“Aye. Thanks,” Gabriel said.
“No problem.” Remiel grabbed a sheet of paper from Raziel’s pile and reached over to nab his fountain pen. Then he began to draft up his roster. Gabriel watched for a moment before turning back to Raziel.
“How’re Lyudmila and her people?” he asked.
“Bored. I’m sure you can understand—she went from having her home being the hub and center of action to life being its regular self in the blink of an eye. Adjusting to that is going to take a bit of time, but there’s an international conference coming up for all the leaders of the Were clans, and she’s asked Uri and I to attend,” Raziel said.
“Which we are,” Uriel said. “Because it’s the right thing to do, and because I like Lyudmila and Piotr.”
“Where and when is that happening?” Gabriel asked.
“Not sure of the when yet, but the where seems to be leading toward either Prague or Beijing. Not that I mind, either way. Both cities are wonderful.” Raziel toyed with his notebook. “It should be interesting in any event. I’ll be sure to have a full report for you all after it’s over.”
“I hate to bring this up,” Tzadkiel said, “but I think we need to address it. What about those of our kind who think the way Camael did?”
“I’ve spoken with Vel and Asaf. They were fucking stunned. I think Camael’s attitude is what’s going to take them time to get over, the fact that he had it at all, not that they agree with it, ’cause they don’t. Right now, Asaf is in the Congo helping with the Red Cross, and Vel has gone to visit Minnie and Max in Australia,” Gabriel said.
“I’m glad those two are working toward moving beyond Camael’s infractions,” Tzadkiel said. “But I’m still concerned about the rest of the Heavenly Host.”
Michael drew himself up. “I shall speak to them all,” he said. “They will obey me.”
Tzadkiel barked a laugh. “Yeah, and how. Most of ’em are terrified of you, Mike.”
“Yeah, as they bloody should be,” Gabriel said.
“Language,” Michael said.
“Is that it, then?” Uriel asked. “I mean, no more reports or doom and gloom? We can get to the real reason for this meeting?”
“And what is that, Uriel?” Samael asked.
Uriel smirked. It was broad and a little mischievous. “To eat and drink and be merry together, obviously. Stuff our faces with food and booze, get completely drunk and do something nutty, like, I don’t know. It’s never a good night unless you nick a copper’s hat.”
Gabriel started laughing. “Why a cop’s hat? And wow, you sounded just like Raz then.”
“I don’t know. I just made it up. I’d also settle for traffic cones,” Uriel said. He ignored Gabriel’s comparison to Raziel, much to Gabriel’s amusement.
“A little party?” Haniel asked. “Sure, why not?”
There was a murmur of agreement, until Michael coughed a little diffidently. “Pardon me, but I do not think we should engage in theft while we are intoxicated. Or in theft while we are sober. It is not proper.”
“Yeah, yeah, whatever,” Uriel said with a dismissive flick of his hand. “Let’s get to the eating and drinking and see what happens.”
Michael frowned a little. “I do not drink….”
“Mike, it’s a special occasion,” Uriel interrupted. “You drink on those.”
Michael’s expression became conflicted. “If you are certain….”
“Don’t worry, Mishka,” Gabriel said. “I’ll make sure we get home in one piece. I’ll even hold your hair back for you while you throw up from drinking too much.”
“How… kind.” Michael sighed and looked resigned. “Very well. A party it is. But I do not think that I will drink enough to become inebriated.”
Gabriel looped an arm around Michael’s shoulders and pulled him into an awkward hug. “Even if you do, I’ve got you, baby.”
“And I appreciate that very much,” Michael said.
“Right, enough emotions, let’s get drunk.” Uriel got to his feet. “I’ll go get some pizza.”
Haniel also stood. “I will get some curries. From India,” he said.
“And I’ll go get more beer,” Remiel said, getting to his feet as well.
“Perhaps I should get wine as well,” Samael mused. “Do you prefer wine, Michael?”
“If it is no trouble,” Michael said.
“None at all,” Samael said. “We will return shortly.” With that, he was gone, vanishing in a rustling of feathers followed moments later by Haniel, Uriel, and Remiel.
When they’d departed, Gabriel moved a little closer to Michael. “Thank you for this,” he said.
Michael looked at him fondly. “It is no trouble, da bao. And perhaps you are all correct. We should celebrate and look forward to a good future, together as a Brotherhood, and together with our loved ones.”
Gabriel gave Michael a quick kiss. “Aye, I agree.”
“Then that is what we shall do,” Michael said. “And look forward to new beginnings.”
