12. Ashe

ASHE

Asharp stabbing pain lances through my right side as one of Aeternaphiel’s lackeys yanks my arm up. I have at least one broken rib, likely more. I grit my teeth, breathing through the pain. Staying conscious is more important than fighting against the metal cuffs being slapped around my wrists. It’s all I’ve been able to do since they dragged me here and threw me to my knees.

My thoughts are muddied by pain; my entire body is one large pulsating ache. My other hand is secured above my head, the fucker using the same amount of tender care as the first time. Even half out of it, the scent of his human blood is strong. He must be one of the guards I injured. Explains the hospitality, or lack thereof. If he gets close enough, I could sink my fangs into him. Drink him down and speed up my body’s healing.

The dick of an archangel lurking by the steel door in front of me wouldn’t let that happen. Best I could hope for is ripping the man’s throat out with my fangs and getting a swallow or two. I’d end up in worse condition than I already am.

No. I clench my jaw as the lackey presses a button on the control hanging down from the ceiling. A moto engages and I’m lifted into the air until my toes barely brush against the floor. Aeternaphiel stands there, hands in his front pockets and watching me like I’m a fucking new zoo exhibit.

Rather than stare at the archangel, I do my best to take in the room they’ve brought me to. It seems like a pretty cliche barn turned interrogation setup. I’d snort if it wouldn’t hurt.

“Welcome to your new home, vampire,” Aeternaphiel grins.

It’s a wolf’s smile, all teeth and sharp angles. Makes me think of Ezra and how the demon vampire used to smile. Used to, because the version of him I fought was nothing like the male I considered a friend. I’m not even sure if Ezra’s in there anymore. And I’m certain this male is directly responsible for it.

My fingers curl, the metal biting into my wrists and reminding me of the position I’m in.

“Don’t worry,” Aeternaphiel continues when I ignore him. “Your witch of a mate made it off the grounds safe and sound. Though she wasn’t looking too good by then. I’m honestly impressed, and a bit disappointed, that she left you. I could have had so much more fun with the pair of you.” He lets out a dramatic sigh. “Alas, I am a merciful angel. It’s why they call me the Benevolent after all.”

I jerk against the chains, snarling at his words before I can wrestle my control back.

“Now, now,” Aeternaphiel taunts. “None of that.”

His words are lazy, his posture relaxed, but his ice-blue eyes are sharp and assessing. I bare my fangs at him, a sneer curling my lip.

“That’s better,” Aeternaphiel hums. He begins walking, a slow, casual stroll towards me. “You see, vampire, I’m your master now. The sooner you accept that, the easier your new life will be. My last guard—” he sneers — “the one who that fool of a vampire stole during his escape, resisted me for a long time. True, it is more entertaining for me. But it can be so dull.”

Aeternaphiel waves a hand towards me and the same lackey steps forward and delivers a sharp punch to my diaphragm. I wheeze, the air being knocked from me; my entire core seizes, pain lighting up my nerves like a switchboard. I turn a glare to the man, vowing to myself that I’ll kill him before I’m done with this place. The threat must be obvious, since a flash of fear crosses his face, the sour scent reaching me even over the metallic tang of blood.

A wicked satisfaction curls in my stomach despite the situation. I don’t have a reputation for violence and brutality as my fellow Nightshades do, but it doesn’t mean I’m tame.

“Leave us.”

At Aeternaphiel’s crisp order, the guard turns on his heel and leaves through the metal door. I don’t hear a lock, which means either the room is warded magically or his pride is that damn big. If I focus, I can sense guards beyond the room but my head spins when I try to count the heartbeats. Fuck, I must have a concussion. A bit pathetic for a vampire as old as I am, though not insurmountable. If I’d made it out with Cassandra, I could have fed from her. With my mate’s blood, my body would be healed within a day or two.

I don’t regret telling her to leave, though. Even if this bastard kills me. Even if the Nightshades never come for me.

A thought drips through the bruising haze of pain, bright and clear as crystalline waters.

This must be what Cassandra felt when she made the bargain with Eris to save me.

Just like I couldn’t let Cassandra stay and be subjected to Aeternaphiel, she couldn’t have let me burn with the rest of my clan that night.

That understanding, more than anything, hurts the most.

The next time I see her, because I will see her again, I’ll tell her I finally understand. I understand why, even as she begged forgiveness for the pain I endured, she’d make the same choice over and over again.

I fight the need to reach out through our mate bond, to seek comfort and to comfort her. I know all too well the darkness she must be experiencing. I’d been lost in it for months; it would have been years if it weren’t for Malachi, Kasar, and the rest of the Nightshades. Even Landon, in his own way, drew me from that void. When Eris returned unsuccessful, declaring her intentions of keeping possession of Cassandra until the bargain is fulfilled, it would have been so easy to give up. I would have without my family.

Pain explodes across my face, and my head is snapped to the side.

“Pay attention when your master is speaking, beast.”

I roll my head back to face him, spitting a mouthful of blood and spit between us. I don’t deign to give any other response. I’ve met people like Aeternaphiel before. It doesn’t matter if someone is human or supernatural, there are always those who believe in their superiority. Even as you crush their face into the mud, they die screaming degradations to the very end.

No fucking dignity.

Satisfied enough, Aeternaphiel repeats whatever I’d missed.

“Your mate said Eris is gone. Is that true?”

A stare is all he gets from me.

Irritation burns in his eyes but he doesn’t rise to the bait. I’m sure anyone who is an old ancient archangel can handle some silent treatment. This room, with its stained concrete floors, hanging hooks, and single leather club chair set next to the side table, makes it clear I’m not the first guest to spend time here.

