Thorn wanted to believe him. He really did. But he'd been deceived too many times.
Tears choked him as he looked into a set of eyes identical to his father's, and realized that Cadegan was his downfall. He'd allowed this child to come too close to his heart. That was how evil worked. Never from enemies you saw coming. Only those closest to you could destroy you. The ones you mistakenly trusted.
The ones you allowed to mislead you because the pain of living without them was greater than the pain of tolerating the lie.
By forsaking his blood oath, Cadegan had taken that first deadly step toward the darkest forces. If he took one more, he'd be so powerful that none of them could stand against him.
None of them.
Thorn's gaze went to his desk, where the Malachai's name was carved in the wood as a reminder of how powerful a beast he was.
Should the addanc merge with the Malachai ...
All would be forever lost. This world would be theirs and the only thing Thorn would be able to do is stand back and watch it burn at their united command.
No matter how much Thorn loved Cadegan, he couldn't allow that to happen. Not after all the horrors he'd witnessed.
And especially not after the promise he'd made.
Thorn shook his head. "Nay, the mistake was mine for thinking for one minute that you were something more than the mindless beast you were born to be."
Cadegan's entire face changed as the demon in him was ignited even more. Gone was any hint of compassion in his eyes.
Thorn curled his lip. "You disgust me! I can't believe I put my trust and faith in you."
Cadegan's face returned to its human appearance--as others before. A trick for compassion that almost always worked, and weakened the fool who loved them. "Please, Leucious--"
Thorn grabbed his throat to stop those words before they succeeded in changing his mind and allowing him to forget how dangerous Cadegan was.
Not the innocent child he loved.
The monster that innocent child had foolishly unleashed this night. A monster who hadn't been able to withdraw from those too weak to fight him.
Cadegan had bathed in their blood. He'd unleashed the inner demon at full wrath. Of all creatures, Thorn knew that euphoria much better than he wanted to. He couldn't allow Cadegan to become what Thorn had been.
No one would be able to reach Cadegan then.
One man, even this beloved child, could never be more important than the welfare of the entire world.
Thorn tightened his grip and prayed this was the right decision. That Brigid would finally do what she should have done centuries ago.
Welcome her son to her realm, where she could watch him and keep him from his father's grasp.
"For crimes against Our Lord, for breech of my trust, I condemn you to the shadowed lands of your mother. No more are you to walk this earth as a living being. You will spend eternity remembering what you've done and regretting your actions. You are no longer one of us. For that, you are sentenced and banished from the world of man. Forevermore."
Cadegan tried to pry off Thorn's grip. For the merest instant, Thorn almost relented.
Until Cadegan's hand became a claw. Terrified of unleashing the addanc onto the world, Thorn threw him against the small mirror where Paimon had promised just the night before to devour the world through Cadegan's blood.
Cadegan went instantly into his mother's realm. He pounded against the glass, begging for release.
Thorn forced himself to show no emotion. To stand strong against the love that hated him for what he was doing.
It must be done. There was no choice in this matter.
Unable to stand himself for his actions, Thorn turned away and covered the portal so that Cadegan's face wouldn't weaken his resolve.
I love you, child.
Unable to bear the pain of it, Thorn threw his head back and roared with agony....
For a full minute, Jo couldn't breathe as she pulled out and stared into Thorn's eyes. A demon who really did love Cadegan.
The events looked so different from his perspective. His fears, past, and duties had colored his vision and clouded his judgment.
Just as Cadegan's had done.
"He would never have turned against you, Thorn."
"Would you have taken that chance if you were me?"
Honestly? She didn't know. Everyone made mistakes. Everyone put their faith in the wrong person at some point.
AEthla had been Cadegan's blind spot. And Cadegan was definitely hers.
"I'm sorry I misjudged you."
"We are all guilty of that, Jo. But now you know why we have to leave him where he is."
She shook her head in denial of his solution. It wasn't that simple and she knew it. "We can't. We've awakened the addanc within him. He is the very weapon you once feared unleashing. What if your enemies find him now? Are you any more able to kill him today than you were then?"
Thorn looked away.
