Buckinghamshire, England, September 2013 – Constantine
“Are you absolutely certain?” he asks Nico quietly.
“Yes, sir,” Nico replies into the phone. “It tracks, I’m afraid.”
“Very well, leave it with me to deal with,” Constantine says, clenching his fist.
“Are you sure?” Nico asks.
“Yes, this is a delicate situation. I will handle it. I assume I don’t need to remind you that if Aefre hears about this in any way whatsoever before I am ready to tell her, it will be your head.” Constantine hears Nico gulp at the threat, and it pleases him. He is fond of Nico. Very fond of him. He is without doubt one of the only three people in this world that he cares about. Not that he would ever admit that to him, or anyone else for that matter, but he would protect him at all costs, has done so many times, but it still pleases Constantine to know that Nico hasn’t lost all of his fear of him.
“Of course,” Nico murmurs and Constantine hangs up. This is an interesting turn of events. He has no idea quite what to do with the news. First things though, he is going to confront Cole about it. This serves two purposes: one, he wants Cole to know that he knows his secret and two, to ensure that it is in fact accurate intel. Nico has never let him down, but this is a rather enormous occurrence and he has to be absolutely certain of the facts before he tells all to his beautiful wife. He still can’t believe his luck that she forgave him his actions and came back for him. He had his serious doubts that she would, but he should have known that she wouldn’t abandon him. She can’t stay away from him any longer than he can stay away from her. The mere fact that Cole suggested and entered into this arrangement is proof of how afraid he is that Aefre will leave him. This was his way of ensuring his future with her and it was a smart move on his behalf. Constantine never would have given him enough credit to think it up on his own.
Aefre must have had some influence over his decision, although she looked as surprised as he felt when Cole brought it up. One thing that makes Constantine angry, apart from the fact that he has to share her still, is the fact that since they got married, he has spent two days with her. Well, two days where she has been awake. It is unacceptable and if he ever gets his hands on Remiel, he will kill him, regardless of his ‘Primary’ status.
Ugh, he scoffs silently.
Primary Vampire.
What a kick in the gut that was.
And one that every one of Aefre’s boys seemed more than delighted to tell him once they discovered what happened to her. No longer the top of the pecking order, it seems. He should have been expecting it, in all honesty. There was a cursory mention of them in the book that Tiamat wrote and that he is still trying to find the time and effort to translate. He didn’t really understand the context at the time, but it makes perfect sense now. He is still desperate to undo Sebastian’s turning. Even more so now that he has formed an attachment with Aefre.
There is nothing he can do about this whole disgusting Fae business, but he sure as Hell will try to do something about the Vampire side. He always has to be in control, and he will find a way to take away the Vampire in Sebastian. He will lose his charge, but he has long since come to realize that the only one that really, truly matters to him is his sweet Aefre. He has an infatuation with Sebastian, of course. A love for him that goes back millennia. But he knows it can be squashed as long as he ends up with the only thing he wants.
And he has.
He will bide his time and in due course, push Cole completely out of this relationship. He will take back what is rightly his and this time it will be forever. Her relationship with Devon is tenuous at the moment and all he needs to do is give it the necessary tug to break it, which he will do when the time is right, he already knows how. And he isn’t unduly worried about Cade. The man seems quite happy to end his life, so Constantine will let him do it. The less he has to be directly involved in these betrayals, the better. He has done, and will continue to do, everything he can to break her tie to every single one of these creatures that has a hold on her. He hates it. He hates the treachery. He has lived through what it does to them when she finds out and he knows he has run out of chances. He offered up his own penance after she found out about the spelling. He offered her something he knew she wouldn’t refuse but see as acceptable. Something that she knew was so difficult for him, that she could understand he was repentant for his sins. She can never, ever find out that he continues in his efforts and he will ensure that it stays that way. This new information on Cole is the perfect stake to aim straight at him, as soon as he is ready. He cannot look too eager to share. He must take it slowly and make sure that he doesn’t get caught in the crossfire.
He regards himself in the mirror and straightens his shirt cuffs. He will never get used to the casual look that everyone adopts around here. Aefre has become more and more idle with her appearance as of late and he must rectify that. He doesn’t like her wandering around looking like a teenager. She is a woman, a Queen, and she needs to start dressing the part. At least he has complete control over that now, he muses. Once she is healed, he will make sure her sartorial neglect is addressed. He frowns then as he thinks about her wounds. It is a grave concern for him that they aren’t healing. She is weak and that won’t do. He needs her strong and able and this fragility must go. It unnerves him. Makes him think back to when he rescued her from Lance, and she was completely frail and defenseless. He loves taking care of her, make no mistake about that, but he loves it when he knows it is an option, not a necessity. He will die for her if need be. He will protect her with everything that he has, but it reassures him to know that she can look after herself. Well, most of the time. She attracts trouble more than any other person he has ever known. He sighs and turns around as she enters the room.
“Like what you see?” she smirks weakly at him, catching him having a moment of vanity, and he smiles at her.
“I do now,” he says and bends down to kiss her. He daren’t touch her in case he hurts her, and it is killing him. He wants to make love to her so badly, he doesn’t think he can hold back another minute. That, however, he is certain will be off the table for a while. He likes his participants to be actively involved, and she is most definitely not up to scratch.
“You are too sweet,” she replies. “And a liar. Move, I want to see.”
“Err,” he says and blocks her way with a frown. She won’t like what she sees and why cause her more pain?
“Move!” she says with more force and he steps to the side knowing she will see eventually. The look of horror on her face at her ghastly appearance makes him want to both laugh at her own vanity, but also take her in his arms and comfort her.
“Seriously?” she asks, bringing her hand up to her sunken cheeks. She peers closer and traces the deep black circles under her eyes. Her skin is a sickly yellow color and she is even more gaunt than her natural state. “Jesus,” she whispers and turns her back. He takes pity on her at her mournful gaze and he does hold her then. She clings to him and he is happy. He sweeps her up into his arms and carries her to the bed.
“Rest, Aefre. That
is the only thing we can do for now,” he says.
“No,” she shakes her head. “Blood-soaked marigolds.”
“Excuse me?” Constantine asks her.
“Other Liv said to soak marigolds in your blood and put them on the bites. It will draw out the poison and heal them,” she explains.
“Other Liv?” he says in disgust. “You have seen her?” He cannot stand that woman. She is vile and repulsive and everything that he never wants his own dear charge to be.
“Mm, she paid me a visit earlier,” she says evasively.
What is she hiding this time? Always with the secrets. He wishes with a grimace that he had that telepathic connection to her that Lincoln has. At least he would know her every thought and there would be nothing she could hide from him.