by Lisa Hughey
“We need to go now.” Rafe still wasn’t totally on board with the plan but at this point, he didn’t have a choice.
Uri looked away from the two of them. “You haven’t uh, ahem.” He cleared his throat. “Done the deed have you?”
“No!” they both practically shouted.
“Good. ‘Cause Sam the Lover would know,” Uri said drily.
Great. One more thing to worry about.
TWENTY-NINE
Angelina stood outside massive mahogany doors carved with cherubs and banners and weapons, spears, swords, fire, a bow and arrow, divining rod, waterfall, and--a whip? Her life had certainly spiraled in a new and crazy direction. Sometimes she wondered if she’d actually had a nervous breakdown and was in a padded cell somewhere. The only reason she didn’t run with that was because of her children.
Muted masculine laughter rang out from behind the oiled and polished doors. Angelina straightened her shoulders as the doors swung open without the touch of a hand. No one opened the door?
Oh yeah, she should remember, immortal beings with matter-shifting powers.
Opening a door was nothing.
Angelina took a deep breath and inhaled Rafe’s comforting scent. She relaxed before walking into the large room.
A giant conference table dominated the room. Eight throne-like chairs, each with a different colored back, were turned toward the head of the table. There a massive man sat in the blue-backed chair. She’d thought Uri was big but this Archangel at the head of the table was huge. Even his blue chair loomed just a little larger than all the rest.
The giant chair barely contained his shoulders. He had a shocking mane of silvery white hair and eyes a blue so pale that they were almost clear. He stood slowly and she nearly gasped. He must be at least six-foot-seven.
Her gaze skimmed around the room, and tripped over Rafe. Determined not to betray her feelings for him, she didn’t want to get him in trouble, she drew in a deep breath and studied the other Archangels.
The Archangel Council didn’t intimidate her. Much.
Rafe had requested she wear this white robe. But it was just a little long for her, so she had to walk carefully into the room and make extra sure not to trip.
“I am Michael, Guardian and leader of the Archangels.” The giant man put his fist between his eyebrows and bowed. “Welcome.”
As one, the rest of the men stood. Then, fist to their forehead, they bowed and murmured, “Welcome.”
With a flick of Michael’s hand, the black chair slid out from the table. “Have a seat.”
Angelina sank into the chair, as seven very intense, very masculine men focused on her.
All men. Before she could get irate about it, a tall, ethereal woman with a waterfall of stunning blond hair materialized behind Michael’s chair. Every male in the room straightened in his chair but no one said a word. Her white robe accented her features, and the large bell sleeves hid her hands, crossed at her waist.
“Hello, guardians.” Melodious and smoother than clear, crisp water, the sound filled the room effortlessly.
“Nora,” Uri murmured.
Who was this woman? Angelina dared a glance at Rafe for a clue. The skin around Rafe’s eyes tightened. It was his only gesture, but the small movement indicated his displeasure. Why? Was Nora dangerous? She so serene and beautiful that it was hard to imagine she posed a threat, but Rafe’s signal was clear. Angelina stiffened her spine, and prepared for the worst. Whatever that might be.
The man who sat in the purple chair shoved back with an angry push. “I’d like to initiate the challenge.”
“Patience, Zachariel.”
So that was Zach. The guy was handsome, if a girl liked that bad boy image with a three-day beard and hair unkempt as if he’d just rolled out of bed and off a woman.
“We all know Uri is guilty.” Zach fisted his hands at his side.
Uri pushed back his chair. “Screw you, pal.”
Angelina’s gaze widened. They believed the evidence.
“Guardians.” Nora’s tone did not waver, calmer than the still water of a placid lake as she curled her fingers over the back of Michael’s chair.
The two Archangels glared at each other. Neither sat down, as if the force of their personalities could leap across the table and tear each other into tiny little Archangel pieces.
“What’s going on?” Rafe finally asked.
“Uriel is accused of harming the humans.”
