Finding Me (Another Falls Creek Romance Book 2)

by SF Benson

  “Smartest thing the angel has said,” remarks The Najex.

  “A-a-angel,” Colton stammers. “Jeremiah, what is he talking about?”

  “Tell you what,” Colton’s father says. “I’ll leave. Let you two talk it out. Son, I’ll meet you back in Falls Creek.”

  Heavy footsteps along with a dark shadow pass. The door snaps shut. I want to sit down, but the space seems tainted. Forever marked.

  “What did my father say to you?”

  “What you should have said,” I snap and cross the floor. It’s not nearly enough distance between us, but it will have to do. “This must be a sick joke to you.”

  Colton drags a hand through his perfectly coiffed hair. “Being with you has never been a joke to me.”

  “Yeah, right.” Waving my finger in the air between us, I say, “Angel and demon. Sounds fucking hilarious to me.”

  He crosses his arms over his chest. “Why didn’t you tell me you’re an angel?”

  “Fallen,” I correct. “I’m a fallen angel. If I had told you, would it have made a difference?”

  A frown crosses Colton’s face before he inches forward. “I could ask you the same question. For me, Jeremiah, I don’t care. Fallen or otherwise, I love you.”

  He would say that. Now.

  It’s too late. It doesn’t matter. It shouldn’t matter.

  Holding up my hand, I say, “It doesn’t work that way, Colt. You can’t strut around being who you are and think it’s okay.”

  He stops in his tracks as a pained expression mars his face. “Why? I didn’t ask to be an incubus. I have no desire to rule Hell or anyplace else. It’s why I made the deal with my grandfather.”

  “Good for you.” I glare back at him. “Hate to inform you, but nobody chooses to be human.”

  “But I did.” Colton shoves his hands in his jacket pockets. “And I’d do it all over again to be with you. You’re the best part of this whole arrangement. My grandfather gave me thirty days to find myself. To discover what makes me happy. I found you, Jeremiah. You make me happy.”

  His words should touch me. Make me happy, but they don’t. Instead, they anger me. I’m sure my destiny isn’t tied to a demon. I’m fallen, not desperate. “Get out, Colt.”

  “Is that what you want?” His shoulders slump.

  “It is.”

  “Okay, I’ll leave here…” Colton’s voice cracks. “I’m not leaving New York. This is my home. I won’t give up my job or my apartment. I hope…” His words trail off as he takes a step back before spinning around and rushing out the door. It hangs open.

  In the distance, I hear the ding of the elevator.

  He’s gone.

  And so is my heart. Pulling my cracked phone from my pocket, I text Ezekiel.

  Jeremiah Jones: Zeke, I need to crash at your place.

  I’m surprised when he replies right back.

  Ezekiel Jones: Sure. You okay?

  Jeremiah Jones: No. I need help moving my stuff.

  Ezekiel Jones: Moving in with Colt?

  Jeremiah Jones: No.

  Ezekiel Jones: Be there in thirty minutes. I need to grab my vehicle.

  Jeremiah Jones: Thanks. Let yourself in when you get here.

  Dropping the broken device on the coffee table, I drag my feet to the bedroom. My world is moving in slow motion. My steps carry me through a dream—a fucking, horrific nightmare. I’ve waited my whole life for The One—the person I would spend my life with. And he turns out to be a damned incubus.

  Joke’s on me.

  I lie back on the stripped mattress. There’s no coming back from this. I’m sure there’s a special spot in Hell for a fallen Celestial like me. Closing my eyes, I wait for sleep to claim me.

  “Wake up, Brother.”

  When I crack open my eyes, I see a frowning Ezekiel perched on the edge of the bed. I yawn and sit up.

  “What’s going on, Jeremiah?”

  “Did you read the prophecy scroll?”

  “Huh?”

  “I’m sure there must have been a clause… Maybe a little fine print pointing out the joke.” I push to my feet and pace the floor.

  “Explain yourself, Brother.”

  Might as well get it over and done with. The sooner Ezekiel knows, the sooner the laughter will be over. “Remember, I suspected Colt wasn’t human?”

  Ezekiel’s brow quirks up. “What happened?”

  “The cambions and The Najex were here for him.” As much as I want to be angry, I can’t. This hurts too damned bad. I choke out the words. “Colt is an incubus.”

  My brother’s jaw drops.

  “Wait!” I shake my head as if that’s enough to erase this nightmare. Anger, unbidden, bursts from me. “It gets so much better! He’s the son of The Najex, and—Zeke, you’re gonna love this part—he’s the fucking grandson of Ashmedai.”

  Ezekiel sucks in a quick breath. “Shit.”

  “Go ahead and laugh.” I wait. I know it’s coming. Hell, I’d laugh if I didn’t feel like throwing up.

  “Why do you think I’d laugh? It’s not like you knew.” Ezekiel stands. “You have to admit it’s a fucking classic irony—an angel and a demon. No one would have come up with that one.”

