Archangel's Sun (Guild Hunter #13)(57)

That done, they walked into a large room set up with screens that would connect him to the rest of the Cadre. “You’ll have to stay out of sight of the cameras.” He pointed out the devices that would broadcast his visage to the others. “You’re not a consort and thus automatically entitled to attend.”

“I understand,” she said, but there was a scowl on her face. “Which one will show Aegaeon’s face? I must prepare myself not to smash it to pieces.”

Startled, he threw back his head and laughed, his chest expanding and light flooding his veins to push out the heaviness and darkness. “Alas, there’s no specified order,” he told her. “It simply depends on who responds when.” He smiled at her. “You’ll just have to be strong, Shari of the Throwing Knife.”



* * *



*

Shari of the Throwing Knife.

His playful words, his smile, the tone of his voice, it all hit Sharine hard, it was so . . . real. With no hint that he was laying on his vaunted charm or chancing techniques of seduction. He was simply smiling at her, the two of them sharing a moment of humor. She hadn’t been joking about Aegaeon, but Titus’s smile had her lips tugging upward. “I’ll grit my teeth and clench my jaw.”

“Think only that he’d be most satisfied to see you lose control, and it’ll be enough. I gather he is that kind of angel, yes?”

“Yes,” she said and settled her yet-cramped wings. “I’ll keep it together.” Words she’d heard Tanicia use on one of her soldiers when that man was crying over a broken heart. Tanicia wasn’t the gentlest of generals, but Sharine had been in sympathy with her on that occasion—for the soldier in question fell in love every Saturday and cried over a broken heart every Thursday, or so it seemed.

“Now I must do this.” Smile fading, Titus turned to face the screens. He shifted his stance in the same movement. No longer was he the relaxed angel who’d hit her with that glorious smile; he stood with his feet apart, his arms loose and ready by his sides, and his wings held with precision control. His muscles carried a subtle tension.

A warrior angel at ease but ready to shift into an attack stance in seconds.

Exhaustion made it impossible for her to do anything similar. Saying to hell with pride, she slid down to sit on the floor.

Sharine?

I’m fine. I want to focus on the discussion, not my aching muscles.

Titus nodded. A moment later, the dark screens in front of him lit from within and began to show the image of a turning hourglass. He must’ve sent a mental command to the member of his staff in charge of this technology.

As she waited for the other archangels to respond, Sharine considered the fact that this was the first time she’d ever be in the presence of the entire ruling Cadre. She’d been a significant part of Aegaeon’s life, yet he’d never bothered to do her the respect of introducing her to the other archangels.

By contrast, Astaad had introduced his Mele to everyone, and she’d often accompanied him to formal events. Even Sharine had met her, though she’d gone to few large gatherings in the past several hundred years; she still remembered Mele’s stunning dark eyes, clear intelligence, and graceful way of speaking. But most of all, she remembered Astaad’s quiet pride in having her by his side.

How foolish Sharine had been not to see through Aegaeon’s motives. All she’d ever been to him was a shiny trophy. He’d never loved Sharine, had just wanted to own the Hummingbird. And she’d been so needy and wounded that she’d accepted the dregs of affection he threw her way.

That was on her.

You judge yourself harshly.

Even as the memory of Titus’s words reverberated through her, the screen on the top left cleared to reveal Neha’s face. From what Sharine could see of her torso, the Queen of India was dressed in warrior leathers of darkest green, and those leathers were dusty, as was her face. Her braided black hair bore the same patina of dust.

“My apologies for the slow response, Titus.” Tight words. “I was in the field, helping Suyin clear out the nests of child victims Lijuan left behind.”

A shudder rocked Sharine.

“I thought the children had already been given mercy,” Titus boomed, his expression taut with rage. “You’re saying there were more?”

Neha nodded, her brown eyes tired in a way Sharine had never seen in any archangel. “Either Lijuan was keeping them in reserve, or they didn’t respond to her order when she gave it during the war. They’ve turned on each other in the interim. It is . . . a difficult scene.”

Sharine couldn’t imagine the horror of what the archangel was describing, the utter nightmare of having to execute children who’d been made monstrous without their consent or desire. Used as tools for an insane archangel. There’s no hope of a cure for these children?

No. Titus’s responding tone was somber. There’s no cure for any of it.

“Suyin was dirty and bloody to the extent that she needs a moment to wash.” One of Neha’s beloved snakes twined its way up her arm, a living jewel of brilliant orange. “As she has no functioning communication center close to this border, she’ll be entering the discussion from another room in my border stronghold.”

Once more, the Archangel of India and the Archangel of China were working together, as they’d done often throughout history. But never in such a horrific circumstance.