Ethan lifts a finger. “In pursuit of pesos.”
Drake leans in. “ Rummaging for rubles.” Bree slaps him five for his efforts.
Demetri clears his throat. “Broke as the Ten Commandments.”
Figures he’d go there.
“Ah!” Lizbeth claps up a storm as if he just pulled down his pants and exposed himself to everyone.
Demetri’s eyes enlarge as he looks my way. Of course, he heard. His features smooth out as he segues to that slimy grin of his and offers a curt nod of approval at the raunchy dig.
Wesley thumps his fork against the table. “Broke as a clown.” He sheds a shit-eating grin Skyla’s way, and I make a mental note to threaten him later for taunting one of my wife’s oldest fears in her face.
Skyla sneers at him. “Broke as the Barricade’s moral standing.”
Mia barks an obnoxious cackle into Melissa’s face.
“What are you laughing at?” She’s quick to push her sister away. “As soon as you marry Gabriel Armistead, you’re going to be known as Brokeahontas.”
“That’s racist!” Mia shouts.
“Yeah, well, you’re an idiot!” Melissa riots right back.
“Op, op, op!” Tad barks like a sea lion. “This is my currency circus, and I get to finish it!” He stands and points hard at Drake. “You’re not passing on this financial disease to me. I won’t have it. I insist you take this baby back for a refund because it’s not stealing a seat, toilet, or casket!”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, shush,” Lizbeth snaps. “You don’t take a baby back for a refund. Ethan—Drake, Emily, we’re thrilled to have another babe in the Landon woods. In fact, I’d appreciate it if someone else made me a grandmother again as well.” She looks to this end of the table, and Mia perks up.
“I’ll get right on that, Mommy Dearest. Hey? Maybe I can get knocked up by prom like Bree and Em? I mean, it’s practically a family tradition.”
She’s got her there.
Melissa knocks her elbow into her sister. “She wasn’t talking to you—idiot.”
Skyla looks to me and rolls her eyes. “I think Gage and I have our hands full, but you never know what the future holds. I mean, the boys will be two. They’re not babies anymore. I’d love to add to our brood within the next few years.” She offers up a cheeky wink my way, and a collective sigh circles the table.
Mom sits up a little straighter. “Yes, well, let’s focus on getting the four of you out of a one bedroom and back into that house. You know leaving a house empty like that isn’t good for the pipes.”
“Oh”—Skyla shakes her head—“not to worry. You’ll have new neighbors soon enough. Michelle and Liam will be moving in right after the honeymoon. It was sort of our wedding gift to them.” She grimaces my way and mouths the word sorry.
Shit. Liam and Michelle are not moving into my house. Our house. Our home. Now that Demetri is packing up his haunted wardrobe, we’ll be boot-scooting our way out of Tad’s nightmare—and mine. I flash a quick smile her way, but my eyes tell another story. I know how she feels about the house. I know she’s terrified that once we move back in something earth-shattering will happen to us again, and it’s simply not the case. I’m more than ready and willing to prove it to her.
Dudley taps the edge of his crystal flute and manages to reduce the chaos in the room a notch. “I too would like to propose a toast.”
All glasses lift on cue.
Dudley stands. “Thank you to the lovely Emma Oliver for all the hard work she’s poured into this magnificent feast.” He hikes his glass ever higher. “To familial peace—may it flow like a river throughout the world, both seen and unseen. May our beautiful leader”—he offers a silent nod to Skyla—“reign supreme now and forever more, never bowing to pressure to relinquish her rightful place among her people despite the enemies’ artful tactics. May she prosper, advance, and hold fast to her position. The souls and destinies of many are in her beautiful, capable hands. Wager carefully your steps. The path they choose will delineate good from evil. Be wise, be strong, be faithful evermore.”
A thick silence fills the room as all eyes remain locked over his. It’s fair to say that none of us should be too stunned by his words, but our Nephilim lineage has always been the elephant in the room, something we acknowledge in secret, denying its very existence even amongst ourselves. I do a quick scan of the faces around the table, and each one looks equally baffled and perhaps minutely betrayed.