But this was exactly what they had discussed on the farm. They were falling into the trap set for them. Angelina opened her mouth to speak, but some instinct made her glance at Rafe. He gave a small shake of his head.
“What say you, Uriel?”
“What specifically am I charged with?” Uri’s voice was deceptively soft.
“The destruction of a farm on Earth and the willful extermination of two Angels.”
“I would not and I could not perpetrate harm against humans. My divine task is to promote brotherhood.”
Angelina didn’t understand why Uri wasn’t explaining what they had already figured out. Instead he seemed really pissed at the woman.
Zach snorted.
“Ah yes, Uriel, however, you recently orated that Archangels must make war for the binding of the fallen angels.” Nora’s tone had not changed one iota but something gave her away. Angelina could sense she was in agony by the way her shoulders tightened, almost as though she would hunch in on herself. Instead, she subtly pushed back her shoulders to stand even taller.
Uri jerked back as if she had burned him. Contempt branded his gaze. “As a matter of fact, I did. I referred to historical context and the calling of the flood.”
“Witnesses place you at the farm at the time of the fire.”
“Yeah, the witness, was also there.” Uri snarled. “Did he mention that?”
“Two Angels were killed,” she said slowly.
“Madame Throne, if I may,” Rafe interrupted, “I fought off an attack against my Angel transitionee. The attacker was not Uri.”
The room erupted in chaos.
Angelina hoped no one else noticed the slight emphasis on my. All the while, Nora’s serene expression didn’t waver.
“This is bull.” Zach threw up his arms. “They’re friends. Of course he’s going to claim evidence that exonerates his buddy.”
Nora aimed a chastising look at him and Zach dropped into the purple chair.
Rafe gestured to Angelina who tried very hard to become invisible. She did not want to be drawn into this fight. Nora gazed at Angelina. She felt as if the woman could see clear through to her soul.
What would she see?
Angelina stood as a measure of respect and, placing her fist between her eyebrows, she bowed slowly.
“And who are you, child?”
Rafe stepped in to explain before Angelina could open her mouth. “This is--”
Nora stopped Rafe with sharp shake of her head. “Let her speak. I would know who she is in her own words.”
“Angelina Guerisse. I’m a...healer. Newly transitioned.” Angelina hesitated.
“There is more to this situation,” Rafe said calmly. “In addition to the fire and the dead Angels, the village is sick with a strain of virus I’ve never seen before.”
Nora inclined her chin regally. “Do you know what it is?”
“Well, we haven’t figured that out yet,” Angelina answered slowly.
“Of course they haven’t. It doesn’t exist,” Zach snarled.
Nora aimed a stern look at Zach who subsided back into his chair. A cold swept through the room and blew across the faces of the Archangels.
“What say you, Rafe?”
“Someone tried to cover up the destruction and in the process killed two Angels. The fact that the virus exists in the same village where the Angels died cannot be coincidence.”
“I’ll accept that logic,” Nora said. “But you still need evidence to support it.”
“What i
f some entity were trying to create discord among the Council? Setting a fire that harms humans and killing Angels and making it look like Uri’s handiwork would be an excellent start. Our attention and our resources would be split.”
“An excellent observation.” Nora glided around the room. She paused at the back of each chair and ran a long finger with a blood-red nail across the intricate wood carvings. “But that would presuppose that this entity knew about the Archangel council.”
Zach smirked.
He really was odious. Angelina could see why Uri didn’t like him.
“Which would mean...?” She paused behind Zach’s chair.
“A traitor,” Rafe said reluctantly.
Zach scoffed, “What entity?”
“A traitor who knew of the enmity between Zach and Uri, perhaps?” Nora asked.
The smile slipped from Zach’s face. “You don’t actually believe this crap, do you?”
“You will take care to address me properly.” Nora finished her circuit around the table to stop again behind Michael’s chair.
“I’m sorry, Madame Throne.” Zach bowed his head in deference but his words issued through tightly clenched teeth.
