by Rose Wulf
“Morning,” he murmured when their lips parted.
Her blue eyes were still sleepy, but also lighter than the day before. She offered him a small, beautiful smile and looped her arms loosely around his neck. “Good morning,” she replied.
“How are you feeling?” After so many hours of rest she should have been feeling fairly good, but he wasn’t willing to make any assumptions. Not when it came to her well-being.
Her smile widened a bit, and she said, “I feel good.” She paused as if mulling over whether or not to say something, before adding, “Thank you for staying.”
Kai tugged her down, tucking her head into the crook of his neck, and wrapped his arms around her in an embrace. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”
“Kai…” Her tone was soft and warm. Not lustful or hesitant. It gave him a dangerous flicker of hope. A moment later she tensed and pushed herself up, horror and worry twisting her expression. “Gwen! We completely abandoned her!”
And back to work. Normally he didn’t complain about a good work-ethic, or a noble mission, but he would rather have stayed in bed with her for a while. Unfortunately, though her concern was unnecessary, her point was valid.
Kai sat up as Belle moved toward the edge of the bed to get ready. “She’s all right,” he promised with a hand on her shoulder. “I already checked.”
Belle paused, relaxed, and smiled again. “Thank you. I still feel guilty, though.” Her stomach made a noise, and she flushed. “Maybe we should grab breakfast while Isabella’s wards are strong enough.”
“Breakfast is a good idea,” Kai agreed, releasing her shoulder in order to stand. They dressed quickly and, once Belle had wiggled her last boot into place they stepped from the room. Gwen’s and Ben’s voices drifted up from downstairs, guiding them to the open living room. Gwen was seated on the sofa, her brother occupying the armchair.
Both siblings turned their attention to Kai and Belle as they stepped into the room.
Belle immediately moved forward and sat beside Gwen. “I’m so sorry I didn’t check on you last night. How are you feeling?”
Kai leaned against the nearest wall, letting his senses sweep the outside property while they chatted. Just to be safe. But, fortunately, he sensed nothing suspicious. Not even a wandering human.
“And how are you?” Gwen asked suggestively as he tuned back in. She was wiggling her brows at Belle when Kai glanced her way, and he bit back a sigh.
Should’ve tuned out a little longer.
But Ben was stepping up to his side, so he supposed that wouldn’t have been an option. Still, he waited for the man to address him.
With a subtle clearing of his throat, Ben quietly said, “So, Gwen explained things to me after she woke up.” He paused, awkwardly adjusting his collar, and added, “It’s all still weird to me, but, I guess if I can accept demons are real, then angels aren’t a big stretch. I’m sorry for my attitude yesterday.”
Kai inclined his head and briefly met the man’s gaze. “No apology necessary,” he said. “Your reaction was fairly typical.” He’d certainly endured worse.
Ben scratched the back of his neck with an awkward laugh before saying, “Hey, ah, would you two like some breakfast? Gwen told me earlier you’d both been pretty wiped before she blacked out. I’ve got plenty of food.”
“And he’s a good cook, too,” Gwen piped up from the couch.
“Breakfast would be great,” Belle said with an appreciative smile. “If you don’t mind. We’re perfectly capable of fending for ourselves, too.”
Ben waved her off and started toward the kitchen. “It’s the least I can do considering you’re taking care of my sister.” He paused, glancing back to Kai, and asked, “That is, do angels even eat people food?”
Allowing a fraction of a smirk to show, Kai said, “We can.”
As Ben worked in the kitchen Gwen took over the conversation, declaring, “Ben mentioned he had plans to meet up with his girlfriend later this morning. I’ve never met her in person so she’s coming to meet him here instead, so if you guys could try to act normal, that’d be great.” The last was said with a pointed look in Kai’s direction, which he happily ignored.
“I think we can manage that,” Belle said. “We don’t want to wear out our welcome after all.”
“And you, Mr. Mean Face?” Gwen prodded, grinning over at Kai as if she was proud of herself.
Kai denied her more than a twitch of his eyebrow. “As long as she’s human.”
