Forevermore

by Kristen Callihan

  The room seemed to explode into chaos, dozens of fluttering birds suddenly swirling around him, their tiny wings slapping his skin. Their distressed cries culminated in a cacophony of sound that had him shouting again in irritation. And then there was silence. The birds gone.

  Sitting upright in bed, his chest worked like a bellows, hot blood trickling down his neck. Then his mind cleared enough to truly think.

  Layla. He’d thrown her clear off the bed. “Layla!” He leapt to his feet, his heart in his throat. Terror rang like bells in his ears.

  She lay facedown, sprawled upon the floor, her bare body pale, her limbs akimbo against the dark wood. Shreds of her nightgown and feathers fluttered like snow to the floor.

  “Fuck.” His knees bashed into the boards. “Little bird.” He was afraid to touch her. But he had to. With a shaking hand, he gently lifted a thick lock of her hair, just as the door to the room burst open and Augustus hurtled in.

  Helplessly, Sin looked to Augustus. “She . . .”

  “Is fine,” the man finished, kneeling at her other side.

  Layla appeared to be sleeping once again, her expression peaceful, almost happy, her breath even and deep.

  “I flung her. She might have . . .” Sin swallowed, feeling sick.

  “She tried to feed from you.”

  Sin followed Augustus’s line of sight and touched the wet blood now cool upon his healing neck. “I didn’t mean to throw her. I . . . She . . . Christ, what a cock up.”

  “Understandable. I suspect she’ll have learned her lesson. Let me get her to bed.” Augustus went to the bed and pulled the sheet from it. Draping it over Layla’s nakedness, he then moved to lift her.

  Sin grabbed his shoulder. “No. I’ll do it.” He did not give his mentor time to argue but pulled Layla into his arms and stood, cradling her against him. With a sigh, she snuggled closer, her body warm and pliant. Sin gave in to the urge to rest his cheek against her brow. Just for a moment. “Forgive me, little bird.”

  He was supposed to protect her. Do no harm. Especially not to Layla. But, god—she licked her lower lip, lapping up the crimson gloss of his blood. His stomach lurched, the rage he kept a tight grip upon threatening to break free.

  Mab hadn’t been a blood drinker out of necessity. But when she took him, she loved to bite and tear his flesh with her small fae fangs and lap at his blood. He’d hated every second of it. Hated the bitch clear to his soul. May she rot in hell.

  To see Layla do the same, to want his blood . . . He felt sick and cold. And frightened. Not for himself. But for what he might do if she tried it again.

  Even so, he held her close and tenderly as he made his way out of the room. But at the last moment he stopped and glanced at Augustus. “I’ll put her to bed, then you and I shall be having a talk, old man.”

  The leader of Judgment blinked once, then nodded. “I suppose we shall.”

  Chapter Eight

  Sin stalked into Augustus’s room. The door was open, which made it clear he was welcome. “What the hell is she?” he demanded without preamble.

  Augustus sat back in his reading chair, setting his book upon his crossed thigh. “Now, now, St. John; you know perfectly well that she is Layla.”

  “Do not be cheeky with me, old man.” Sin closed the door behind him and crossed his arms over his chest. “What has happened to Layla?”

  “She is maturing into her true nature.” Augustus gestured to the empty chair.

  Sin ignored it and paced instead. Gods, but he hated Augustus’s vague answers. The damn angel never gave a solid one. No, he always made Sin work for it. “What, pray tell,” he ground out through his teeth, “is she becoming?”

  His mentor’s shoulders fell a touch, and he glanced away. “I do not know.” His usually dark eyes went Judgment silver. “That is the truth.”

  Sin’s mouth snapped shut. He took another turn around the room before speaking again. “You must have some clue.”

  Augustus rested his chin on the tips of his fingers as he watched Sin’s progress around the room. “A blood drinker, obviously.”

  Sin snorted. He had the puncture marks on his neck to prove that assessment.

  “Something related to the Elementals but not quite,” Augustus continued thoughtfully.