“Uri, what say you?”
“Hell, no.”
Nora’s brows lowered.
“I am not guilty of the charges leveled against me.” Uri’s stare seemed to send daggers, not at Zach, but at Nora.
She inclined her head. Angelina must be imagining the torment emanating from her. Her face stayed as calm and placid as ever and her mouth held still in that little half smile that seemed more melancholy than a moment ago.
“Based on the testimony of Raphael and his human,” Nora paused. “I will grant a reprieve for now.”
Angelina wondered if anyone else heard Nora’s slight hesitation before the word human. Could the Throne know what had happened between Rafe and her? Angelina refused to look at Rafe and kept her gaze on the beautiful woman at the head of the table.
“You must put aside your animosity and unite to find your common enemy,” Nora advised. “There is no room for your egos.”
The emphasis on ego caught Angelina. She had a feeling Nora spoke to one particular Archangel.
“I think Uri should be imprisoned,” Michael made the pronouncement in the suddenly quiet room.
A gasp escaped from Nora before she quickly suppressed it.
Angelina didn’t see that one coming. If the purpose of the fire had been to create tension among the Council whoever their enemy was had succeeded. She had a feeling that Michael didn’t normally have the authority to override Nora.
Uri jumped up, fist clenched, ready to protest. “I have done nothing wrong.”
Nora paled even further.
“I know that.” Michael took a moment to meet the gaze of each Archangel. “But it may be in our best interest to make our enemy believe you are in prison.”
A hesitant hush fell over the Council as they waited for Uri’s reaction.
“You have a point,” Uri conceded.
Michael said somberly, “We must discover the identity of the entity who perpetrated the crimes against our Angels and the humans and animals on the farm. They hold the key.”
“Yeah. I’d appreciate it if you’d hurry.” Uri broke the tension as a few of the Archangels laughed.
“Rafe, you and the human will continue to work together on the origin and spread of this virus,” Michael directed.
Only Angelina noticed Rafe’s sudden tension but he nodded.
“Zach, after apologizing to Uri, you will work to uncover the traitor. Someone with intimate knowledge of the council, and your relationship with Uri, initiated this deception. We need to fix it yesterday.”
Everyone sat still at the table. Zach’s face was hard and unforgiving. Uri’s brows were arched down, fists clenched as if he wanted to rip someone’s head off. But Angelina wasn’t sure he was gunning for Zach’s head.
“No one sleeps until this situation is wrapped up,” Michael commanded. “If whoever is behind this had succeeded we would be in complete disarray.”
Silence greeted his proclamation.
“Dismissed. Rafe? You and the human stay.”
Rafe hoped the order to stay wasn’t significant.
“Is she an Angel queen?” Angelina moved closer to him, and the scent of gardenia drifted across his senses.
“Ah, no.” He could see how Angelina might think Nora was royalty. She carried herself with a regal bearing. “More like an angel Sandra Day O’Connor or Elena Kagan.”
“Got it,” Angelina said. “She’s a judge with high authority.”
Nora still stood behind Michael’s chair. “Rafe, is your Angel in danger from our enemy?”
Rafe considered the evidence they had so far. “Maybe.”
Michael nodded. “Then you need to stay with her in the human realm. Can she heal the humans already infected with this virus?”
“She has extraordinary power.” Rafe hesitated. They needed to understand Angelina’s gift was inherently unusual in case there was any question later about what happened between them. “She is un ange avec le pouvoir déviant.”
“Truly?” Nora’s face filled with wonder. “It has been centuries.”
“When she is completely transitioned, you are ascending, correct?” Michael broke into Nora’s exclamation.
“Correct.” But Rafe realized he’d hesitated a fraction too long. Both Michael and Nora had noticed his pause. “Assuming the Virtues agree.”
Again, he’d made a critical mistake. At this point, he’d followed their requests. Why wouldn’t they agree? Rafe wanted their speculation away from Angelina. “Did you show Nora the symbol?”
