Page 139 of Wicked Heirs

“Correct. And I don’t want them to get wind of it. I plan to use this as an opportunity. And I need your help.”

I swallowed hard as the words left him.

Did he know? Did he somehow know aboutObsidian, it’s true purpose at least?

No. If he knew, he would have stopped it by now. Hell, he would have likely used a whole lot of force to tear me from Electi Academy to ensureObsidiandied a quick death. He didn’t want me on the frontlines of a war, especially not one involving Constantine.

Sure enough, as he stated thishelphe wanted from me, it wasn’t involving entering combat or heading for battle in any shape or form.

“I need you to obtain the location of theVitaliumfrom your girlfriend.”

“What?”

“She’s a direct line to Abigail. She has access we do not and that most never will. Use your allure if your darling angel proves resistant. Nephilim should be immune to the full force of a Dark Fae’s allure, but she’s bonded with you, physically and emotionally from what I’ve gathered from you, so she’s now susceptible. I would suggest Xavier, but he’d never comply and you can’t use magical influence overhim.”

“You’re ordering me to mind-rape Alena?”

“Don’t be so dramatic, son. I know your affection for this girl has altered things for you, but you need to keep your head on straight like I’ve taught you. All that can matter is the mission.”

“And what exactly is this mission? What happens if we obtain the location of theVitalium?”

“I’ll use aHellbornto break the jar, pull Constantine out and kill him during the transition period while he’s defenseless as his soul reenters his body. There’ll be no stored lifeforce then, no way of returning. It will mean death in the absolute.”

“Fuck,” I choked. “You can’t.”

“Now you suddenly don’t believe that should be his fate?”

“Of course I do, but if you do this, you’ll be hunted to the ends of the earth byExemplar.They’ll never stand for this.”

“I’m aware.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means I have contingency plans in place, of course.”

He was lying.

“Like what?”

“They won’t know it was me.”

“Father—”

He grasped my shoulder, urgency spilling from him. “Son, I need you to do this.”

“This plan is insanity.”

“Desperate times, Orpheus. We cannot allow that monster to break free.Insanitywill be the least of it. He will destroy us all.”

“I know. I know,” I admitted. “He already took so much from so many last time.”

“We won’t allow that to come to pass this time.” He gave my shoulder a squeeze. “This time, we stop it before it even begins.”

26

~Alena~

I hadn’t wanted to come here to Electi Academy.

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