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Griff cleared his throat. “Yes, sir. Abel would like to talk to you again.”
I’m sure he would. “All right.”
The conduit lifted his splayed hand but then fisted it. “I . . .”
“Yes?”
“He’s not alone. Adam is with him.”
Cain felt his lips thin. He supposed he should have expected that. Adam might not care for Eve, but he wouldn’t like that she’d escaped him. He’d insist on personally questioning Cain. Assuming this wasn’t all part of his plan, of course.
“I appreciate the heads-up, Griff.” Not that Cain believed the conduit had done it out of the goodness of his heart. No, he just hadn’t wanted Cain to be later pissed at him for issuing no such warning.
The conduit reached his splayed fingers toward Cain, who then touched his fingertips to his. And again, Cain was back in that all-white room. There were three chairs this time. Two were taken by Abel and Adam, who sat side by side, their hard eyes pinned on Cain.
The two men were so similar in looks it was almost uncanny, though Adam had thicker hair and a prominent dimple in his chin. One thing always set them apart when they were around Cain. Whereas Abel’s eyes were often filled with derision at such times, Adam would keep his own gaze blank.
Cain’s monster stirred, fixing them both with an unblinking glare that blazed with rage. It despised Abel, but the intensity of that emotion was completely surpassed by the depth of its hatred for Adam. The creature would rip him apart if given the chance—and it one day would be. Cain would grant it that pleasure, just as his monster wouldn’t interfere with Cain’s intent to be the one who took out Abel.
“Ah, there you are.” Adam eyed Cain from head to toe, all superiority. “Imprisonment suits you, it would seem,” he taunted.
Cain didn’t react. He’d long ago ceased giving that asshole any emotion to work with. Instead, he slid his gaze back to Abel, who sat so unnaturally still it was clear the Aeon wanted to leap at him in anger. That certainly cheered Cain’s monster. It had always loved to see the little shit riled.
Cain hummed. “Back in touch so soon, Abel? I thought you said it would be thirty days before we next communicated.”
Abel’s hands fisted. “You know why I wanted this meeting.”
Taking the seat opposite the two Aeons, Cain arched a bored brow. “I do?”
Abel leaned forward. “Release them.”
“Them?”
“There is no point in games or denials, Cain,” Adam cut in. “Eve and my grandchildren were tracked as far as the town nearest to yours. We know you have them. Let them go.”
Abel quickly added, “They have nothing to do with this war you and I have been part of for so long.”
“I’m well-aware of that,” said Cain.
“Then release them,” Abel pushed.
“You think I’m keeping them here against their will?” Cain slowly shook his head. “Incorrect. They came here looking for somewhere new to live. I simply obliged them. I’m helpful that way.”
Abel snorted. “My mother might have wanted to go to Devil’s Cradle—she always did love you best, for some unfathomable reason. But my children? No. She might have talked them into escorting her to you, but she would not have managed to convince them to stay. Now send them home.”
“I would. Genuinely.” Cain shrugged, adding, “But, well, they don’t want to go.”
“They would never willingly stay with you.”
“You know them so well, do you? That’s not the impression that I got. They don’t much like you, as it happens.”
Watching as Abel’s body turned impossibly stiffer and his nostrils flared, Cain strongly believed that this was no act. If Eve and her grandchildren were here at Adam’s say-so, Abel was oblivious to it—Cain would put money on it.
Adam shifted on his seat. “Even if Rima and Noah do wish to remain at Devil’s Cradle—which I will never for one moment believe—they do not belong there. Nor does Eve. You will send all three of them back to Aeon immediately.” The expectancy of obedience in his tone was as familiar as it was amusing.
“I’m not feeling inclined to do that.” Cain tipped his head to the side. “Unlike you, I’m not much into banishing people from their homes. It doesn’t seem right.”
“Are they alive?” Abel demanded. “My children, are they alive?”