  Sin turned on his heel, frowning down at the carpet. “I nearly caught her before. Ian was there. He too saw her change to birds.” Sin glanced at Augustus, who regarded him with an overly bland expression. “Ian told me the only being he’d seen before with the power to break up into multiple, smaller beings was a demon named Lena.”

  The way Augustus’s face went even smoother, his eyes devoid of all emotion, told Sin more than any expression would.

  “You know this female,” Sin said.

  “Yes.”

  “Is this Lena pure Sanguis? Or is she something different?” Sanguis were the most infamous of blood drinkers. “Will Thorne is a Sanguis. I knew him well, and while he drank blood he never changed into insects or birds.”

  Augustus rubbed the crest of his forehead. “Do sit down, St. John. You’re making me dizzy, prowling about.”

  Because he wanted answers, Sin did as bidden. “All right. I’m still. Continue.”

  Augustus pointedly stared at Sin’s bobbing knee.

  “Fucking . . .” Sin took a breath and willed his body to quiet down.

  A smile twitched on Augustus’s lips before fading. “What I say stays in this room.”

  Sin glanced towards the doors. “Not to put too fine a point on it, but are you certain Layla does not possess superior hearing?”

  The angel snorted. “And yet you came in here demanding to know about her biological makeup without a qualm?”

  “I must know if I am to fully protect her, but I am not trying to hide it from Layla. I’d share what I learn with her.”

  At this, Augustus’s gaze went hard. “Not this. Not yet.”

  “It is her right to know.”

  “I know.” Augustus leaned his head back on the chair. “But not until certain things are resolved. She might be in danger.”

  Sin’s fingers dug into the arms of the chair with enough force that the wood threatened to splinter. “So you keep saying. Enlighten me as to why, or I walk and take her with me.”

  He’d protect her with his life, regardless of whether Augustus helped him, but he was bloody tired of dancing around the angel’s hints.

  Augustus’s mouth pinched. “As to your last question, she does indeed have superior hearing. When she was a girl, I’d have to watch everything I said.”

  “I remember that as well,” Sin whispered, the memory hitting him like the dawn. “She’d always seem to know everything that had occurred in my house, even though she wasn’t there. It irritated the hell out of me.” Sin laughed shortly. “I couldn’t understand how she knew.”

  Augustus allowed himself a smile but it was strained. “I can imagine. However, I doubt Layla realized that her hearing was anything exceptional. A child assumes their senses are the same as everyone else’s.”

  Sin glanced at the door again. “So then, she can hear us now?” Despite his former claim of not hiding anything from Layla, he felt a pang of quilt and shame in openly discussing her as she listened on.

  “No,” Augustus said. “First, she is sleeping soundly. I can hear that quite well.” He paused, giving Sin another pointed look as a wry smile crossed his lips. “Second, I’m able to mute sound when I please. Both abilities are gifts all Judgment possess if so inclined to use them.”

  Sin cursed and sighed. He’d forgotten that. Having been Judgment for only a little over a year, he had much to learn and powers to develop.

  There were times when different senses seemed to burst to life—sudden occurrences that had him reeling. Such as the time he’d heard a train rushing into a station, only to realize that it was twenty miles away. Or when he’d found himself retching in an alleyway when all of Londo
n’s lovely stenches came to potent life in a tidal wave of utter rot.

  For all intents, Sin was a fledgling Judgment. He had the added protection of his Elemental powers, but he was hardly the force Augustus was.

  It irked but he had to address the obvious. “Perhaps it is better that you watch over Layla. I . . . I would not put her into jeopardy due to my inexperience.”

  At this, Augustus full-out smiled. “Ah, my boy, but this is the quality that makes you a perfect guardian for Layla. You would die before you let her come to harm.”

  “I just flung her across a room,” Sin said wryly.

  Augustus waved this away. “Comparable to a light shove for an immortal.”

  Sin had the urge to give him a light shove. But he held back. “You too would die to protect her,” Sin pointed out instead.

  “But I do not watch her every move as you do.” Augustus’s expression warmed. “I do not love her the same way you do.”

