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Cain took a swig of his drink. “And if I had appeared at Aeon making the same claim, would you have been inclined to believe me?”
She hesitated. “I suppose not.” She eyed Cain closely. “I’ve heard a lot of whispers. Is it true that the witch who cursed Aeon is your consort?” It wasn’t a question, it was a challenging accusation. Like he needed to justify his choice. More, like he should be embarrassed by his answer.
Cain slanted his head. “Try as I might, I’m failing to see why I need to explain myself or my choices to you. Perhaps you could help me with that.”
An embarrassed flush swept across her cheeks and reddened her ears. “Ouch. That tone could make anyone feel two feet tall.”
Seth chuckled. “Don’t be a brat and he won’t treat you like one.”
She pulled a face at Seth, her eyes glinting with humor, before cutting her gaze back to Cain. “It simply doesn’t make sense to me that you would have any time for a person who cursed a place that was once your home,” she said, no edge to her voice this time.
“It makes no sense to me that a witch would need to be exiled because she didn’t meet the Aeons’ definition of perfection,” said Cain. “It was her old coven who decided she should leave, true, but she wasn’t permitted to leave. An exile, in truth, is a death sentence.”
Eve looked away, uncomfortable.
“Wynter’s magick is dark through no fault of her own. She hadn’t committed a crime. She hadn’t hurt anyone other than the boys who’d once felt they had the right to take her life.” Well, other than two mortals who were a threat to her, but that wasn’t something that Cain would share. “Yet, Aeons had no qualms about having her tossed off a cliff.”
Noah shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “Not all Aeons agree that those who are cast out should be killed.”
Cain balanced his glass on his thigh. “That hasn’t changed anything, though, has it? None of those who oppose it have done anything about it. Their inaction has contributed to the reality that an endless number of people unjustly lost their lives merely because the Aeons view mortals as disposable. Consequences come for us all. There was a rot in Aeon long before Wynter ever arrived there. She simply gave it a physical manifestation.”
Noah sighed, his eyes going slightly out of focus. “Yes, the rot has been there for a while. It’s no surprise that God punished us.”
Eve cleared her throat. “She’s truly your consort, then? The witch?” She sounded curious rather than dubious.
“Yes,” replied Cain. “Wynter is mine. But even if she wasn’t, I would not surrender her to the Aeons. Neither myself nor the other Ancients ever give up those who’ve come seeking our protection.”
Studying Cain, Rima idly flicked her cards along the underside of her chin. “You’re not how Grandfather described you. I mean, he made you seem like a one-dimensional evil being who pounced on any excuse to hurt others.”
Cain would bet he did. “And yet, you came here.”
“Because nobody is one-dimensional, so his account never seemed realistic,” said Rima. “Plus, Grandmother painted another picture of you. I will always take her word over that of his. He lies about many things.”
“You don’t seem to care much for Adam,” Cain idly commented, not wishing to indicate that Seth had relayed all they’d told him.
“It is hard to care for someone who enjoyed intimidating and acting inappropriately toward your mother,” Rima clipped. “I do not know for sure if he took her against her will, but I know that such a thing would be nothing to him. He does not respect women. I’m not certain there is anyone he does respect. He holds Abel in high esteem, but I do not believe he loves him. Adam sees all his children and grandchildren as extensions of him. We’re his ‘legacy.’”
Noah nodded. “He doesn’t care about us as people. Doesn’t really know us.”
Cain made a contemplative sound. “He was still very clear that he wants you sent home.”
The three Aeons froze.
“What?” asked Rima.
“I’ve just had a conversation via a conduit with both him and Abel,” Cain explained, sharpening his focus on Rima, Noah, and Eve to closely take in their reactions. “They know you’re all here. And, as I’m sure you can imagine, they really don’t like it. They’ll be sending Aeons here to collect you.”
Noah exchanged a look with his sister before cutting his gaze to Cain. “If you give us up, they’ll kill us for our betrayal.”
“Actually, they’re under the impression that I’m keeping you here against your will,” Cain told him. “It matters not, since I don’t intend to hand you over. But if you wish to leave, I will not stop you.”
Okay, that was a lie. In truth, Cain couldn’t allow them to leave; couldn’t allow them to share with the other Aeons that Wynter was Cain’s consort. But he had no issue with calling their bluff because he didn’t believe they would choose to return to Aeon.
After all, if they were here to do something on Adam’s behalf, they would wish to stay until it was done. And if they had truly come here for sanctuary, they would be equally opposed to returning to Aeon—it would mean facing punishment for their actions, and those punishments would be harsh.
“You would let us go?” ask Rima.
“What reason would I have not to?” Cain took a swig of his whiskey. “Devil’s Cradle is nothing like Aeon. If residents wish to move on, they are permitted to do so. At that point, all rights to their soul are once again theirs.” He looked from Eve to Rima to Noah. “You have a choice to make. You can stay, or you can go. Decide.”
