| |
Tired and exhausted from the day’s events, it was no surprise that Katana ended up falling asleep after her phone call to Erica.
When Tobias gently shook her awake, she jumped like a startled deer. Not only had darkness settled outside, but the fluffy white towel she’d wrapped around her after her shower still cocooned her.
“Steady,” Tobias said, chuckling. “It’s only me, no big panic.”
“It’s dark,” Katana replied, blinking the sleep from her eyes. “What time is it?”
“Close to ten p.m. I hate to wake you, but I have a couple of developments to inform you of.”
Katana yawned and sat up. “Go on then, do your worst.”
“The werewolf that came after us is definitely dead. I did a bit of digging into the exact structure of the council’s microchips. When the detonate button is pressed, it emits a hyper EMP charge that effectively paralyses the supernatural cells. For a phoenix to rise from the flames, the supernatural cells have to be active and free.”
Katana’s eyes widened. “So he’s really gone? You figured out a way to kill the immortal hybrids?”
Tobias shrugged his shoulders. “Well, not really. The answer was there all along. I just helped test it out.”
Katana giggled. “Ok, well that’s good—that we have a way to kill them. Is that everything?”
“No...my contacts, the people who could have helped us re-release a ‘correction’ virus so to speak, have assured me that the absolute earliest they could have anything ready by is two years. It’s just not viable, Katana. I’m sorry.”
A heavy anchor of guilt weighed down Katana’s heart. “So what happens next?”
“I’m going to take you to the Council where you can explain everything in detail to them. Once you’ve done that, they’ll conduct their own investigation, arrest your father, and deal with him accordingly.”
At the mention of her father being arrested, Katana’s heart twisted with pain. “And what about Gregory?”
“Gregory...yes, Gregory. He will also be dealt with but not by the Council.”
Katana frowned. “Then by who?”
“A rather temperamental demon by the name of Lazarus.”
Katana gasped. “How did you...know about him?”
“I had a phone call from my dear cousin whilst you were sleeping. He explained the situation to me.”
Katana rolled her eyes and groaned.
“Don’t worry,” he said, smiling. “I’m not going to force you to sleep with me to save your soul or anything. I think we can protect you without us having to sleep together.”
Annoyance began to rise inside Katana. Was he saying he didn’t want to sleep with her? Why did this bother her so much? “Yes, God forbid you have to touch me.”
Tobias eyed her with suspicion. “Are you angry at me?”
“Nope.”
“You are, aren’t you? You’re angry at me because I’ve said I’d rather not protect you in that way. Do I get any points here for being a gentleman?”
Katana snorted. “It was just the way you said it, that’s all. Like it was a God awful chore to have to even think about it. Am I really that bad?”
“You are kidding me, right? Have you forgotten that I’ve been waiting to marry you since you were a teenager? I’m four years older than you don’t forget. That’s a long time for an angel to wait, let alone an impatient man like me.”
A small smile passed over her lips. “You do know I can be a real bitch?”
He laughed. “Is this not being a bitch?”
“God, no. This is just being awkward.”
“Then I have lots to look forward to.” He reached over and picked up one of her hands. Slowly, and waiting for her to reject his move, he watched her as he brushed a kiss over the back of her right hand. “You are an amazing woman and I can only thank my lucky stars that your father supported our proposed union. Any man would be honoured to have you.”
“So when are we going to the Council?”
“First thing in the morning.”
Katana nodded. A red blush started to creep up her cheeks. She patted the empty space next to her and said, “That means we have all night then.”
Tobias balked at her brash statement. “Are you insinuating what I think you are?”
Heat raging through her body, Katana peeled her towel off and nodded. “It’s going to happen at some point, right? May as well be for a good cause.”
Tobias laughed before taking them both beneath the covers.