“Where’s mine?” Seir frowned.
“If you’re really that hungry, I can make you one too,” Phin sighed.
“No.” He jumped up, grinning. “I’m just giving him a hard time,” he said, gesturing at me. “I don’t really need anything.”
Phin shook her head at him, but he just smiled back, the three of us doing our best not to stand too menacingly over the Nephilim while they descended on their meals. They ate so ravenously I felt a pang of sympathy. Ramsey finished quickly and curled up on the floor, alert, but relaxed.
It’s been a very long journey, but I am glad to be here again. Congratulations, by the way, mistress. You’ve figured it out. I told you he was your demon.
Phin barked a laugh before petting her for a moment. “Yes, well spotted, I suppose.” Her voice was barely above a whisper and there was a flush in her cheeks as she settled on the very edge of my recliner seat.
She watched them eat with a sympathetic frown, fidgeting until she couldn’t stand it any longer. She left briefly and returned with more food, and they all looked at her with wordless thanks as that too was devoured.
The dynamic between the three Nephilim was clear—the men cared for her and she for them, though there was affection between the men too. The men pulled out the better-looking fruit and offered it to her, and she passed along the bits of meat she knew they’d like best. Their synchronicity, their bond, was beautiful to watch.
I froze as certainty passed through me. This needed to be protected.Theyneeded to be protected.
I remembered what Phin had told me when we first met, that there might be other Nephilim out there, but they were no relation of hers. Seeing these three, I begged to differ. They were as good as family, perhaps cousins, if other labels failed. They required help, and I would do what I could for them despite the events of the past.
I pulled Seir off to the side. “Do you have any thoughts on where they could go if everything they tell us checks out? They can’t keep running, and they can’t be left at risk of being caught and returned to Heaven.”
“There’s an empty cabin in the glade. Perhaps d’Arcan? Rylan always manages to scrounge up rooms for strays at the school.” His eyes narrowed, and he rubbed his chin. “Actually, we may be able to call in a favor with Ris.”
“In the Everwood?” His suggestion to send them to the fae realm was interesting but perhaps inspired. Ris was Greta’s father, and king of his realm. He would almost certainly have the means to care for them. That locale would be somewhat difficult to find and heartily defended as well.
Seir shrugged. “Just an idea.”
“A good one.” I patted his shoulder with a thump, and he smirked, appreciating the compliment.
“I do have those now and then, brother.”
I didn’t reply, which only made him laugh.
When they finished eating, Seir cleared plates while Phin and I settled in. She fidgeted, clearly ready to get the whole story from this odd trio of angels, who I was more and more sure we’d accidentally crossed paths with several times with already.
Chapter 36
Tap
“What happened that day? After you left the garden?” Phin asked.
The Nephilim looked completely exhausted now that they had full stomachs.
“We made it back to my dorm,” Harmon said quietly. “They came and took her while we were sleeping that first night.” His jaw and fist clenched at the same time. She squeezed her fingers around his, but it was clearly a sore point for them all. “We fought, but they were stronger. We thought at first it was just because we had her with us overnight, which was against the rules. But it was so much worse.”
“Who?” I asked.
“Councilman Armaros and those loyal to him.” Harmon shook his head and ran his hand irritably through his stringy hair.
“We were promised special privileges,” James continued. “Nice apartments. Access to everything the full angels have. We were told we were special. They swore they’d care for us since we had nobody else. So stupid to believe it,” he sneered, poundinghis fist into his thigh. “It was all lies. They took her to a breeding room and us to a cell.”
Phin put her hand to her mouth, eyes shimmering with tears. “You have no family at all? None of you?”
James shook his head. “None worth speaking of. Our fathers were all soldiers, and our human mothers were elderly by the time we were allowed to get our schooling. We were housed in the dorms out of what little pity Heaven held for us. None of our families remained when we searched for them after escaping.”
“I’m so sorry,” Phin said. She frowned, as though just doing the math on her age versus that of her own mother. “They destroyed our home too. We were able to get away, but I haven’t seen my parents since shortly after that.”
There was a heavy silence.
