Chapter 14 Orion
Orion
The smell of freshly brewed coffee, mingled with the scent of pancakes and crispy bacon, filled the kitchen with an enticing blend of savory aromas. I inhaled deeply, allowing the familiar smells to awaken my senses as I sat at the table, a steaming mug cradled between my palms.
My gaze drifted to Zeke, who stood at the stove, his movements fluid and graceful as he cooked. A small smile tugged at the corners of my mouth as I watched him, my heart filled with feelings I’d thought long extinguished.
The night before had been a revelation. Holding Zeke in my arms, our bodies intertwined beneath the sheets, had felt like coming home after an eternity of wandering.
I slept soundly, not plagued by the dark dreams I’d experienced for decades.
He filled the hollowed-out spaces within me with hope and kindness.
Things I once felt but stopped believing for so long.
For the first time in decades, centuries if I was being truly honest, I felt alive. Not existing from one day to the next or worrying about how to please someone who didn’t love themself. The world seemed brighter, as if a veil had been lifted from my face.
I knew it wasn’t wise to compare Zeke to Lael, but my ex had poisoned my heart to the world, and I needed to be sure I wasn’t repeating the same mistakes. I couldn’t recall a time when Lael made me breakfast or any meal. There were no memories of him doing something sweet just to see me smile.
Being brutally honest, I hadn’t exactly filled his days with pampering after the first few years together.
In the early years, I’d often done thoughtful little things for him, but grew tired when I never received any in return.
I told myself it wasn’t his way, and I couldn’t get upset or try to change him.
Zeke’s radiant spirit breathed new life into my weary soul. I couldn’t wait until we finished this mission so I could learn what he liked and surprise him in little ways. The anticipation of releasing my romantic side again made me anxious to be given the chance.
Lost in my reverie, I was only vaguely aware he’d been speaking.
“Ori? Did you hear me?”
Zeke’s voice snapped me back to the present, and I blinked owlishly at him. “Sorry, what did you say?”
He slid a plate laden with pancakes and bacon in front of me before taking a seat across the table. He passed me the syrup as he slathered butter on his stack. “I said, I think their weapon is ready, but I can’t figure out what they plan to do with it or the other machines they’ve built.”
I used the bottle of syrup and passed it back. He’d called up the holo-screen and absently accepted the bottle and set it down. Watching him study the data, a worry that had hidden in the back of my brain worked its way forward.
Lael was a lot of things, but he wasn’t stupid. He liked attention, and this would certainly get him that . . . but not the kind he wanted. Admiration, adoration, and envy were his game, not fear, disgust, or hatred.
I took a bite and was so distracted I didn’t realize what I’d done. “These are great, Zeke, but you don’t need to keep making me meals. I can help.”
He looked up and smiled like I’d hung the moon.
“I love to cook. If Michael hadn’t made me find another career, I’d still own a restaurant or several.
I appreciate your offer, and I’ll never turn down breakfast in bed, but I only get to cook for big things now.
Family dinners, parties, that kind of stuff. Cooking for us is like a dream for me.”
Nothing he said was a lie, but he left out he wanted to make me happy. “Breakfast in bed, eh?” I raised one eyebrow. “We’ll need to be sharing a bed for that to happen.”
“Sorry.” He blushed, but it only added to how cute he was. “Presumptuous, much?”
I regretted my lame attempt to make a joke. “Not if I have anything to say. And if it helps, I will absolutely spoil you with breakfast in bed as often as I can.”
“I didn’t need more incentive, but it sure doesn’t hurt.”
The food he’d made sat untouched on his plate. “How about you study that after you eat?”
“I can multitask.” He picked up a piece of bacon.
“Actually, studies show you really can’t. You just do multiple things poorly.” I motioned with my fingers for him to close the display. “Besides, I’d rather eat with you, not the holo-screen.”
He tapped the crystal and the image disappeared. “We can debate the merits of multitasking later, but I can’t argue with eating together.”
We dug in and between bites, we talked about things other than the mission. I told him about my house outside of Raleigh, North Carolina, and he described his house in Alexandria. He explained hating the traffic, but he loved the history of the area and his home.
“You realize, I remember when Europeans hadn’t settled this part of the world. Back then there were no cities.”
