Chapter 24
Henry
Iwatched as Nick’s face lit up in anticipation as we entered the little café near his apartment.
He’d come here dozens of times alone or with Trevor, but this was the first time he’d brought a date.
I loved how the simple things made him happy.
It made the weight of looming threats fade away if only for a few minutes.
“You have to try the almond croissants,” Nick said, his eyes gleaming with excitement. “They’re life changing.”
I huffed in fake disbelief. “Life-changing, huh? That’s quite the endorsement.”
He nodded vigorously. “Trust me. Once you have one, you’ll wonder how you ever survived without it.”
If it made him this happy, I’d eat ten. “In that case, I’d better get one before I pass away.”
“Oh, no, no, no.” Nick wagged a finger at me. “This is my treat. Your job is to snag that table in the back before it’s taken.”
He left me with my orders and made his way to the counter. I stared at his cute butt until I heard people behind me. My only job was to get a booth, and I didn’t want to let him down.
Whatever Ares said to Nick, it worked. He was more at ease with himself and with us. The newly emerging confidence was wonderful to witness.
Beneath that, however, I still sensed the undercurrents of conflict. The subtle shifts in his aura that hinted at powers he’d yet to understand. Powers that needed to remain hidden lest they draw the Drevlin to us like a lighthouse on a stormy night.
I reached the booth, and felt the disappointment of the couple behind me.
Sitting, I ignored them and checked on Nick.
He was ordering and seemed oblivious to the way the barista smiled at him.
The guy behind the counter was cute, and now that everyone’s manipulations had ceased, guys noticed Nick. Too bad for them, Nick was mine.
He was, but the fear I’d lose him was real. The lies were becoming heavier, the half-truths more tangled. Every day we grew closer, and I couldn’t predict how’d he’d react when he learned the truth. Only Uriel’s warning echoing incessantly in my mind kept me from telling him the truth.
“Lost in thought?”
I looked up to find Nick standing over me, a tray with two coffees and three golden croissants balanced in his hands. “Just wondering what life will be like once it changes after I eat.”
“I bought a plain one in case you don’t love it like I do.” He put a coffee cup and a croissant in front of me.
“You didn’t need to buy an extra one,” I said, reaching for the croissant. “Even if it doesn’t live up to the hype, I’m sure I won’t hate it.”
“I usually buy two for myself,” he said, taking a pastry. “But I’ll gladly share it with my handsome date if he’s still hungry.”
Nick watched expectantly as I took a bite. The sweet almond filling was a perfect balance to the flaky crust. It wasn’t the best I’d had, but given who bought it for me, it was my new favorite.
“Well?” he prompted, his foot tapping lightly against the chair leg.
I closed one eye, pretending to consider. “It’s... acceptable.”
“Acceptable?” He gasped in mock horror and reached across the table. “Give it over. I can’t have it wasted on a Philistine like you.”
Pulling back my plate, I feigned irritation. “You gave it to me. You can’t take it back. Besides, you were right, it is really good.”
“Victory!” He punched the air triumphantly, grinning from ear to ear.
We settled into silence as we ate. Outside, the usual weekend hustle didn’t intrude on our time. It was about as perfect a Sunday morning as I could imagine.
“How about we go to Kensington?” I asked. “I read they have two vintage toy stores we could check out for die cast metal cars.”
“Really?” Nick leaned in, his face lighting up in the infectious way I love to see. “I’ve wanted to go there, but Metro doesn’t run there, and I don’t love the bus system. What made you think of going?
I’d figured he be excited, so this time I got to declare victory.
“I was trying to avoid work one day and searched for vintage die cast metal cars. Most of the results were websites, but one of them mentioned antiques. Since you went shopping with me in Frederick, I checked the list of shops in Kensington.”
“I love how that word association went.” Nick put his elbows on the table and rested his chin on his hands. “You’re like this mad scientist or something.”
I opened my mouth in mock surprised, but our conversation was interrupted by raised voices from a nearby table.
“Are you listening to me?” a man said, the serrated cruelty in his words slicing into a woman sitting tensely in front of him. “I said, stop whining!”
Two small children, around five or six years old, cowered in their seats like they’d seen this too often before. Their faces drawn tight with fear, and their eyes trained on the juice boxes in their hands.
Nick tense beside me, his hand tightening around his coffee mug. His jaw clenched, and a storm boiled beneath his surface. I watched him teeter on an edge that neither of us could afford.
“Nick,” I murmured softly, cautious. My hand reaching across the table to give his arm a small squeeze. “Let’s not do this here.”
He ignored me like I wasn’t there and practically flew out of the booth. Before I could stop him, he walked toward the table as if everything in his body compelled him to intervene.
