Page 20 of Destined for Dreams
Chapter 7
Bartol
Bartol waited until everyone had gathered in the office before shutting the door and turning to face them. It had been a long time since he’d addressed this many people at once, and the urge to flee was strong. He looked to Cori, who gave him a confident smile even though she couldn’t possibly know his full intentions.
His mate could be a rock for him if he only allowed it.
And with that thought, he remembered his purpose. If the two of them were going to have any chance together, they needed safety, stability, and funds to survive. By taking this job, he could make a good start in accomplishing those things. He had to plan in such a way that presumed they would manage to work out their differences and become true mates, assuming Bartol got the assurances he wanted first.
He turned his attention to Caius, who appeared more than a little ready to make his arguments and get his plan moving forward. “You claim a powerful demon is rising, and it is a threat to us all. Do you have any doubts about this?”
“None.”
“You’ve enlisted my assistance in this,” Bartol continued, watching the nephilim’s dark features closely, “but will you continue to take part in this if I go to Russia?”
Caius bristled. “Of course. I wouldn’t have bothered you at all if Zoe hadn’t insisted on it.”
Though he already suspected the answer, he had to ask, “Why do you care what happens with the demon?”
The nephilim squared his shoulders. “My mate is dead. I have no purpose left in this world, but the one thing I can do is try to stop this demon. It’s whatshewould have wanted.”
There was a wealth of anguish in his voice as he spoke. Caius had been hiding his pain so well since he’d arrived that Bartol had begun to wonder if the man felt anything, but he should have known his old friend wouldn’t have gotten over the love of his life that easily. It was only his resolve over the current situation helping to cover his deeper feelings, which led to another thought Bartol had been having—one that could get them both killed.
“Tell me this is not a suicide mission for you,” he said. Caius wouldn’t be the first to try going out in a blaze of glory after losing a mate. Nephilim just usually did it by angering the archangels.
“And that you’re not trying to take Bartol down with you,” Cori added, coming to stand beside him. He had a strong urge to put an arm around her but held back. This was not the time for intimate gestures.
Caius shrugged. “And if it is?”
Lucas held up a hand. “Remiel made one thing clear. Bartol is only required to get what information he can from Zoe and locate the demon’s whereabouts. After that, you must alert the archangel and standby for further orders—no fighting the creature alone.”
“Which would be totally stupid and a waste of time since you’d never win,” Melena added.
“There is no one else willing to fight him except me,” Caius said, giving them all a frustrated look. “Unless Bartol will help me.”
“What difference could my mate possibly make?” Cori asked, glaring at the nephilim.
He hesitated.
Fearing Caius would say something he shouldn’t, Bartol interjected with a semi-truth, “We ran into a demon once before and survived by working with each other. He is simply drawing on that experience.”
Surprise filled Lucas’ face. “You have? Why did you not mention it before?”
“I had my reasons.”
Melena frowned. “I’m sensing there’s more to that story.”
Cori moved a step closer to him, almost brushing her shoulder against his arm. “He clearly doesn’t want to talk about it, so let’s leave it alone for now.”
He took her hand and squeezed it.
“Thank you,” he whispered.
She gave him a look that said he wasn’t off the hook with an explanation, but that she was willing to support him for now. Bartol would take whatever support he could get rather than reveal his last experience with a strong demon. It still shamed him to this day.
“What matters now is how will we take down this demon?” Caius asked, running his gaze across all of their faces. “Better I try than nothing at all.”
“The angels are working on a solution. Be patient,” Lucas replied.