Gwen heaved a martyred sigh as Ben laughed and said, “I’m pretty sure she’s human. We’ve been together for about eight months now.”
“Eight months?” Belle repeated, turning raised brows to Gwen. “And you haven’t met her in person?”
“I’ve done a lot of traveling in the last couple of years,” Gwen replied with a shrug.
Kai tuned them mostly out again as the conversation collapsed into small talk. This was the part of the assignment he wasn’t so thrilled with. Fighting demons and mystery curses was one thing—he was a warrior, it was literally his job—but girl-talk? Unwittingly eavesdropping on girl-talk actually made him wish he had friends. Or at least a good sparring partner. Then he could borrow Ben’s adequately sized backyard and get away from talks about someone else’s love life or what store that dress came from. Or whatever it was girls talked about.
Although, admittedly, he wouldn’t be so opposed to eavesdropping on a conversation Belle might have about them. He also highly doubted she’d have such a conversation in his presence.
“Breakfast is served,” Ben announced several minutes later, drawing Kai from his battle with long-buried memories.
Kai and Belle obligingly moved to the island that separated the kitchen from the living room. Belle smiled at him in silent gratitude when he pulled out a barstool for her before claiming his own. He had to admit, the food smelled delicious. He hadn’t realized he was so hungry.
“Gwen,” Belle said, pausing with a fork in hand. “Aren’t you hungry?” There was a less-than-subtle pre-lecture tone building in her voice.
Gwen patted her stomach and stretched out on the couch. “It’s almost ten,” she said. “I ate, like, an hour ago.”
Belle made a noise of understanding and turned back to her food, but Kai caught a glimpse of the stain on her cheeks. He didn’t bother trying to stop the grin that curved his lips as he lifted his fork.
“Don’t you grin at me like that,” Belle mumbled before popping a bite into her mouth.
His grin broadened, and he took a bite of his own.
“Men.”
They ate in casual silence, Ben and Gwen occasionally commenting to each other, until the doorbell rang.
Kai tensed and extended his senses before he reminded himself that no demon could have touched the door. Belle rested her fingers on his forearm, stalling his scan, and he looked over at her as Ben moved in his peripheral vision.
“Relax,” Belle said softly. Giving his arm a squeeze, she added, “It’s his girlfriend, remember? They mentioned she was coming.”
Right. He couldn’t believe how out of it he was.
Gwen came up behind him as friendly voices drifted from the entry. “Her name’s Jennifer,” she said. “I may’ve neglected to mention that. Ben even said he’s thinking about proposing soon!”
Belle offered Gwen a warm smile as Kai downed the rest of his coffee. “You’re clearly excited,” she said. “I thought you’d never met?”
“In person,” Gwen reminded. “We’ve talked on Skype a couple times. And of course Ben won’t shut up about her. He’s such a little lovesick puppy. It’s adorable.”
“Well, go say hi,” Belle urged. “We’ll put these in the sink and wait out here.”
“I don’t wanna catch them making out or something,” Gwen said. “How ’bout I put those in the sink for you?”
As she reached for his plate Kai said, “You have a thing against other people’s intimacy, don’t you?”
&
nbsp; Gwen froze and looked over at him. “I do not.”
He arched an eyebrow in challenge.
Releasing his plate before she’d ever lifted it from the table, Gwen planted her hands on her hips and said, “Okay, fine. I’ll go say hi. Shows what you know.”
“Uh-oh,” Belle said as Kai scooped up her plate and started for the sink. “If I didn’t know you better, I’d say Gwen’s starting to grow on you. You’ve reached the random teasing stage.”
“Good thing you know better,” Kai replied calmly. With the dishes resting in the sink, he returned to lean backward against the island, beside Belle’s seat.
Belle rolled her eyes and swung around to sit sideways, facing him. “I think you mean, good thing I won’t tell anyone.”
Kai contemplated saying more, but something strange prickled his senses, and he straightened as Ben led the expected trio into the room. Belle pushed to her feet as well, though he didn’t sense any extra concern from her. Whatever he’d felt, then, he was the only one who’d felt it. He let his senses expand, focusing this time, in search of any kind of dark or demonic presence.