About the Author
L.J. LABARTHE is a French-Australian woman, who was born during the Witching Hour, just after midnight. From this auspicious beginning, she went on to write a prize-winning short story about Humpty Dumpty wearing an Aussie hat complete with corks dangling from it when she was six years old. From there, she wrote for her high school yearbook, her university newspaper, and, from her early teens to her twenties, produced a fanzine about the local punk rock music scene. She loves music of all kinds and was once a classical pianist; she loves languages and speaks French and English and a teeny-tiny smattering of Mandarin Chinese, which she hopes to relearn properly very soon. She enjoys TV, film, travel, cooking, eating out, abandoned places, urbex, history, and researching.
L.J. loves to read complicated plots and hopes to do complex plot lines justice in her own writing. She writes paranormal, historical, urban fantasy, and contemporary Australian stories, usually M/M romance and featuring M/M erotica.
L.J. lives in the city of Adelaide and is owned by her cat.
Now Available
Book 1 of the ARCHANGEL CHRONICLES
You would never know it from his flamboyant lifestyle, but Gabriel’s not just the cheerful, fun-loving adoptive father of a pair of indulged young adult humans. He’s an Archangel, commander of Heaven’s legions of Seraphim, and despite his apparently easy virtue, he’s harboring a serious crush on his superior officer, Michael.
For years Michael has devoted himself to developing a team of humans, the Venatores, to aid in the fight against Hell. He’s been pining after Gabriel for centuries without hope, believing himself to be too serious to attract the other Archangel’s interest. He’s happy to discover that he’s wrong, but their burgeoning relationship is stymied by a major problem: an egomaniacal human is recruiting demons and fallen angels in a bid to take over the world. It’s up to Michael and Gabriel, and the rest of the Brotherhood of Archangels, to beat back the forces of Hell before the Earth is overrun.
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Book 2 of the ARCHANGEL CHRONICLES
Seventy years after it began, the war between angels and demons is over. Archangels Gabriel and Michael reunite at last, but a dangerous new challenge stands in the way of their happiness: someone is kidnapping angels and selling them as trophies on the black market. When Raphael, Archangel of Healing, goes missing, his tearful lover joins with the Brotherhood of Archangels and their lieutenants to rescue him.
Without Raphael’s healing touch, disease spreads quickly through the world’s human population. The situation only worsens when the angel Agrat is kidnapped: the number of sex crimes begins to rise and her husband, Gabriel’s lieutenant, loses himself to his grief. As they mount a rescue mission, Gabriel and Michael’s relationship will be put to the test. With the threat of the world dying around them and tragedy looming overhead, can Gabriel and Michael keep love and hope alive?
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Book 3 of the ARCHANGEL CHRONICLES
Newly bonded Archangels Michael and Gabriel are torn from their idyllic island retreat by the singing of hymns heralding stunning news: Gabriel’s ancient foe, Semjaza, has escaped from his prison in the stars and now seeks revenge and utter conquest.
With the wisdom of Archangel Raziel to guide them and help coming from the most unlikely of quarters, Gabriel and Michael join with the Brotherhood of Archangels to hunt Semjaza down and finish him once and for all. Because Semjaza’s return to Earth doesn’t threaten just Gabriel and his loved ones—it threatens the whole of humanity.
But even more danger lurks in the shadows, threatening the Brotherhood from within. If Gabriel and Semjaza finally face each other in single combat, will Gabriel survive the contest, or will Michael lose his one true love?
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Book 4 of the ARCHANGEL CHRONICLES
Archangel Gabriel is hoping for a quiet period in his life to enjoy his relationship with Archangel Michael, but someone has other ideas.
New dangers arise when the Holy Grail is stolen. Gabriel, Michael, and the rest of the Brotherhood of Archangels and their allies must somehow thwart the twisted desires of the thief.
Their search for the Grail takes them all over the world, calling on old friends like Uriel and Raziel, and forging powerful new alliances. Though they face a fresh set of perils in pursuit of the thief, the enduring comfort Gabriel needs so much, that of his beloved Michael, never abandons him.
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Book 5 of the ARCHANGEL CHRONICLES
The thief of the Grail has been identified and the Brotherhood of Archangels is moving to counter her evil machinations. But as demons flock to the side of the thief and betray Hell, monsters are enslaved and shifters and an angel turn traitor. The love between Gabriel and Michael is tested as they join the rest of the Brotherhood on the trail of Naamah. Danger makes strange bedfellows in the form of Lucifer, the Archdemons, and Lilith.
A traitor lurks among the angels and humans, and the Venatores are discovering vital new information. Lovers Liam, a Necromancer, and Baxter, a shifter working for Michael’s Venatores unit, must face not just the living but the dead. Archangels Raziel and Uriel contend with demands on Raziel’s power that wear him to the brink of exhaustion. The Brotherhood will need all their strength to prevail against the threats surrounding them.
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The Bone Cup Page 23
