Taken aback, Octavian’s head shot in her direction. She was deliberately avoiding his gaze as her left hand absentmindedly massaged her right wrist where only the white ribbon from their binding peeked out from the cuff of her jacket.
“I won’t give you that,” she whispered so quietly, it was almost impossible to tell she’d even spoken.
Baron rested his elbows on his armrests and steepled his fingers beneath his chin as he observed Riley with deep contemplation. “What if I told you that that was the only way I would agree to making this exchange? If that was the only way you would live?”
A muscle bunched in her jaw as rage brewed behind her eyes. “Then I will die.”
“No!” Octavian grabbed her wrist when she made to rise. “Where is it, Riley?”
She looked straight into his eyes, fire hot in hers. “Somewhere safe.”
The pond. He had no idea how he knew, but he did.
His eyebrows furrowed. “How…” His gaze shot past her to Gideon who avoided his eyes. It all made sense now. Why she pulled Gideon aside. Why it took them nearly an hour to return. Why she’d been so quiet. Why she kept rubbing at her wrist like the nakedness of it made her uncomfortable. “Why would you do that?”
“I told you, I won’t ever let anyone have that.
“Damn it, Riley!” he growled.
Tears clung dangerously to her lashes, but her stance remained defiant. “I’m not sorry.”
He opened his mouth to yell some more, to shout and scream that his freedom and life meant nothing without her, when Baron spoke.
“I can see there has been some miscommunication here. I would have very much liked that bracelet. You never know when it would be useful to have a Caster on call, or a backup magic reserve. How unfortunate that you were unable to provide it. However,” he went on before Octavian could say anything further. “I think we can come to some kind of arrangement that will suit all involved.”
The hairs along the back of Octavian’s neck prickled. “What sort of arrangement?” he asked.
But Baron was watching Riley. “What would you do for your mate, Riley?”
Octavian opened his mouth to derail her from answering, certain it was a trick, but Riley had already answered, “Anything.”
His eyes went from Riley to Octavian and back. “And you love him?”
“Don’t—”
But she already had. “Yes.”
Baron dropped his gaze to his desk. He tapped a finger against his armrest as he mulled something over. A full minute passed — Octavian knew this because of the clock on the desk — before he spoke again or glanced up.
“There is nothing stronger than the power of love,” he said. “The love of a mate is by far the most powerful magic on earth.”
A slow dread began dancing in the pit of Octavian’s stomach.
“I will accept your request. I will protect you from the eyes of the Summit and their laws. I will keep you safe and alive and living the rest of your immortal life with your mate.”
He could feel Riley’s relief, her joy almost as though it were a physical force beating into him, but there was something else, something they had yet to be told.
“What do you want in exchange?” Octavian asked.
“Nothing… at this time. In the future, I will come to you and I will ask something of you and you will perform without question.”
“No,” Octavian said before Riley could open her mouth. “First you tell us what it is.”
Baron splayed his fingers palms up. “I may ask you to fight.”
Octavian frowned. “Fight who?”
The Demon shrugged. “Whoever I ask you to fight. There is a war brewing over the horizon, Casters. It’s nearly at our doorsteps and those not prepared will be annihilated. I am giving you the chance to fight on the side that will win.”
“And what side is that?” Gideon asked.
Baron’s eyes gleamed. “The side of a new revolution. A dawning of a new era where Angels no longer exist and we are no longer prisoners.”
“You’re uprising against the Angels?” Octavian exclaimed. “Are you insane?”
“Not insane, confident. There is much that I know that no one else does and I assure you, we will win this time. The question now remains; are you with us or against us? Only one of those options comes with the side bonus of your wife being alive and at your side.”
Octavian looked at Riley, looked into her wide eyes. “What do you think?” he asked her.
She dampened her lips. “You would no longer be a Caster. You’d be free.”
Still torn, he glanced over his shoulder at his brothers, asking them without words.
Magnus just nodded, face solemn.