What he found instead made his eyes widen.
Beside him, Belle sucked in a breath and he distinctly heard her whisper, “Is that—”
“Kai, Belle,” Ben interrupted, oblivious to their distraction, “meet my girlfriend, Jennifer.” He had his hand on the slender shoulder of a pretty brunette with bright blue eyes. She’d been wearing a smile to go with her lightweight dress when she’d stepped forward, but her smile faltered as she locked surprised stares with Kai.
On the surface she registered as human, but this close, and especially when he looked, he could still read the truth. She wasn’t strong enough to hide from him. Jennifer wasn’t a “Jennifer” at all. She was an angel.
Belle was the one to voice the incredulous realization as Kai’s gaze hardened. “Jaelyn?”
Chapter Twelve
Belle was dumbfounded as she found herself staring at another angel from the armada. One of the few she was truly friendly with. Jaelyn. Except Jae was posing as a human named Jennifer and apparently dating Gwen’s brother.
“Jaelyn?”
Beside her, she could feel the controlled anger radiating from Kai. She was honestly impressed that he was keeping quiet. But then again, he does quiet well.
Jaelyn swallowed visibly, her eyes wide and her fear palpable. “Belle…” Her eyes flicked back to Kai before immediately falling to the floor. “Kai.”
“Jen? What’s going on?” Ben interrupted, looking between them all. He gave her shoulder a squeeze. “How do you know them?”
Gwen moved to stand sideways between the two pairs, asking, “And why are they calling you a different name?” It didn’t escape Belle’s notice that Gwen’s tone was far more accusatory than Ben’s. But that was to be expected.
“It’s nothing,” Jae finally said, turning a smile to Ben. “I know them from a while back. Maybe they’ve confused me with someone else.”
Belle swore she could feel the temperature of the air kick up on Kai’s slow exhale. She knew exactly how he was feeling, but she didn’t have his patience. “You can lie to them,” she said shortly, “but you can’t lie to us. What the hell is this?”
“Hey,” Ben said, turning a hard frown on Belle and Kai. “I don’t appreciate you talking to my girlfriend like that. You’ve obviously confused your associations, that’s all. I imagine you meet a lot of people.”
“Don’t insult me,” Kai snapped. Belle wasn’t honestly sure if he was addressing Ben or Jaelyn. Or both. But his next words were clearly for Jae when he added, “Jaelyn. Let’s talk.” It wasn’t a request, and he didn’t wait for her to respond before turning and striding toward the open door to Ben’s computer room.
Belle gestured for Jaelyn to follow first, but she had no intention of being left out of this conversation.
Ben made as if to start forward and Jae put a hand on his chest. “I’ll sort it out, babe, don’t worry. Wait here for me?”
The hesitation was obvious in his eyes, but he finally smiled and nodded. “If you’re sure.”
Without meeting Belle’s gaze, Jae turned and followed in Kai’s wake. Belle looked past her, to Gwen, and said, “Knock if you need us. This could take a minute.” Or several. But she didn’t want to upset Ben unnecessarily. He was going to have a bad enough day as it was.
Belle fell in behind Jae and pulled the door shut once the three of them were in the office space. It was nearly the size of the guest room she and Kai had shared upstairs, but taken up with a computer desk, flat screen monitor mounted on the far wall, and two-seater recliner set connected by a storage cubicle in the middle. Sports flags, a signed photograph, and a diploma adorned the wall space above the chair set.
“Talk.” Kai’s command was firm as he leaned not-so-casually against the wall beside the television.
Belle turned her attention to Jaelyn silently, curious as to what ridiculousness was about to spout from her mouth.
Jae sucked in a breath and leaned back, palms splayed over the desktop. Her expression was firmer than Belle had ever seen. “This is none of your business. It has nothing to do with the armada or our mission. You’ve no need to be here.”
Belle’s eyes widened, but she reminded herself that Jaelyn was technically under Kai’s jurisdiction.
