Owen’s head bobbed up and down in answer. “Tiger Lilly likes him, too. She eats breakfast with us.”
“Tiger Lilly?” Gideon’s curiosity got the better of him.
“She’s a cat,” Owen explained.
“So, you own a pet.”
“Oh no, we don’t own Tiger Lilly. She showed up one day at our door. Auntie Jules says Tiger Lilly adopted us.”
“Cat’s sometimes do that.” Felines in particular fascinated Gideon. They reminded him of the Fallen. Like how they sat on the sidelines, observing and only participating if it suited them. They could be affectionate, but they were also lethal. They were good warriors, hunters worthy of praise. He handed Owen the graphic novel.
Owen opened the book with greedy anticipation. His eyes scanned what Gideon scrawled on the page and his lips curved into a huge grin. “Hey, thanks. Boy, Dylan is going to be so jealous once he gets a load of this. To my good friend, Owen,” he read out loud. “This is awesome.” Owen flipped to the first page and walked back to the couch. He plopped down, scooting himself into a comfortable position.
Gideon left Owen to his reading and strode into the kitchen where Juliet busied herself with making dinner. He told her he would order out, but she insisted. Who was he to argue? Lo Pan take out could be tiresome after indulging three or four times a week. Though the fried shrimp and rice did hit the spot every time.
He leaned against the doorframe watching her work. She hummed a sweet tune as she chopped carrots, tossing them into a bowl of lettuce, waiting for the extras to spruce it up. Her reddish locks cascaded in waves down her back. Though she didn’t look at him, he had a hunch this female’s cool green eyes missed nothing. When she first arrived, she made a sweep of his apartment, making sure all entryways were secure even though he assured her Zaiden took care of it. Juliet proved an impressive woman. He could perhaps see why Lucca was drawn to her. Lucca claimed Juliet’s mint and rosemary scent was sweetened by sunshine, cloaking her like a warm blanket. Funny, he didn’t notice anything special about Juliet’s scent at all.
He frowned as he recalled whose scent did tickle his senses. Trinity had a signature scent of bergamot and almond. It took all he had not to make a fool of himself and lean near her to breathe her in.
Juliet finally looked up and smiled. “Thanks for giving Owen a copy of your graphic novel. You made a little boy very happy.”
Gideon returned the smile. “It was my pleasure. It’s always nice to meet a fan.”
Buzzzzz… Buzzzzz…
The doorbell interrupted any further conversation.
He made his way to the door. With his hand on the doorknob, he hesitated. Not that he expected the Archangels to come calling with polite pretenses, but one could never be too careful. One eye fell closed as he peeked through the peephole. Startled, he moved back, his heart hammering in his chest in response. “What is she doing here,” he muttered under his breath.
Rap tap tap…
She knocked this time. Open the darn door, you buffoon before she leaves.
His hands obviously received the message as his fingers closed over the doorknob, tearing the door open and startling Trinity McTavish in the process. Her sky blue eyes widened and she jumped, her hand flying to her chest.
“Jesus, Gideon, you scared me.” Trinity’s deep raspy voice caressed him, making the blood in his veins go hot and molten.
“Sorry, I didn’t want you to… Sorry.” Yeah, go ahead and tell her you were afraid she’d leave. Do you want to sound desperate? “What brings you by my place?”
“You’re probably wondering how I knew where you lived.” She cleared her throat and hurried on. “I’m not some stalker chick or anything like that.”
She could stalk him anytime, but he refrained from saying so. She was nervous. Her fingers tucked imaginary strands of hair behind her ear and she moistened her dark red lips a few times. Man, she had kissable lips, full and lovely.
“You left your wallet.” She shoved the dark leather forward for him to see.”
His hand automatically went to his back pocket. Sure enough his wallet wasn’t there.
“I left a message on your cell.”
“I just charged it. I haven’t checked for messages.” He didn’t bother stating he didn’t usually have messages. If one of the Watchers wanted to reach him, they flew over or shimmered.
She nodded still holding the wallet in front of her like an offering.