“What symbol?” Nora asked.
“Jed looked through all the ancient tomes and could not find any reference to this symbol.” Michael drew a stylized N on the table.
“And Angelina saw it again as a tattoo on one of the villagers.”
Michael blinked. “So Jed was correct. The symbol is significant.”
Nora’s blanched to the color of alabaster.
“What is it, Madame Throne?”
“Where exactly did you see the symbol?” Nora had lost her calm.
Everyone looked at Angelina.
“Kaz,” Angelina paused. “The guy I just healed had that symbol on the inside of his arm.”
Nora sank down in to Uri’s chair, and rubbed the soft velvet like a lover. “Is it possible?”
Angelina wanted answers. “What does it mean?” Obviously Nora knew the symbol and was distressed by its appearance.
Rafe looked at Michael, who shook his head. “Can you tell us what it is?”
“It’s the symbol for the Nephilim,” she whispered. “They’re back.”
THIRTY
“The Nephilim?” Rafe couldn’t keep the incredulity out of his voice.
Nora’s hand skimmed over the carved wooden arms. “Sit, sit.” She gestured toward the other chairs.
Rafe propped his elbows on the giant mahogany table and leaned forward. “If you know that is the symbol for the Nephilim, why couldn’t Jed find any reference to that symbol in the archives?”
“Raphael, you know as well as any that it is the victor who commissions the recording of history.”
“Yeah, well, whoever commissioned ours should have left us some knowledge of the Nephilim.” Then perhaps the Archangels wouldn’t feel like they were one step behind.
“Does this mean all the Nephilim were not wiped out?” Michael asked.
Rafe said, as worry twisted in his stomach, “Or the Grigori have escaped.”
“It isn’t possible,” Nora whispered, but the misery in her eyes belied the denial.
“I’d say if this symbol is any indication, it’s not only possible, it’s happened,” Rafe snapped. And his first thought was that Grigori and Nephilim in the human realm would bring back all of the negatives of Archangel and human matings.
“You know what
this means?” Michael asked.
“They’ve infiltrated the Archangel’s realm.” Nora’s words hung in the still air.
Michael slammed his fist into his palm. “We’ve become lax in our patrol of the Universe.”
“How could this happen without anyone realizing it?” Nora gripped the intricately carved arms of the chair so tightly, blood beaded on her fingers.
“No one’s been looking for them,” Rafe said. “If Angelina hadn’t healed one, we might still be unaware of their presence.”
“Human,” Nora pronounced regally. “We owe you a debt of gratitude.”
“Ah, you’re welcome.” Angelina shifted in the chair. She didn’t want a debt of gratitude. She wanted to be insignificant. Inauspicious. Unnoticed.
“If you have need of anything, please ask.”
Angelina cleared the worry from her throat. “Thank you, Madame. But I what I would really like is protection for my children.”
“Consider it done.”
“Why do their offspring turn violent?” Rafe asked.
“It was the belief that the offspring were bred by the fallen angels to be violent so they could take more of Earth’s realm for themselves.”
“Were all hybrids violent?” Angelina asked.
“It happened so long ago. It is hard to say whether they all displayed violent tendencies or if genocide was performed on the entire race without regard for their behavior.” Nora’s gaze was unfocused as if she tried to remember some particularly vague memory. “This has troubled me greatly.”
“So what you’re saying is, the decision was made to wipe them out without knowing if you were killing thousands of innocent people?” Angelina’s temper flared.
“Tens of thousands,” Nora corrected softly.
Rafe put his hard palm on Angelina’s forearm but she shrugged his hand off. “What gave you the right?”
“I was but a member of the Throne council when the decision was made.” Nora bowed her head. “However I will accept that the decision could have warranted more discussion.”
“Uh, yeah. I’d say so,” Angelina replied.
“We need to collect more data. And then act swiftly.” Michael vibrated with tension. “And you two need to stop the virus from spreading.”
