by Alex Lux
She shakes her head against his chest. "No! What's The Gray Watcher?"
"Many, many moons ago, Nephilim were at odds with one another in a great civil war that lasted generations. Those who were born under the Sign of Sunrise—Nephilim like you, born with the blood of our people—divided against those who were created under the Sign of Nightfall, people like your mother. They fought for centuries, murdering each other in an effort to gain control over all of Nephilim."
Ana squirmed in his arms. "That's not very nice," she said.
"No, it's not. And there was another who thought so as well. You see, all the Nephilim wore their sign colors. Gold and white for Sunrise and dark blue and black for Nightfall. But one Nephilim stood against both groups and declared an end to the fighting. 'People of Sunrise and Nightfall,' he said to the stunned crowds, 'have we not fought enough and spilled enough blood of our brothers and sisters? How long will we continue to destroy other Nephilim before we've had enough?' And as everyone watched, he stripped off his colors and donned gray in a show of neutrality. 'I will no longer align myself with my Sign until this fighting has ended. Who joins me?' And much to the surprise of those leading the revolts, many joined him. And soon, many more, until you couldn't find Sign colors anywhere. He formed the very first Twilight Court, uniting the Sign of Sunrise and the Sign of Nightfall under one rule of peace and prosperity. He was hailed as The Gray Watcher. And over the centuries, as our people have need of one, a Gray Watcher will rise to help the Nephilim bring back that peace. The Gray Watcher isn't one person, and we haven't seen one in a very long time, but the stories remind all Nephilim that we are stronger united rather than divided."
"Like Mommy and Daddy," she said. "They are Sunrise and Nightfall, and they are family. All of us are family."
"Yes, child, that's right. We are family."
TWENTY ONE
My Soul From Heaven
SAM
This look of thine will hurl my soul from heaven
— William Shakespeare, Othello
I COULD FLY.
Really, truly fly.
It was like the dreams I'd had as a child, only so much better. In my dreams flying always felt difficult, like swimming in heavy water, pushing through a boundary forbidden to me. But in real life, in my actual real life, flying felt natural. Freeing. Exhilarating.
Drake taught me, in a much less traumatic way than Beleth had taught him. It had taken a few months of practice, of strengthening my shoulders and back and wings and getting used to the vertigo of being suspended in the sky, but now it was as natural as breathing.
I only wished Luke and Lucy were still here to see this. They'd left with Ocean and the IPI agents shortly after I'd been turned. Once they knew I'd be okay.
The blood took getting used to. Drake and I couldn't feed off each other, now that we were both Nephilim, so we had to hunt. I had no choice. I could no longer live without blood. He had a choice and still struggled with it, but knowing the blood kept him strong and healthy, I insisted he join me in hunting. We still hadn't found the Beast who had killed our friends. We had to be careful—living in a state of constant fear as we struggled to make sense of so much senseless death. But we tried to carve out moments like tonight, moments where we tried to relax, tried to breathe, tried to pretend life was back to normal.
Drake and I walked hand in hand to the clearing, the winter moon shining on us, casting a cold light into the night. The nip in the air would have chilled me before. As Nephilim, the cold no longer bothered me. I still couldn't believe all the changes my body had undergone. The hardest wasn't even the drinking of blood, oddly enough. It was my new aversion to the sun. I could be in the sun without too much problem, I just didn't like it. It weakened me and made me slightly nauseous. A byproduct of being born into the Court of Nightfall. Since Drake was Sunrise, he didn't suffer the same restraints. But in some ways, I was stronger—at least at night. That was a new feeling, to be stronger than Drake of all people. To have powers that were active.
I'd thought—and maybe sort of hoped—that I would lose my mind-reading abilities in the shift. Nope. Those were still as strong as ever, but right now I had my mind protected so I could enjoy this 'date night' with my husband.
"Do you think Ana will be okay?" I asked, not for the first time. I worried every time we left, especially with a lunatic hunting paranormals still at large.
