Page 71 of Burn of Obsidian
Kace pulled his next punch at the last second, and Jax used it to his advantage. Using his forearm he tried to pin Kace, except his brother had other ideas. Using the heel of his foot he kicked Jax’s thigh, causing his entire leg to collapse.
Jax’s palm slapped against the cool wooden floor, teeth barred as Kace glared down at him.
‘Stay down, J.’
Except Jax was already up, ignoring the pain to kick out hard enough Kace stumbled back. Blood roared between his ears, but even with that he heard the door. Jax stilled, Kace turning at the same time towards the entrance. A shadow stood in the doorway, clapping slowly.
“Impressive,” Cassiel said, stepping forward. His gaze danced across the room, sweeping across the kids before settling on Jax. “I’ve never quite seen anything like it.”
Kace’s chest heaved with a breath, blood coating his cheek from where the skin had split. “Hunter,” he whispered, his ward appearing by his side. “Take the others and Eva to the back.”
Hunter snarled, his jaguar flashing in his irises. “I can help,” he said with as much attitude as any fifteen-year-old. “I’ve been training and – ”
“Protect her for me,” Kace interrupted, nodding to Eva who had already stood, fangs bared at the Councilman.
Cassiel raised a brow, his wings held high above his shoulders. He made no move toward her or the children, who were quickly moved to the back. Jax cocked his head, able to hear the young ones feared whimperers, and the older ones preparing to defend.
“You’re not welcome here,” Kace called louder, placing himself in front of the doorway that separated the back quarters to the cages.
“I’m here to speak with the mutt.” Cassiel smiled, but it wasn’t friendly. Two more celestrials stood by his side, dressed as warriors.
Kace snarled, the sound cutting off when Jax placed a hand on his shoulder. ‘You sure about this?’ he asked privately.
Jax nodded, waiting until Kace had taken a step back before turning fully to Cassiel. The celestrial was a large man, made larger with his copper wings held tight to his back. His blond hair was styled, his appearance of an esteemed councilman matching his sharp suit. He looked very out of place with the scratched wood and metal linked cages of the Vault.
“Who was your mother?” Cassiel asked, stretching his wings out slightly. “I’m aware druids can only create males, which means you must have received your celestrial genes from your mother. So, who is she?”
“Druids can create females,” he corrected. It was incredibly rare; however, the females did not become druids, taking the characteristics and Breed of the mother.
“Fascinating, but I don’t have a care for druids.” Cassiel closed the gap, feathers rustling as he adjusted them. “No, I’m talking about your celestrial blood. It’s strong, for a mutt.”
“I don’t remember my mother.” Which was true to an extent. He didn’t remember her name, only her face. “She means nothing to me.”
“She must have been strong for you to hold such a high rank, even with your… incapacities. Not many celestrials leave our home realm, unless she was a Fallen.”
“Is there a point to this?”
Cassiel smirked. “At our last meeting, you mentioned the Calicem Animarum.”
Jax pursed his lips. “Gideon has it.”
Cassiel turned, brushing his fingertips along some of the links to the closest cage. His fingers came away covered in wax, there to protect the Fae that entered. “It has only recently come to my attention that it existed within this realm, having been stolen a long time ago from Aetherna. It was thought to be lost.”
Jax remained silent, watching as Cassiel studied every inch of the Vault. He moved away from the cage, now running his fingers along the metal lattice of the betting office. The sound it made was gentle, echoing in the empty room.
“Gideon may have the chalice, but it’s incomplete without the instructions. But you already knew that, didn’t you, mutt?”
Jax simply crossed his arms, glancing over at the two warriors before returning to the councilman. “Why are you here?”
Cassiel cocked his head, studying Jax with a frown. “You shouldn't exist.”
Jax raised a brow. “How so?”
“Celestrials are born into ranks, much like Fae with their high and low caste. Only a handful of ranks have the ability to read ancient codex. Even less to write it. It’s an inherited skill, gifted down generations. There have been no cases of half-breeds, and yet you stand here with the energy of only the top savants. A Sage, no less.”
Jax wasn’t aware the ability wasn’t common amongst celestrials. It was the only thing that kept him sane growing up, reading his mother’s books. Some were printed, but most were handwritten in her neat curlicue.
“Gideon’s hunting the pages,” he said, needing to know how much Cassiel knew. “We believe he already has one.”