Chapter 40 ∣  His Possession

*Crossover*

The Omen's Key

(The Blood Magic Series)

The Omen's Key can be found on the account: @DarkR0se5

-Tamsin

I had just finished lacing up my knee-high boots over my dark jeans, making sure everything was in order as Micah had mentioned we'd be leaving today. The three days that Lucifer had given us wasn't nearly enough time and I wished it could have been longer. Maybe at some point, we'll be able to visit more often. After all, I've never seen my father so accepting and for once, it's just my happiness that matters.

I already miss you mom...

With a black tank top slipped on over my bra, I took one last glance around my room, readying myself of the goodbyes to come. I assumed Micah was taking a shower, the water running in the bathroom. So, I decided I better go check on how Maverick and Eris are doing before he follows me and makes everyone uncomfortable.

I love him...but he's not the friendliest to others, especially Maverick.

As I walked down the hallways, reminiscing of the past, I know I didn't grow up in this home, but I do miss all of us being under one roof. It always made me feel safe and brought a security that was hard to describe. I'm not sure where we'll all end up, but at least we can still call one another family.

I'm learning to let go of mine, so I can start my own family with Micah and not have to worry.

I inhaled slowly as I came to a halt just outside of Maverick's bedroom door. Eris hadn't come out yet and I was worried for both of them. He's like the brother I never had...and we'll just forget about the benefits part because that shouldn't have ever happened. As I sighed, knocking on the door, it was only a few moments later when I heard the lock come undone.

When he pulled the door back, Maverick was somewhat surprised to see me standing there. He asked, "Tamsin?"

"H-Hey," I offered a warm smile and said, "we're...going to be leaving soon," I paused, letting that notion sink in with myself before I asked, "how's Eris?"

Maverick's eyes glanced away from me; his dark room only lit by a small lamp on the bedside table. He opened the door further as he turned around and stated, "She's doing much better, just exhausted."

"I can't imagine," I thought about what had happened, "I don't even know where to begin to understand everything she went through." I shifted uncomfortably, knowing I'd really never know the complexity of their own relationship. With Eris being human, I worry constantly for her life if something were to go wrong...

"Hey, I wanted to tell you something before you leave," Maverick interrupted my thoughts, my eyes lifting to meet with his as something I hadn't seen for a while sparked in his depths.

Confidence.

I furrowed my brows and shrugged my shoulders. I'm not the only one who has something to say. Maverick stepped back into his room, allowing me to enter into it. The last time I'd been in here, was when I'd told him the truth behind Eris' death that night, wondering exactly how long Rainier has before Maverick comes for him.

As Maverick closed the door silently behind me, my eyes flickered to the bed. I smiled, Eris appearing to be in peaceful sleep, probably the very first in a long time. The light from the lamp was low, illuminating a small portion beside her, her hands lightly grasping the overs while her chest rose and fell rhythmically.

He nodded his head in the direction of the balcony, edging away from the sleeping princess and toward the glass doors. I breathed out, the stars shining brightly overhead while Maverick closed the doors behind the two of us. I absentmindedly meandered to the stone railing, resting my forearms against it while staring out across the vast expanse, the dark horizon staring back at me.

Maverick edged toward me, coming to lean against the stone railing right beside of me. The sound of the crickets in the distance created a tranquil aura as I breathed in the cool air slowly. It relaxed my muscles, sighing on the exhale. He parted his lips and the words slipped out so easily when he stated, "I'm going to be king."

"Did your dad take the wrong medication when he told you that?" I arched a brow at him and giggled, his own smirk turning into a chuckle while I stated, "Kidding...but seriously, I never would have imagined your dad allowing you to become King. We all thought Lucette would become the Queen with Rook as a King. You know...after the whole exile-rogue thing."

He sighed, "I have the same sentiments," he paused and tilted his head to the side, "really...you don't think I can be a good King?"