Logan lifts his glass. “Hear, hear.”
“Yes.” I’m quick to join him. “Skyla is a wonderful leader. Long reign the queen—my queen.” I give a playful bow, and the room erupts in a monotone cheer as we finally knock back the good stuff.
Dinner is chaotic but in a good way. A dozen conversations go off at once. Giselle bumps me with her elbow, her features tense, and if I had to guess, I’d say she was pissed.
“What’s this about Ellis heading to Raven’s Eye to save that witch?”
I open my mouth as I look over at Ellis, Logan, and Coop who seem to be lost in the middle of a heated debate.
Wes catches my eye. “I can’t go, dude. I can’t go anywhere when you get down to it.” He shrugs. It’s true, Demetri had to haul him up here.
“Fine.” I look to my sister. “Don’t worry, G. I’ll go with Ellis.”
Demetri lifts a finger as if vying for my attention. “Beg your pardon? I fear not.” He wags his finger at me as if I were three.
“I’m going.” I thump a nod his way. That finger wag settled it for me. Besides, there’s no way I’d let Skyla head that way.
She looks over as if she heard. “Is this about Kres? Because I have to go. Logan and I know our way around.”
“Whoa”—Ellis sounds wounded—“so do I, man. You’re not cutting me out of the fun.”
“Me either.” Coop winces.
“No way,” Laken is quick to protest. “You’re not going, Coop. It’s too dangerous.”
Wes lifts a brow at the girl he loves. The dude has to feel like shit knowing she’s only with him because she can’t remember the past.
Skyla clears her throat. “Laken, speaking of Coop. Have you thought any more of letting us give you a tour of Ephemeral?” Skyla’s mother agreed to let her walk Laken through that tumultuous time, but I thought Laken made it clear she didn’t want to do the deed until after she had the baby. Not sure why Skyla’s pushing it unless, of course, she’s just trying to get under my brother’s skin. On second thought, I know exactly why Skyla is pushing it.
I’m assuming it will happen some day—and I’m also assuming it will be the day Laken chooses Coop over Wes once again. Skyla is vying hard to get them back together. I like Coop. He’s a good guy. But I like my brother, too. He’s blood, or something of that nature. I hate to see either of them unhappy. I think it’s only fair that Laken does what she thinks is best, and to Skyla’s point, she should confront the past head-on.
“I don’t know.” Laken places a hand on her swollen belly. “I’m terrified enough of getting in and out of the Transfer. If it wasn’t for Gage, there’s no way I’d subject my baby to that horrible crash-and-burn scenario again.” It’s true. Other than teleporting, there’s no way in or out of the Transfer without crashing through a wall of granite—and that luxury is only guaranteed to work for those of our kind. A human would need to get scraped off of Devil’s Peak for attempting the effort. “Maybe once the baby is born.” She shakes her head. “But then, I can’t imagine leaving a newborn either.” She lowers her lashes as she looks to Coop. “I’m sorry. I know how important that is to you.”
“It’s fine,” Cooper is quick to assure her. “Trust me, I only want what’s best for the baby. There will be plenty of time to head back if and when you’re ready.” He takes a moment to glower at Wes. “I believe with all my heart that true love will win out in the end.”
Wes smirks. “Trust me, it already has.”
Skyla moans as if she were mortally wounded,
but Logan shoots me a look with a gloating smile.
“I believe the same thing, Wes,” I say, looking right back at Logan. “True love always wins.”
And just like that, our end of the table is quiet again. I glance to Skyla, but she’s too busy having her head filled with whatever Dudley is suddenly buzzing in her ear.
Mom and G whisk the dishes from the table before ushering us back into the living room while Mom tends to the dessert she’s working on.
Ellis nods me over to where he and Wes stand, an odd and alarming pairing.
“What’s up?” I nod to Wes who quickly lands Tobie to her feet, and she takes off for her cousins. It warms my heart to know she’ll have the boys to keep her on the straight and narrow. And Skyla. And Laken. As much as I was fearing for the kid, I think things are actually looking up for her. Who the hell needs Chloe for a mother, anyway? Certainly not Tobie.