  Sin flinched, a scowl pulling at his face. “Do not put some romantic spin on this. You know as well as I that I’ve vowed to remain chaste.” A vow he had happily accepted. His experience with bed sport had been ugly, forced, and, until tonight, had left him ill at the mere thought of doing those things again. He’d been looking forward to a life of chastity.

  Which made the sudden base and intense lust he’d just experienced over Layla even more confusing. How could he crave her? Want to touch her when he could scarcely accept touch himself?

  Augustus watched him, his eyes kind and a little sad. “Your vow was to remain chaste until there was love in your heart. Should you find the one you want above all others, you are free to take her.”

  Sin resisted the urge to tug at his collar. “As interesting as this all is, you have neatly dodged the one question I came to see answered. What is Layla? Why does she seem to possess the same abilities of this Sanguis Lena?”

  “Well, I did try,” Augustus murmured with some humor before growing solemn. “Have I your word that you will not reveal to Layla who she is until the time is right?”

  Sin’s back teeth met but he wanted the truth. If he had to hide things from Layla to protect her, he would do it and have no regrets. “By my soul.”

  Augustus gave a nod at Sin’s use of Judgment’s most ardent vow. “Lena is Layla’s mother.”

  Sin sat up, his spine growing stiff. “The woman who kidnapped Jack Talent and is a current enemy of Ian Ranulf?”

  “Yes,” Augustus said slowly.

  “Layla, my Layla, is a spawn of evil too?” Sin said it without thought, only the horrible feeling that he did not want her to know.

  But Augustus snapped forward, his eyes flaring bright silver. “Lena is not evil.” He leaned back, some of the starch ebbing out of him. “She is . . . complicated.”

  She sounded like a right bitch, but Sin kept this to himself. He glared down at his bare feet upon the fine rug. “I came across Layla gorging on a human, Augustus.”

  A wave of despair flooded him as he let himself fully realize what he’d discovered this night.

  “Tell me what you saw,” his mentor said calmly.

  “A murdered human, the body destroyed. Layla leaning over it, drinking its cold blood.” He shuddered then faced Augustus. “I have sent demons to final Judgment for less.”

  “You witnessed her drinking this cold blood?”

  Sin closed his eyes, replaying the scene in his head. “Did I see her throat work on a swallow? No. I saw a cloaked figure, face deep in gore.”

  “Then you do not know for certain that she drank the blood or even killed the human. If Layla is attracted to the scent of blood, she might well have been drawn to the scene. Given her fascination, she might have also tried to taste the blood.”

  Sin groaned, leaning his head back on the chair. “You realize how you sound? You are making excuses for her.”

  “I am laying out perfectly logical scenarios. Or would you rather condemn Layla before you have all the facts?”

  “Do not try it, old man. I’ll not fall for that bait. I need facts, not your scenarios.” Sin lifted his head. “You’re trying to protect Layla against herself, not an outside source.”

  Augustus’s jaw clenched for a second before releasing. “In part. However, it is not who her mother is that concerns me, but what she is.”

  “Explain.”

  Augustus sighed, appearing old just then. “Lena is not sanguis. She is Damnation.”

  A cold wind seemed to flow through Sin. “Tell me you jest.”

  “Never about this.” Augustus lifted his hand as if to rub his forehead but let it drop at the last moment.

  “You said you saw Layla being hunted by Damnation. Do you mean her mother?”

  “No,” Augustus said sharply before taking a deep breath. “Lena would never harm her child.”

  “So sure, are you?” Sin snorted. “Forgive me if I remain dubious.”

  Augustus gave him a quelling look. “What you do not understand,” he said as though Sin had never spoken, “is that when a child of Damnation reaches maturity, all of her brethren know instinctively. They would seek the newest member out, wanting her to join them.”

  “And tonight, we saw proof of Layla reaching maturity,” Sin said as his innards rolled sickly.

  “Yes.” Augustus frowned. “Layla’s future has always been a bit murky to me. I do not know why. Perhaps it is because she is Lena’s child, and . . .” He waved a hand, his cheeks flushing, “Lena’s future has never been clear to me either. I must discover who Layla’s father is.”