“Are you going to ask her in?” Owen’s voice reminded Gideon he wasn’t alone. He looked at the boy, sitting on his sofa with his graphic novel in his lap. He stared at Gideon as if he were some kind of social reject in need of assistance. The boy might be right.
Gideon rounded his shoulders uncomfortably before facing Trinity. He moved aside to let her in, but she hesitated as she peeked around the doorframe and looked at Owen sitting on the sofa. Juliet decided at that moment to walk into the living room. Trinity’s gaze riveted to Gideon’s, her porcelain skin turning a nice shade of crimson.
“I didn’t know… I should be going.” She thrust the wallet into his hand and whirled around, racing down the hall. He just stood there staring after her, frozen where he stood and unable to stop her.
“Go after her, Gideon? What are you waiting for?” Juliet’s question was like a good slap of reality, waking him up.
He bolted out the door, catching up with her as she hit the bottom steps, just seconds away from racing outside and to her car. “Trinity, hold up.”
She halted and looked back at him where he stood a few steps above her, dark shadows filling her once joyous gaze.
His brows drew together. “Why did you run?”
She squared her shoulders and took a deep breath. “I didn’t run.”
His lips twitched but he managed not to smile. He didn’t want to make her anymore uncomfortable. “From where I stood, it sure looked like you bolted.”
She cleared her throat. “I didn’t know you were... involved with anyone. God, are you married?”
“What? Married?” His voice rose in panic and he shook his head. “I’m not married.” He pointed over his shoulder with quick jab of his thumb. “That’s Juliet and Owen, friends of one of the breth… uh… a colleague of mine. They’re staying with me for a few days is all.”
Her features immediately relaxed. “Oh.” She walked up the few steps separating them, so that they shared the same step, their bodies a breath away from touching.
Trinity ran because she thought he was involved with someone. Did that mean she was interested him? Maybe. He liked to find out, but after this mess with Lucca and the Archangels, when the threat of death didn’t loom over his head. “Listen, I know I mentioned this before, but I would like to meet for coffee or something.”
She nodded and her lips curved. “Or something.” She leaned forward and kissed the side of his mouth. She didn’t wait for him to answer, but hurried down the steps once more. His gaze roved over her hungrily and he followed her outside the apartment building. She turned and waved to him. God, the black formfitting outfit she wore hugged her body in all the right places.
His gaze shifted and he caught sight of Eli, his true self revealed to him, but not to the casual human strolling by. He nodded toward him and Eli repeated the gesture, signaling all was okay.
Gideon headed back upstairs. Owen was still pouring over the graphic novel.
He peeked his head into the kitchen to speak with Juliet, but she wasn’t in there. “Owen, where’s your aunt?”
The boy looked up. “She stepped out for a moment. She told me to tell you not to worry.”
“Not to…” His mouth flattened into a fine line. “Lucca will have my head,” he mumbled under his breath. “Did she say where she was going?” He withdrew his cell phone.
“Oh, yeah. She’s was going to see the witch.”
“Shi…eesh.” He quickly curved the curse word. He rang Zaiden, who could hunt anyone down. Once he knew the Guardian was on his wa
y, he rang Lucca.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
The minute Juliet rounded the corner of the apartment she jerked off the hoodie and unzipped the sweatshirt she borrowed from Gideon’s dresser drawer. The woman who came to visit Gideon proved the perfect distraction.
She had her gun with her. It may not kill a preternatural being, but it might slow one down. She had Raziel’s dagger, too. That she knew would take down a preternatural.
She wasn’t used to having someone tell her to stay put and she wasn’t about to comply now. She’d been protecting Owen all these years. Relinquishing the responsibility didn’t sit well with her. She didn’t mind the help, but she balked at being kept out of the loop. She hadn’t avoided detection from the Archangels this long without playing it safe. She wanted to know what Lucca and his brethren were up to. The last thing she needed was for them to accidently send out a beacon to where Owen and she were residing.