I laughed and shook my head, "No, no, no," giggling again I returned, "I think out of anyone, you've been through everything one could possibly imagine. You've become so strong...not just physically, but you think about what your actions will cost you and those around you. You are already learning how to make hard decisions and the best choices for our race."

Maverick just stared at me, looking at me really hard.

"What?" I asked, touching my face, "Do I have something on my face?"

He chuckled.

"Something stuck in my teeth?" I continued to figure out exactly what he was looking at.

When Maverick finally parted his lips and stated, "You believed in me...when nobody else did. Even before I met Eris, you still held a certain image of me in your eyes and I think without that, I'm not sure where I would have ended up. I needed that, so thank you."

"I..." my thoughts trailed off for a brief moment, thinking about whether telling Maverick was a good idea or a bad one, but he'd always been so honest with me and I wanted to let him know before I left so I said, "I'm pregnant."

He was quiet for a second, that stare of his making me uncomfortable before a reassuring smile worked its way onto his face and he replied, "Congratulations. I-I mean, is..."

"It's fine," I touched his forearm, "I'm not the only one who wants this. Micah is one hundred percent on board and taking very good care of me. I even told my dad," I see that same hardness rise up in his face.

"And how did that conversation go?" There's hurt that lingers in his features because, even though we should have used protection and have not even been fooling around in the first place, to take a life away is just plain evil. I know it hurts him and I wanted to stay away from the past.

I replied, "He's looking forward to being a grandfather," I couldn't be happier as to how things turned out, a smile working its way up onto my lips.

"And...you're getting married?" His question sounded odd, noticing the engagement ring that Micah had given me while I gripped the stone railing.

I nodded my response, knowing this was not a tradition for vampires. Then again, I'm not a true born vampire, my beloved is human, and I think this is special for Micah. Our worlds can exist easily together, it's just a matter of giving and taking. Besides, I was looking forward to learning more about wedding customs as this was new to me.

"Yeah," I replied while shifting my gaze away, "he...Micah makes me feel alive in a way I never have before and I didn't think it was possible to love someone so much your heart just breaks thinking about a future if they weren't in it."

Maverick nudged my shoulder, drawing my attention back to him as he smiled, "I know. It breaks me to think of what might have happened if your beloved hadn't stepped in and helped save Eris' life. I can't imagine losing her again..."

"She's human though Mav..." my voice trailed off, thinking about that at least Micah has necromancy, halting his own aging process and now that he's a devil, I'm sure he's innately immortal.

Sorrow crossed his features and he replied, "I know and I'm not going to jeopardize a future we may share by attempting to prolong it."

He's not going to attempt to turn Eris.

"Everything will work out," Maverick interrupted my thoughts once again as I smiled at his own confidence. It would appear that he doesn't want to dwell on what he can't change. Only time will tell...

I sighed and closed my eyelids briefly, the words slipped passed my lips, "I'm just glad everything is going to be okay."

It hurt.

In the next second, everything became a blur. My eyelids snapped open as I screamed loudly, pain searing through my arms from the point of contact on both my upper arms. It was like being in a bear trap, a steel vice-like grip harshly pulled me away from the stone railing as I felt my back slam into something hard.

By the time Maverick whipped around, an alarmed look on his face reflecting the confusion I felt, I could hear a dark growl emanate from behind me.

Micah must have had a terribly angry look on his face, because I felt the deadliness in his words when he said, "Take another step closer to her...I dare you."

My heart began to beat hard and fast in my chest, Maverick glancing me over and making sure I was alright; however, I couldn't shake the bewilderment I felt, unsure of exactly what was happening. I don't feel alright though...my eyes gazed down to my sides, seeing Micah's hands gripped tightly around my upper arms, feeling his own chest rising and falling against my back.

In my confusion, I yelled, "What are you doing?!"

Honestly, this was crossing a line. I don't understand his behavior in the slightest.

Micah immediately snapped back at me, "What the hell are YOU doing here?"

It's like he's comparing this to the incident of me getting drunk at the club. Way to overreact over nothing!