  Augustus closed his eyes, a long, slow blink. Despair lingered in his gaze when he finally looked at Sin. “He may well be the Damnation I see hunting Layla down in my visions. Or not. I fear . . . Lena was adamant that Layla’s father not find her. Which is why I shall have to find Lena. We need answers.” With that, he stood and leaned an arm against the mantle, staring down into the flames.

  Sin peered at the man before him. He’d never once blushed in their entire relationship. Why now? Sin fancied Augustus had feelings for Lena, but he certainly wasn’t going to point that out now. “There is more you fear in regards to Layla, isn’t there?”

  Augustus’s expression went blank. “A child born of Damnation and another species would be seen as an abomination. One that needed to be destroyed.”

  Sin uttered a ripe curse. “Over my dead body.”

  “It just might come to that,” Augustus said baldly.

  Sin gave a mirthless laugh. “Your faith in my skills is heartening, truly.”

  “You have not gone up against Damnation. They are nearly impossible to kill. However . . .” Augustus put his hand up to forestall Sin’s protests. “The issue here is that they are all but extinct. A millennium ago, I destroyed Cain, the original Damnation. But should one of his brethren exist and be out in this world, he would try to make contact with Layla.”

  “Christ.”

  “What concerns me most isn’t that a Damnation contacted Layla . . .”

  “No? It concerns the hell out of me.”

  A smile pulled at Augustus’s lips, but his expression remained stoic. “No. It is the possibility of a male Damnation finding her. Understand, he would likely be one of the last living of his kind.” Augustus blanched. “He would be desperate to create more Damnation.”

  “And just how would he do that?” Sin asked through clenched teeth, for an ugly idea was taking root in his mind.

  Augustus appeared just as pained. “Damnation were either created by Cain or they were bred by later generations. Because Cain is no longer here, he cannot create more Damnation. Thus any remaining Damnation would need one of his own to breed pure-blooded and strong Damnation demons. He would need to mate with Layla.”

  Sin’s wings snapped outward. “The bloody hell he will.” Sparks shot off the tips of his wings, little fissures of electricity running amok over his body.

  “Which is why I want Layla mat
ed soon. If she were to get with child from another, Damnation would consider her womb tainted.” A mirthless smile spread over Augustus’s lips. “They are rather odd in that way.”

  Sin hunched forward, pressing the heels of his hands into his eyes. “This is why you wanted me to offer for her, wasn’t it?” Gods, he couldn’t do it. Be no more than a stud service. Again.

  Even for Layla? No. She ought to have better. She lives in the light. I am darkness.

  Augustus was watching him. He could feel that cool, logical gaze like a spike between his shoulder blades. “St. John, if you cannot set yourself free of this self-hate, then you must let Layla go.”

  Sin’s heart squeezed tight. It hurt. Too much. “I know,” he whispered thickly.

  Augustus nodded once, sorrow lining his features. “My time here grows to a close. You must rely on your instincts. Even if they defy the logical choice or my instructions.” Black eyes bore into him. “Do you understand? In every situation. Do not ignore your heart. It is the very best part of you.”

  Sin did not agree, but his mentor had saved him in more ways than one. And he would not let him down. “I promise, I shall do my best.”

  The sky was turning pale gray when Augustus woke her. Layla rubbed her eyes and sat up, only to quickly grab her sheet when she felt it slide over her naked skin. Shocked, she gazed around. Hadn’t she fallen asleep in Sin’s bed? Why was she nude? Her heart began to pound.

  Augustus’s expression was kind as he handed her a thick cotton nightgown. He promptly turned his back so she could slide it on. “What do you remember?” he asked her.

  Layla pulled the gown down her legs then covered up once more. She was ice cold and shaking. “Falling asleep.” Her cheeks heated. “I . . . ah . . . I snuck into Sin’s room. It was windy, and I was lonely. We didn’t—”

  “Layla,” Augustus cut in, turning then. A smile crinkled his eyes. “You are a woman grown. It is not my place to question what you do with men.”

  “Only try to marry me off to one, then?” She was only half teasing.