SERENITY

One minute I’d been in Scotland. The next I was back in the kitchen with Hope, Alex, Genesis, Stephanie, and Ethan. The twins were quietly sleeping upstairs, and the house creaked with awareness as if it knew magic had just occurred and wanted to tell the world its secrets.

Our secrets.

Another groan, and the house was silent again as wind whipped the trees in the yard, banging branches against the side of the house as a scratching noise kept my eyes locked on the sliding glass door leading to the expansive backyard.

“How safe are we here?” I wondered aloud.

Alex actually had the nerve to laugh and then immediately stopped when Hope smacked him on the chest. “Sweetheart, we’re immortal. If any human—”

“Not from the humans.” I felt the need to point out. “What about other immortals?”

Ethan frowned. “We have few enemies. We lead peaceful lives. The real enemy is the evil that was released a few months ago. Balance must always be restored, and the scale has been tipped in their favor.”

“How so… exactly?” I asked.

“Bannick—” Ethan explained. “You saw him in the dream before Cassius kicked us out. He’s thankfully chained in the abyss, but that doesn’t mean his brothers aren’t walking the earth, waiting for time to strike. They can’t help it.”

“What do you mean they can’t help it?”

Ethan’s eyes darted to Alex before answering. “Say you were born perfect, only exposed to one thing your entire life. You know of evil, but it never touches you. You know hunger, but have never felt it in your gut. You know pain, but have only ever been on the end that gives it. You’ve never truly suffered.” He ran a hand through his long jet-black hair. “Then suddenly, you’re thrown into a world that knows only pain, violence, war. The angelic heart is an interesting thing. It was only made for one purpose — to join with The Creator. When that joining was lost, when the twelve fell from the mountain, it severed that link. Tell me, if you were suddenly thrust into this world without half of your soul, would you not do anything to get it back?”

I suddenly had the need to sit. My legs hit the back of the chair as I plopped down. “So, they aren’t evil? They’re just willing to do anything to get back to their original state?”

“Pretty much,” Alex chimed in. “And the last thing we need is more fallen angels creating Dark Ones like Cassius — and Stephanie.” He grinned at her, “No offense.”

She rolled her eyes. “We can’t have them exposing themselves to the humans, and they are desperate enough to do just that. Each of them have gifts, talents that if used for evil could bring along the apocalypse swiftly and violently.” She looked away as the room dropped twenty degrees, ice particles suddenly appearing in front of my face. “They would kill every human on this planet, if it meant the link would be returned.”

“Every human?” I repeated. “Even immortals?”

“Well, they could try.” Alex winked, but his speech missed his normal sarcasm. Instead, fear appeared in his eyes as he very covertly pulled Hope into his arms and pressed his hands against her flat stomach.

My eyebrows shot up.

He gave me a single nod and then looked away like he too would kill every single human in the world — to protect his own.

A crack of thunder shook the house.

And suddenly, Mason was walking in like he’d just taken a stroll outside in nothing but low-slung jeans and enough muscle to enter a body-building competition.

Cassius followed, his purple wings tucked behind his back, his expression grim as he took in the scene around us.

“So, good news then?” Alex joked.

Cassius reached for Stephanie’s hand and kissed it before turning his attention to me. “Swear to me.”

“What?”

His eyes blazed white. “Swear to me.”

Mason moved toward us, but Cassius held his hand up as the room stilled, as if everyone was stuck in time except me and Cassius.

His wings spread out, making it impossible for me to escape. They rippled as a wind drifted through the house. Cassius reached for my face and cupped my chin with his right hand, the feathers on that wing shuddering like the touch was comforting. As if they were purring with each caress of his thumb. “Swear to me you won’t look away.”

“Look away from what?” I whispered.

“Him,” he said quickly. “Where your eyes go, your feet will follow.”

It sounded so familiar, that saying.

I frowned.

And then the room was back to normal. Mason charged toward me, shoving Cassius out of the way with such force the angel slammed into a wall.

“Oh, shit.” Alex snorted out a laugh. “You been eating Wheaties or what?”

Mason’s expression went from anger to horror. “Cassius, I’m sorry I don’t—”

He cursed and ran up the stairs before Cassius could even say anything.

“I’ll go.” Hope kissed Alex on the cheek and ran after Mason.

Jealousy pierced my heart. It was wrong. I knew she was mated to Alex, but it didn’t make it any easier to watch her go after Mason.

Alex sauntered over to me in that sexy way he had no control over and then sat down in the empty chair and stared me down. “So, you wanna bake cookies or something?”

“What?” I narrowed my eyes.

He jerked his head toward the stairway. “I bet he’d love warm cookies. He’s more beast than man anyway — and if he doesn’t like the snack, you can always offer your neck again. Seemed to work well the first time.” His grin was dazzling. “I’ll help, and you can tell me all about how hard it was growing up a sad, powerless vampire.”

“How does she even live with you?” I wondered aloud, much to Genesis’ and Ethan’s amusement.

Alex grunted. “She wants me for my body, but can you really blame her?” His eyes changed color as his hair turned an orange blue.

“Cut it out, Alex.” Ethan shoved him to the side. “You don’t want to kill her. I’ll grab the chocolate chips.”

It wasn’t the life I could have ever possibly imagined for myself. Making chocolate chip cookies with two of the most powerful immortals in existence while an archangel watched, his face a mask of worry. I almost missed the look he gave Genesis, the slow shake of his head, and the way her eyes filled with fear as if he’d just given her a warning only she would understand.

And when she went over to him and Stephanie, it wasn’t to laugh and talk; it was to huddle in the corner and hold hands, as if it might be the last time any of them would see each other again.