Page 16 of Soul Redeemed

“Evening Sir,” Wyatt said, holding out his hand to accept the keys that Calix tossed him.

“What’s up?” Calix quickly rounded the vehicle. “Careful. Gas pedal is touchy on this one.”

The kid had a thing for fast cars and often raced Ben for the opportunity to park them.

Speaking of the devil, or troll, Ben stood shaking his head as Calix climbed the stairs. Calix patted him on the shoulder as he passed. “Better luck next time, Ben.”

Striding through the foyer and up the staircase, Calix could hardly stand the anticipation that threatened to burst inside him at any moment. He slammed through his bedroom door, and found Xander slouched in the chair, flipping a chain attached to Ava’s throat, while she sat in the adjacent seat with her arms crossed.

“What is this?” The sight of her imprisoned flared his anger and Calix lurched toward Xander.

“Easy, bossman. She tried to do that flashing shit earlier. Don’t think she meant to check in for the night, ain’t that right, sweetheart?”

Shooting him her signature pissed off glance, Ava shook her head.

“Thanks, Xander. I can take it from here.”

As Xander passed, he set the end of the chain in Calix’s palm and gave a squeeze of his shoulder. “No worries, Brother. I didn’t touch her.”

Part of Calix didn’t honestly believe the angel would have the balls to do something like that, particularly in Calix’s room, but his words came as a relief nonetheless. Because the truth was, Xander didn’t always play by the rules of etiquette. Particularly where females were concerned.

At the click of the door, Calix looked down at the chain in his hands and back to Ava. “Where’ve you been?”

“Living it up with a sheik-daddy. Sipping expensive champagne on a yacht.”

Her comment left him frowning, and Calix gave a tug of the collar, forcing her to stand. One hand over the other, he tugged her closer, watching her throat lead the way as she didn’t bother to fight him. “I’ll ask you again. Where have you been?”

“Why does it matter?”

“An Impetusi demon visited Sanctuary tonight. Asking for you.”

Her brows crinkled at that, and for the first time, she gripped the chain to keep Calix from tugging her any closer. “What did you tell him?”

“That if he so much as breathed in your direction, I’d slice his head from his shoulders and use it for kickball.” Calix figured he’d spare her the more gruesome threat he’d made.

Her gaze fell from his, and he could just make out the slight lift of her brows and the harsh swallow before she cleared her throat. “I missed you.”

“So much, you didn’t bother to think of me once?”

“I thought of you every day,” she whispered, and Calix would’ve called her a liar if she hadn’t wiped a tear from her cheek. Ava never cried for anything.

“I would’ve come for you. Wherever you were, I would’ve brought you back to me.”

Tears still welling in her eyes, she shook her head. “He wouldn’t have let you.”

“Who? Who’s he?”

Another shake of her head set Calix’s nerves on edge.

“Enough with the fucking mystery! Tell me who kept you!” As quickly as the words shot out of his mouth, he instantly regretted raising his voice to her. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. I know you have a lot of questions. I know you probably haven’t forgiven me for what I did. But I swear to you, Calix. I never meant to hurt you. Not you.” She lifted her chin but cast her stare away from his. “I’ll understand if you … found another.”

He allowed his gaze to roam downward. “You’re wearing my clothes.”

“I didn’t have any.” Yet another admission that traipsed the fine line of his patience. “Again, if you have another female, I’ll return them and leave.”

Ignoring her comment, Calix took in the slight protrusion of her bones. “You look hungry. I’ll have Anna bring you some food.”