My breathing is uneven as I looked around, furrowing my brows and again...still confused as hell.

I could see Maverick's glare, his eyes flickered to where Micah was holding me, and then he growled, "You're hurting her..."

It's like Maverick doesn't even exist in this passage of time, Micah completely and utterly ignoring him as my heart continued to beat unevenly. It took everything in me to steady my breathing to begin to have a somewhat normal conversation with my pissed off beloved.

What got him so angry in the first place?

"What are you talking about?" I'm not angry when I speak to him, wanting to understand what he was feeling. I winced, the pain in my upper arms radiating down to my elbows and then to my fingertips, "I wanted to check on Eris."

Micah growled again, "Then why are you talking to him?"

His grip tightened again, Maverick noticing and snapping himself when he stated, "She's your fucking beloved who's pregnant and you're about ready to break her arms!"

I'm relieved, the grip Micah had on me vanished in a split second. However, I'm taken aback by the way he lashed out and grabbed the front of Maverick's shirt. He pushed him up against the stone wall next to the glass doors while he growled at him lowly. I could see his eyes had shifted to a pitch-black color, the only remaining color being his gray irises in the center as he stared directly at Maverick. The veins could be seen surfacing beneath his eyes while my heart skipped every other beat.

When Micah spoke, his voice had completely changed, something very dark and demonic speaking from him, "Mind your own fucking business, damn parasite."

Really?

You have got to be kidding me...

His choice of words hurts me as well as I am no different from Maverick, yet the anger that continued to roll off of him put me on edge.

Maverick glared back at Micah and said, "She doesn't need your permission to do anything...she's not a god damn slave."

This is going to get out of hand...someone's going to end up getting hurt.

"Maverick...Micah...please, the both of you, stop!" I still stood where Micah left me, rubbing my upper arms as I noticed the dark bruises he had left behind. An extremely disappointed look crossed my features, upset with how they continued to pick a fight between themselves. I was upset at both of their comments, the tears welling in my eyes while I attempted to keep them at bay.

Micah immediately scoffed at Maverick, "I'll let you tell me how to treat my beloved when you learn how to treat yours." That cut him deep. We all knew how he had locked Eris up in a cell, but apparently it had been Micah's idea in the first place...so this was just a low blow.

Oh no...

Maverick's irises shifted to a black rose and I knew this wasn't going to end well. He's going to pick a fight with a devil and I'm not sure even he could beat Micah...not even with his blood magic. Micah is something much darker now, something much more powerful that yes...even I hold the slight fear of what could happen if he completely loses control.

I have to break this up.

Tapping into my inherited gift, I felt the tug of the shadows, dematerializing in the next moment. I gasped as I found it incredibly hard to keep a hold onto the shadows, moving quickly beside the two of them. Time seemed to be almost still while I moved so quickly, focusing on Micah's power before I finally took hold of a small portion of it.

In the blink of an eye, I was standing between the two of them, a few feet of space between Maverick and me as well as having pushed Micah back behind me while I yelled, "Enough!"

I breathed really hard, taking a single step, and having to balance myself. It's becoming harder now to hold onto my gift, knowing it won't be long before I will have absolutely no control until the baby is born. I didn't realize how much of a strain using both his power and my own would have on me and now...I wish I hadn't because, nothing good comes from using Micah's power against him.

It's like he suddenly snapped out of the possessive trance he had been in, the veins disappearing beneath his eyes while his irises reverted back to normal. His gaze had fallen away from Maverick and it landed on me, his face void of all emotion like nothing had just happened.

He's not even going to apologize? Are you serious right now?!

His voice was emotionless as he stated, "We need to go."

"Do I get to say goodbye?" It wasn't sarcasm that dripped from those words, being quite honest with the way he'd reacted to Maverick and I talking with one another and I didn't want another episode like the one that just played out. However, my words still came out angry when I asked, "Or are you going to throw him off the balcony next?"