"That's what I thought. Before all this started, Cadegan was dormant in his cave. Alone and safe. You and I have awakened his demon side, and it's up to us to do what you should have done a thousand years ago."
"Kill him?"
"No, Thorn. Save him."
15
"Given what we've been going through with the current Malachai, I agree with Jo. I think the most irresponsible thing we can do is leave Cadegan in Terre Derriere le Voile without supervision or protection. We've awakened the demon inside him. It's our duty to watch over and guard him."
Every head in the room stared at Acheron as those words left his gorgeous lips. Some were happy about it.
Some, not so much.
Jo wanted to kiss him for backing her wishes. The expression on Thorn's face said he wanted to choke him. Karma, who'd been lobbying to banish Cadegan to an even bleaker realm, was furious.
Fang, a handsome, dark-haired wolfwere who worked as a Hellchaser for Thorn, exchanged a gaping stare of disbelief with his blond werebear wife, Aimee. Their group was currently meeting in the back room of the bar and grill on Ursulines, Sanctuary, that the two shapeshifters owned in conjunction with Aimee's Were-Hunter family of shapeshifting bears.
The room they were in was a bit cramped with Karma, Selena, Tabitha and her twin sister Amanda, along with Tabitha's husband Valerius, who'd once been a Roman general, and Amanda's husband Kyrian, an ancient Greek general who'd been killed by Valerius's grandfather. Then there was Talon, an ancient Celt who'd once worked with Valerius and Kyrian, who sat between them.
Just in case.
While Kyrian and Valerius had learned for the sake of their twin wives and five children to let bygones be bygones, they still had a tenuous relationship at times. One Jo had never understood the root of, until today.
How ironic, really. She'd steadfastly denied the existence of a paranormal world that existed side-by-side with the one she walked in every day. It blew her mind now to know that she had eaten many meals in this establishment that was owned and run by an entire clan of were-animals. That she'd unknowingly spent countless hours with men who were thousands of years old. It was impressive that her cousins had kept their secrets so well, and it made her seriously wonder who the father of Karma's son really was.
Some of the covert glances she'd caught between Karma and Thorn definitely told her there was much more to them than just mere friendship.
Could Thorn be E.T.'s father? Was that even possible?
While they discussed Cadegan's future, Simi sat beside Acheron, eating a plate loaded with barbecue chicken while Acheron's twin brother, Styxx, kept adding french fries and coleslaw to her meal whenever she ran out.
Styxx and Acheron were an odd couple, indeed. They were identical in absolutely every way, except hair color and style. Acheron's black curly hair was cut just below his ears and fell around his face. Styxx was blond and brushed his short curls back, out of his eyes. Acheron's clothes were black on black and as Goth as a 45 Grave audience ... including his
black titanium wedding band that had skulls and crossbones on it. On the flip side, Styxx had a preppy style and wore a dark blue shirt and jeans. His yellow gold wedding band appeared to have Egyptian hieroglyphics on it.
Also in black, Thorn sat beside Jo while Illarion and Max leaned against a wall next to Ioan and Talfryn. Zeke had stepped out only a few minutes ago to take a call, while they discussed what to do about Cadegan.
Thorn sighed heavily. "You didn't see him, Ash. He is the addanc. Fully morphed. Are you really willing to unleash him into this world, where we might not be able to stop him?"
Ash met his brother's gaze. "I've learned to reserve judgment on people for their actions, especially when they've been wronged by family." He turned back to Jo. "What do you honestly think? You've spent the most time with him out of us. And remember, if you guess poorly, you'll probably end the world as we know it."
She snorted at Acheron's words. "No pressure there, right, buddy? Wow, Ash. I know why you don't have your own self-help show ... Lifestyles of the Morbid and Terrifying. Stay tuned, folks. This week we learn how to end the world with a flourish and get rid of those pesky dog flea problems, all in ten minutes."
Talon and Styxx burst out laughing.
"Hey!" Simi said. "No picking on the akri! He not the one who gots us into this ... for once."
Offended, Acheron snorted. "Thanks, Sim."
"Anytime, akri. That's what the Simi's here for. Make sure you don't get one of them big heads."
