Why is Chuck Sparkly?
Fortunately for Malachi, he was able to shift to canine form without pain and make it inside the house, so he didn’t flash Muriel.
Their nasty, nosy neighbor was sitting on her front porch in a chair that was groaning in the painful metallic screech of an exceeded weight limit.
Her fleshy arms were crossed over today’s muumuu—highlighter orange with purple and yellow tulips—glaring at them as they moved to the door.
Glancing at Jaxon, she hollered, “Glad to see a new fella in your life, Officer Charles. That shaggy-haired n’er-do-well you had around was a right lazy bum.
” She nodded in the delusional certainty she was right as she sneered at Malachi.
“Maybe this one can teach that scrawny, obnoxious, ankle biter of yours some manners!”
He glared right back and growled, ensuring the sound carried across their lawns like a legion of Hellhounds.
He didn’t care if she insulted him, but the Chuglet was a whole other damned level!
Smirking as Luna growled with him, he enjoyed the way the hateful woman almost flipped over her chair in her haste to run inside.
Jaxon briefly stared at the neighbor and the two dogs with confusion, then shrugged with weary acceptance as he followed them inside.
Malachi hurried to the bedroom to grab clothes, and Luna ran to the guest room to do the same.
When they both returned to the living room, they found Chuck and Jaxon seated on the couch, staring at Nick as he paced the room, his wings fluttering in agitation.
Reena trotted behind him as he marched across the floor, her nails clicking in counterpoint to his steps.
“Ah!” Nick sighed with relief when the two demons joined them, his wings now drooping along with his shoulders. “There you are. Off the record, I’m glad you’re okay, Malachi.”
“I knew you loved me, Nickelrama!” Malachi shouted with an obnoxious grin as he clapped excitedly.
Before Nick could stop him, he ran across the room and jumped on the angel’s back.
Wrapping his arms around him, Malachi planted a big sloppy wet kiss on his cheek while making exaggerated slurping noises.
Nick reached behind him and snatched the demon by the neck before he threw Malachi across the room as if he weighed nothing, his body moving with the speed of a rocket.
Just before he hit the wall, Malachi turned to smoke and spiraled around Nick, ruffling his feathers.
At Nick’s irritated growl, he swirled around Chuck, then appeared seated between her and Jaxon on the sofa.
Reena snagged the bottom of Nick’s robe and yanked on it, whipping her head side to side as she expressed her not-so-polite feelings on how the angel had treated her, Malachi.
Sitting casually with his arms thrown wide across the back of the sofa, Malachi’s smile grew wider. “Man, I just love getting under your halo.”
“Yes, well,” Nick grumbled as he brushed non-existent wrinkles from his pristine robes after yanking them from Reena’s mouth.
“Be that as it may, I am glad you did not meet your final demise. Merely because it would make my dear niece sad. Not because of any nonsensical attachment to you.” He sniffed haughtily, staring down his sharp nose at them.
Snapping his fingers, he procured a large chunk of bacon and handed it to Reena in apology.
She snatched the treat from his fingers, almost taking one with her before she trotted to the corner in victory.
Her grumbling smacking as she devoured the piece of meat the size of her head was the only sound for a few moments.
Leaning forward, Malachi let his lips stretch as wide as they would go. “Riiiiiight,” he finally drawled, cackling when Nick’s lips quirked the tiniest bit in response. They exchanged quick nods of understanding before everyone turned their attention to Chuck.
Brushing a hand over her hair and tucking a loose strand behind her ear, Malachi smiled gently at her.
It wasn’t quite the sweet way Jaxon used to smile at Marla, or how Nathan looked at Glenda when he thought no one was watching, but it was as close as he could get.
“Kelly, ready to tell us what happened? I think we’re all up to date on how we ended up in the alley, and that I was dying.
” He glanced at the others who nodded silently.
“But we’d all like to know what you did to save me.
And then I would like to know who that fucker was so I can find his sorry ass in Hell and kill him again.
” This time a low, ominous growl filled the room as Hellfire flashed in his eyes.
Nick squatted in front of Chuck and took her hands in his, studying them closely. “Your halo is shimmering,” he murmured, squinting.
“I’ve been noticing that as well the last few days,” Malachi shared. “Meant to ask you about it, but we’ve been a little distracted.” At Nick’s pointed frown, he dryly added, “With cases.”
“Hmm,” Nick hummed, as if he didn’t quite believe Malachi. “Kelly, dear, I need to see something. I know this isn’t ideal, but could you close your eyes and think back to that moment in the alley? Right before you called for me, picture it in your head.”
Chuck flinched slightly, then squared her shoulders and closed her eyes, gripping Nick’s hands tightly.
“Can you see it?”
She blew out a steady breath and nodded. “Got it.”
“Okay, good. Now, take me through that moment. What were you doing? What were you feeling?” Nick’s voice took on a soothing cadence. Which was the only reason Malachi didn’t rip his wings off for making her relive that gut-wrenching episode.
