Chapter 27
Pointy Elbows and Black Feathers
Malachi leaned forward and shook the hand of the slender man, whose sandy hair was nicely blending into the gray at his temples.
An impressive mustache nearly covered his upper lip, but his chin was as bare as a baby’s bottom.
His stark blue eyes locked onto Malachi with heavy appraisal as he squinted and squeezed back.
Fairly harder than was necessary, but Malachi gave as good as he got.
“Nice to meet you, Bennett. Or should I call you Nathan? What’s the protocol for a civilian here?
” He released Bennett’s hand and smiled unassumingly.
“Bennett’s fine,” the older man huffed. He glanced at Chuck, his gaze softening.
“Boyfriend, huh? Well, it’s about time. But let me know if he steps outta line.
Your daddy would want me to keep an eye on things.
” He chuckled with a crinkle around his eyes that implied he was only partially teasing.
Turning a glare at Malachi, the part that wasn’t teasing was clearly a warning.
“I’ve heard a lot of wonderful things about the late Officer Charles. He sounds like an amazing person. I’m sorry I won’t get to meet him. Were you partners?” Malachi asked softly.
It was the right thing to say as Bennett’s suspicious gaze fell, and his shoulders relaxed.
“Yeah, Chuck senior was a great man. A damn shame what happened to him. An absolute travesty they never caught the bastards responsible.” His cheeks flushed with seeming anger now, and he shook his head.
“Well, Evan, I won’t be singing with you, but if you’re up for a beer, I’m interested in that! ”
Grinning, Malachi beamed. “I’d love that, sir!”
Bennett pointed, and his mustache twitched. “Don’t call me sir, you don’t work for me.” He smirked to show he was teasing and slapped Malachi on the shoulder as he waved a waitress over.
Chuck elbowed Malachi in the side again and widened her eyes in question.
Rubbing his side—again—Malachi glared at her. Damn pointy-elbowed woman. Can’t you just tap my arm? Or squeeze my hand? Stroke my thigh? Why do you have to jam your bony ass arm into me like that?
A fair imitation of a growl escaped her lips, and her aura was streaked with lightning-like bolts zigzagging through it.
Calm down, Chuck. He’s clean. Well, not completely clean.
There’s still a faint haze of darkness around him, but it’s not coming from him if that makes any sense.
Malachi squinted at the other man, who was ordering beers for the table.
It definitely doesn’t originate with him.
It’s like, it’s clinging to him because of extended proximity.
You know how, if you’re in a bar, when you leave, you’ll smell like stale cigarettes, even if you don’t smoke?
At her slight nod, he continued, It’s similar to that.
I think he spends a lot of time around someone who is dark. That’s who we need to find.
Hesitating for a moment, Malachi slipped his fingers in hers.
Chuck, I meant what I said earlier. I do wish I could have met your dad.
He really did sound like a great guy. I mean, if I were human, or he wouldn’t smite me.
You know, cause I’m a demon. To his absolute horror, Chuck’s fingers clamped on his, and her eyes went shiny.
Her lips compressed in a thin line, and her aura turned almost solid black.
“I’m sorry,” he blurted, tracing a finger over her cheek. “I didn’t mean to make you so sad. Please, don’t cry.”
Frantically shaking her head, she leaned against his chest and hid her face.
“No,” she replied. “It’s okay. Just sometimes, thoughts of him catch me off guard, and I have to reset.
It was sweet, Mal. I think he would have liked you once he got to know you.
I know he would. Look, I’m going to go to the bathroom and splash some water on my face.
Take a quick breather. Why don’t you see if you can learn anything about Bennett?
” She squeezed his arm and hurried off before he could answer.
Briefly, he thought of going after her, but Bennett placed a companionable hand on his shoulder. “You really care about her a lot, don’t you?”
Not trusting his voice, Malachi simply nodded in response before clearing his throat.
“That’s good. Real good. Girl needs someone to look after her.”
Malachi snorted. “I’m under no delusions that woman can’t look after herself, and I’m not too proud to admit she could probably kick my ass.”
Bursting into deep booming laughter, Bennett clapped him hard on the back.
“Alright, Evan. Dammit, I like you. You’re right, she’s more than physically capable.
