“What?” I choke out and stumble further back from him. I was sure that it was memories, not reality.
“He has come to you and tried to leave his mark,” Remiel says mildly. “You let him touch you,” he adds in disgust.
“No!” I say firmly. “I did not allow him to do anything. He coerced me. Which, by the way, I blame you. I came to you with my concerns and you told me he had no powers and that you would deal with it.” I stamp my foot to make my point.
“He must have sensed you were vulnerable,” he muses. “I can deal with it for you.”
“How?” I ask.
“You need to say the words, Aefre,” he chides me gently, closing the distance between us and cupping my face briefly.
“What do you mean?” I ask quietly.
“I am your sire and I will help you. I will always be here for you. Say the words,” he says.
Dammit. He has once again backed me into a corner. How the fuck does he do that? He is the only man in existence to play me like a Stradivarius. Not even CK can manipulate me in quite the same way.
“If I don’t get him to back off you, Aefre, he will keep coming for you. He is jealous of my connection with you and he wants to take you from me. He wants to take what is mine because it is the only way he can beat me,” Remiel says.
“You and his other sons,” I spit out and then gasp as he slaps me across my face. I hold my hand to my cheek as I glare at him and then quickly look to make sure that Delinda didn’t just see what happened. Fortunately, she has her back turned and is staring into the woods.
“You bastard,” I snarl at him.
“Do not ever mention them to me again,” he says. “They are pawns in this game. They mean nothing, created only because I was unable to fulfill my destiny.”
“He doesn’t think so,” I say defiantly. “He was very interested in my baby.” What am I doing? Why am I saying this?
“Was he now?” he asks with interest. “What does he see in it that I do not?”
“Raw power,” I say.
“Oh, really?” he scoffs. “I would be very careful, Aefre. You do not want that man taking your child.”
Taking my child? Why would he do that? “I don’t understand,” I say, hating that I had to show my confusion.
“It is his blood, he will use it to further his own power,” Remiel says, watching for my reaction.
“Why can’t I just be left alone?” I wail in despair and flop back to the stone bench. I am worn out with all these creatures coming after me and my children.
“I will protect you,” Remiel says, sitting next to me and taking my hand as if he hadn’t just slapped me. “All you have to do is ask.”
Damn him. Damn him to the center of Hell.
The thought of bringing G.I. to my hands to nail him in the guts with it is so very appealing while I ponder his words. But he has shown me quite clearly that he can defend himself against it, so I don’t bother. I just heave a sigh and make a deal with the devil.
“Help me,” I mutter under my breath.
“I’m sorry,” he says, putting his hand to his ear. “I didn’t quite catch that, my dear.”
Arsehole.
I turn to look him dead in the eye. “Please help me,” I say to him and he beams at me and squeezes my hand.
“But of course,” he says grandly. “You are my charge and I will always help you. Now, about Delinda…”
“What about her?” I ask fearfully.
“I want to see her again,” he says as he beckons her over. She comes racing over with a beautiful smile and jumps in his lap. “And you,” he adds slyly.