I’ll be the gods-damned last one though, I promise him silently.

Cassandra may be hurting right now, but I know my mate and I know my vampire brothers. I can survive whatever this archangel tries.

The male sighs, as if disappointed in my refusal to cooperate. He moves towards the club chair, sinking into it and crossing an ankle over his knee. Looking at him, he could be back in the main house, enjoying the day with his guests.

“It doesn’t have to go this way, you know.” He gestures between us. “My last guard dog resisted for so long he’d almost been completely useless by the time he relented.”

Guilt turns my blood to bile, poisoning and scalding me. Ambrose had exiled Ezra during a time in the Barrows where war between us and a demonic faction was a very real threat. Ezra had taken a human soul, something Ambrose and the rest of us vampires fought against. Ezra had never done such a thing before and we could never figure out -why- he had and then immediately came to confess to Ambrose.

Eris had been furious, nearly attacking Ambrose when the male had announced what’d happened. We had all wanted answers, Rhys especially. But Ambrose hadn’t had any, or if he did, he kept them to himself.

I could have looked for Ezra. My duties would have allowed me to inquire discreetly. Ezra had been one of Cassandra’s best friends. Knowing what became of him, I wonder if I’ll ever conquer the shame of never looking. Of blindly accepting my king’s orders.

“Working for me can be enjoyable, you know.” Aeternaphiel’s voice pulls me back to the moment. “Not immediately, of course. You still need to be housebroken after-all.” His voice turns steely. “Make no doubt, for I will break you.”

Breathing through my nose, blood still sluggishly dripping from my wounds, I know the male is right. Everyone breaks eventually. There’s no avoiding it. There comes a point where someone will say whatever it is the person wants, just to stop the pain. The goal is to give them half-truths in the beginning. That way, when the pain gets too much, they never know what is true and what isn’t.

I spit another glob of blood to the side before giving him a considering look. He knows he has my attention now. I ignore every ache, every slow healing wound, every cracked bone.

“Whatever you did to Eris before I stabbed you took her out of Cassandra,” I offer. “After spending the last century and a half with the demon possessing my wife, I didn’t give a fuck how it happened. I got my wife back.”

He hums in consideration. “And why did you and your wife seek me out today?”

I give as much of a half-assed shrug as I can, hanging like this. “She has some misguided guilt and connection to the demon. I wanted my mate safe. Nothing personal. I’m sure you understand.”

Aeternaphiel studies me. I don’t look away, refusing to back down. I might be the one tied up here, but he wants something from me other than my subservience. I think back on what Cassandra and Eris have mentioned over the years, scouring history for any clue. I’ve never let myself think too long on that night when Cassandra summoned Eris. Now I strain to recall every word Eris and my mate exchanged. Finally, I had it.

“You were lovers,” I say. He clearly wasn’t expecting me to speak again but recovers quickly, raising a brow in expectation. “She said you mentored her, helped her rise through the ranks of the army or whatever. She believed in you. Sounded almost like she thought you were mates. Or she hoped you were. Then you betrayed her.”

Aeternaphiel doesn’t scoff as I expect. Instead, he freezes so completely I wonder if he’s breathing.

Wait.

“Are you mates?” I ask, incredulous; shock has my pain completely disappearing from my mind.

“Enough of this,” Aeternaphiel tries to deflect, and I let out a dry laugh, one completely inappropriate for the moment.

I give him a sardonic look. “If you two are mates, you’d know if she’s alive or not. Even when my mate was possessed, our bond was there.” I shake my head again. “If you and Eris are mates, how could you betray her? How could you try to fucking kill her?”

“She betrayed me!” Aeternaphiel roars, throwing himself up out of the chair, and charges towards me. Bright power slams into me, radiating out in waves from the archangel. Light bursts from his shoulders and it’s gone in the same instant. All that’s left is the floating after-image of wings.

He slices his hand through the air and begins to pace. I’m still reeling from this information.

“All she’d had to do was stay quiet. We both knew that our world was rotting from within, that something needed to change. But the Resplendents did not care that the princes of the underworld moved against us. She didn’t agree with my plan, but had she kept her damn mouth shut, we could have ruled the celestial realm together.”

Aeternaphiel is practically frothing at the mouth. The hatred coming from him is more than just...anger or hurt. It’s deeper, bigger, more a part of him than the power he has control over.

He stops and rubs his face with both palms, gathering himself before facing me again.

“I had to tell them it was her. If they believed her to be the traitor, my plans could still work. I could have let the Resplendents execute her. Instead, I argued for her to be sent to the underworld. At least there, she had a chance to live.”

“Bullshit.”

I don’t realize I’ve said it until the word is ringing between us. I barrel on. “If she was really your mate, you would have done whatever it took to protect her. You’d have offered yourself up before ever casting the blame on her.”

I see the moment stony shields come down in Aeternaphiel’s mind. He’s wrapped himself back up with the cold control of power he’s so familiar with. There will be no more pushing him to the edge. I breathe deeply and let my eyes close. I find the bond between Cassandra and me, the one that has only been reopened for a few days after so long apart.

I focus everything I have on rebuilding that wall between us, using every year of experience I kept that wall up to build it even stronger. I hope I build it strong enough that when I break, it won’t. It’ll keep Cassandra safe from my agony. Even when all I will want is her.

“Now, vampire,” Aeternaphiel’s voice is lofty once more. I hear him open something to the left of me but I don’t allow myself to look. “It’s time to begin your training.”