They sought a witch for spells and containment. Trapping an Archangel seemed like an iffy project. At Gideon’s, she borrowed his computer and logged into the police website. Gideon had state of the art computer equipment, making her wonder what the Watcher did when he wasn’t sketching the next graphic novel, but she’d worry about that another time.
She located Ryden’s cousin, Lana O’Sullivan easily enough. She was clean. Not even a traffic ticket to her name. She lived in Long Beach and owned a new age shop in walking distance of her home, called the Enchanted Whispers.
Juliet needed her vehicle for this little jaunt. Thank goodness, she insisted on driving over here. She parked the Honda in one of the guest-parking stalls.
She opened her car door and threw her purse on the passenger side before yanking her arms out of the sweatshirt. The day proved warm and her spaghetti strapped tank would do fine in this weather. That was the charm of living in Southern California. There could be rain on Monday and the rest of the week there could be sunshine with temperatures in the seventies or eighties. She tossed the sweatshirt in the backseat, making a mental note to return the garment to Gideon as soon as she could.
She slid into the car and shut the door, placing the key in the ignition. “Home free.” She put the car in reverse, turning in her seat to back up. A large dark shadow caught her attention and she slammed on the breaks, skidding to a halt as she came inches from hitting the winged roadblock. Curses flew from her lips when she recognized the Nephilim. His wings flapped in irritation, the sound echoing like a slap.
She turned around in her seat, her hands gripping the steering wheel, her heart pumping in her chest. Two seconds later, Zaiden leaned down to peer in her window. His scowl a menacing snarl with his blue eyes like two ice shards of glass.
“Where do you think you’re going?” His deep rumble did nothing to relieve her fear, but she would not back down.
“I’m going to the Enchanted Whispers.”
“You most certainly are not,” he threw open the car door, intent on yanking her out.
“Don’t you dare lay a hand on me. I’m going and you’re not going to stop me.” She slapped at his hands as he drug her out of the car. His large fingers snagged on her spaghetti strap, nearly relieving her of the top. “Hey, watch it!” She bit his hand and he stepped back with a cry of surprise.
While she tried to rearrange her shirt, she caught him staring at her. “Do you mind,” she snapped.
His gaze riveted to hers and his hand whipped out halting her process to set her top on straight. “Be still,” he commanded with such authority, she actually ceased moving. “What is this?” He pointed to the small swell of her breast peeking over her lace bra.”
“What? Do mean to tell me you’ve never seen a boob before. If that don’t beat—”
“Don’t be absurd. What is this mark?”
Her brows drew together at his concern and she glanced down at herself. On her right breast, just above where the cup of her bra curved, there was a small feather shape discoloration. Her fingers caressed the raised skin. It was sensitive to the touch, but not entirely of a bad sort. It was almost… She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. Erotic, was the word she was looking for. She dropped her hand and her eyes popped open. Erotic? What in the world?
“Did Lucca mark you?” Zaiden shook her.
She looked at him. “What? Marked me? What are you talking about?”
“Did you mate with him?”
She blinked at him. “Now, that is none of your business,” she sputtered and pulled her top up higher to hide the mark. Then she remembered when Lucca and she made love. Lucca’s teeth had grazed her skin, nipping her. Had he marked her in some way and if he did what did that entail? She opened her mouth to ask Zaiden but his troubled frowned worried her.
“Lucca’s wings are bounded,” he said, but she wasn’t entirely sure he was telling her or reminding himself.
“I’m aware. He told me.”
“Hmm,” he grumbled. “The mating ritual is incomplete. His feathers must caress you when you mate.”
She backed up a step. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
He shook his head. “This changes everything.” Zaiden announced. His gaze locked onto hers again. “I’ll take you to him.”
Her brow arched high on her forehead. “To Lucca?”
“Of course.” He held out his hand to her. “We’ll fly.”
“Uh… Why don’t you get in the car and I’ll drive.”
He considered her request and shrugged. “As you wish.”
Once they were in the vehicle and buckled in, she glanced at Zaiden. “Not that I’m complaining, but what exactly changed your mind?”
He glanced at her shirt where the mark lay hidden beneath the fabric.
