Fallen Kings

36

I cross my arms. “I never had a problem with it, until you did.”

“Well, I don’t anymore. Not exactly.” He gives me a challenging stare. “We want the same things—to keep Olivia safe and happy, and to destroy the Staff. And I think we’d both like to find out who really killed Michael.”

One of my eyebrows arches up. “Yes, I hope to clear my father’s name someday.”

“Our fathers wanted peace between angels and demons. Together they ended the war between Heaven and Hell.” Callan thrusts his hand toward me. “This isn’t easy for me, but I’d like for us to work together too.”

I’m too shocked to move at first, but then I accept his peace offering. “I’d like that very much.”

After we shake hands, Callan nods toward the door. “I’ll leave you to it then.”

He walks away and gets into his red sportscar, while all I can do is stand there replaying the last few minutes in my head and wondering if they really happened.

The door opens behind me, and a sleepy Olivia joins me outside while Callan’s car speeds away. “Was that Callan?”

I wrap my arms around her and lead her back inside. “Yeah. He apologized…in his own way. He wants us to work together.”

Her jaw drops. “Wow. I never thought I’d see the day. Maybe he really is trying to change.”

I stroke her cheek softly. “I’m sure you’re the reason for it. He seems to truly care about you. In fact, he told me so.”

“Did he?” She shakes her head, still in shock.

“We all do.” I pick her up and carry her back to bed. “More than you know.”

“Hmm, maybe you should show me,” she says with a naughty little smile.

So I do. All night long. And when we’re both thoroughly worn out and satisfied, I curl up around her and whisper into her hair that I love her.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Olivia

W

hat am I supposed to wear to dinner with Bastien and Uriel? I settle for my nicest pair of jeans and a silk blouse with the buttons done up all the way to my neck. After putting on a minimal layer of makeup and clipping my hair in a low bun, I’m ready.

Ugh, I look like a librarian. I let my hair down and shake it out, then pop the top two buttons of my shirt and stick out my chest. Great, now I look like a sexy librarian. Oh well. It’s not like Uriel hasn’t seen me while I’m out and about on campus. I can’t help being a succubus. Being sexy is like breathing for me.

I fly straight to Uriel’s Victorian house on the far side of campus, worried I took too long and might be late. Landing on the porch, I smooth my shirt and tuck a flyaway piece of hair back. As I raise my hand to knock, the door opens.

Uriel inclines his head at me. “Welcome, Olivia. Please come in.”

“Thank you.” Now what do I say? Uriel has always treated me well, but our interactions were in a more official capacity before. “Hope you’re well.”

He pauses after closing the door and the corners of his mouth tilt up. “Indeed.”

Bastien walks down the hallway, saving us from further awkward small talk. Giving him a genuine smile, I step toward him, about to hold out my arms for a kiss, then stop myself. I can’t greet him like that in front of Uriel. “Hello, Bastien.”

Bastien stands in front of me with his hands at his side. His gaze flits from me to his dad and back, then he kisses me lightly on the cheek. “Thank you for coming tonight.”

Their dining room is gigantic, with an enormous cherry wood table with hand-carved decorations along the side of birds in flight. Bastien holds out a chair to the left of the head of the table, and I nearly laugh at how formal and awkward this is, except I wouldn’t dare do such a thing in front of Uriel.

Bastien scoots the chair under me and then he and his father sit at the exact same time, like some sort of planned synchronization. Uriel’s seated at the head of the table, with the two of us on either side of him. The plates have gilded edges and the silverware looks just as fancy, and I’m pretty sure I’m in way over my head here. I swallow hard as we sit through the longest moment of silence ever.

An angel I’ve never seen before walks out of a door in the back of the room carrying a large silver tray. She sets it in front of Uriel and removes the domed lid. An entire roast duck rests on the platter, and we watch as the angel carves the bird and serves us each a portion.

I can’t think of a single thing to say, so I sit there with them and wait for a duck breast to be put on my plate. The woman returns three more times with potatoes, vegetables, and rolls. Finally, we begin to eat.

“I’m pleased you could join us tonight,” Uriel says, startling me. I’d started to assume we were just going to eat in silence.

“Thank you for inviting me.” I take a bite of the duck, which is delicious. Uriel nods. “I thought it was time we grew more acquainted, since you seem to be an important part of my son’s life now.”

Bastien clears his throat at that, and I wonder if this was a point of contention between the two of them. Does Uriel have a problem with me seeing his son?

Uriel changes the subject before I can wonder about it too long. “How do you find living with Gabriel?”