“You first? How do you know about Owen?”
“Let’s say I’ve been approached to find Raziel’s Book of Magic. Time travel is one of his specialties. The Fallen can go back and forth through time, but we are not allowed to alter events. There’s different possibilities, different dimensions of time coexisting at once. We cannot pull a human from time and drop them off in another century. It would take a being of great power and the art of time travel to manage such a feat.”
“Raziel,” she said in a breathless wonderment. “I knew he was powerful. His touch gave me knowledge of the centuries.”
Anger swept through him. “Like a download. Raziel could have fried your brain.”
She met his gaze with a frown. “Nice to know, but it’s a little late for the warning.”
He shook his head. “He must have known you could take it. You’re a strong woman, Juliet.”
“Or Raziel was desperate enough to take the chance. He arrived the day my sister gave birth, her body already cold from the aftermath. Fear shone in Raziel’s eyes, fearful that whoever was after him would be there soon.”
Lucca understood and Raziel had been right to be afraid. “Raziel broke the rules and fathered a child. They’ll want to eliminate all evidence of his disgrace, make him an example to the other Archangels.”
She took a deep breath and let it out again. “They really will kill Owen, won’t they?”
“It’s my guess. They’ll also eliminate you as well. No evidence of Raziel’s fall.”
“You said an Archangel approached you?”
“Yes, he knows you’re here, Juliet. He’s looking for the portal that brought you through, but there are others who are looking for the portals as well. Leroy and Purcible were the first attempts.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Leroy and Purcible were Time Guardians.”
Her hand went to her mouth as she swallowed.
“Barachiel claimed Leroy had been compromised and had to be released from his corporal body, but now I’m not so sure. I think Leroy wouldn’t give you up and that’s why he decided to go after the book.” But in the back of his mind, he knew there was more to this. At Purcible’s, the demonic scent of evil lingered in the air. That was not an Archangel signature. So maybe some of what Barachiel claimed was true. Kasadya wanted to open the portals.
“I have to get Owen.” Juliet was at the door, but he was quicker. His hand slammed the door shut again.
“Where do you think you’re going to run to? Raziel isn’t here to transport the two of you and, last I heard, humans lost the ability to time travel. Running will only make Barachiel suspicious.”
She whirled on him, anger sparking her green eyes to a darker green. “What do you suggest?” She threw up her hands. “Just sit around until he figures it out?”
“I’m saying you stay put for now. Do what you’ve been doing. If Barachiel knew where you were, he wouldn’t want the Book of Magic.” Lucca hesitated to tell her the other half of his plan.
Zaiden hunted for a living. He would know how to stay off the radar. He would know how to keep Barachiel off their track—at least for a little while anyway. Eli, romantic as he was, would protect Juliet if he revealed she was his mate. Heck, even Gideon would have his back if he asked it of him.
He pressed his lips together. When had his transformation happened? When had he started worrying about humans and thinking his brethren were males he could depend on. “I’m turning into a right sap,” he murmured.
“What?”
He shook his head. “Nothing. Let me talk to a few of the Watchers to boost up security. Trust me, Archangels aren’t exactly high on the Nephilim friends’ list. They wouldn’t mind pissing off a few of them boys up top.”
Juliet didn’t look like she was ready to trust him completely, which surprised him. She trusted him enough to be her first, which led him to believe she didn’t take sex lightly.
Juliet’s gaze traveled over the length of him. If she kept up the hungry appraisal, they would end up in bed again, accomplishing nothing. “Let me put on my clothes,” he offered. “And I’ll fix us a cup of coffee so we can talk.” He turned away from her before his body betrayed what he’d rather do.
“Why are your wings bound?” She asked him point blank.
Good question. Did he tell her the truth? Hey, it’s no big deal. I tried to kill Eli, but since it didn’t work my punishment was banishment to the human realm. He turned to look at her, hoping his shame didn’t show blatant on his face. “I had a disagreement with the elders.”