Drake nodded. "She's with Beleth. She couldn't be safer."
I smiled, knowing he was right, and stretched my wings behind me, reveling in the power and beauty. While Drake's wings glowed softly golden, infused with light as if they contained their own sun, mine shone a dark blue, almost black, with a flicker of white light like twinkling stars. Another tell of our different Courts. It bothered me a little that Drake and I were so different now, but in most ways we shared more than ever.
We rose into the night sky together, slowly, holding each other as we kept pace, gazing deeply into each other's eyes.
"I love you, Sam," he said, kissing me deeply.
I couldn't speak with his lips on mine, so I groaned instead, pressing my body into his as the ground below us moved farther and farther away and the cool air caressed our wings, moving through us as if part of us.
The forest around us grew quieter the higher we flew. Sounds of nature, of night owls and insects and scurrying critters of the earth, were replaced by sounds of the wind, the feel of moonbeams on us, the weight of weightlessness.
I could feel Drake harden against my stomach as we deepened our kisses, our bodies pushing together more urgently, our need growing as our hands explored each other through clothing.
He unbuttoned my shirt and with one hand unclasped my bra. "Less clothes," he said through kisses.
Our wings had an unusual quality. If I touched them, they felt tangible, muscle and bone beneath the glowing lights. But they moved with ease through clothes without tearing or leaving a mark, like light beams. I couldn't figure this out, but it made undressing easier as my shirt and bra, then pants and panties fluttered to the earth below us. I worked equally hard to free Drake from his clothing, and soon we hovered before each other naked, our skin slightly aglow from the effect of our wings.
He looked like a Greek god in all his glory, golden hair and tan skin, muscles rippling in all the right places, golden wings stretched out behind him. And those eyes. Blue with a golden circle in the middle now that he'd turned. I ran my hand over his chiseled chest and broad shoulders, then down his six-pack, gripping him in my hand and stroking. "I want you," I said, my body alive with need.
His touch on my flesh felt electric. He trailed his large hands down my body, cupping my breasts, bringing one to his mouth as his right arm reached around me, stroking my bottom, then lifting higher to run a finger lightly over my shoulders and wings.
We'd never made love with our wings fully extended, and I had no idea how erotic it would be to feel his touch this way. An ache, deep and hungry, grew in me, my body on fire as he moved his left hand over my belly and between my legs, slipping between the folds of skin and into me, stroking, teasing, building me to near release before he impaled me with his own need, taking me in the sky, our bodies intertwined, glowing night and day, dark and light, the yin and yang of perfect balance.
We fell from the sky softly, slowly, holding each other in absolute bliss as we landed in the soft grass near our fallen clothing. I didn't want the moment to end.
As we dressed, still lost in the silence of our moment together, eyes locked onto each other, secret smiles shared, I wondered if this was how Derek and Rose felt shifting into wolves and running wild through the woods. Free. Complete. Connected.
We didn't hear them until they surrounded us.
Didn't realize the danger until it was too late.
Three Nephilim cornered us against a large boulder. The leader wore an accent gray armor that I recognized from Beleth's stories. "You're one of the Emzara," I said, my voice trembling from fear as Drake stood between
us, guarding me with his own body against the three soldiers with swords drawn.
The Emzara nodded his head and gestured for the other two soldiers, both dressed in red armor, to attack. Before either of us could argue or defend ourselves, they threw silver nets over us that burned. I tried to stretch my wings, to fly away, but my wings wouldn't work. "Drake!" I called for him as they dragged him away from me. The nets glowed golden and pain seared through me. My last thought was of my daughter. My mind shouted to hers as everything went black.
TWENTY TWO
Have Not Patience
DEREK
How poor are they that have not patience! What wound did ever heal but by degrees?
— William Shakespeare, Othello
ROSE SMILED, HER eyes covered by a blindfold as I led her into the woods outside my family's mansion. As I led her to our magical rose garden.
