Octavian's Undoing (Sons of Judgment) (70 page)

“Mr. Baron, there are four Casters and a strigoi here to see you.”

“Yes, thank you, Jacinta. I’ve been expecting them. Please show them in.”

Pulling her head back, she opened the door the rest of the way and stepped back, giving them room to step through.

Octavian glanced at Gideon who gave him a nod. All amusement was gone from the blond’s face as he stepped in behind Octavian to take Riley’s side. Magnus did the same to her other side as Reggie took the rear.

The room was lavish with an enormous white desk taking up most of the space. The wall of window behind the desk overlooked a beach with white sand and waters so blue, it was painful to look at. Filing cabinets and giant, puffy plants took up the rest of the place. The green of the plants the only color in the room except for the seemingly harmless man seated behind the desk.

Baron eyed them as they stepped through the door. Jacinta shut it behind them once they were all in, trapping them with the monster.

Baron waved his hand and three more chairs materialized from thin air alongside the two already there on the other side of the desk. “Please.” He motioned them to sit.

They started to when he stopped them.

“Riley, please sit with your mate. Here.” He pointed to the chair on Octavian’s left.

Riley shot Octavian a quick glance before moving to do as she was asked.

Baron smiled. “Better.” He straightened in his seat to observe them better. “I was beginning to wonder when I would see you again. It has been a while. I hear congratulations are in order, both on your transformation and on your nuptials. Married life suits you,” he told Riley.

Riley dampened her lips. “Thank you.”

Inclining his head to her, Baron turned his attention next on Octavian. “I know why you are here, Caster. You want me to save your mate.”

Octavian gave a nod. “I do.”

The swerving chair creaked as Barn leaned back on it. “And what would I get in exchange?”

It took all his willpower not to fidget, not to sneer. “My soul.”

Next to him, Riley sucked in a sharp breath. His bargaining chip was not one they’d discussed while making their plans simply for that reason. He knew she would not have agreed.

“You seem surprised,” Baron told her. “Were you hoping he would offer something else?”

Riley said nothing, but her fingers tightened around the armrests.

“I only accept souls,” he told her. “However, fortunately for you.” He pointed at Riley. “And not so fortunately for you.” He gestured to Octavian. “I’m not in the market for a Caster soul.”

Octavian gritted his jaw. “What then? What do you want?”

Baron’s eyes narrowed as they jumped from Octavian to Riley. “What I want doesn’t seem to be in the room.” His gaze fixed on Riley. “Not wearing your lover’s pelt tonight, my dear?”

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’re… 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.