“If I say it’s my business, it’s my business,” Kai declared. “If you’re mingling with humans without permission that is very much my business.”
Jae actually managed a glare at him. “I’ve never missed a meeting or been distracted during battle,” she returned. “I’m allotted personal time the same as any other angel. This is how I’m choosing to spend it. No one’s been hurt, and until you showed up, he had no idea angels even existed.”
Kai arched a brow at her response. There was no mistaking the silent command in the subtle gesture.
“That rule is stupid, anyway,” Jaelyn argued, crossing her arms now. “I maintain that I’m not doing anything wrong.”
Belle could feel her patience slipping rapidly. Did Jaelyn consider the risks she was taking?
As if sensing her rising ire, Jae turned curious eyes to her. “What are you doing here, anyway? I’d heard you were on some priority mission.”
“We are,” Kai answered. His patience was slipping, too. Belle recognized the tone. “Don’t change the subject.”
Jaelyn immediately turned angry eyes back to Kai. “Can’t you just stay out of this? My relationship with Ben isn’t your business.”
That did it. The deliberate ignorance in Jae’s argument, in her attitude, had pushed Belle too far. No matter how much she usually liked the woman, this was too much. “What is the matter with you?” she hissed, doing her level best to keep her voice from carrying out of the room.
Jae looked back at her, almost startled. “Excuse me?” She took a breath, shook her head, and said, “I don’t understand what you mean. Surely you understand why I had to keep this secret.”
Belle dragged in a breath and took a step away in an attempt to minimize her sudden urge to smack the woman. This was too close to home for her, and the familiarity had left her raw.
“Oh, trust me, that’s the only part I understand. I meant, what the hell are you thinking having a relationship with a human? Let alone not telling him what you are!” She was barely controlling the level of her voice now, all sorts of memories threatening to push her over the edge she teetered on.
Silence greeted her question for a beat before Jaelyn’s frown deepened. “I can’t believe you’re taking that stance, Belle.”
“And I can’t believe how reckless you’re being!”
Obviously irritated now, Jaelyn’s calm slipped. “I thought you of all people would understand!”
Flexing her fists at her sides in an effort to release a little frustrated energy, Belle returned, “Oh, I understand. I understand how screwed up this is, thanks to you. You have no idea what you’re d
oing. What you’re risking!” She barely paused to breathe, barely kept her voice low enough to stay in the room, before adding, “Nephilim are half-human, half-angel. We don’t belong anywhere, not in this world or the next. We have to hide our existence like we’re fugitives from God, for something out of our control. It’s not fair of you to force that on someone!”
Anger flashing in her eyes, Jaelyn snapped, “Just because your mother abandoned you doesn’t mean I would do the same!”
Belle sucked in a breath and felt her restraint tumble into the abyss. “How dare you! My mother—”
“That’s enough.” The voice of reason came from Kai, who’d apparently decided to push from the wall and was walking up to them, a firm, no-nonsense expression on his face.
Belle released a long breath through parted lips, immediately grateful for the interruption. She couldn’t believe she’d nearly said that, nearly let her first secret slip in a fit of anger.
Jaelyn turned almost-startled eyes toward Kai as if she’d forgotten he was in the room. “Kai,” she began carefully, “please listen. I just—”
“Save it.” His voice was firm, tone clipped. Not quite angry. “Report to Isabella immediately, or I will.”
Belle didn’t think she’d ever actually heard this tone. It wasn’t his I’m-about-to-lose-my-temper voice, and it sure as hell wasn’t anywhere near his more personal tones. This was the Warrior. The one version of him she’d never seen up close. The second in command. It was so easy for her to forget that he was technically Isabella’s second, and for good reason.
Jaelyn sucked in a breath but wisely held her tongue. She inclined her head as her wings sprouted from her back. A moment later she was gone.
Irrational tears stung the backs of Belle’s eyes, and she looked away. The whole subject of angels and humans mixing romantically was a rather sensitive one for her, and she knew Kai knew that.
