meal.”


  Kaj nodded, lifted his fork, but before the silver tines made it to his mouth, his head swung around.

  Eclipse followed his line of sight to see Acadia stepping into the room. The dark-haired Fae’s head shot up, amethyst eyes meeting Kaj’s. Her hand went to her chest as she stood there, staring. Their eyes locked from across the room, held for the longest time.

  Eclipse could sense the tension in the Fae, but it wasn’t from fear. More like recognition and … longing.

  Without thinking, he slipped into the female’s mind. It was an invasion of privacy, sure, but he was curious.

  Of course, the instant he saw what she was thinking about, he backtracked right out of her head and briefly wondered if brain bleach was even powerful enough to scrub that image from his brain.

  Chapter Three

  While he’d had every intention of cornering Acadia at some point during his visit, Kaj hadn’t expected this. After all, timing was everything. Considering how she’d refused all communication with him since his departure, Kaj had expected her to keep as far from him as physically possible.

  Didn’t mean he wasn’t pleased by the turn of events.

  Every single thing he had accomplished in the past eighteen months had been fueled by the need to get back to her, but Kaj wasn’t the sort to expect things to be easy. Least of all his reunion with the female he had walked away from all those months ago.

  It was thanks to her unselfish offer to heal him back then that he’d been able to find her. Ever since he’d fed from the Fae, Kaj had been connected to her on a deeper level. And what do you know: that connection only seemed to strengthen with proximity. Only, she hadn’t realized he was there. He knew because he’d felt the shift in the air the moment the lovely Fae stepped into the room. Not only because his senses were overdeveloped and he could detect the slightest nuance, either.

  Oh, no. It certainly wasn’t that simple.

  Then again, nothing in Kaj’s life was these days.

  For one, it defied the laws of their creation that the female he’d bonded with happened to be a mystical fairy, the very one who’d nursed him back to health, essentially credited with saving his life.

  “Would you excuse me?” Kaj asked Obsidian and the others.

  Obsidian offered a clipped nod, his gaze bouncing between Kaj and Acadia. “Careful.”

  Nothing got by that angel.

  “Always.”

  Of course, Kaj had barely made it to his feet when Acadia spun around and fled the room. A true gentleman would’ve considered that and offered to give her the space she sought, but Kaj wasn’t a man in any sense of the word, gentle or otherwise, and the absolute last thing Acadia needed more of from him was distance.

  His black leather combat boots were loud on the tiled floor as he followed her through the elaborate kitchen, past the formal seating area, down the long corridor that led to the front door. Despite the fact the fairy was making good time, he knew she wasn’t putting too much effort into it. If she had, he never would’ve caught up to her. While Kaj had a significant number of powers and abilities, the Fae had more, most of which no one was even privy to.

  “Acadia, stop,” Kaj ordered when he managed to reach her on the stairs leading up to the second floor.

  Her footfalls were silent when she came to an abrupt halt. Kaj would bet money that beneath the long, flowing skirt on that magnificent off-white dress, Acadia’s dainty feet were bare, as was the rest of her. This particular Fae never wore shoes unless it was absolutely necessary and refused undergarments of any kind. One of many of Acadia’s idiosyncrasies that Kaj found innately sexy.

  In an effort to keep her from disappearing, Kaj slowly ascended, stopping on the step below where the Fae stood. He didn’t attempt to crowd or intimidate, merely admired. As always, Acadia looked flawless and delicate, her beauty radiating out of her. Her silky dark hair was piled in an intricate knot on top of her head, a few wisps hanging loose around her heart-shaped face, highlighting her soft ivory complexion.

  His eyes drank her in, and once again, he wondered how the hell he’d managed to keep his distance for the last year and a half. He still remembered the day he’d walked out of the mansion, forcing himself not to look back. It had been duty and obligation that had sent him from her the last time, and it was the same that had brought him back.

  “How have you been?” he asked, keeping his voice evenly pitched, non-threatening.

  Those brilliant amethyst eyes dropped low. “I’m well, dyrlom.”

  Ah, so they were back to that. Kaj had thought they’d long since left that nonsensical title in the past.

  “For accuracy, it would be phaal,” Kaj corrected. “Now that I’ve taken the role as Alpha of my race. Or at the very least, tresmar.”

  Acadia didn’t budge, didn’t even spare him a glance despite it being rude not to, considering he was of a higher station than she, based on those asinine formal greetings she preferred.