Ellis folds his arms over his chest with a defiant look in his glossy eyes. “Wes, here, says he had no problem sleeping with Bishop and that Kres chick, even though he swears his heart is solidly on Coop’s wife.”
“My wife,” Wes corrects before wincing. “Or she will be. Look, Laken and I have been together as long as I can remember. There is no one else for me. There never has been.”
Ellis chokes on his response. “If that’s true, how did you ever get it up for anyone else? That right there is the first clue you’re lying to yourself.”
“Ellis,” Wes says his name with the right measure of disappointment, and I can’t help but twitch a smile. “All I had to do was envision it was Laken. Trust me, I had the full salute going strong in no time. Besides, those girls happened to be wearing Laken’s face when the deed happened. It was a convincing fantasy.” He sighs while staring Laken down from across the room. “And, even though I was able to go through with it many, many times—I will admit, it left me empty afterwards like clockwork. But no more. I’ve got the real deal.”
“Geez.” Ellis shakes his head in disbelief. “How about you, Oliver? Who you gonna bone once Logan takes back Skyla?”
“What?” I inch away, ready to slug him. “Dude, you’re on some bad shit tonight. First off, I don’t know where you get off going there with my brother. And for your information, nobody—and that includes Logan, is taking Skyla from me. She’s mine, and that’s that.”
Harrison shrugs with that stupid look on his face. “But if he does and you want to get laid, rest assured you can get the hammer working by closing your eyes and letting your imagination do the rest. Look on the bright side. One half of the Skyla-Gage duo will still be performing at maximum capacity.”
I give him a light shove. “That’s not how it works. You’d better sleep off your delusions before I ask you to stay away from my sister.” Giselle just finished up her first year at Host University and managed to land herself on the Dean’s List—despite the fact she’s shacking up with Ellis and that questionable air he breathes. “Don’t you dare share that nasty ganja with her either. She’s a good kid, and I fully expect her to stay that way.”
“Yes sir, boss.” He gives a slight wink. “Oh wait, you’re not my boss. Your ex-wife is.” An obnoxious laugh bubbles from him.
I flash a quick smile. “Screw you, Harrison.” I slap him playfully over the back before taking off for far more demonic pastures—toward the fireplace where Demetri is holding both boys and happily chatting with them. I can’t help but notice how entranced they seem to be with him. Each one staring him down, unblinking, rapt at attention.
“What’s this?” I give Barron’s cheek a soft pinch. “Gramps telling you two a bedtime story?”
Nathan starts in on his adorable babble. “And then, some guy’s gonna come and we gonna get sisters.”
I look to Demetri for an explanation. “There’s no way I heard that right.”
“Dear Gage.” He ticks back with a laugh, his face lost in the shadows, offering him a far more demented appeal than he already has. “We can’t keep them in the dark about her. She’s an heir to the throne right along with them. Besides, little Sage demanded that I tell them about her. You know how she can be if we try to deny her.”
“Great,” I mutter just as Skyla comes up and links her arm with mine.
“Hey!” She nuzzles her lips against Barron’s cheek. “If it isn’t three of my favorite guys.”
Demetri pumps out a dry laugh because it’s no secret Skyla detests him. It’s amusing to see he rather enjoys it. Not surprising.
Skyla bites over her lip while winking my way. I can tell she’s getting anxious about that surprise she’s been trying to give me for the past few days. I’m beginning to think there will be no perfect time for her to deliver it.
“What’s going on?” She looks to me, the smile gone from her face.
“Nothing. I was just—”
Demetri cuts me off. “I’ll admit to it, son.” He looks to Skyla as he cinches the boys tighter to him. “I was just telling the boys about their sister.”
Skyla sucks in a lungful of air before snatching both Nathan and Barron to freedom, and they quickly run after Misty and Ember. I’m glad they have cousins their own age. Having Logan around made my life infinitely better, until now. I take a moment to scowl at him from across the room before returning my attention to Demetri.
