“She can take care of herself very well, Damien. She’s smart. She won’t risk either of your lives.”
“But if something happens, she’ll sacrifice herself. If Shadow World is dangerous for her, too, I worry she’ll…” Damien’s voice trailed off.
“We’ll find her, Damien, before that happens,” Alexander assured him.
“Let’s hope,” Damien answered, yawning. “I am so tired.”
“Have a good rest, Damien,” Alexander said. “See you tomorrow.”
Damien climbed into bed as Alexander settled into an armchair, taking first watch over Damien. Damien relaxed into the pillows behind him. He fought sleep for a few more moments, allowing his mind to go over the day’s events. They had a channel to communicate with Celine. That pleased him. He wanted to meet her again, though he realized he wouldn’t with the sedative in his system. He was frightened to close his eyes. What if Celine needed him and couldn’t contact him? Had he made a mistake? He worried. If Celine was willing to sacrifice so much, to use such a dangerous method to make contact, what kind of danger did she face wherever she was?
“Celine,” he whispered into the darkness, “please be okay.” He closed his eyes, drifting off to sleep.
Celeste entered the sitting room around midnight. Gray and Alexander poured over a series of books. “Working a new angle?”
“No,” Gray lied, “searching for any information about Celine’s situation after being human again.”
“Did Damien contact his aunt?”
“He did. She hasn’t heard from Celine.”
“Yet you’re still pursuing this?” Celeste inquired.
“There’s nothing else to pursue, Celeste. At least I feel as though we’re doing something.”
“How is Damien holding up? I’m surprised he’s not here monitoring something or another on his laptop.”
“Damien is exhausted,” Gray answered. “The toll on him is overwhelming. He’s paying the price for his lack of sleep last night.”
“Poor Damien. He is so close to Celine. I can imagine how devastating this is for him.”
“Yes. The poor boy is beside himself,” Alexander chimed in. “We gave him a sedative to sleep. I hope it helps him.”
Celeste sighed. “Humans should not involve themselves in our affairs. Perhaps he should visit his Aunt Monica until the situation is resolved.”
“He’ll never leave with Celine missing,” Gray answered.
“Then force him,” Celeste replied.
Gray rolled his eyes at her. “No. Besides, Celine wouldn’t want that.”
“We can concern ourselves with Celine’s wants when she has returned. Until then, Damien should be removed from the situation for his own good. Michael, too.”
Gray eyed her. “Why are you so insistent, Celeste? Do you have information you’d like to share?”
Celeste stalked away, staring out the window. “No. I am not aware of anything specific. I only believe they would be better off away from the overwhelming circumstances. For their own safety. It could take a toll on their health. Celine wouldn’t want that.”
Gray shared a glance with Alexander. “We’ll take it under consideration,” Gray promised. “For now, they stay.”
Celine paced the floor of her cell. Why had Damien been in Shadow World without her? She hadn’t summoned him there. Had she not sensed him calling to her, he may have died there. Mere seconds too long in the harsh environment could kill him. The chance she took bringing him to the world for moments at a time was a huge gamble. Still, it was her only way to communicate with her family.
It would be slow-going, but she would inform them of her situation. Extreme caution on her part must be exercised. She would not take too many chances with Damien’s life.
She stared out the window as the sky darkened. Her musing turned toward the instructions she passed to Damien during their last encounter. Had he passed the information along? Did Gray and the others receive the message? She wasn’t sure. Perhaps she’d gather more information the next time she met with Damien.
Celine longed to try tonight, but she was unsure it was a good idea. Damien’s excursion earlier would leave him exhausted. Another trip may prove too much for him. Could she chance it? She’d make a determination later.
As darkness crept over the sky, she prepared herself for the inevitable confrontation with Marcus. He had given her until this evening. She could not join him. Yet, she must stall until her family could locate her. It would be a delicate balance to strike, a fine line to walk. But she had no choice.
The last streaks of light faded as footsteps sounded above her. Celine swallowed hard as they continued down the stairs behind her.
“Good evening, Celine,” Marcus greeted her.
“Hello, Marcus,” she answered.
“A greeting! How fortunate I am this evening! Might I assume good news is forthcoming?”
Celine faced him, considering her response. “Marcus, I’d like to speak honestly for a moment.”
“By all means, my dear.”
“We have been locked in this battle with each other for over two centuries,” Celine began. “It must end.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Marcus replied. “This conflict between us is never what I desired.”
“I realize this is not the ending you expected.”
“It is not.”
“When I met Gray…”
“Celine,” Marcus interrupted her, “let us not speak of him tonight.”
“Oh, Marcus,” Celine said, hurrying to the door, “he has been my husband for over two centuries.”
“I realize that, Celine.”
“Then you must realize what you ask of me is impossible!”
Displeasure shown on Marcus’ face. “Righting your mistake, while unpleasant for you, is not impossible, Celine.”
“I do not consider my marriage to Grayson a mistake!”
“Damn it, Celine, I have had enough of these games!” he shouted.
“As have I, Marcus! Constant battles, collateral damage, no peace. We must stop!” she screamed back.
“I disagree!”
“Surely, I do not hold this much interest for you after centuries, Marcus. It’s time to move on.” Marcus did not respond, his jaw set in frustration. “It isn’t about me, though, is it? It’s about winning, it always has been. Fine! You’ve won! You’ve bested me, Marcus. Now, let’s end this.”
“I plan to end this, Celine,” he replied. “The question is with whom do I start with?”
Celine gripped the