“Terror,” Chuck blurted with a shudder that wracked her entire body.
“I was feeling this sick sense of dread, like my whole world was collapsing around me and nothing would ever be the same. The air started to tingle and colors warped. I… I couldn’t let him slip away.
So, I put my hands on him and prayed harder than I ever have before.
” Her face paled, and her fingers tightened even more on Nick’s.
Reena abandoned her snack and trotted over, whimpering as she put a paw on Chuck’s foot in sympathy.
“Show me,” whispered Nick.
Chuck scrunched her nose and eyebrows, concentrating harder. The room grew lighter and brighter, colors shimmering as they played over the walls. Her halo became visible to everyone as it stretched further from her body, the soft light washing over the others.
Luna shuddered and scooted back as it touched her, but strangely enough, it only warmed Malachi gently, ruffling his hair slightly as it surrounded him.
Yipping and circling, Reena chased shimmering sparkles across the floor and wheezed happily as they coated her fur.
As the soft glow touched Jaxon, he gasped, staring at his arms. “It’s warm,” he whispered.
Chuck’s eyes flew open, and she wrenched her hands from Nick’s. “What?” she demanded, then stopped, staring in awe at the show of color rippling from her skin. “What the…” She glanced at Nick, who was smiling serenely at her with holy satisfaction oozing from every pore.
Malachi stared at Nick, then glanced meaningfully at Luna, pointing at the display. “Disgusting, isn’t it?”
“It’s a manifestation of your grace,” Nick explained.
“You’ve always had it; you just never used it.
You are part angel, remember?” At her weak nod, he continued patiently, his voice gentle and low.
“When you thought Malachi was going to die, you reached inside and found it, used it.” He stood and embraced her tenderly.
“I’m so glad you were able to do it. I wasn’t sure, you know, because of your regular…
umm… consorting with demons…” Now she was frowning, and he stretched the collar of his robe while an embarrassed flush rose up his throat, turning his cheeks rosy like a greeting card cherub.
“I just mean that because of your continued contact with a demon, I didn’t know if it would prevent you from learning how to access it. ”
“You know… you could have taught her before. Why did it take me almost dying to bring that out?” Malachi asked, his eyebrows gathered like thunderclouds.
Anger built in him like a furnace stoked to life.
He thought about how much different her life could have been if she’d known she had the ability to use her grace sooner.
The rage inside of him was steadily increasing in pressure until he was ready to explode.
He opened his mouth, about to spew verbal lava at the asshole angel when Nick held up a staying hand and took several healthy steps back.
He almost tripped over Reena, who was growling at him again.
“It can’t be taught; it has to be experienced!” he blurted as he windmilled his arms to catch himself. Nick was fully aware of the fury inside of Malachi, and his words came out a jumbled mess that took them a moment to decipher.
Stretching his neck, trying to find calm, Malachi huffed. “Explain.” He snarled as tendrils of shadows writhed around his torso. “Quickly.”
Wilting slightly, Nick nodded, grateful for the reprieve from the demon’s fiery wrath.
“Grace is something inherent, but each angel accesses it differently based on where their talent lies. So healing, for example”—he waved a hand at Chuck— “would present itself when there was a need. I had no way of knowing where her grace would align itself, especially with her being a Nephilim and… well, you know.”
“Consorting with demons?” Malachi spat out the words. He resumed grinding his teeth.
Shrugging, Nick nodded quickly then cleared his throat. “Yeah, so that’s how. She found her grace and used it to heal you and save your life.”
Luna leaned forward then. “Do I have grace?” she asked quietly. She stared at Nick, her gaze steady in challenge.
Moving closer, Nick gestured with his hands, requesting permission to touch her.
With her silent approving nod, he laid his palm on top of her head and closed his eyes.
A small smile curved his lips, and as he gazed at her, his eyes shimmered the way hers sometimes did.
“Yes, child. You do. As I mentioned, I’m not sure where your talent lies, so I’m unable to guide you in how to access it, but it is there.
It would grow stronger if you denounced your demonic heritage, though. ”
Frowning, Luna tilted her head. “So, if I did that—denounced my demon side—would they let me come live in Heaven?” The challenge in her tone was unmistakable.
“Gross,” Malachi muttered before Chuck elbowed him. He hissed and rubbed his side. “Rude, almost died. Be a little nicer? Sheesh. Just wondering why anyone would want to live there. Boring.”
Nick rolled his eyes at Malachi and rubbed the bridge of his nose, then shook his head slowly, sadly.
“I’m afraid not. As much as we want you to denounce that side, it wouldn’t be enough to grant you access to Heaven.
Which I want to point out, that I do not personally agree with that, but I do not get to make the rules. ”
“Did I hear a plan to consort with demons? I’m in!” Flick demanded as he strolled in from the kitchen, a giant grin stretched his face comically wide as he shoved a whole apple in his mouth.