Ignoring their segue, Illarion stepped forward. I haven't known him long, but he seemed decent enough. For a demon. And I've known many of them over the centuries. I think we can trust Jo. She is his anchor, from what I've seen. There's nothing he won't do for her. He even spared my life at her command. So long as she lives, I think he's safe.
Ash put his hand on Simi's shoulder. "That's the one truth of demons. They are all enslaved to their hearts. So long as it remains flesh and not stone or ice, we can control them."
Karma shook her head in denial. "But you're talking about someone who's been locked away for a thousand years. How will he acclimate to the modern world? You can't just let him loose and say, hey, dude, welcome to the Electronic Age. Make sure you don't put your finger in an outlet."
Styxx waved his hand at her in a gesture that said to take it down a notch. "Lower the disgust in your tone a bit. As one who was locked away in solitary confinement for eleven thousand years, I can say that no, it won't be easy. You people are effing nuts in this day and age. You make as much sense as a blind rat in a shifting maze. But with a guiding hand, we're not psychotic. I think Julian, Seth, and I have proven that. We have yet to run screaming naked through the streets ... though tempting it is at times."
Selena grinned. "Your sessions with Grace must be going well."
Styxx nodded. "She's helped a lot and we can get Cadegan the same counseling. Plus..." He glanced over to his brother. "We could set him up in one of our temples to live. There are still plenty that sit vacant on the hill."
Ash arched a brow at Styxx's suggestion. "You want him that close to your wife and toddler?"
A slow smile spread across Styxx's face. "I'm pretty sure Bethany can handle it. I have no fear for them. From this, anyway." He glanced over to Jo. "If we can save him, I think we should try. I stand with Acheron and Jo on this matter. We unleashed him. We police him."
Talon nodded in agreement. "If he really is the grandson of the Morrigan and the Dagda, that makes him the first cousin to my wife. Family is family. We protect that always."
Karma sighed. "Normally, I'd agree with you all. But do we protect him at the expense of the rest of the world? Is there not any way to bind his powers?"
"Duct tape?"
They all cast a droll stare to Fang.
"Oh, don't give me that look. Like none of you have never wondered why a witch doesn't use that in a binding spell. Nothing gets away from duct tape without losing half their skin and all their hair."
Thorn snorted. "Really don't want to know about your kinky sex life, Wolf. Your wife handles my food, and now I'm grossed out."
They laughed.
Acheron turned back toward Talon. "So, Celt, does anyone in your camp know Cordelia personally?"
"My mother-in-law probably does. She's a member of the Tuath De. Technically so am I, and my wife. But Starla lived among them in her youth. She knows everyone who's still living in their pantheon."
"Tuath De..." Acheron repeated that under his breath as he narrowed his gaze on Jo.
"Does that ring a bell?" Kyrian asked.
Acheron pulled out his cell phone and dialed a number. "Yeah, it does, and not for the obvious reasons." He held his hand up to let them know the person he was calling had picked up. "Hey baby, how's my girl?" He paused to listen before he laughed. "Give them both a big kiss from Grandpa and tell them that I'll be by later to tuck them in." With his inhuman, swirling silver eyes, he stared at Jo in a way that was really making her uncomfortable. "Yeah, actually I could use you for a minute. Can you pop over for just a few minutes?" He nodded. "I'm at Sanctuary. Back room. You can ask Dev when you get here and he'll show you in. Thanks, precious. Love you." He hung up.
"Kat?" Styxx asked.
Acheron nodded again. "She'll be..." The door opened to show an insanely tall, gorgeous blond woman who appeared even older than Acheron. "Walking in the door, right now."
Wide-eyed at the number of people inside, Kat cast her gaze around the room. "Hi, Daddy." She moved to kiss Acheron on the cheek before she hugged Simi and Styxx. When she went to steal one of Simi's french fries, the demon gasped in horror.
"You won't share fries with your sissy?" Kat asked the demon.
Simi eyed her with mock ire. "Good thing I love my baby sissy. But ... Daddy akri, akra-Kat stealing your Simi's fries! Make her stop!"