She moved closer, her gaze meeting his. “May I?” She pointed to his back.
He nodded, not trusting his voice. He turned to give her full access. Her fingers caressed the winged tattoo, setting his blood hammering in his head among other areas.
“It’s like the wings are alive beneath your skin, the feathers changing colors and rippling as if they want to spread to their full length.”
She guessed right. His wings rebelled against the binding powers used to keep him earth bound. Her scent and her touch clouded his judgment until he longed to wrap his wings around her, caress her with their sultry heat. Each brush of his feathers would bind her to him. His eyes closed as he tried to keep it together.
“Am I hurting you?” Her torturous caress ceased, her hand hovering over his flesh as she waited for him to answer.
He swallowed the lump in his throat. “The wings are the core of our being, as sensual as an intimate touch.”
She frowned then her eyes widened as she realized what he revealed. She pulled her hand away, bringing it to her side, backing away as if a few steps would be enough to keep him from her.
He didn’t look at her as he picked up his discarded T-shirt and jeans. He headed to the bedroom to dress, not for modesty sake, but to put distance between them until his desire cooled.
He noticed Tiger Lilly had made herself at home on his dresser, curling her legs beneath her body as she perched. She looked toward him and meowed as if to tell him she wasn’t moving so don’t even think of trying to shoo me away.
“Don’t get too comfortable,” he told the feline. “You already adopted a family. Leave me out of it.” Dressed, he turned to find Juliet standing in the doorway. His wings throbbed like a son of a—.
“The elders are like your boss, right?”
“Yes, you could say that.”
“Binding your wings seems a bit harsh.” She folded her arms across her chest. “How about you tell me the real story.”
He let out a tired breath, knowing if he didn’t come clean she would walk out that door and disappear for good. “I didn’t believe the Nephilim should take human mates. Our fathers were condemned for doing so and for us to follow suit seemed unforgiveable. We do not have souls, Juliet. How does that make you feel? You gave yourself to a soulless creature.” The bitterness seeped into his words, making them sound harsher than he had intended.
Her eyes widened and her mouth pressed together in a fine line, but to her credit she remained rooted where she stood. “But others… the Watchers,” she tested the word. “They didn’t share your belief?”
He shook his head. “Eli proved he found his soul mate.”
Her lips twitched. “A soulless being finds his soul mate?”
Even she recognized how ludicrous it sounded. “Yes, you met her at Doug’s Downtown Grill. Ryden O’Sullivan or rather Ryden Grigori now. They’re married in the conventional human way.”
She nodded. “I remember her. What does Eli finding his soul mate prove?”
“The elders believe we do possess souls, that we can love a human without the use of our glamour. Everything has changed. The Watchers no longer have to live on the sideline to record history. We’re allowed a real life on the human realm if we want it.”
“You said the Nephilim could use glamour? You mean you can make us fall in love with you?” Her voice was laced with anger.
“We could, but it wou
ldn’t be sincere. It’s forbidden for us to use our glamour to seduce. The relationship would be false and a grave sin among the brethren. Punishable by death if the elders deem it.”
Juliet turned away from him. Her limbs ready to spring into a full run. Then he realized why she asked. She doubted his motives, what they had together. Hell, he didn’t know what it was, but he did know magic hadn’t laced their time together.
“Juliet, my glamour is bound with my wings. I have only the ability to heal my wounds, making me stronger than a mere human, but not as a true Nephilim should be.” He ran his hand through his hair.
She chuckled without mirth as her gaze raked him, wariness evident in their depths. “At least you didn’t say better than a mere human.”
He wondered why she was angry with him. He didn’t use glamour on her or maybe she’s angry he hadn’t. If he had she could pretend what happened moments before meant nothing. His gaze wavered to the king-size bed with the rumpled sheets. She came willingly to his bed, the air still heavy with their lovemaking. From having sex, he corrected himself. It was obvious she regretted the union now.