But her heart needs to be watched over. She’s always been so stubborn and determined to prove she’s capable of anything and everything.
Her daddy’s death hit her a lot harder than she’s willing to admit.
So be good to her, but give her some space for a minute. ”
“Wise words,” Malachi murmured. “How’d you get so smart? Is there a Mrs. Bennett who teaches you these things? I may need some lessons.”
Chuckling, Bennett smirked. “Nah. I mean, there was. Twice. Both of ‘em divorced me. Takes a different kind of woman to be a cop’s partner. Long hours, unpredictable nights, cases you can’t leave at the office sometimes.
It’s hard. And with Chuck, you have the added bonus of that dog of hers.
Malachi. Man, that is a damn fine officer in his own right. ”
Chest puffing with pride, Malachi was about to thank the man for the compliment when he felt a burst of panic wash over him. Dizziness assaulted his body, and a blast of angelic grace slammed him against the table. Kelly! He screamed in his head.
Out loud, Malachi claimed he was running to the restroom but barreled out the back door instead, following the smell of grace and fear like a shark scenting blood in water. An unearthly roar ripped from his throat as his eyes quickly absorbed the scene.
Chuck lay on the ground, clutching her arm, blood and angelic grace leaking in equal proportions.
She was glaring and shouting threats at the man who stood over her, holding a forsaken blade in one hand, a gun in the other.
Both weapons were trained on her steadily.
Madness swirled in his eyes as he glared at her with undisguised fervor for the perceived right in what he was about to do.
At Malachi’s roar, the man looming over Chuck jerked his head up and stared at him in shock. “Stay out of this, man, you don’t know what she is! She needs to die!”
Snarling, as his skin began to ripple and roil uncontrollably with his irritation, Malachi clenched his jaws together tightly.
His teeth elongated into fangs, and his eyes glowed with Hellfire.
“What she is…” he hissed, his voice deepening until the timbre resembled an erupting volcano, “is mine. She belongs to me. What you should be more worried about is what I am.” An evil chuckle bounced off the brick walls enclosing the small space.
It rattled across the surface of the old, crumbling mortar, sending sandy particles dancing with fear into the night.
The sound was followed by loud cracking as Malachi’s bones snapped and reformed.
A bit dramatic? Abso-fucking-lutely. But he wanted to scare the soul right out of the man’s body.
His skin darkened to a deep swirling dusky gray, similar to that of the sky before an impending storm.
Ebony horns that glistened in the streetlight spiraled from his head as they tapered to razor-sharp points reaching for the faint moonlight above them.
A roiling fog of sickly green mist swept around his body as it grew upwards, his height expanding to a little over nine feet.
Massive feathery wings, black as a raven, sprouted from his back and spread behind him, blocking the feeble light and throwing their tableau into further shadows.
Reaching the final stage of his true demon form, Malachi roared again.
This time, fire shot from his hands, scorching the man’s fingers, forcing him to drop the gun.
“You will release that blade and step back. I’m giving you this one warning only, then I’ll end you.
It will be messy, and I will enjoy it.” An echoing growl emanated from deep in his throat, rattling the nearby dumpsters, punctuating his fury with their metallic shivers.
He didn’t dare look at Chuck; he couldn’t bear to see the disgust on her face at his monstrous form.
An unhinged laugh from the man echoed throughout the alley.
“You’re a demon? And you’re protecting her?
” he demanded incredulously. “We’re working toward the same goal!
” he shouted, tightly gripping his hair with his free hand.
“This doesn’t make sense! All her kind must die! Why would you stop me?”
Shrugging his massive shoulders, Malachi grinned obnoxiously, showing all his fangs.
“Dibs,” he replied casually. Leaning down, he studied the man closely.
He was an average nobody—sandy hair, pale washed-out skin, like he’d been inside too long, and faded blue eyes the color of worn-out denim.
Ultimately, he was utterly forgettable. Someone you passed on the street and promptly forgot.
Slumped shoulders, frumpy clothes the color of mud, and ratty shoes with one lace untied.
Hardly the portrait of a crazed zealot, hellbent on destroying the host of Heaven.
But there was no mistaking the burning determination in his gaze. He truly believed Chuck to be an enemy and that she deserved to die. Too bad for him, his belief was wrong.