Micah looked me over once before he then glanced at Maverick. I could see it in his eyes, deep down I knew he was still upset, but for what...I had no idea. Instead of saying anything, he looked away and nodded silently like Maverick and I were going to make out or something. Seriously...just...no, he needs to stop whatever he is thinking and bury it down, because he seriously has lost his mind if that's the case.

I relaxed a second when Maverick pulled me into a deep hug, my forehead resting on his shoulder as I wrapped my arms around his waist. When I breathed out, I reassured him, "You'll be a good King. Don't hurt her again..."

"I won't. I've already made my promise," he replied as the two of us pulled away from one another. I returned his statement with a nod, a small smile on my face as I knew there was much more to come for the vampire race as a whole, the war between the werewolves were only going to get more violent in the weeks to come.

Maverick didn't even cast Micah a single glance, opening the glass doors wide open while he walked toward his bed, sitting down beside of Eris as she remained sound asleep. I'm not sure how anyone could have slept through what just happened, but then again, she's recovering from something that should have claimed her life.

I breathed in deeply, turning on the spot and walked slowly but determined to where Micah is standing. When I reached out and touched his arm, I whispered, "I'm sorry...but he's like a brother to me...I know you hate him, but he'll always be family to me."

He didn't say anything but instead gave me this long look before he glanced away. Is he really acting like a child right now? What's with the silent treatment...

My lips pulled into a tight line, my hand fell away as I walked back through the open glass doors, crossing the room toward Maverick's bedroom door. There was hardly a moment's pause before I'd grasped the handle and opened the door, closing it behind me.

My heart was still beating fast while I walked toward the opposite wall and leaned my back against it, tilting my head back as I took a deep breath. I was so close to tears as I tried to calm myself down, half of it coming from the way Micah had hurt me, while the other half...I was just so upset with how possessive he was over me toward Maverick.

Family...let go of family, say goodbye because it'll only put a strain on what's happening around me.

A second later, Micah appeared in front of me out of thin air as he asked, "Are you ready to go now?"

"Yes," was my quick reply as I moved away from the wall, coming closer to him. As I neared him, Micah's arms pulled me close to his chest and within a few seconds, I felt everything shift around us.

We were gone.

Standing together in Micah's bedroom, I pulled away from him, already allowing myself to heal the bruises as I glanced where they were once more. However, before I could completely walk away from him, he reached out for my hand and grasped it, "Tamsin..." his voice trailed off.

The brief period of time for him throwing up his wall at Maverick's had now deteriorated. He was extremely guilty, but I wasn't sure if it was because of the way he hurt me or because of the way he had acted...or both at this point.

"Why did you act that way with Maverick?" My voice was incredibly soft and distant, recalling the moment when I awoke in my bedroom and he'd bruised me there as well. I breathed out, "I didn't think anything of it when you bruised my hip before...but you nearly snapped my arms...what's going on?"

Micah's features hardly changed, a sigh surpassing his lips as he turned to sit on the foot of the bed. Very quietly, he looked down at his hands, staring at them in his lap as he stated honestly, "I can't control my strength."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. This was huge for Micah...rarely has he ever admitted when something was wrong or bothering him. This didn't sit well with him; I could see it in his face.

He glanced up at me and sincerely said, "I'm so sorry...I didn't mean to hurt you."

"Is there any way I can help?" I was genuinely concerned because he's never been so quick and forthcoming with me before. There was no hesitation when he told me and I was thankful for that, that he could trust me. When he remained quiet, I said, "It's alright...I just don't want you to do anything that you'll regret. I worry about you."

Micah shook his head and said, "Maybe it's just...side effects." I could tell he was referring to his transition...it appears even he doesn't know the full extent as to what has happened to him however, he added, "I'll get it under control; I just need time."

His touch warmed me because, after he eyed me for a moment, his hands were around my arms. He pulled me closer to him so that I was standing between his legs. I tilted my head to the side, watching his features change briefly, a pain-filled look in his eyes as he said, "Listen...if it gets too dangerous for you, promise me you'll step away from me."

He