Page 90 of Soul Redeemed

She lifted the tray and slumped her shoulders. “Just wanted to offer him a snack. Poor dear is so weak.”

Calix held out his hands in offering. “I know Ava will eat it.”

“Is she up and around, love? I wanted to pop in on her but didn’t know if the two of you had emerged from the bathtub.”

“Yes, she’s sleeping at the moment, but I suspect she’ll be hungry when she wakes.” If the trick’d worked, her craving for blood would have abated with the elimination of the Sang virus, and her human half would go back to craving a more regular sort of sustenance.

Handing the tray off to him, Anna offered an appreciative smile. “Well, then, perhaps she’ll enjoy some pancakes and bacon. Quite a bit there for you to share.”

“Thank you. I know she will.”

She cupped his cheek and kept on down the hall, toward Zeke’s room. Perhaps needing to check in on someone.

*

Having dropped off the tray on the nightstand beside where Ava continued to sleep, Calix made his way down to the catacombs. The cold chill of the stone walls, coupled with the souls of the ghouls who guarded the place, couldn’t steal the warmth brimming inside of him. When he reached Xander’s bedroom door, he waited a brief moment, unsure of what he’d hear on the other side, and at the greeting quiet, he knocked.

In all of ten seconds, Xander cracked open the door wearing only a pair of boxer briefs. “She’s in the first cell. Figured she’d want to know how things turned out before they come for her.”

“You’re still planning to hand her over, then.”

“Look, I get it. She did a lot of cool shit with the fire. But let’s not forget, she just did a whole lot of crazy shit with hellsfire, too. What’s to say she won’t turn around and opt to burn your ass extra crispy.”

Calix frowned back at him. “Why would she?”

“Sheer amusement.”

“You’ve always been the best at guarding this place, man. I’ve no argument about that. But this girl, she doesn’t deserve to be put to absolute death.”

Xander stroked his hand back and forth across his skull and exhaled a sigh. “You think this shit isn’t troubling me? Hell, I don’t like the idea of putting any female down like that. What a waste. But it isn’t my call.”

“You and Karinna have some history. Talk to her. Tell her what happened here last night.”

“This female is her big break. A promotion to keep her out of the shit trenches.” The angel shook his head and glanced away. “Fuck, man, every night she goes out looking for these Fallen bastards. If something happened to her? I’d burn this whole goddamn city to the ground, and the heavens, too. Karinna makes a big bust like this, and she’ll never set foot inside a sleazy ass club again.”

“Why don’t you go in together, then? Undercover partners? You handle the dirty work, and she stays out of trouble.”

He stroked his jaw and sneered. “You don’t know Karinna. Fucking stubborn as they come.”

“Will they, at least, consider a trial? A pardon? Probation? She saved a life. That’s gotta account for something.”

“From what I understand, she took some, too. I’ll talk to Karinna. See what I can do.”

With a nod, Calix backed away from the door and continued on toward the cells.

Inside, Thais sat on a cot, reading a book. A pile of plush blankets and pillows lay scattered around her, and bottles of water sat beside a stack of empty plates. At least Xander had tried to make her a bit more comfortable.

She lifted her gaze with a slight smile, as if sensing his presence, setting the book down beside her. The chain had been removed from her neck, leaving Calix puzzled as to why she remained where she was.

“I used the hellsfire on myself,” she said in answer. “After Ava. Can’t flash anymore.”

“So you say.” Calix’s lips tugged into a half grin.

“I’m not going to run. I’m tired of running. Always looking over my shoulder. About the only time I really felt safe was here, with you guys. And for a while there, you wanted to kill me.” Her chuckle bounced off the cold cement walls before dying away with the clearing of her throat. “How is she?”

“I think she’ll be just fine. Sleeping a lot.”

“It’s a bit like the flu at first. Achy joints, tired bones, headache, fever. She’ll come around. And your brother?”