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Eve fretfully worried her lower lip. “I don’t wish to leave. Devil’s Cradle is your cage. Aeon was mine. If I go back there, I would be killed.”
Noah rubbed at his nape. “What is there to go back to? Aeon is falling. And there is no one there I wish to be reunited with. There are only two people in this world I give a damn about, and they’re in this room with me.” The image of defeat, he weakly shrugged. “Besides, if Rima and I return, we’ll be punished for coming here.”
Lines of anxiety creasing her face, Rima shoved a hand through her hair. “To be truthful, I don’t wish to be there or here. I wish to travel. I would like to see more of what the world has to offer.” She looked at Cain. “But that’s not something I feel I can do until I’m one hundred percent sure that my grandmother and brother are safe and settled here. As such, I would ask that you don’t surrender us to the Aeons who come to collect us.”
Cain inclined his head in agreement.
Seth changed the subject then, and they talked of casual things for a short while. Paying close attention to them, Cain could agree with Seth’s assessment of the three Aeons in terms of their personality. Also, he believed that the thought of returning to their old home genuinely unnerved them. But that could be for any number of reasons—including that they hadn’t yet accomplished a task they may have been sent to do. As such, he still wasn’t inclined to trust that they meant Wynter no harm.
When it came time for Cain to leave, he drained his glass and stood. “I have to get going.” He caught Seth’s eye, reminding him with a look that they would need to speak with the other Ancients.
Seth rose. “I’ll see you out.”
Cain wished the Aeons a good evening and then turned for the door.
“Cain?” Eve called out, rising from the table. She crossed to him, flexing her fingers as if battling with the urge to reach out and touch him. “I just wanted to say . . . I’m glad you found happiness with someone.” She licked her lips. “I hope I will be able to meet Wynter one day soon.”
Not in the mood to prevaricate, he said, “If there comes a time I feel I can trust you around her, I’ll introduce you both. But not a minute sooner.”
Eve smiled, pleased. “Atta boy. You keep her safe. Not that I would hurt her, but it is good that you put her first. I’m glad that the word ‘consort’ carries meaning for you. It’s too often used as a mere label that says a person cannot be touched by others.” She dipped her chin in goodbye and then returned to the table.
Cain left the room with Seth, who then asked, “What do you think of them?”
“I think you’ve read them pretty well,” Cain replied. “I also think you’ve developed a fondness for them.”
Seth sighed. “Tragically, I have.”
“Their reactions to our news seemed authentic.”
“They did, though we must bear in mind that that doesn’t translate to them being at Devil’s Cradle for the right reasons.”
“My thoughts exactly.”
They held the meeting with the other Ancients in the library. As Seth predicted, Ishtar complained that she hadn’t been included in the conversation with Eve and the twins, but the others were not bothered.
“Given all that Abel and Adam said,” began Inanna, standing before the crackling fireplace, “I don’t think they themselves will come to collect Eve and her grandchildren.”
“I did try goading Abel into coming for his children himself, insinuating he didn’t have the guts,” said Cain, sinking into an armchair. “But I suspect that Adam will talk him down and instead do as he said and send some of his people. There was no more talk of adjusting the size of our prison, only a warning that we’ll ‘bring sheer hell’ upon ourselves if we don’t cooperate.”
“Having our cage shrunk would be hell,” muttered Ishtar, slowly pacing.
Rocking back on his heels, Azazel said, “It will take some serious work on our part to provoke Adam into coming here. He’ll never admit it, but he fears us.”
Lilith nodded, absentmindedly tapping the sofa’s armrest. “Abel, on the other hand, is much easier to play.” She looked at Cain. “I say you should focus on him when you next meet with the Aeons via a conduit.”
Beside Lilith, Dantalion said, “I agree. You know all Abel’s buttons, Cain. Push them harder than you ever have before. There’s no other way he’ll cross Adam and storm our metaphorical gates.”
“And if he won’t cross Adam, which he likely won’t?” asked Ishtar, folding her arms. “What do we do then?”
Seth pushed out of the other armchair. “We come up with another plan to draw the bastards here. What we won’t do is admit defeat. Try not to be so pessimistic—you’re not helping.”
Ishtar shot him a haughty look. “I merely wish to know what our next move will be if our current plan is not successful. There is the obvious solution, of course, but—”
“Giving the Aeons what they most want is not a solution,” said Cain, his tone clipped, his patience wafer thin when it came to this woman. “We’ve covered this already. And if you have any sense, you will stop right there.”
She pressed her lips tightly together, her eyes glimmering with annoyance.
Inanna let out a relieved breath and patted her sister’s arm. “Do not be so quick to give up hope. You’ve held onto it all these eons. Just cling to it a little longer.”