She sniffed the air and smiled even more. "Roses. I can smell your roses."
I laughed and pulled the blindfold off of her. "You're a hard woman to surprise."
She wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me. "But it's fun to see you try."
When she looked down she saw the picnic I'd set up, complete with a red and white checkered blanket, a hand-woven basket filled with all of her favorite foods and a bottle of wine with two wine glasses.
"What's all this for?" she asked, sinking to her knees to explore the goodies.
I sat next to her, our bodies still touching as I poured her some wine. "Do I need a reason to do something romantic with my wife?"
She plopped a piece of chocolate in her mouth and shook her head.
I leaned over and kissed her again. "I love you, Rose. Now and forever."
These last few months hadn't been easy. Every since the day Sam was attacked and Rose couldn't shift, she's blamed herself for her friend nearly dying. Fortunately, Drake turned her into Nephilim and things couldn't be better between them, but that hadn't kept Rose from beating herself up and fearing her own shifting powers.
"I know you miss shifting with me," she said, reading my mind—or my face.
I held her hand and looked into her hazel eyes. "I do. But it doesn't change my feelings for you."
"I'm just so scared. Even with Talon trying to help me, I'm scared of failing everyone if I can't control my shifting."
"You haven't failed me," I told her. "You could never fail me."
"I failed Sam," she said, dropping her eyes to her lap. "I can't forgive myself for that."
"Sam doesn't blame you. No one blames you."
"I blame me."
I took a sip of my wine and considered my words. I didn't want to push her away, but I didn't want to lose her to this fear either. "Rose, maybe you just need to push past this. The longer you let this fear paralyze you, the harder it will be to regain control."
"That's just it," she said, tossing up her arms. "I never had control. I may never have control. Look at Talon. He's a monster because of these gifts. I don't want to become a monster, stuck in so many animal bodies that I no longer can even pass for human. How could you love a woman like that?"
"Is that what's worrying you?" I pulled her into my arms and kissed the top of her head. "You could be part bear, part eagle and part fucking unicorn and I'd still love you as much as I do now."
She laughed through a tear and held me closer. "I love you so much."
"I love you, too."
We both looked up at the sounds of footsteps approaching. Tammy and Dean, my brother and sister, walked up.
I smiled at them. "Hey, what's up?"
"We were looking for you guys," Tammy said. She cast a glance at Dean, her twin brother, and I could tell they were keeping something from me.
"What's wrong?" I asked, standing up and helping Sam up.
"Nothing's wrong," Dean said. "But Dad wants to talk to you. He wants to talk to all of us."
My parents were both waiting in my dad's study when the four of us arrived. They stood next to the desk talking, and I could tell whatever they wanted to say was serious.
I reached for Rose's hand, hoping everything was okay. I looked at Dean. After his time spent in the hell dimension of the demon realm he'd never quite been the same, but he seemed healthy enough. Tammy looked fine. My parents didn't look sick.
"Is anyone dying?" I asked.
My dad chuckled. "No, son. No one's dying. But there is something we want to talk to you about. Why don't we sit down?"
My dad's study was huge, and there was plenty of seating for everyone, surrounded by floor to ceiling bookshelves packed with leather-bound tomes. I sat on a love seat next to Rose and waited.
"I'm no longer going to be leading our pack," my dad said, shocking the hell out of me.
"What do you mean? Who will lead? Where are you going?" My dad had been pack leader since before I was born. As shifters and druids we had long lives and he was older than he looked. Much older. I never imagined him stepping down.
"I've been around a long time," he said, "and it's time for some fresh blood to take over. Your mother and I are ready to retire and do some traveling, see the world, spend some time together."
My mom smiled and leaned into him and I could tell they were enjoying the thought of getting away together. Made sense, now that all their kids were grown and moving on with their own lives.
