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Aida shrugged. “It’s possible. If they weren’t casting judgment, female goddesses were most definitely fucking their disciples. But this part here says there also needs to be a sacrifice, and I’m guessing the council said nothing about that.”
I shook my head. “What kind of sacrifice?”
Aida read for a minute before looking over her shoulder at me. “Well, essentially, it says your soul, but you don’t have one. I guess another way you can interpret it is ‘your reason for existence,’ but even still, that’s a bit of a stretch.”
I frowned and straightened, glancing over at Talon and then at Ada. “No. I know exactly what my father was thinking. Though, how he knew is beyond me.”
“What?” Aida asked, crossing her arms as she turned around.
“Your reason for existence.” I held up my hands, one pointing at Talon and one at her. “Vampires do not mate, but we believe it is possible to find somebody who, in a way, restores our soul. Much like a mate is for a shifter, these partners are like our other halves, but we believe they literally complete us and fill the void being a vampire can never fill. Somehow, he knew the three of us would be bound. And what is the one thing in this room that would be both of our reasons for existence?”
There was a long pause before Aida and I slowly turned to Talon, whose eyebrows rose to his hairline.
“Me? They intended to sacrifice me?”
I shrugged. “I do not imagine they would have brought it up at the meeting last night because if they knew how I would feel upon meeting you. By the time I came to that meeting, I already felt something for you, and for them to suggest such a thing would have resulted in a much nastier scene than what happened last night.”
“So, you think the wedding is a trick, then?” Talon asked with a frown.
“I think whatever ceremony they intend to do when we get there will result in their attempt at killing Talon. And there are enough old vampires that I am afraid to say you would not stand a chance. Even as a hell-hound, taking that much venom and that many bites in one go would eventually overwhelm your ability to self-heal.”
“So, what do we do then?”
Talon and I both turned to Aida, my eyes roaming the pretty picture she made in that wedding dress. While I would love to properly make her my wife, binding her to me in that way, our kinds didn’t need that to be together. We lived too long for that kind of nonsense. And knowing the wedding was a way to set up the ritual, I couldn’t risk sending her or Talon there if my father was planning to do something to them.
“Will you both run away with me?” My eyes flicked from Talon’s to Aida’s and back again. “Staying would result in bloodshed, either yours or theirs. And frankly, I am too old for this bullshit. I took the position as head of the East Coast because it was supposed to be simple. I just wanted to work and live. Even if we did kill those intending to release the gods today, your brothers are still involved, and they would find another way to make it work. We would have to kill more supernaturals than we could. Disappearing would be our best option.”
Aida frowned, and I resisted the sensation of my heart falling into my feet. Of course, she’d say no. I was asking her to give up everything. And on a half-assed plan, no less. It wasn’t like I was suggesting somewhere specific for us to go.
“I prefer the non-fighting option anyway. Fights aren’t my thing. They’re too much work.” She smiled slightly before continuing. “I’m not sure what would happen next. I said I wanted to see what might come of us, but what if it doesn’t work out? Are we stuck living in hiding together for eternity?”
I shook my head, stepping forward as I cupped her cheek and guided her eyes to mine. “From the moment I laid eyes on you, I knew you were the part of my soul I was looking for. You and Talon, together, fill the void chasing me for millenniums. I know, despiteknowing, this will work out. We will be fine together, more than fine, wherever we end up.”
Talon cleared his throat, making us both turn to him. “It’s not my place to have a role in these plans—”
“Now it is,” Aida said as I nodded. “When it comes to the three of us, we have to all be on the same page, or it won’t work no matter how much we want it to.”
“Yes, I agree.”
Talon frowned slightly before nodding. “Well then, I have a suggestion, but I’m not sure either of you will like it.”
“Go on,” I implored.
“There’s a pack of shifters, they call themselves misfits, and they’ve made a home for themselves—”
“—outside Harrisburg. I received intel from a spy on them. He said a coven’s spell protected it, so he could not get inside.”
“Yes, they have an arrangement with a local coven. I can get into it, though, being a shifter myself. I only stumbled on it once while doing a job many years ago when the demons were still trapped in Hell.” His eyes drifted to Aida. “I spent some time there, but they are devoted to the idea of creating a refuge for outcasts. They might accept us, despite the fact you both aren’t shifters. I’m sure there would have to be tenuous agreements put in place to ensure everyone feels comfortable, but once we’re inside—”
“—the spell protects us too.” Talon nodded as Aida finished his thought. “I’d have to give up my place in Hell.”
“You would.”
“That could disrupt my brothers long enough to distract them from bringing our father back. They’d be more interested in a power grab for themselves.” She shrugged. “Provided you two are planning to be the mountain men, all that work does not sound like fun.”
Talon laughed and stepped closer, wrapping one arm around her waist as he kissed the top of her head. “I always promised to do your bidding, and if you wish to only sunbathe and lounge around our home, then so be it. I will do whatever you need.”
“And so will I. We’re in this together.” I stepped closer to them, pulling them against me as we squished Aida between our bodies.
