Chapter 28 – Lana
“D o you have human clothes you can wear in public?” Aim asks as we walk to my and Ash’s quarters.
“Um, sure. I have more leggings and tops and flats. They’re not jeans and sneakers, but they shouldn’t stand out. Where are we going, what’s the weather like?”
“Marseille, France,” the spymaster replies. “It’s warm.”
Ash is our silent escort and I peer up at him with worry. Is this too much for him? “I’ll be okay,” I promise.
His lips tighten with disapproval. Ever since Aim interrupted our movie night with Kev and Naamah with the news that I’m wanted in the human realms where he can’t follow, he’s been distant. I know Arma’s death is fresh on his mind right now.
“Do you think the Council would let you into the human world if you explained what’s going on?”
He clicks his tongue. “They have nothing to do with it. Archdemons being confined to the Underworld was a part of the truce between Heaven and Hell. Our threat to humans was simply too great.” He tilts his head. “There are two beings who could negotiate an amendment and I sincerely doubt they would find my need to protect my lamb a pressing enough matter to do so.”
“I will protect her with my life, and so will Sariel,” Aim says. “But don’t forget she has a good amount of your power now, my lord.”
I tug on Ash’s hand until he faces me. Even though I’m tall, I still have to step on my tiptoes to kiss his cheek.
“He’s right,” I tell him. “I’m as safe as kittens.” I frown. “Wait, why is that a saying? Have you ever been scratched by a kitten? Those things have needle-sharp claws. And are they safe? There’s foxes, rats, other cats, so many predators…”
Ash’s lips slowly tip up until he’s smiling down at me indulgently. He grabs me by the neck and leans down to ravage my mouth. By the time his tongue is done exploring every crevice of my mouth, I’m breathless and dizzy.
I turn my head toward Aim, blushing when I see him standing so close, a devious smirk on his dangerously handsome face. He looks like the guy who’d make you cross the street if you saw him walking toward you. But then you’d be kicking yourself halfway across because you’d realize you do want to be his gang princess.
“If you’re up for another show, I’m sure Mike can wait,” he says silkily.
“No…” I gasp. “No,” I say firmer, but still breathless and slightly wistful.
I extricate myself from Ash’s possessive hold and open the door to our rooms. Puck, my baby imp gumdrop sweetheart, is sprawled over our bed, lightly snoring. I hope Ash doesn’t ignore him too much while I’m gone. He needs constant attention or things get broken.
I step into the walk-in closet I had Ash make for us. One dresser just wasn’t enough for my clothes and armor, not to mention the weapons he keeps gifting me with like they’re jewelry. I kept the dresser, of course, and the lambs carved into it greet me when I fling open its doors.
Ash’s taste in my clothes lean toward the refined, even for the casual and comfortable pieces. I bypass the dresses and gowns, their red and black silk and lace inviting my touch, and hone in on a pair of sturdy leather pants. If I pair these with low booties and a silky black T-shirt, I’ll be slightly more protected than if I was wearing leggings and flats, but still not draw unwanted attention from the humans. Feeling proud of myself, I change into my chosen ensemble.
When I poke my head out, I see Aim holding a rucksack. “I packed your armor,” he says.
Ash hands me two gorgeous jewel-encrusted black daggers. “And I chose your weapons.”
I grin at the two demons acting like my personal servants. “Thanks, Mom and Dad,” I simper.
Sheathing the daggers, I stuff them next to my armor, then sling the backpack over one shoulder. It’s not exactly feather-light.
“Think Kev and Nah are ready?” I ask my handmaidens.
“I’ll go get them. Meet you at the gate.” Aim leaves and I’m left alone with a brooding Ash. I reach up and take his angelic face in my hands, my thumb sweeping over his delicious lower lip.
“If you feed on anyone while I’m gone, I’ll cut your balls off, paint them red, and feed them to Puck,” I threaten sweetly.
He smiles under my fingers. “They’re too big for him, but just right for you, and you’d miss having them in your mouth too much to do that to me.”
I grin back. “Test me and I’ll show you.”
“Luckily for everyone involved, I find myself without an appetite when you are not around, sweetness.” He grabs my wrist and kisses the center of my palm. “So hurry back to me.”
∞∞∞
I’m hyperventilating. I can’t take my eyes off the setting sun, probably lucky my corneas are supernatural. Kevin joins me and wraps an arm around my shoulder – either in comfort or because he’s not feeling very stable either right now.