"So, Tammy's taking over?" I asked. She always seemed most in touch with the pack and their needs. Dean never took much seriously and I'd never had an interest. She was the logical choice.
But my dad surprised me. "No, son, we'd like you to take over."
My eyes widened and I looked to Tammy and Dean for support. Surely they didn't want this.
Tammy smiled. "We want you to be leader, Derek. I still have a lot to figure out in my life, but you are settled down with an amazing woman who fits into our life, you have the leadership qualities a good pack leader needs, and we know you're the best choice."
"I can't," I said. "I've barely spent time with the pack. I was always gone before and now we live at Elysium and are hardly here outside of Sunday family dinners. I wouldn't know what's best for them or even how to do this."
"Dude," Dean said, "you'll figure all that out. You and Rose were meant to be here, leading our pack, protecting the rose bush and our legacy and people. The way you saved me from the hell dimension proves that. The pack trusts you. They want you as their leader."
My mom stood and walked over. "I know you're scared, but I also know this is your destiny and you are ready for it. We are deeding you this house and the property, as well as Rose Botanicals. Your brother and sister will help you run the company, and you and Rose can live here and raise the next generation of O'Conners. If you want. It's your choice."
I looked to Rose who shrugged and looked as shocked as I felt.
My family left us alone in the study to talk, but I just sat there in silence. I felt much like I imagined Rose felt. I didn't want to fail everyone, but I felt like I would.
When Rose's phone rang, I thought she'd ignore it, but when she saw the number she answered. "Hello?"
Her face turned deathly pale and she jumped off the couch. "We'll be right there."
She hung up and turned to me. "That was Beleth. Sam and Drake have been captured."
TWENTY THREE
Weigh Thy Words
DRAKE
Thou weigh'st thy words before thou givest them breath.
— William Shakespeare, Othello
A THIRST FOR blood woke me. My tongue felt thick and coated, like I'd been asleep and drugged for a long time. My head pounded in pain and the world around me spun. I had no idea where I was, and I couldn't see Sam.
Someone was dragging me forward. The stone floor scraped at my body until I righted myself and tried to walk on my own. My wrists were handcuffed behind me, and I couldn't release my wings. "Where's Sam?" I asked the Emzara who held me. The one who had attacked us.
"Drake!" I heard her voice behind me and spun to
ward it. She was being dragged forward by one of the soldiers in red.
"Sam, are you injured? Are you okay?"
The Emzara jerked me forward and I lost eye contact with Sam, but at least I knew she was all right. "Where are you taking us?"
I had so many questions. Why had we been attacked? What did the Emzara want with us? No one answered me.
'Drake. We need a plan.'
Sam's thoughts came to my mind weakly. Quietly. Like it took all her effort to make the mental contact. 'Are you powers compromised?'
'Yes. I can't reach anyone but you. I can't push my mind too far. It snaps back, like a rubber brand. Someone's blocking me. Or something.'
That eliminated Plan A. We needed a Plan B. 'Have you learned anything about where we're going or why?'
'No. They haven't spoken and I can't read them. I'm scared.'
I glanced back at her, locking eyes. 'So am I. But we'll be okay.'
I hoped that was true and I wasn't lying to my wife.
We finally stopped and were pulled through a huge double door that had the symbols of Sunrise and Nightfall intertwined. A sun and moon.
'I think I know where we are,' Sam said to me mentally.
I nodded, also suspecting the truth of our location. The Twilight Court in Venice, Italy, ruled by Queen Seraphina. It was confirmed as we approached a floating royal throne where a beautiful Nephilim sat, her silver blue wings spread behind her. In her left hand she held a glowing white orb. Her midnight hair flowed like water down her shoulders and her dark silk dress clung to her slender figure.
Sam's voice broke the spell the Twilight Queen had cast over me. 'Hey! Stop drooling, husband!'
I glanced at her sheepishly. 'Sorry, that was weird.'
