Page 174 of To Ashes and Dust
“We’ll bring the immortals and their goddess down together... Sister.”
63
DAMIEN
The crinkle of paper reached my ears over the distant pounding of hammers as James laid out the blueprints detailing the modifications the subcontractors proposed. We’d gone through every floor, discussing the rooms, their potential uses, ways we could improve on what we’d already had at the old complex. This building would have everything we could ever need.
Zephyr’s weight pressed into my shoulder as he leaned in, eyes drifting over the large sheets of paper. James started marking out the adjustments we wanted with a pen; placement of lights, cabinets, anything of note we’d found on our walkthrough. They’d already begun demolition, the racket ringing through the building. It would be a few months before it was finished, but the transformation would be nothing short of amazing. This building had sat abandoned for years, and I was happy we could breathe new life into it.
“Thir’ll be twice as many guest rooms, an’ each will hev its own kitchenette,” James explained.
“Is that a gym?” Vincent asked, peering between us to the plans.
James nodded. “Aye, thir’ll be a workoot room fer evry’wan tae use, eh medical bay will take up eh entire underground level, an’ it’ll be stocked wi’ all eh medical equipment Johnson cuid eva’ need.”
“This looks great, James,” I said, patting his shoulder as I stepped back, eyes scanning the expanse of the room. One day, this would be a common room, where the residents, warriors, and recruits could gather. There’d be a fireplace, games, things for entertainment, and Cassie had even suggested a small library. I prayed she’d hold out long enough to see it all come to fruition.
“‘appy I can lighten eh load,” James said. He’d really come through on overseeing what he could when I was busy with other matters.
There’d been a lot going on in the background over the last few weeks. Calista had been hard at work on the new laws being put in place to protect females of the aristocracy, and I’d been at her side, helping her navigate it all. The female had her hands full with the responsibilities being Kyrios came with, but she’d taken to the challenge with a level of grace and diligence I never thought I’d see. She’d truly come out of her shell, and I knew Vivienne would have been proud of her niece.
Vincent had stepped up to take Barrett’s position. He’d been hesitant, and I’d hated to ask it of him, but I needed my chain of command to be whole again. It wouldn’t ever be the same, but I couldn’t imagine anyone who’d do a better job.
My hand drifted to the corner of my chest, where the new ink of my vows was still fresh, the warm tingle of it settling in. Even if I knew they’d disappear again soon, to be able to feel them again, to feel the presence of our vows once more on my skin, in my soul, was enough. I glanced down at my hand, the hand that had held hers as Selene wove the ribbons of power around us the night before, magic humming beneath the surface.
“Where’s Cas today?” Zephyr asked, and I turned to him, wondering if I’d made it obvious that I was thinking of her. Zephyr had always been too perceptive for his own good, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he’d picked up on something.
“Her and Kat went for a hike. She wanted some exercise and fresh air.”
Zephyr’s brows furrowed. “Is she gonna be okay doing that? What if it’s too much?”
I smiled somberly. I’d had the same reservations when she’d made the plans. “She needed it. She’s been cooped up so much lately, hardly leaving the house. I don’t want her to feel caged.”
He spoke again, but his words became jumbled as a wave of nausea rolled over me. The room tilted and shifted, and I stumbled into the wall, my hand shooting out to brace myself.
“Fuck,” I breathed, swallowing back the bile rising in my throat.
Zephyr grabbed hold of my arm. “Woah, Damien.”
Vincent and James halted their conversation, their attention snapping to us.
I blinked, the air flooded my lungs in a deep breath.Shit. Why did I suddenly feel like I’d drank entirely way too much ambrosia liquor, as if I might hurl my guts up?
“What’s going on?” Vincent asked as he approached, and his skin paled as he got a good look at my face. “Shit, Damien. What’s wrong?”
“I... I don’t know, I just feel...” Gods, I felt like shit. Immortals didn’t get the flu, but I’d experienced this twice in my life, and neither of those instances were possible. “I don’t feel good.”
“Easy, man. You’re whiter than a sheet,” Zephyr said as he helped stabilize me.
I leaned against the wall as the room settled, but the nausea persisted. What the hell was going on? Why did I feel like this? Something rippled at the far end of the bond, as if I were being tugged, and my heart stuttered. Was something wrong with Cassie? Was she okay?
My eyes met Zephyr’s as my mind flew to the worst possibilities, and realization flashed across his eyes.
“Damien?” he started, as if dreading the words I might say.
She was with Cody and Kat, but I hadn’t gotten a call from Cody. He would’ve called me the moment something happened.
Damien!