“I can’t believe we’re here,” he whispers with an awed voice.
“Me neither,” I murmur, snaking my arm around his waist.
We just took Ash’s gate to travel to the human world, and while I was anxious about parting with him, I also couldn’t wait to breathe fresh air. It’s been four years since I saw the blue sky, even longer than that since I bothered to take in the sunset. I’ll never take one for granted again.
Kevin leans his head against mine. “So, are you replacing me with Mike now?”
His question makes me snort and I poke his ribs with two stiffened fingers. “You’re irreplaceable, buster,” I tell him.
“I have to agree,” Naamah purrs, sauntering to our side.
“Yes, you have to ,” Kevin says with a roll of his eyes, stressing the last part. These two always make me giggle with their antics. I knew they’d end up together the moment I saw their dynamic.
“Are we standing here all night, ladies?” Aim asks, clearly not as impressed with nature’s beauty as we are.
“Spoilsport,” I mutter. After one last longing glance at our planet’s star, I turn my back on it and start following the assassin. “Do you know this city well?” I ask, looking at the charming boats docked at the old city port. “How long is the walk to where we’re going?”
He gives me an amused glance and his lip ring sparkles when the corner of his mouth tilts in a crooked smile. A couple of women sitting on the terrace of a café nearly dislocate their heads to follow him with their gazes. I cough into my hand to hide my laughter.
“I know every city well,” he replies cockily. “And about forty-five minutes, depending on how rubbery your necks are.”
“Hey, I’ve been stuck in literal Hell for four years, bucko,” I defend myself.
“Ditto,” Kevin says from behind us. I look back to see Naamah wrapped around his arm as they take in the sights. With her wings, tail, and horns hidden, and with him looking casual in ripped jeans and a T-shirt, they look like a young couple fresh off a cruise ship.
A handsome black man throws me a flirty smile as he wipes down his fish stall. The Moroccan croons something in the lilting cadence of his homeland before Aim shuts him down with a swift glare.
“ Nsaha, ” the spymaster growls and the man averts his eyes.
“What did he say?” I whisper to Aim, curiosity getting the better of me.
The demon harrumphs. “ Hbibti , are your eyes casting a spell on me? I told him to forget about it.”
Naamah cackles. “He probably saw those grass-green eyes of yours and thought you were a goddess come to sail away with him.”
Kevin snorts at that. “Should we tell His Dukeness that the first threat to you came so early in our mission?”
I grin back at the pair. “Threat to me? That was a threat to Aim’s pretty pierced dick if he had to tell Ash I ran off with a sailor.”
“I’m always looking out for my pretty pierced dick, thank you very much,” the assassin says.
“You haven’t participated in any court orgies in decades, Aim,” Naamah says suspiciously, her eyes narrowed. “So how does our duchess know if your dick is pretty or pierced?”
Winking at her, I turn back around. “I plead the Fifth!”
“We’re in France,” she grumbles.
After an hour and a decent uphill climb, followed by Kevin grumbling about taxis, the sun is fully set, and we’ve arrived in what Aim said is Saint-Barnabé.
“Where to now?” I ask him.
He lifts both eyebrows. “You tell me. What do you sense?”
Right . I was so mesmerized by the flora and architecture that I didn’t even think to scan for Celestials. So, what do we have here?
“Three angels, two halflings, and a… demon lord? Archdemon? That’s not possible.”
Aim hisses and lets loose a juicy string of expletives. “Where are they?”
I point to the end of the street we’re on. “What’s going on?” I ask. “Who’s the archdemon I’m sensing?”
“A ghost,” he mutters before heading in the direction I indicated.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Kevin asks, still out of breath from the inclines and now jogging after the demon lord.
“Who do you suspect, Aim?” Naamah asks cooly, effortlessly keeping pace in her high-heeled boots.
“The lost prodigal son,” he answers.
We’re entering someone’s yard under an archway of jasmine and honeysuckle by the time Naamah puts the pieces together. “You mean Nephithar.”
Muffled conversation can be heard through open windows, and that’s definitely Sariel’s laugh. My heart hurts at hearing it, realizing just how long it’s been since I heard a sincere one coming from his mouth.
Since everyone inside is a Celestial or their offspring (and what does that say about Mike? Did he know what he is, what I am?), our presence probably isn’t a surprise. Still, I feel a bit awkward when Aim pushes the door open without knocking and just enters.
Jessica’s voice sounds out, then Sariel’s, and then Aim speaks up: “You can’t, however, bribe me.”