Then his eyes widen in shock.
The blast sends him flying backward like he’s been shot from a cannon. The dining table explodes into kindling as he crashes through it, runes disappearing as quickly as they came.
Thing reaches him first, helping clear wood chips from his feathers. “Brother!”
“What the hell was that?” I demand.
Romulus struggles to his feet, eyes wide and unfocused. “An angel,” he whispers.
“Impossible.” My blood turns to ice. “They retreated behind the gates millennia ago.”
“Obviously not all of them,” Romulus snaps, more ruffled than I’ve ever seen him. “We never should have become so complacent.”
The challenge in his words ignites my fury. “None of us knew we’d ever have something worth protecting!”
Until her. Until the possibility of a future growing in her belly.
For so long, I’ve existed out of stubborn habit rather than any real desire to live. But now... now everything has changed.
“What did you see?” I grab his shoulders, desperation creeping into my voice. “Tell me!”
This feels like history repeating itself. Father’s consort had been a brief light in our darkness before being snuffed out like a candle flame. I won’t let the same happen to Hannah.
Before Romulus can answer, his eyes go blank and his head spins. Remus grins at me with manic glee. “Trouble in paradise, brother?”
I toss him away with more restraint than he deserves. “Bring your twin back. I have questions.”
“We share memories, genius.” Remus accesses their shared consciousness, eyes widening. “Holy shit. An angel, huh? One of those bastards escaped the pearly gates?”
“What did it want?” The question comes out sharper than intended.
Remus picks wood splinters from his shirt with infuriating calm. “How should I know? Romulus didn’t get a good look before the motherfucker blasted him with angelfire. But it was already looking our way—this wasn’t accidental. And it was shielding itself. Rom’s rusty, wasn’t careful enough.”
My worst fear crystallizes. “It already knew about us?”
“Obviously.” Remus laughs. “Your scent was all over Hannah that day. Any worthy adversary would have taken her as leverage.”
A growl builds in my chest at the thought. “She’s not to be left alone. Ever.”
“I volunteer for first watch,” Remus offers with that predatory grin.
My growl becomes a roar. “Touch her and I’ll rip your throat out.”
He leans closer, teeth bared in challenge. “I’d love to see you try.”
“Stop being fools!” Thing rises to his full imposing height. “Must stop fighting each other if threat to Hannah-consort is real.”
“Oh, it’s real,” Remus confirms. “That angel-fire knocked me across the room, and energy manipulation through scrying is usually minimal. I’d hate to meet this bastard in person.”
The implications hit me like a physical blow. Angels abandoned this world when Father began his experiments, which is why he thought stealing their fire would make him unstoppable. If one is back now, when I finally have something to lose...
“I’ll watch my consort myself,” I declare. “Thing can take shifts when I sleep. No one rests until we know more.” I pin Remus with a glare. “When Romulus returns, tell him to practice warding until he can scry without getting his ass handed to him.”
I storm from the room, purpose driving every step. Hannah might think she can hide in the kitchen, but until we know what we’re facing, she’s not leaving my sight.
Not when I’ve just found something worth protecting with my life.
FORTY-FOUR