Skyla gives my arm a quick tug. “There will be no mention of Sage to the boys until I see fit to do otherwise. Their dead sister is not yours to toss about glibly.”
Demetri averts his eyes at Skyla’s word choice.
“Yes, I totally agree.” I’m quick to align myself with my wife. “Sage is for another day. I’m sorry Sage put you in that position, but I’m afraid Skyla and I outrank her. The boys are in the dark until we say so.”
“As you wish.” His chest expands with exasperation. “I’ll be seeing her this evening. I’m headed to your other homestead to confer with the elders.” He gives a mock bow my way.
Skyla sucks in a quick breath. “You’re going to see Sage?”
“Yes. She’s a permanent resident at your betrothed’s dimensional plane. Would you care to join me? I do believe she would love to see her mother.”
Skyla gasps at the opportunity, and I cringe because Sage is quite possibly the only little girl in the universe who has no regard for her mother whatsoever.
“I don’t see why not.” Skyla glances around the room. “Everyone’s getting on their coats. I’m positive my mother wouldn’t mind getting the boys to bed for me. Oh, can we, Gage? Just this once?”
As much as it warms me to see Skyla so giddy, my stomach twists in knots at the thought of what a disaster this is destined to become.
Demetri nods. “I’ll deliver Laken and Tobie to the Transfer, but Wesley will need to come with us. I’ll be back soon.” He nods before taking off toward Laken and Wes.
“Oh my God, Gage!” Skyla throws her arms around my neck and sobs silently. “We’re going to see our little girl tonight. I can hardly wait.”
Logan catches my eye, and I tip my head his way, no smile. Take that. You might have given her Disneyland, but I’m about to give her—what could potentially be her worst nightmare.
“I guess we’re headed to see our baby girl.” To my kingdom, artificial, overhyped, empty in every way, save for that precious child I love despite the fact she’s turned out to be quite the spark plug.
Some might venture to guess we’re headed to hell.
They wouldn’t be that far off.
No sooner do we settle the twins in the minivan for Lizbeth than Skyla, Wes, and I are ushered off to that infernal, albeit open and airy, bright as the noonday sun that Paragon never sees, plane of my own.
Demetri takes in an audible breath. “Ah, nothing like the air of my firstborn’s kingdom.”
I can’t help but glance over at Wes who doesn’t seem fazed in the least, considering he was the firstborn.
“Yes, well”—Wes buries a laugh while ogling the castle—“you know what the
y say about compensation issues.”
“Oh, honey”—Skyla doesn’t miss a beat, her eyes still fixed on that mountain of ashen bricks—“Gage Oliver has nothing to compensate for. His body is the real deal, and if he were one inch bigger, he’d be classified as a weapon of mass destruction.” She looks to me and winks. “Just to confirm my theory, I’ll do a little interactive research once we get home. He just so happens to be my weapon of choice.”
“All right.” Wes winces. “I get it. He’s a bigger dick.” He socks me on the arm and makes it hurt, but I know Wes is simply teasing. I’m just as comfortable with him as I am Logan—more so now that Logan has declared my dick off-limits to Skyla.
The four of us take a moment to stare up at the monstrosity of a home, the Cerberus equivalent of a castle with its three pronged towers that knife frighteningly high into the sky,.
Skyla moans, “My God, you have a city.”
It’s her first time here, and I’m not ashamed to say I’m not too sorry about that. This is the last place I ever want to be. It’s certainly no romantic hotspot that I’d like to whisk my wife off to.
The steel gray columns only seem to grow in width and girth as I lead us over the cobbled path to the mouth of the entry. It’s a blue sky day, no sun, but you can’t help but wince with the explosion of light filtering in, and you can feel its generous warmth over your shoulders. Green rolling hills stretch out infinitely in either direction as spring blooms dot the surface of the landscape with their delicate glory.
“The boys are going to love it here!” Skyla bubbles with laughter as she dances in a small circle, hands outstretched as if she were at a party. “God, how I miss the light. It really drives home the point that Paragon is an eternal nightscape.”
Throne of Fire (Celestra Forever After Book 5) Page 60