Fractured Souls by Ava Marie Salinger

18

Victor Sloan gazedat them steadily across the video call. “No.”

Strickland clenched his jaw. “You are one hundred percent certain no summoning staff has gone missing from the vault in London?”

“Yes, I’m sure.” Victor’s gaze shifted to Cassius, concern darkening the stone-blue depths. “Are you okay? I heard what happened.”

Cassius nodded, unsurprised at that fact. Cabalista had eyes and ears in every city on every continent, including the branch agencies they were meant to collaborate with. He shifted in his chair, acutely conscious of Morgan’s sharp stare from where the Aerial leaned against the wall to his right.

Cassius, Strickland, and Morgan were the only ones in the director’s office, Strickland having asked the other members of Morgan’s team to leave, much to their chagrin.

Cassius swallowed a grimace as Morgan’s laser-like gaze burned into the side of his face. Having the man he was currently interested in in the same virtual space as the one he’d ended a relationship with several months ago was more awkward than he’d thought it would be.

Though Victor’s expression remained diplomatic, Cassius could tell he’d picked up on the vibe between him and Morgan.

A lingering remorse twisted Cassius’s chest as he observed his former lover. He still had mixed feelings about his breakup with Victor. The light in the depths of Victor’s eyes told Cassius he shared those sentiments and more.

Cassius had been more than a little surprised when Victor had first asked him out. It had happened shortly after their battle against Tania Lancaster, when Europe was still reeling from news of the downfall of the sect that had terrorized it for decades. Cassius had refused Victor’s offer at first, certain the Fiery was only interested in him because of his newly revealed status as an Empyreal. It was only after Victor had confessed that he’d been captivated by Cassius for a long time that Cassius had capitulated. After all, he’d been similarly interested in Victor for years, though he’d never admitted it to the demon.

There had been a spark between them since the day their paths first crossed, a century after the Fall. It had taken that long for humans to stop distrusting the angels and demons who had crashed onto their world and inadvertently destroyed their cities, killing thousands upon thousands of their unsuspecting citizens. The Hundred Year War that had followed had been even more destructive for mankind. Though their magic had put a dent in the numbers of Fallen, it couldn’t compare to the untold number of humans who had lost their lives during those acrimonious conflicts. It had taken several concerted attempts by a determined group of angels, demons, and magic users to finally bring peace to the world once more. Victor had been part of that alliance and Cassius one of their hired guards.

Like all the Fallen, Victor was stunningly attractive. Cassius would have had to be dead not to be drawn to him. But there had been more to the chemistry between them than just the pull of physical attraction. Cassius had long assumed he was the only one who felt it and that Victor was straight. Having the Fiery reciprocate his interest had come as a pleasant shock.

Despite his reputation as a cold and forbidding demon, Victor had proven to be an incredibly attentive and kind lover. Their friendship had flourished almost as fast as their physical relationship, and sex between them had been as satisfying as Cassius had suspected it would be. Victor had made no secret of his growing feelings for Cassius over the years; he had even wanted to make their relationship official. But something had always stopped Cassius from fully surrendering his heart to the other man. Something he couldn’t explain.

He liked and respected Victor. But he couldn’t love him.

The day Cassius had told Victor he wanted to break up, the resignation in the demon’s eyes had made Cassius suspect he’d been expecting it for some time. They had parted ways amicably, Cassius moving out of Victor’s home and into his own place in London before he finally decided to leave the city and move continents.

Disquiet clouded Victor’s gaze. “Things are going to get bumpy once news spreads that you’re an Empyreal.”

A wry smile curved Cassius’s mouth. “Bumpy is a polite word. I can already feel the world hating me even more than it already did.”

A grimace twisted Victor’s mouth. “You’ve survived worse. This too shall pass.”

“I know,” Cassius said, grateful for the quiet strength in Victor’s voice and eyes.

He knew the demon would always have his back, whatever happened.

“How come you’re so sure no summoning staff has disappeared from the vault of the Cabalista headquarters?” Morgan said coolly. “Have you checked it personally?”

Strickland cast a warning glance at Morgan. Cassius frowned faintly. The Aerial was making no effort to hide his distrust of the demon.

“I don’t need to,” Victor replied. “There’s tracking magic on all seven summoning staffs we confiscated from the warlocks who made pacts with the Nine Hells. If one of them left the vault, the director of every branch of Cabalista in the world would get a personal alert.”

“Still, it would make sense to check,” Strickland said guardedly.

“I will gladly do that, if only to reassure you, Francis,” Victor said. “I’ll also be sending a couple of my trusted agents your way shortly. The presence of a new summoning staff is a serious matter. Have you informed the other agencies yet?”

Strickland’s face grew guarded. “No. The incident is still under investigation by Argonaut.”

Cassius could tell from Morgan’s rigid posture that news of Cabalista potentially joining their investigation was as welcome as a Stark Steel bullet in the gut.

Victor frowned faintly. “Take my advice, Francis. Talk to Brianna and Reuben. I’ll let Jasper know what’s going on.”

Cassius masked a grimace. Jasper Cobb was the Terrene demon in charge of the San Francisco branch of Cabalista. He was one of the many demons who had made it inherently clear over the years how much he detested Cassius. His reaction when Victor had made him aware of Cassius’s relocation to San Francisco had only served to confirm his long-held opinion about the angel.

Strickland opened his mouth to protest.

Victor raised his hand. “I know what you’re going to say, but this is bigger than Argonaut. From what I’ve learned, it appears someone in your city is fracturing and stealing human souls.” His expression turned hard. “We all know what Tania intended to do with the souls she took. We cannot take the risk of that happening again. It would be best if everyone pooled their resources to try and get to the bottom of this before we are all visited by untold tragedy.”

A muscle jumped in Strickland’s jawline.

Cassius felt some sympathy for the mage. But he had to agree with Victor on this matter. The only way they’d managed to defeat Tania Lancaster in London was when they’d stopped bickering with one another and cooperated.

“Alright, I’ll talk to them,” Strickland said grudgingly.

“Good.” A warm smile lit Victor’s face. “I’m coming to San Francisco in the next week. It would be nice if we could grab dinner.”

Strickland’s face relaxed. “Sure.”

Strickland and Victor had maintained a close friendship after their battle with Tania Lancaster.

“Will you join us?” Victor asked Cassius.

“Okay,” Cassius murmured.

Victor looked over at Morgan. “Mr. King is cordially invited to attend too, if he so wishes.”

Morgan frowned at Victor’s diplomatic tone. “Why not? The more the merrier.”

Cassius sighed. Strickland scowled at Morgan.

Victor’s smile widened, ever the suave politician. “Great.”