  “Fallen angel,” I add.

  “Doesn’t matter. To be honest, it shouldn’t matter to you either.”

  “How so?”

  “You love him. ‘Nuff said.” Ezekiel puts an arm around my shoulders. “Let’s go. I’ve already put your shit in my truck.”

  “I could use a drink.”

  “You can have as much as you want. It’s time I took care of my big brother for a change.”

  An hour and two bottles of tequila later, my thoughts still contain Colton. I want the demon out of my mind, but how do I erase him? I allowed the creature under my skin and into my heart.

  “Did he tell you why he did it?” Ezekiel asks, sitting across from me in the living room.

  “Why he lied? No. The Najex told me Colt made a deal with his grandfather.” I twist off the cap on another bottle and turn it up. “Colt made a fucking wish like he was Pinocchio or some shit.”

  “Colt must have been pretty desperate to make a deal with Ashmedai.”

  I recall my experience with The Najex. He put my worst memories on replay and made me live through it again. The recollection makes me shudder. “Doesn’t matter. Colt should have been honest with me.”

  “Have you told him what you were?”

  Narrowing my eyes, I sink into the sofa cushion. I don’t need my little brother shining a light on my own transgressions. “Not the same thing.”

  “Isn’t it? Neither of you were honest. Move past it. Kiss and makeup, or whatever the hell you two do.” Ezekiel stands and looks down on me. “Brother, go to bed. Your room is waiting on you.”

  “I’m not tired. Let’s train.”

  Ezekiel’s eyes widen. “Are you fucking serious? We haven’t trained together in years. Besides, you may not be drunk, but your reflexes are off.”

  “I still want to train. I threatened The Najex,” I mutter.

  “Now why did you do a dumb ass thing like that?” Ezekiel exhales. “Tomorrow night we’ll train. We can go up on the roof. For now, sleep. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  Sleep, however, is the last thing on my mind. I reach for the bottle of tequila, wishing I could drown my sorrows in it.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Colt

  Leaving Jeremiah was the hardest thing I’ve done so far in my life. If he would have given me the chance, I’m sure I could have made him understand. But no. He only viewed us as a mistake. A cruel twist on fate.

  Hell, I get it.

  Never in my wildest dreams would I have put an incubus and a fallen angel together. Demons and celestial beings don’t exist in the same circles. Granted, I’ve known fallen who partied like the apocalypse was around the corner. They seemed like fun beings to hang with, but we kept our distance. While in Hell, I nearly fell for th
e dark angel, but I didn’t.

  Almost.

  Almost doesn’t count.

  For all I know, maybe it’s written on an ancient scroll that the two species can’t mingle.

  But none of that matters when it comes to Jeremiah. He is the light in the dark I’ve been searching for. The lighthouse guiding me even though I didn’t know I was lost. How do I simply forget about him?

  My father, in his infinite twisted logic, probably concluded he was doing me a favor. He had no right, nonetheless, to ruin my happiness. And that’s the burning cross in our relationship. Father never understood that he didn’t have permission to dictate my life.

  The message would be clearer if you stood up to him.

  Sure, I’m a royal. Sure, I’m expected to carry on our lineage. After all, I’m supposed to rule Hell one day. But no one asked me if that was my goal. No one checked with me to see how I wanted to live my life. My parents assumed I’d marry the right female and populate the world with new demons.

  Undoubtedly, my parents figured my taste for males was a passing phase. I’m sure they never once considered I might want to settle down and not bring any more evil into the world.

  Grandfather gets me. He has to. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have made the deal. The demon enjoys a good prospect, a good gamble, but he wouldn’t enter into a pact that would only be disastrous. Right? He gave me an option. He wanted me to choose. Would he renege on it?

  Nick plops down on the sofa beside me with a bottle of beer in hand. He claims to be my friend. Friends are supposed to be able to share things. I think it’s time to test the extent of this relationship.

  “I need you to be honest with me, Nick. Can you do that?” I take a sip from my glass, relishing the smooth vodka over ice.

  “About what?” His question is full of dubious innocence.

  Swallowing hard, I wet my lips. “I know the truth about Jeremiah.”

  Nick raises an eyebrow. “What truth would that be?”

  “No bullshitting me. I’m guessing you’re not what you appear to be either.” This would be a good time for my powers to return. They won’t, however, until I see Grandfather.

  “That’s what you think, huh?” Nick turns up the beer bottle with his eyes on me.

  “Okay. You want to play it like that.” Here goes nothing. If I’m wrong, Nick will run for the door. Our friendship will evaporate like a block of ice in Hell. “Jeremiah is a fallen angel. Are you one, too?”

  Nick chuckles. “Shit no. Yet my father was an angel.”

  The offspring of an angel and a human is…a Nephilim. Another supernatural I’ve never encountered.

  “Wow.” Words escape me.