His brows furrowed. He couldn’t remember the last time he let himself fully enjoy being with a preternatural female. He never experienced the act with a human… until now. He thought a female human would be fragile, that he would… His gaze riveted to hers. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”
Chapter Thirty-Four
Juliet frowned. She thought maybe Lucca had compelled her to fall into bed with him, but there he stood: strong, warrior stance and all, but the emotions flittering across his face told her how vulnerable he truly was.
She shook her head. “You didn’t hurt me.”
He let out a sigh of relief she couldn’t ignore.
“Why would you believe you had?”
His broad shoulders lifted in a shrug and his hand smoothed back his long, golden, wheat colored hair away from his face. His strands were way too beautiful to belong to a warrior looking man. His gaze met hers. Heck, he spoke of beauty even with his strong jaw line, straight nose, and his gorgeous blue eyes.
“Why did you think you would have hurt me?” She repeated the question when he hadn’t answered her.
His voice lowered, a far cry from the over-confident man Lucca appeared to be. “I’ve never been with a human female.”
Surprised swept through her. His lovemaking had been thoroughly erotic, his touch, his kisses lighting a fire in her veins until she thought it would consume her. No, his caresses weren’t from an untried youth.
Then his word sunk in. I’ve never been with a human female. Human female, being the telling words. He wasn’t claiming to be a virgin. He’d been with females, but they hadn’t been human. The thought perturbed her more than she would have liked. “What? Did you think I would break?” She chuckled, thinking it a joke, but Lucca swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down with the abrupt swallow. His gaze looked her over as if trying to find a telltale sign that he harmed her in some way. “You’re kidding me?” she blurted.
His eyes focused on hers.
“You didn’t hurt me, Lucca.” She put her hands on her hips. “I’m not made of glass and I’ll have you know, I held back. I didn’t want to appear too aggressive.” His eyebrows shot up and this time she did laugh. “Sorry to have shocked you.”
His lips curved in a semblance of a smile. “Held back? Maybe it is I who should be worried.”
The silence between them lengthened. It wasn’t an uncomfortable silence, but they came to terms with what happened between them, accepting the ramifications and the unspoken promise of it leading to more. This time Juliet swallowed hard.
“What century are you from?” Lucca asked again.
“I was born in the year 1574.” She hadn’t told a soul her true birth year in so long. It felt… liberating to do so now, as if a weight had been lifted. She could be her true self with Lucca without fearing he’d think she was crazy. Raziel may have given her the knowledge of what happened through the centuries, but deep down she was still the young woman from the sixteenth century.
“It explains your passion for Shakespeare.” His lips curved fully this time.
“And yours?” She didn’t fool herself into thinking he was born during her time. He was a Fallen Angel. He had to be ancient. Her gaze traveled the length of his body so full of life. His body was firm with muscles born from years of training, arms that looked like they yielded a sword on a daily basis. He didn’t look a day over thirty.
“I’ve been alive a long time, Juliet, lived many lifetimes.”
“That’s not really an answer.”
His lips curved. “I was a child when the Archangels came down to earth to rid it of the Angels who disobeyed God and took human women to their bed. I’m one of the children, the abominations Enoch spoke of in his books.”
“You were only a child.” His gaze met hers. She always thought his stormy colored eyes were beautiful, but she hadn’t realized until now the deeply shadowed depths were the scars from what he endured.
“I can’t remember ever truly being a child. I lived a time in the sixteenth century, London for a while. I knew Kit Marlowe well, and Will Shakespeare, too.”
“You knew both men?” God, how she wished she’d met them. “I saw Romeo and Juliet performed on stage. I sneaked into the theatre to see the play.” She shoved her hands into her pockets as she lifted her shoulders in a shrug. She expelled a long tired breath. The weight of her secrets lifted, but it didn’t change the fact that Owen’s life hung in the balance. “I’m scared, Lucca.” She met his gaze again. “I’m trained to fight criminals. I know how to use a gun and am not afraid to do so, but I don’t know how to fight Archangels. The thought is frightening, but I can’t let them harm Owen. I promised my sister I would protect him. And as much as I want to hate Raziel for putting us in this situation, I know he loves the boy. He risked everything to keep him safe. I can’t let it be for nothing.”
