Armande's smile didn't change as he pulled both women up, though he did feel a hint of amusement flash through him. And then he looked at Valeriya. Her eyes were hooded and he felt stab of pain. How quickly a person's heart could be divided. Rowan had done the unthinkable, forever cementing herself as Valeriya's counterpart.
And in doing so, Armande had lost a bit of that part of her whole heart. A slave never appealed to him. She was a lionness, a leopard. Two arrogant and strong willed people did not share a bed or power easily. But with the two of them, it was manageable. And a joy.
A second person now vied for her affection.
Armande had made his plans, prior to his meeting with Abaddon. No matter the cost, Valeriya had to learn to view channelers as he did. She was to be kidnapped by channelers. The rest was to be worked out in real time. Dangerous. Tragic. But in the end necessary. Very necessary.
His meeting with Apollyon had changed that. Had made everything clearer. That was the war. The focus. As if in confirmation, the two women together had a vision, cementing that that was the correct path. Even if it cost his life, that was the end game. And worth it.
The universe- Maya, Kismet, fate, someone larger than him, whomever- was in charge. And a weight had fallen off his shoulders. He had his battle. Central. Pivotal. But others would carry on.
Rowan did not have to die at his hands. She was his tool, now. Maya would take care of her and all other channelers.
He looked at Rowan and gently touched her underneath her empty socket, careful not to pain the puffy angry red skin as the body struggled to deal with this horrific excision. Wonderment shone in his eyes. His voice was kind. "The cost, Rowan. Such a cost. You are Khylsty." He looked at Valeriya, gently touched her cheek. "You see beyond, my beloved. You knew. I am blind without you. Show me the way. The above must be safeguarded above all."
He led them both by the hand to their private sleeping quarters. He sat on the floor while they sat on their pallet. He looked at Rowan. "I did not come to destroy the world, Rowan, but to save it. I have no nuclear weapons at my disposal. We only exist to safeguard humanity against the darkness that forever threatens."
He paused, breathing. "But yes, I saw. When she speaks....when you both speak, it seems I can see the vision myself. Tell me, what is this fallen star? Is the vision certain?"
He reached a hand to Valeriya's, held it. "I am happy to trade my life for mankind. Tell me that is what this means. Please!" He looked at Valeriya. Adoration plain in his eyes. "Others will follow after me. The world of men will not be swallowed by the long night. It cannot be."
And in doing so, Armande had lost a bit of that part of her whole heart. A slave never appealed to him. She was a lionness, a leopard. Two arrogant and strong willed people did not share a bed or power easily. But with the two of them, it was manageable. And a joy.
A second person now vied for her affection.
Armande had made his plans, prior to his meeting with Abaddon. No matter the cost, Valeriya had to learn to view channelers as he did. She was to be kidnapped by channelers. The rest was to be worked out in real time. Dangerous. Tragic. But in the end necessary. Very necessary.
His meeting with Apollyon had changed that. Had made everything clearer. That was the war. The focus. As if in confirmation, the two women together had a vision, cementing that that was the correct path. Even if it cost his life, that was the end game. And worth it.
The universe- Maya, Kismet, fate, someone larger than him, whomever- was in charge. And a weight had fallen off his shoulders. He had his battle. Central. Pivotal. But others would carry on.
Rowan did not have to die at his hands. She was his tool, now. Maya would take care of her and all other channelers.
He looked at Rowan and gently touched her underneath her empty socket, careful not to pain the puffy angry red skin as the body struggled to deal with this horrific excision. Wonderment shone in his eyes. His voice was kind. "The cost, Rowan. Such a cost. You are Khylsty." He looked at Valeriya, gently touched her cheek. "You see beyond, my beloved. You knew. I am blind without you. Show me the way. The above must be safeguarded above all."
He led them both by the hand to their private sleeping quarters. He sat on the floor while they sat on their pallet. He looked at Rowan. "I did not come to destroy the world, Rowan, but to save it. I have no nuclear weapons at my disposal. We only exist to safeguard humanity against the darkness that forever threatens."
He paused, breathing. "But yes, I saw. When she speaks....when you both speak, it seems I can see the vision myself. Tell me, what is this fallen star? Is the vision certain?"
He reached a hand to Valeriya's, held it. "I am happy to trade my life for mankind. Tell me that is what this means. Please!" He looked at Valeriya. Adoration plain in his eyes. "Others will follow after me. The world of men will not be swallowed by the long night. It cannot be."