“Because Lucca marked me?” she asked.
He looked at her now. “He will have to answer for what he’s done.”
Juliet didn’t like what his words entailed. Was Lucca in trouble because he had slept with her? She thought the Nephilim could have relationships with humans now. “Hey, it was a mutual coming together. He didn’t force me.”
Zaiden harrumphed and sat forward in his seat, ending all conversation on the matter.
Okay, fine with her. She didn’t need him to explain what happened anyway. She needed a private conversation with Lucca.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Blaize stood by Lucca as they eyed the demon. He was Werdn from the house of Trugoy or so the demon claimed. His red eyes were wide with fear, darting to Lana then back to Lucca and Blaize in equal nervousness. His limbs were pinned within the wind funnel Lana created. When Werdn refused to answer the questions, the binds grew tighter.
“Who sent you?” Lucca asked.
“I told you, we like the herbs the witch sells. Don’t we, Lana?”
Lana tightened her wind binds and Werdn grimaced before his lips curved into a smile.
Lucca held back the urge to beat the smile off the demon’s face. “Do you recognize him, Lana?”
She shook her head. “But I see a lot of customers. I’m not sure.”
Lucca’s phone buzzed, vibrating annoyingly in his pant pocket. He fished it out with a growl. His brows furrowed when he recognized the number as being Gideon’s. He moved away to take the call. “This better be good,” he hissed into the phone. Two seconds into the conversation with Gideon and Werdn wasn’t the only one he would like to throttle. “Thanks for the heads up.” He ended the call with Blaize and Ryden staring at him for an explanation. “It would seem Juliet insists on joining us. Zaiden is bringing her here.”
Blaize chuckled, ending it with a cough behind his fist when Lucca glared at him. “Sorry, bro, it just doesn’t surprise me that your woman wouldn’t want to sit back and do nothing.”
He was going to correct him on the his woman jibe, but didn’t have the chance. Zaiden shimmered inside, holding Juliet in his arms. Lucca growled and took a step forward before he realized he had done so. Luckily, Blaize’s hand snaked out to hold him back.
Since they bolted the front door, Zaiden’s form of transportation was the only way in. Lucca grunted and yanked free from Blaize. He still didn’t like Zaiden touching Juliet, regardless of his reasons. “What are you doing here, Juliet?” Lucca addressed her. “I thought I told you to stay with Gideon.”
She lifted her chin in defiance, but spoke in a smooth even tone. “No one tells me what to do, not even you Lucca.”
Not even him? He didn’t miss the hidden message laced in her words. Beneath the calm façade, lay an edge of fury just waiting to break free and it looked like her anger was directed at him.
“So who’s the perp?” She nodded toward the demon, falling into her detective routine as if they’d question demons a million times together.
“Werdn is a Hashasheen demon,” Blaize volunteered to bring her up to speed.
“A Hashasheen demon.” Her gaze slid over him. “I’d thought they’d be bigger.”
Blaize burst out with a chortle. “You gotta love her.”
The demon hissed baring his serrated teeth.
“Watch it, Hashasheen,” Lucca warned.
“I’m done talking,” Werdn sneered.
“I can make him talk,” Zaiden growled, moving forward, but Juliet stepped in his way, her hand slapping into his chest to hold him back.
“Slow down. Let’s ask questions before we beat the crap out him, shall we?” Her gaze shifted to Lana with a quick once over. “I’m Juliet by the way and you must be Lana… the witch, I presume.”
“Yes, and you must be Lucca’s mate.”
Juliet shifted her gaze lazily at Lucca as she answered. “So it would seem.”
“Just wait a minute, let’s not—” Lucca choked on the rest of the sentence. “What did you say?” He met Juliet’s gaze.
She waved her hand at him as if it was no big deal. “A little sex, a little love bite… you do the math.” She didn’t wait for Lucca to respond, but walked over to the demon. “So do you want to tell us why you’re nosing around or do I need to shoot you?” She pulled out her gun. “Because I’m in a mood to hurt someone.”
Lucca Page 24