Page 119 of Between Imminent Fates
Shutting the channel, Isaiah fielded several personal telepathic conversations before returning his focus to the room. Excited chatter had begun around him, but it was Derikles who captured his attention.
The devil was smirking.
“Yes, Derikles?”
“I’m just wondering when I should fulfill my oath.”
“Your oath?”
“Years ago, just before you mated Rukia, you said I should beat you over the head with a baseball bat should you ever desire to seek the light.” Derikles had the audacity to look innocent. “Shall I get the bat now, or would you prefer to wait until you’ve fully recovered?”
He chuckled. “I did say that, didn’t I? Self-fulfilling prophecy, I suppose.”
“Never do it again,” Rukia spat, shoving at him with her shoulder. “Otherwise I’ll kill you.”
A flare of telepathy ghosted through the room, and Derikles’ expression glassed over for a moment before his focus returned to Isaiah.
“My mate has requested permission to enter the territory. She doesn’t know you’re awake yet.”
Isaiah smiled. “And you are asking me as though I’m your warden? Have you not successfully kept the clan and me safe for the past month? You have no need to ask me if your mate can come see you. I know well the impact of a mating bond and the way your mate senses your elation. By all means.”
When the pink-haired woman teleported in, the secret to his awakening was out. Celeste’s wide violet eyes blinked owlishly.
“You—you’re—ah.” Stammering, she pressed into her mates’ open arms while Derikles grinned mischievously.
“Surprise! Isaiah is awake.”
While Isaiah had never officially met the Raeth that was Derikles’ mate, he’d known of her in the centuries they’d both been alive. He’d heard of her only as Nina’s lieutenant, and caught sight of her bubble gum pink hair once or twice in the last hundred years.
“Pleasure to meet you, Celeste.”
Isaiah couldn’t get up, and it became apparent that wouldn’t do for the latest addition to his clan. Celeste’s arms eagerly wrapped around him and squeezed, the fierceness of her embrace taking him by surprise.
“I’m so glad you’re awake, Isaiah. Well, sovereign now, I guess.” Releasing him, her cheeks were the same color as her hair. “Oh—I’ve gotta tell Zeke!”
And then she was gone.
“Secret’s out, I guess,” came Rukia’s droll comment. “Let’s batten down the hatches.”
Chapter Sixteen
Celeste
Joy energized her likejet fuel. The moment Celeste teleported back to Ontario, she found Zeke and sent out a call to the other lieutenants to gather where their sovereign was.
He stood on the front porch of their home, a worn copy ofPride and Prejudicestill in his hands. More than once, she’d passed by the room and overhead Zeke reading to Nina. It had been her favorite book.
Dusk was just beginning to darken the eastern sky. The humid June night whispered of the heat yet to come. As she drew closer, she could almost feel the headache he was fighting, yet another sign his psychic reserves were dwindling.
Zeke knew he was losing the battle. Beneath the strain of hosting a sprawling psychic network and mourning the loss of his mate, he’d come close to the edge. Despite the tragedy of their circumstances, Celeste had never been happier to share news.
“Sovereign—Isaiah’s awake!” she gushed. “There’s hope for Nina!”
He perked at the news, and she went into his arms, clinging to him with every ounce of positivity she could muster.
“Is he okay, Celeste?” he asked. “Is he himself?”
“Yes, sovereign. He’s sane and behaving normally.”