Lucca walked over to her and pulled her against him, his arms going around her as he did so. His warmth seeped into her like a warm caress making her feel… safe.
“Juliet, you’re not alone anymore.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
Lucca held the door open for Juliet as they entered Doug’s Downtown Grill. Lucca half expected to find no one showed, but there they were seated at the long table set for them. Zaiden wore a dour expression. No surprise there. Being summoned went against his nature. Gideon sat next to him, slouched in the seat wearing the leather jacket Lucca had yet to see him without. On the other side of the table Eli and Ryden sat next to each other, their arms touching. He’d bet they held hands underneath the table.
Juliet pressed close to him. “Are you sure they’ll help?”
“Yes,” he said. They were here. That had to count for something. He showed her to the table and pulled out a chair for Juliet, trying to ignore the heated gazes directed at them.
Fresh bread sat in a basket in the middle of the table and butter servings wrapped in foil lay in a bowl beside it. If he didn’t known better, it looked like they were all friends meeting for lunch. He glanced at each Watcher and knew a friendly banter over bread and butter didn’t look promising with the testosterone levels rising at an alarming rate. “We need your help,” he blurted before he threw the first punch himself and ended the meeting before it began.
Zaiden held the butter knife in his palm poised over his bread with consideration. The utensil wasn’t sharp, but it could still cause damage with just the right force. “We? As in you and her.” His dark brow lifted at the end as he eyed both Lucca and Juliet with open curiosity. At least his hostile stance had lessoned, but Lucca wasn’t sure the bug-under-the-microscope look proved much better.
“Do you see anyone else with me?” Lucca snapped then took a deep breath. It wouldn’t help if he lost his temper. Juliet and Owen’s lives depended on the brethrens’ help. Pissing them off wouldn’t manage the results he
sought. “I’m assuming Eli told you about my visit from Barachiel.” He had called Eli first to arrange the meeting, asking him to bring the others with him.
“He did, but I’m still a little fuzzy why an Archangel would approach you?” Zaiden said.
“He wasn’t interested in me, exactly. He wanted the Book of Magic and thought I could help him locate it.”
Zaiden snorted. “Are you planning to do a little scuba diving? Last I heard Raziel’s book was sitting nice and pretty at the bottom of the sea.”
“Was it?” Lucca leaned back in his seat, relishing in the fact he knew something Zaiden did not.
Zaiden narrowed his eyes. “Are you saying it’s not?”
Lucca nodded. “Yes. Barachiel wants the book so he can locate two time travelers. Human time travelers,” he clarified.
The brethren turned their gazes on Juliet coming to their own conclusions. Juliet stiffened beside him and he rested a hand on her shoulder to reassure her. “It seems Raziel had himself a dalliance,” Lucca continued. “He fathered a child. Barachiel wants the child; for what reasons we’re not sure, but elimination is most likely his motive.”
Gideon stared at Juliet with interest. Zaiden cursed, making no qualms about the precarious situation.
Eli shook his head as he leveled his gaze at Juliet. “If you were going to mate with an Angel, did you have to choose an Archangel?”
“Hold on.” Juliet lifted her hand to stop him from saying more. “Owen is my sister’s child. Marie died in childbirth.”
“You’re raising the boy?” Ryden asked gently.
Juliet shifted her gaze to Ryden. Compassion ruled Ryden’s features not accusations, putting Juliet at ease. She gave Ryden a quick nod. Lucca wouldn’t admit it out loud, but Ryden’s presence proved a good thing here. Just the buffer they needed to keep the hot heads at the table civil.
Zaiden put the knife down and turned to address Lucca. “I can see why Barachiel would be interested in Owen, but why would he want the Book of Magic?”
Lucca Page 21