Laughing, Acheron shook his head. "Don't make me put you two in separate corners. Play nice."
"Yes, sir." Kat stepped to the side.
Simi handed Kat another fry before she laughed and returned to her barbecue.
Acheron jerked his chin toward Jo. "Does she remind you of someone?"
Screwing her face up, Kat licked the ketchup from her fingers. Suddenly, recognition lit her green eyes and she gasped. "Are you thinking Brit?"
"Yeah."
Kat nodded. "Spitting image of her. But I haven't seen her in centuries. It's why it took me a while to realize it."
Jo frowned at their discussion. "Who's Brit?"
"Britomartis," Acheron answered. "She was a cousin of the goddess Artemis. They played together when they were girls on Olympus."
Kat nodded. "She's the one who gave my mother her famous nets that no one can escape from. As a thank-you for them, my mother gave her an enchanted mirror that had once belonged to Apollo. The mirror could show events of the past, present, and future. But most of all, it showed Britomartis the true heart of those around her."
Acheron nodded. "She was gazing in that same mirror one day when she fell in love with a Welsh prince and demigod named Arthegall ap Tyr, whose face she saw while he was jousting against another knight."
A chill went down her spine. "I saw Cadegan in the mirror before we met. It was how I ended up falling through it and into Glastonbury Tor."
Thorn rose slowly to his feet. "That's one hell of a coincidence, isn't it?"
Acheron nodded. "And I don't believe in them."
Kat moved closer to Jo. "Brit had a son and daughter, and both she and Arthegall gave up their godhoods so that they could live out their lives in peace with their children."
Karma folded her arms over her chest as she jerked her chin toward her cousin. "Jo could always see things in mirrors. She used to accuse us of planting it in her mind, but she's a born scryer."
"I have no powers."
"Would you let us test your blood?" Kat asked.
Jo hesitated. "Test it how, Draculina?"
"A little prick?"
Talfryn sno
rted. "Little prick's what got her into trouble."
Ioan shoved at him. "Shut it."
"It's true. Just saying."
Kat ignored them. "Can we?"
Jo held her hand out toward the woman. "Sure."
Kat pulled out a small knife and lightly pricked the edge of Jo's finger. She pooled the blood on the knife's blade before she took it to her father and handed it to him.
Acheron dipped his finger into the blood, then tasted it.
Jo screwed her face up in absolute repugnance. Nasty!
After a second, he nodded. "It's the same bloodline as Artemis."
"You sure?" Thorn asked.
He gave Thorn a droll stare. "Yeah. Pretty sure. I've tasted it before. Jo is from Zeus's bloodline."
Jo scowled at all of them. "What does that mean?"
Kat winked at her. "We're very distant cousins."
"For another," Acheron continued, "there's something much larger at play here. Your ancestor was pulled into Terre Derriere le Voile by a mirror to meet her future husband who was a Welsh prince and demigod."
Just like her. A chill ran down Jo's spine. Was any of this possible?
Did she dare hope?
"You think the two of them are reincarnated?" Selena asked.
Talon passed a knowing look to Acheron. "It happens, and you don't want to get in the way when it does. Two lovers will not be denied."
"Then how do we get him out?" Jo asked.
Talon stood. "I'm part of the Tuath De, so I'll lead us in."
Styxx nodded in agreement. "Since we're trespassing into another pantheon's realm, I think we should keep the group small. Jo has to go, because we'll need her to deal with Cadegan. Thorn's Frick and Frack, since they'll follow us in anyway." He grinned at Talfryn's disapproving growl over their nickname. "Thorn and me."
Simi looked up from her food. "No Simi?"
Styxx kissed her on the forehead. "Not this time. I don't want to risk you, and I know your father agrees with me. We need you here to protect our small sons and Kat's son and daughter."
That placated her. "Okies. But you have to let me put hornays on Baby Ari."
"Sure, as long as they're detachable."
She blew him a raspberry.
I will come, too.
Max tensed at his brother's offer. "Then I will go."
Illarion glared at him.
"You've been too long alone. I won't let you do this without a wingman."
Styxx nodded. "That actually works. It leaves a mount for each of us."