“And Mom tells me about when the Greeks built the Parthenon.” He smirked. “You don’t need to remind me you’re older than me. I’m aware. Besides, I like older men.”
I laughed at his comment. Age was different for angels than it was for humans. “I’m not sure I’m comfortable being your sugar daddy.”
Zeke stopped chewing and I could see his mind working. “Are you comfortable being my partner?”
Without meaning to, I pushed us to a point sooner than either of us wanted.
If I had any doubts that I sucked at interpersonal relationships, I was giving myself a crash course.
“Yes. No qualifiers or conditions. I’m sorry I’m so bad at this.
” I ran a finger between us. “You make me so happy, I forget what I did the last few decades. Unfortunately, that’s probably looming large in your mind. I’m sorry.”
“It takes two to have a misunderstanding. Yes, your past is part of my thinking, but I still worry I’m pushing you into something you don’t want.”
I knelt next to his chair and took his hand in mine.
The long, delicate fingers were deceptive in how strong they were.
Just like Zeke. “I promise you, I’m doing exactly what I want.
I know why you think you’re pushing me, but the only nudge you gave me was to live again. And for that I’ll always be grateful.”
“I can’t promise I won’t have my doubts, but I’ll remember what you said.” Zeke squeezed my hand before his playful spark returned. “Now, get up. That’s my position, remember?”
Gods, what he did to me. I returned to my chair, unable to wipe away my smile. “Can you please stop doing that until this is over? We can’t do that if one or both of us is killed.”
The sobering reminder killed the mood. I’d wanted to do that, but it still felt like a bucket of ice.
“I’d call you a buzzkill but you’re right.” He tried to give me a smile, but it didn’t light up his eyes like usual. “If you’d like more, I have extra batter.”
I declined his offer and we finished quickly. When I insisted on cleaning, he pulled up the data and resumed his examination. While he studied, the quiet moment let my brain return to the nagging feeling I’d had. Today’s actions felt wrong. We were missing something.
“This makes no sense,” Zeke said. His brow was creased, and he turned his head sideways as if that would help.
I dried my hands and joined him at the table. “What doesn’t?”
“This is an analysis of the data I obtained while we were inside the barn.” He slid over to make room for me. “The generator is creating energy at around 9000 megajoules a second.”
I pulled a chair closer, and our shoulders touched we were that close. “Is that a lot?”
“Yes and no. Everything is relative. One second’s output would be the equivalent of about 150,000 kilowatts of electricity.
On an absolute scale, it’s pretty powerful.
” Zeke made a few adjustments and the screen doubled in size.
“The current Drevlin weapons, as far as we can tell, are about two standard deviations higher. For purposes of this discussion, a standard deviation is about 2500 megajoules. That was the original strength of Drevlin weapons, so we mark our improvements from that base.”
This was a side of Zeke I hadn’t really seen. When he made the sensors, he just did it without explaining. “That means the current output of Drevlin tech is closer to 14,000 megajoules.”
“Correct. The weapons and shielding correspond to the output they can get from their generators. We’ve developed weapons at about three standard deviations above the current Drevlin developments. Lael’s tech is old compared to current Drevlin specs and antiquated in comparison to ours.”
Why would Lael be messing around with tech several generations too old to be effective? “This is a trap. We’re being set up.”
“You think he’s expecting us?”
I nodded, my brow furrowing as I considered the implications. “He has to know by now angels are investigating the surges. If he didn’t at first, when the humans arrived, he’d have assumed Michael sent someone to do the same. Now you’re telling me his tech is antiquated. What’s he doing?”
“Maybe he’s creating Drevlin tech to sell on the black market, but that doesn’t answer why he hasn’t packed up and left.”
Zeke remained silent as he continued to stare at the two sets of data. The gap was staggering. The difference between a conventional bomb versus the original atomic bomb versus current nuclear warheads. “Are you sure the readings are accurate?”
“As sure as I can be.” He tapped his phone. “I need to speak to Gabriel.”
I exhaled slowly, my mind reeling as I tried to make sense of what I was seeing. “Lael, what the hell are you up to?”
The gravel crunched beneath our feet as Zeke and I approached the dilapidated barn, each step carrying us closer to the confrontation I’d been dreading. My heart thudded in my chest, a steady drumbeat of anxiety mingling with grim determination.