Chapter 69: Chapter 69

I found Carmichael in our top floor living room talking to my future coach, Henry Capshaw. Still in an impeccable three-piece suit, he stood up and nodded when he noticed my presence.

“My Queen,” he said, greeting me.

“Hello Henry,” I said, going to shake his hand. “I’m delighted to meet you.”

“If I may say so, you are stunning, Madame.”

I lost myself in his hazel eyes. His square jaw and the smile that formed on his lips made me approach Carmichael instinctively. The latter smiles. Henry possessed a surprising charisma, so it was hardly surprising that he could trigger such an effect on me, especially since my gift of attraction agitated the usually calm nature of the man. The Englishman sat back in his chair, casting an amused look at his host.

“You told me to prepare for it, but I underestimated your words, Carmichael,” he said before turning his face in my direction. “Madam, you are an enchantress, and if my friend hadn’t married you, I would gladly have answered your siren song in his place.”

“Call me Everliegh, please,” I said, pretending to ignore his awkward last words. “You’ll quickly get used to my talents, especially since we’re going to spend some time together, apparently.”

“Henry is ready to teach you everything you need in close combat.”

“And when do we start?”

“Tomorrow, 9 o’clock in front of the castle,” replied Henry, getting up.

“Okay, so we’ll see you tomorrow.”

“See you tomorrow, Everliegh.”

Henry withdrew with a nod of the head, and left me alone with the king of the castes.

“How long have you known Henry?”

“About twenty years. I met him during a fight in a London pub,” he says, all smiles, visibly happy to remember their meeting. “That evening there was a very important football match, Everton vs Manchester United. Henry is a Mancunian fan, but that night they lost, against all odds. Tempers flared at the end of the match and I had to intervene to prevent this youngster from killing half the pub patrons.”

“He looks like such a laid back man, though.”

“A camouflage!” Carmichael chuckled. “Henry is hot-blooded, that’s why he likes hand to hand combat.”

“Is that why you want him to be my workout teacher? You want me to learn hand to hand combat?”

“Absolutely. If Althea and the others have the ability to penetrate your telekinetic shield, then we can also penetrate theirs. It will be necessary to isolate them, even to wound them, to succeed in killing them. All forms of combat should be considered.”

“They look so powerful.”

“They are. But so are we.”

“That’s true,” I said, “I haven’t faced Althea since my death, and I feel like my powers have increased tenfold now, flowing more naturally through me. Did you experience that too?”

“All immortals have experienced it.”

I got up and went to join him on the couch. I rested my head on his shoulder, and the warmth of his body diffused at his touch.

“We’re leaving for New York in a few days,” he said, stroking my hair.

“I can’t wait, it’s been a long time since I left the castle. And I’m going to meet other people like us. It’s exhilarating.”

He reached his hand under my throat and grabbed my chin. Drawing my face to his, he gave me a flirtatious smile and bit his lower lip.

“If it were up to me, I’d take you to our cabin in the mountains and make love to you forever.”

“We were so good there.”

“We’ll go back when it’s all over.”

He kissed me and laid me down, lifting me with disconcerting ease. He lingered on my face and my throat.

“Who will accompany us?”

“Prisca will already be there, Marion, Caleb and Chun will also be on the trip. We’ll also have Henry, Sonia Akhem, the powerful telekinetic we recruited whose brother joined the Six, Carly and Marion Stanton, and the Panchak brothers.”

He spoke the name of the Panchaks as if it would rip his throat out. I knew how much he disliked them, jealous that the two brothers were dear to my heart. I loved them, and even if this love was no longer as carnal as it once was, I still had an attachment to them that went beyond simple friendship. I still winced at the idea of Carly Stanton being with the company, but if Eric was coming, then she had to be able to watch over him. I wasn’t going to mention my scepticism about her in front of Carmichael, because I was already surprised that he consented to Eric being in the game.

“I don’t like the Panchaks,” said Carmichael, who seemed to have read my thoughts, “but I know that they will do anything to protect you and that they would give their lives for you. If the Six do attack on this trip, I know I can count on them to fight. And then Henry will be there, he’ll know what to do.”

“I can’t wait to start training now.”

“At the moment, I have other thoughts in mind than your training, my young wife.”

Shortly after, I thought to myself that close combat was a rather good term to describe that night. Under the onslaught of my husband, my muscles barely responded, so much so that exhausted, I was afraid of not being up to the appointment that awaited me the next day.