Gideon met his gaze. “Riley would be alive and I’m always up for a good fight.”
Reggie had a different look on his face, it was a tangle between hope and uncertainty. “We’d be able to be with humans again.” And Octavian knew he was thinking of Daphne.
He turned back to Riley. “I’ll fight.” He took her hand. He turned his attention to Baron. “I’ll do it.”
Baron didn’t seem surprised in the least. He held out his palm. Octavian reached across the desk to shake it, but Baron held up his other hand, stopping him.
“I want the object in your pants pocket.”
Octavian blinked. “What?”
Baron smiled arrogantly. “The object in your pocket.” He opened and closed his hand in a pass it over motion.
Baffled, Octavian dug into the pockets of his jeans and came up with a pack of gum, a paperclip, a lone button he couldn’t remember putting away and…
“Yes,” Baron said when Octavian held it up. “That.”
Without glancing at Riley, he set the slim, gold band into Baron’s hand. Baron drew it close and examined it.
“Elegant,” he mused, turning it over. “Simple, but tasteful. Very well chosen.” He turned to Riley, hand not holding the ring extended. “May I?”
Octavian grabbed Riley’s hand before she could think to raise it. “If anyone’s putting a ring on my wife’s hand, it’s me.”
Baron smiled, a bit coldly. “Of course.” He set the ring down on the desk and nudged it towards Octavian. “Please, put it on her.”
Octavian made no move towards it. “What will happen?”
A look of absolute annoyance passed over Baron’s face. He slumped back in his chair and dragged a hand down his face. “Are all Casters so suspicious?” When Octavian continued to watch him untrustingly, he sighed. “The ring contains my seal. It will place her under my protection so long as she wears it. The moment it is removed, all bets are off and she will be on her own. Satisfied?”
“What else?”
“Nothing else!” He threw his hands up. “My mother isn’t this wary of me and she can’t stand to even look at me.”
“You’re not exactly known for being fair,” Octavian said, reaching to take the ring. He eyed it. “If anything happens to her that we have not agreed upon or you haven’t told me, all bets are off and I’ll tell the Summit everything.”
Baron’s face took on a mask of loathing as he observed Octavian. “You have my word. The ring will only protect her. Nothing more.”
Not entirely satisfied, but partially convinced, Octavian reached for Riley’s left hand and gently pushed the ring into place down her finger. It glowed a pale gold before settling into place, looking perfect on her hand.
Releasing her hand, he looked up into her eyes and gave her a slight smile. “Okay?”
She nodded. “Okay.”
“Aw, isn’t that lovely,” Baron cooed with a roll of his eyes. “Well, if we are done here…”
No one waited for him to finish. There was a clutter of movement as everyone hurried to their feet and started for the door. Only Riley paused to glance back.
“What did you offer my Father?”
Baron blinked slowly. “I don’t discuss deals made in confidence. However, seeing as how we’r
e… partners now.” He tipped his head ever so slightly to the side. “He wished for your mother to suffer in the most painful way possible.”
Riley’s face lost color. “The baby. My father was the one that made her lose the baby.”
Baron shrugged, splaying his hands. “There was nothing I could do about it. He made his choice.”
Octavian moved to take Riley’s cold fingers. “Baby?”
She shook her head. “I’m okay. Thank you,” she said to the scowling man behind the desk. “For your time.”
Baron seemed taken aback by her remark, but he inclined his head.
Octavian guided her out, but he wasn’t so lucky.
“Caster.”
He faced Baron, waiting.
“Remember our bargain. You tell no one of what you were told or I will kill her myself.”
Stone-faced, Octavian nodded before following the others out.
Chapter 52
The letter dropped from thin air right on Gideon’s head. It bounced once then landed noiselessly on the table between them.
“What the hell?” Gideon cried, rubbed his head and looked up at the ceiling. “Bloody angels. Next they’ll be sending anvils.”