  “Acadia, look at me.”

  Her gaze rose slowly, met his, and held on.

  Once more, he found himself entranced by her natural, ethereal beauty. Only Acadia’s eyes were enhanced with makeup, her long lashes dark, a hint of shimmer on the lids, the rest of her face aglow with what was graced upon her at birth. But it was her lips he was enamored with. He remembered how those lips had felt against his own, caressing every inch of him during those stolen moments they’d shared during his recovery.

  Before he could stop himself, Kaj was cupping her face, brushing his thumb over the soft skin of her cheek. He’d missed her so much that, even as he looked at her now, he could still feel the ghost of that ache in his chest. Walking away from her had been the hardest thing he’d ever done.

  Those glossy cupid’s bow lips parted slightly, her surprise glittering in her eyes. But shock wasn’t the only emotion she was feeling.

  “I’ve missed you, balisra.”

  She didn’t respond, but the slight flare of her eyes said she hadn’t expected him to admit as much. A memory flashed in his mind and he knew she was the one to plant it there. It was the night he’d left her, gone back to the vampire world.

  “If I recall,” he said softly, “I asked you to go with me.”

  Acadia didn’t respond, her eyes bouncing back and forth over his face as though trying to read his intentions. It was no longer possible. With his position as Alpha, his thoughts were shielded from everyone, including the Fae and the angels.

  When Acadia stepped back, Kaj dropped his hand to his side, exhaling heavily. “We need to talk.”

  “There’s nothing to talk about, tresmar.”

  Feeling the overwhelming urge to dominate her, to make the female submit only to him, Kaj scaled the last step, peering down at her. When she stepped back, he pursued her until her small frame was pressed up against the wall, surrounded by him. He hovered there for long moments as her breaths became more rapid, her heartbeat thrumming loudly in his ears. She was still affected by him the same way he was her.

  “Drop the pretenses, female,” he said gruffly, forcing his hands to remain at his sides rather than pulling her into his arms, where she belonged.

  Once more, she seemed shocked by his actions, but Kaj didn’t much care. The truth was, not a single day had passed since he walked away from her that he hadn’t thought about returning, spending the rest of his days making it up to her. It had always been his plan to come back, to court her appropriately, to convince her he was the male she belonged with for eternity.

  Of course, life had a way of interrupting the best-laid plans, and Kaj had been delayed far longer than he’d anticipated. He couldn’t blame her for being upset with him.

  Tucking his finger beneath her chin, Kaj urged Acadia’s head back, forcing her to look at him. “You can pretend you don’t belong to me, balisra, but we both know the truth.”

  “I know nothing of the sort,” she countered, a hint of steel in her words.

  Kaj smiled. “Then I look forward to getti
ng you up to speed.”

  “Why are you here?” she asked, her voice a rough whisper.

  “Two reasons. First, I’m seeking refuge for my daughter.”

  Her eyes flashed with not so much surprise but shock and betrayal.

  “I only recently learned of her existence,” he said defensively. “I would never keep something like that from you. Not ever.”

  She seemed to consider that before saying, “And the other reason?”

  Kaj tilted his head, let his eyes drop to her mouth, but he didn’t lean down. “I’ve come to claim what belongs to me, Acadia. Once and for all.”

  “Which is?”

  “You.”

  The slight hitch in her breath had his entire body hardening, but he knew better than to pursue her yet.

  Before she could come up with a retort, Kaj stood tall.

  “I fully intend to accomplish both.” He turned away, needing to return to the dining room. “And I have no intention of leaving until the latter is settled once and for all.”

  As he descended the stairs, Kaj could feel her eyes on him, and that need, the one he’d been fighting for so long, bore down on him hard.

  Frustrating, that was what that vampire was.

  Infuriating.

  Exasperating.

  And so obscenely handsome, it felt strangely taboo for her to be staring at him so. She couldn’t count the times she’d dreamed about him over the past year and a half, seen those brilliant green eyes or that luxurious black hair, the hard angles of his face, the chiseled line of his jaw. His image was forever burned into her brain, never to be forgotten.

  Acadia watched Kaj walk away, her heart in her throat. It wasn’t quite as painful as the last time she’d seen him retreat, though. That horrible day was forever imprinted on her mind, a recurring nightmare that often woke her in the day.

  She couldn’t believe he was here. More importantly, she couldn’t believe he’d surprised her. How had she not sensed he was in the mansion?