I stood, but was too slow to stop him.
“Excuse me.” Nick’s voice was tight, restrained between gritted teeth, but the entire restaurant could feel the tension beneath his words. “Is everything alright here?”
The man—mid-forties, unremarkable except for the scowl plastered on his face—whipped his attention toward Nick. If annoyance had a look, it was etched into the man’s features.
“Who the hell are you?” the man sneered as he looked Nick up and down. “Mind your own goddamn business, buddy or you’re gonna get hurt.”
I quickly positioned myself beside Nick in a not so subtle suggestion that it wasn’t Nick who’d end up hurt. The man instinctively leaned back from my presence. I gently nudged his mind toward fear. Just enough that he’d think twice about whatever words piled up on his tongue.
“You’re making the children uncomfortable,” Nick said, the fire in his voice more controlled than I’d expected, but his hands were clenched tight at his sides.
For anyone else, it might have seemed measured or, at best, righteous, but I knew better.
I saw the tiny flicker of light in Nick’s irises.
A shimmer so faint a non-angel would miss it.
To me, it was a warning flare that his emotions were causing power to stir inside him.
The abusive man opened his mouth to retort, but his eyes darted between Nick and me. I didn’t say a word, but our presence sent a clear, unmistakable message: end this or else.
He sank back into his seat like a deflating balloon, grumbling something unintelligible under his breath. His shoulders slouched, his aggression diffusing as he kept glancing nervously between the two of us.
“You need to stop,” Nick said, quieter this time, but his voice rippling with authority that wasn’t entirely his, but would be one day. “No one should have to be this scared over breakfast.”
The woman looked grateful for the intervention, but still had a haunted look of fear. I knew from experience we hadn’t saved her. We’d only stopped the pain for a moment. It wasn’t enough, but it was the most we could do for her.
I guided Nick back to our table and we finish our meal in silence. The croissants we were both so excited to eat tasted like cardboard to me now. Nick’s expression suggested he had the same experience.
Finally, we threw out our trash, took our coffee, and headed for the exit. The family glanced our way when we walked past them. An older couple caught Nick’s arm before we made it to the door.
“You did the right thing, son,” the man said giving Nick an approving nod. “Good on you for standing up like that.”
“Yes,” the woman added. “You’re a good person for helping them.”
Nick offered them a small smile. “Thank you.”
Once outside, I took a slow breath and pulled Nick into a quiet alley. His breathing hadn’t quite steadied yet, and that steel-vise grip he sometimes got around his jaw hadn’t loosened.
“Are you okay?” I asked, searching his face.
“Yes,” he said too quickly. Nick ran a hand through his hair, and still looked distressed. “I couldn’t watch those kids and their mom without saying something. It was like ...” His voice faltered, and I knew what he left unsaid.
“Like those kids were you.” I grabbed his hand between mine and felt the faint tremble rattle through him.
“Yeah.” Nick closed his eyes and nodded. “I was in that same position and watched helplessly as my mom shrank every time my dad raised his voice. I was powerless back then, but I’m not now.”
His pain gutted me, but what scared me was his burgeoning power.
I felt the gentle but unmistakable thrum building inside him.
For most angels, an emotional event triggered the first manifestation of their powers.
Unlike young angels, Nick didn’t realize what had happened and didn’t release the energy.
“Hey,” I said, careful not to pull him too hard from his thoughts.
I needed to defuse this gently. “Like those people said, you did the right thing back there. Standing up for others takes courage, but you need to be careful. This is a crazy world we live in. I know you want to do more, but sometimes what we do emotionally isn’t always the safest thing. ”
The tension in his shoulders went away. “I just wish I could have helped them more.”
I pulled him close, pressing a kiss to his forehead. “I know. One of the things I love most about you is your desire to help others. You did as much as you could. Maybe that small gesture will encourage her to seek help.”
He nodded against my chest, his arms tightening around me. We stood there for a moment, until he heaved a deep breath and let go of me.
I scanned him as gently as I could, searching for signs he might erupt again. “Are you still up for heading to Kensington?” I asked.
“Yes, definitely.” He smiled, and I’d finally succeeded in getting us back to our plans. “Maybe I can find a replacement for one of the cars I lost as a kid.”
We made it to the car and Nick settled in the passenger seat.
Almost immediately, his hand drifted to rest onto my leg.
The simple contact was a tether that kept us linked.
My presence calmed him but this was escalating faster than I’d anticipated.
Next time I might not be there to deescalate things.
I pushed those fears aside. I couldn’t keep Nick calm if I was upset. Until I could tell him the truth, Nick’s safety required I remain in control. I hoped Uriel didn’t make me wait too much longer.