Their mother snatched it up before Gideon could stab the letter with his fork in retribution.
“It’s from the Summit,” she read.
In Octavian’s lap, Riley stiffened. He tightened his arms around her and lightly rubbed her back until she relaxed back against him.
“It says they must regretfully decline our request in regards to one, Riley Masters, on the account that laws can be changed by no man. We hereby have a week to pass judgment or Guardians will be sent to accomplish the task for us. With deepest regret, Seraph Abraham.”
“That skeezy little—”
“Gideon!” their mother hissed. “That is an angel you are about to bad mouth.”
“He’s a little worm,” Gideon replied.
“So they declined to let me live?” Riley asked.
His mother nodded sympathetically. “I’m sorry, darling.”
“I guess I’m not surprised,” she murmured. “We knew they would. I just… I always thought angels were good and kind.”
“Maybe to mortals, but welcome to the other side of the table,” Gideon said.
“Hey.” Octavian rubbed her thigh to get her attention. “Don’t think about it. They can’t do anything anymore. Mom’ll send them a letter telling them the matter has been resolved.”
His mother nodded. “I’ll sort it out.”
Riley smiled, the first real smile he’d seen on her in days. “So it’s over?” She peered into his eyes. “We can finally be together?”
He slipped his hand up the hem of her sweater to press his palm against the skin of her waist. “I told you nothing was going to stop me from keeping you.”
She kissed him soundly. “I will never doubt you again.”
“Not to break up this very touching moment, but am I the only one wondering about this impending war? Will it really happen?”
“I believe it will,” their father said. “But the question is, who will win and will they be worse than the angels?”
Gideon snorted. “What could be worse than angels? I mean honestly.”
The diner doors blew open and a stunning figure clad entirely in soft leather stomped in on boots that could crush a man’s skull. Heavily darkened eyes tore through the room, narrowed and filled with blue fire as they settled on their mark.
“Gideon Maxwell!”
Gideon gulped as he sunk slowly beneath the table. “I take that back.”
Epilogue
“Is it done?”
Baron turned to the hulking figure looming over him. The stench of blood wove off him in waves so powerful that it made him nauseous and he was a demon that thrived on blood and suffering.
“It is done,” he told the figure. “The north has readily agreed to join our cause.”
The man leered, his twisted pleasure reflecting in his cold, blue eyes. “So it has begun. The age of the Angel will soon end and we shall rule supreme.”
Baron smirked. “It won’t be hard once we have all four corners on our side.”
“Be sure of it, Demon,” the man warned him. “We cannot afford errors, not when we are so close to regaining what is rightfully ours.”
Temper crackled through him. “I don’t need to be told my job, Mortlock. Was I not the one who delivered the north to you? Was I not the one who found Octavian Maxwell’s weakness? And was I not the one who mastered the plan? It was all me. I was the one who made certain they had nowhere to go but to me to save her. It was because of me that we are well on our way to completing the mission. Soon, we will have all four elemental houses on our side and the gates will be ours to tear down, unleashing Hell on earth.”
Mortlock leered, exposing fangs. “Excellent. Be sure that you do not fail, or your blood will be the first to spill by my hands.”
Never one to take threats sitting down, Baron straightened to his full height, still coming short, but not allowing that to deter him. “I will do my part, Strigoi. Make sure you do your part and kill the brothers when it is time.”
“And the girl?”
Baron thought of Riley Masters and something stirred deep inside him. “Bring her to me. I have other plans for her.”
Gideon’s Promise
Sons of Judgment, book #2
Coming 2014
About Airicka Phoenix
Airicka Phoenix is the Best-Selling author of The Touch Saga and Games of Fire, with short stories in the Whispered Beginnings: A Clever Fiction Anthology and two in the Midnight Surrender Anthology.
For more about Airicka, also on how to win giveaways, read author interviews and reviews, visit her website at: http://airickaphoenix.com/Author/
Octavian's Undoing (Sons of Judgment) Page 51