Angel straightens up, turning to look at me with his brows nearly touching his hairline. The glint of pride in his eyes makes my heart flutter, but I don’t let it get to my head. Not yet, anyway.
“Seiji and Harvey have opposite fighting styles, but I think they could balance each other out. Seiji would be the initial attacker, with Harvey finishing it off. Now Harvey won’t be left open to surprise attacks, and Seiji can plow ahead without his conscience slowing him down. It saves them both time and despair.”
I don’t get why Seiji looks so shocked. He’s my family. Of course, I know what goes on in his twisted, guilt-ridden brain.
For a Horseman of the Apocalypse, Seiji is timid about taking lives. Angel has the same softness, but he doesn’t let it stop him from getting his hands dirty if it means protecting his people.
I need to talk to Angel. If anyone can relate and help Seiji to push through that hang-up, it’s him.
“That leaves us.”
I nod at Hazel. “We both love inviting trouble and don’t shy away from a challenge. But if we’re responsible for someone else, we won’t have the luxury of playing around. No teasing. No baiting. All our focus would be on doing our part andmoving on.”
“That’s…” Hazel starts, or at least tries to.
“Brilliant,” Angel says, breathless.
“I’m with him.” Seiji gestures to Angel, who’s swelling with pride.
“Why have we never sparred before?” Hazel demands, genuinely baffled.
“I don’t fight unless I absolutely have to. Also? I’m better than you.”
Seiji leans into Angel. “Sometimes I see her mouth moving, but I swear it sounds like Dean is talking. It’s so creepy.”
“Right? It freaks me out, too.”
“And when she swears?” Grace jumps in. It’s like she’s possessed by Dad’s ghost. Same tone. Same style. It’s uncanny.”
I thought‘like father, like daughter’was supposed to be a good thing.
Hazel asks to see the new techniques, so I hand her the book.
“You know, we could have so much fun together. You lure in the dummies with your siren charm, I steal their Divine, and then we—” I trail off when I realize everyone’s gone dead silent.
Then comes chaos.
“You’ll steal theirwhat?!” Hazel shrieks.
“Iknewyou were hiding something about your Divine!” Grace accuses.
“I told her to come clean and tell you guys the truth,” Harvey lies through his teeth, “but you know Nevaeh. Stubborn. Secretive.”
He’ll pay for this later.
Damn it. I was supposed to tell them. At first, I was waiting until I could trust them more, but then it just… slipped my mind. I’m so dead.
“Sweetheart?”Angel links me, his lips pressed tight.“You forgot, didn’t you?”
I nod, guilty as charged, and Angel starts howling in laughter.
“Stop laughing and help your one and only mate!”
Angel struggles to compose himself as he steps in front of me. “Relax, guys. She didn’t hide it on purpose. My beautiful idiot just… forgot.”
Hazel scowls. “You forgot? Lucifer, I worry about you sometimes. Does your brain even work?”
“Trust me, Sharky. You don’t want to know what goes on up here.” I tap my temple.