  “And what are you, my friend?” Nick asks.

  It’s my turn to be honest. Something I wish I could have done with Jeremiah. If I had, I wouldn’t be sitting here talking to Nick. “An incubus.”

  “Oh shit.” His eyes widen. “This is damned priceless. I’ve got to hear your story. How the hell—no pun intended—is that possible? I didn’t pick up on it.”

  “My grandfather granted a wish and allowed me to live as a human.”

  Nick leans forward and places his elbows on his knees. “What is your grandfather? A djinni or some shit?”

  I exhale, realizing I may have unleashed a horde of demons by telling him the truth. “No. My grandfather is Ashmedai.”

  Nick slides off the sofa and backs up toward the door, holding his beer. “I’m sorry. I meant no disrespect.”

  “Stop it, Nick.” Some things never change. As a child, when kids learned about my family, they changed. Distance grew like the Grand Canyon, and they treated me as if I’d thrash them for wrongdoings. “I’m not about to do anything to you.”

  He tips his head to one side. “You sure?”

  “Yes.” I extend my palm. “Sit down. Please.”

  He sits, but it’s a little closer to the end of the sofa. “Does JJ know?”

  “Yes.” I wish he didn’t. “My father came to town and told Jeremiah.”

  Nick whistles low and long. “That’s not good.”

  “No, it’s not. My father has no idea why I made the deal.” Tossing back the rest of my drink, I grimace, not appreciating the burn. “I need to fix things with Jeremiah.”

  “How did Mr. Holier-Than-Thou take it?”

  Although I don’t like the moniker, it fits Jeremiah. He obviously did something wrong to get kicked out of Heaven. The way he reacted to me, however, one would think he was perfect.

  He is.

  “He wants nothing else to do with me,” I admit.

  “Are you leaving town? Going back home?”

  Shaking my head, I say, “This is home. Notwithstanding, there are things I need to settle in Falls Creek.” My pulse races as my curiosity piques. “Do you know why Jeremiah fell?”

  Nick places his empty bottle on the coffee table. “Don’t tell JJ you heard it from me, but his fall is the talk of the Network.”

  “Network?”

  “Other Nephilim and a few fallen who aren’t ashamed to hang with us.” Nick stands. “Want another drink? This will take a minute.”

  Holding out my glass, I say, “Bring the bottle of vodka and more ice.”

  Nick talks as he heads to the kitchen. “You know about the Great Fall, right?”

  “Sure.” Everyone in Hell knows about Lucifer’s declivity. “And?”

  “There have been minor falls throughout time. JJ’s, however, was based on doctrine and not simply behavior.” Nick comes back with the bottle of vodka and two ice-filled glasses. Dropping beside me, he continues, “A few rumors claim that it was his belief that love shouldn’t have restrictions. JJ preached ad nauseum that love shouldn’t have boundaries. It’s an emotion that encompasses everyone. You can’t choose who you love. Period.”

  “His fall was punishment?”

  “Yeah. JJ was one of the Exousiai. That’s why beings still talk about it.”

  “Sorry.” I pour out the vodka. “I’m not versed in Celestial titles.”

  “Jeremiah Jones was a warrior of the Second Heaven along with his brother and that female with a stick up her shapely ass.”

  Now Azaria’s attitude makes sense. “Ezekiel and Azaria are Fallen too?”

  “Nope. Azaria volunteered to come to Earth. She found the scroll containing a prophecy and wanted to make sure it never came true.”

  “What prophecy?”

  “My mother told me about it years ago. Apparently, there would be an angel who would test the limits of doctrine and be dismissed from Heaven. According to legend, when this angel discovered his true love, his beliefs would stretch. He’d learn that love is different for everyone.” Nick takes a drink.

  “And the angel is Jeremiah.”

  Nick taps the end of his nose.

  This news gives me more reason not to like Azaria. Humans are already broadening their beliefs. An ancient prediction, in all honesty, isn’t going to suddenly change how mankind views love. People are followers of universal love, or they stick to traditional opinions. Personally, I think this prophecy is a hoax. A veiled reason to evict an angel who probably voiced his opinion too loudly.

  “Why is Ezekiel here?”

  “Protecting his older brother from Azaria. The chick can wield a sword better than most males. JJ lost his wings and all his abilities when he fell.”

  The scars on his back…

  Damn.

  “You know we should toast to our relationship, Colt,” Nick says with his glass raised. “It’s not every day that an incubus and a Nephilim become friends.”

  “That’s for damned sure.” I click glasses with him. “Between us, I have no plans to return to the life. For a month, I watched harried souls in Hell. It’s not my idea of fun.”

  “So you want to remain human?”

  “Yes. And I plan on patching things up with Jeremiah. Somehow.”

  Nick grins. “That’s going to be one big-ass patch.”

 
“That’s where I’ll need your help.”

  It may be challenging, but Jeremiah Jones is worth it to me.