“I get it.”He nodded in sympathy.“I thought I was humanuntil one of my Memitim brothers plucked me out of a bad situation and droppedme inside a Belgian castle full of fellow angels.”
“And how didyoutake it when your world was turnedupside down?”
Winking, he gave her a panty-melter of a grin.“I passed outcold.”
She laughed, doubting it was true but appreciating that hewas trying to make her comfortable in a freaky situation.Butthe realitycaught up with her again when one of the demonsin the statue she’d seen a few minutes ago moved, curling its lips andrevealing another row of sharp six-inch teeth.
“Thank you for getting me away from Drayger,” she said,keeping one eye on the creepy statue, “but I can’t stay here indefinitely.Ican stay at a hotel in Portland or in one of the guest rooms at the spa where Iwork.”Her boss, Jenna, was always letting employees stay when they needed to,so it most likely wouldn’t be a problem.Just an inconvenience.
“No, you can’t.”He waved at a group of people talkingaround a picnic table.So normal.Soweird.“Drayger is dangerous.Hecan somehow track his victims anywhere in the world in hours, and until we findout how, you can’t be anywhere he can easily get to you.”
“This is bullshit.”He’d started moving again, but sherefused to budge.None of this made sense, and if her life was going to beupended, she wanted to know why.“I shouldn’t have to runfrom someone who should be in jail, and whowouldbe in jail if I wentto the police.And you still haven’t explained why you’re protecting thebastard.”
He opened his mouth, and she could see it in his face.Hewas going to spew more “It’s a long story” BS.No.Just no.
She jammed a finger into his sternum and got right up in hisface.On her tiptoes.Later she’d probably be horrified by her audacity ingoingtoe totoe with an angel, but in this moment,for her own sanity, she needed to be in charge.
“I want to know what the deal is.”She poked hard.“Now.”
“You’re right.”Reaching up, he engulfed her hand in his.Hedidn’t push her away.He just looked at her, almost with amusement.“I wasn’tgoing to dothis, butcome on.”
He wheeled around and, keeping hold of her hand, which sheangled so he wouldn’t touch the spot near her index finger that would trigger adownload of his nuclear-grade energy, he led her through a side door of themassive Greek manor.Once inside, he guided her through a shiny, modern kitchenthat could have belonged to an upscale restaurant.
“This kitchen serves my father and his mate, and all hissenior staff.There are more kitchens in the dorm buildings that serve Memitimand Unfallen.”
“Unfallen?”
“Fallen angels who haven’t entered Sheoul,” he explained.“When an angel loses his wings, he or she is dropped into the Earthly realm andhas two choices.They can enter Sheoul and complete their fall from grace intrade for evil powers, or they can remain powerless and disgraced, but stillhave a chance of redeeming themselves.”He pushed open adoorand they stepped into an elegant dining hall, its walls covered in tapestriesand art depicting scenes from eras all over the world.And underworld.“Theylive here because it’s safe.”
“What do Unfallen angels have to fear?”
“Everything.Since they lose their angelic powers and don’thave fallen angel powers either, they’re weak.Heavenly angels will kill them,and fallen angels will drag them against their will into Sheoul, which turnsthem evil.Demons have little use for them, either,andthey score a lot of bragging points by being able to say they killed an angel,even if they’re just Unfallen.”He glanced at his watch.“We should still havetime...”
“Time for what?You were supposed to be telling me whyyou’re protecting Drayger.”
He knocked on another door.“I’m enlisting help to do that.”
The door swung open, revealing a smaller room, cozy, with acouple of sofas, overstuffed chairs, and a coffee table all arranged in acircle.As they walked inside, two women looked up from the papers and coloredmarkers scattered on the tabletop.
“Hey, bro.”One of them gave a little wave and tucked a lockof dark curls behind her ear.“Lilliana and I were just planning next week’smenu.Any requests?”
“Yeah.How about that New York strip steak you make?The onewith the feta and caramelized onions.”He grinned at Aurora.“It’s awesome.”His palm pressed lightly on her back.“Suzanne, Lilliana, this is Aurora.Ihave tosummon someone from the embassy, and I was hopingthat while I’m doing that you could fill her in on...well...this.”He made agesture that she figured encompassed all the weirdness.
Lilliana seemed to understand, because she looked bothamused and sympathetic.“Of course.But I’m going to need some context.”
Hawkyn hesitated, and Aurora started to sweat a little.Thenshe sweated a lot when he finally said, “I don’t want any lectures about how Ifucked up.”
Clapping with delight, Suzanne sat up straight, an impishsmile on her slightly rounded face.“Ooh, my perfect big brother messed up.What stupid thing did you do that I get to hold over your head?”
He jerked his thumb at Aurora.“I saved her life.”
“And he still hasn’t explained why that’s a bad thing,”Aurora muttered.
Hawkyn sighed.“One of my Primori was going to kill her, andI saved her.”
Suzanne’s eyes flared with surprise while Lilliana pattedthe cushion next to her.“Come have a seat, Aurora.We’ll get you a cup of teaand something to eat, and then we’ll explaineverything.”
“Thank you, Lilliana.”Hawkyn glanced over at Suzanne.“Idon’t know how long I’ll be.Will you make sure Aurora is settled into a guestroom?”
