Still of Night: The Thorne Hill Series, #4

1

The feather falls from Lucas’s fingers. He snaps his head to the side and holds out his arm, blocking me from the door.

What? I whisper, heart racing. Do you hear something?

Shhh, he tells me and motions for me to move back. My heels softly click on the dusty hardwood floor as I take a step away from the door. Lucas speeds forward, twisting the lock, and then moves back to me, taking me protectively in his arms. We both know a simple lock isn’t going to keep an angel out.

I close my eyes and hold out my hand, calling the glowing blue energy ball that was floating above us back into my hand. I absorb the magic and the foyer goes dark. I can’t see a thing, but Lucas can.

I think we’re alone, he tells me, and the floor creaks beneath his feet. His cool fingers wrap around my arm as he holds me closer. I smash myself against his chest, scared that if I conjure another energy ball, light will fill the room and reveal the faces of a dozen angels, eyes narrowed with anger, looking at me like I’m an abomination that needs to be eliminated.

I never thought I’d be scared of angels. I splay my trembling fingers on Lucas’s broad chest. There’s no heart beating beneath my palm. It used to unnerve me. Now it comforts me.

I won’t let anything happen to you.

I know, I say softly, but that thought scares me almost as much. Lucas would die before he let anyone get to me, and I’m not losing him.

A familiar energy tugs me forward, and I pull out of Lucas’s embrace, holding my hand out toward the door.

What is it? he asks.

My familiars. I look at him. I’m going to open the door.

Lucas sidesteps closer to the doors, ready to attack anything that tries to get into the house who isn’t my familiar. I conjure another string of blue magic and let it go into the air. It hovers about a foot above my head, twisting and shimmering in the dark.

Binx, Pandora, and Freya are closing in on the porch. I can feel when they slip past the warding I’ve placed on the house. Waving my hand at the door, I undo the locks and open one of the double doors. My familiars shadow in and Lucas speeds forward, slamming the door shut behind them.

Did you sense anything out there? I ask as Pandora and Freya shift back into cat form. Binx, ancient, powerful and apparently guided to me by my angel father, stays in his shadow form, looking like the black shadow creature from your worst nightmare.

Not in the woods, he says, deep voice echoing all around us. Pandora and Freya sniff the feather, and Binx shifts into his form as a black cat and investigates the feather too.

He says it feels familiar, I tell Lucas, picking up the feather once my familiars are done with it. Does it smell like the other one I had?

Lucas brings the feather to his face and inhales. It’s strange…I can’t tell.

What do you mean?

It doesn’t smell like a bird. It doesn’t smell human. But I can’t discern anything further from there, which I suppose makes sense given that we know it’s angelic.

Well, I start and wrap my fingers around the vane of the feather, careful not to crush it. We can’t stay here forever, and I’m hungry. Tacos and margaritas sound so fucking good right now.

Lucas and my familiars stare at me like I’m crazy.

What?

Maybe we should go back to your house and order food, Lucas suggests.

Nothing delivers all the way out here.

Then I’ll pick it up.

You can’t order a margarita to go. Michael told me to keep living my life and that’s what I want to do. Besides. I hold up my hand, heart skipping a beat for a different reason. We have a lot to celebrate. Blue light reflects off the large engagement ring. I am not going to let anything ruin tonight. We’re going out, we’re celebrating, and I’m going to take stereotypical photos of my ring to post on social media like a normal fucking person.

My love, Lucas says gently, still looking at me like I’m on the verge of walking into a salon, grabbing clippers, and shaving my hair off. The Grand Coven has forbidden us to be together. You know how I feel about them—and my offer still stands to rip their throats out—but posting on social media is a terrible idea.

Dammit, you’re right. I let out a sigh. So much has happened over the last few days. I’m half angel. Half witch. Demons want to kill me. Angels want to kill me. The Grand Coven has ruled against my relationship with Lucas, and if I’m found guilty of associating with vampires, then my very own High Priestess is the one who’s supposed to punish me.

Let’s get away. Lucas strides forward and envelops me in his arms. Let’s go somewhere we can celebrate our engagement. Paris. London. Ibiza. We can stay at my vineyard in Italy or my estate in California. Hell, I’ll take you to Disney World. Bring Kristy and Evander and you can go out together during the day.

He gathers my hair to one side and presses his lips to my neck. A shiver runs through me and I want nothing more than to surrender to him, feeling nothing but pleasure for the next hour or so as he makes love to me.

You’d really go to Disney?

He chuckles. Out of every place I listed that’s where you want to go?

It’s a little nostalgic for me. I snap my head up. Wait, you own a vineyard in Italy and I’m just now learning about it?

I own a lot of properties. I own one in Naples, California too. You’ll own them too, once we’re married.

You want to put everything in both our names?

He cups my face with his large hands. Yes. When I asked you to marry me, Callie, it was because I want to be with you in every way. As husband and wife. Witch—or Nephilim—and vampire, he adds with a cheeky grin. You are the first and only person I’ve ever wanted to share everything with. What I was. What I am. What I will be. I want it all with you.

Tears fill my eyes and I step closer to my undead lover.

You will be mine in every single way, he growls, lowering his hands to my waist. He pulls me in and bends down. And I will be yours.

I love you, I whisper right before he kisses me, tongue plunging into my mouth. His fangs, still drawn, poke against my lips. They don’t break the skin, and the slight pain they cause feels good. He breaks away, resting his forehead against mine.

I suppose we should go out for dinner now. You should eat so I can.

I hook my arms around his shoulders and smile. You just ate me not that long ago.

The cheeky grin is back on his face, and blue light dances over his handsome face. Are you referring to your pussy or your blood?

I wiggle my eyebrows. I like when they go hand in hand.

He sweeps one hand down and squeezes my butt. I do too.

I’ll have them go out first, I tell Lucas, and turn my head to look at my familiars. Freya is on the stairs batting at a large spider. Pandora has gone into the basement, hunting mice, and Binx is sitting in the windowsill, looking out at the dark yard. Sometimes they look and act like so much like normal house cats it’s humorous. I don’t think they’ll ever admit it, but they’ve gotten quite used to their cushy lifestyle with me.

Though that’s not to say there’s not a certain amount of danger that comes from being my familiar.

Are you sure you don’t want to christen one of the bedrooms first?

I laugh. I told you, once the mold and dust has been cleared, I’m game for having sex in every single room of this house. And there are a lot of rooms.

Well, in that case, I should bring on another construction crew and speed things up.

Can we actually do that? I cannot wait to move in here with you.

There are certain things you can rush and certain thing you can’t. As much as I want to strip you down, spread your legs, and drink from your thighs, I want this house to be perfect even more. It will be worth it.

You’re such a perfectionist, I tease.

Only for you. Lucas pulls me close and I look at the ring once more. I’m not good at guessing carat size or anything like that, but this thing is huge. It’s going to take some getting used to wearing it, and I can totally see myself scratching my face with that thing.

Hah, it’s big enough to double as a weapon if it came down to it.

I do at least have to text Kristy. Like right now.

Very well, he says with a smile and takes his arms from me. I pull my phone from my purse and take a few pictures of my hand, and then make Lucas stand with me for a selfie.

Ugh, I get no service in here, I grumble when my text doesn’t go through. I look at my phone as I move toward the double doors. Shall we? I ask, blinking when I look up from the bright screen. Binx jumps from the windowsill, shifting back into shadow form. My other familiars follow suit. Lucas unlocks the door and lets them out, waiting a beat before taking my hand and stepping onto the porch as well.

He pauses, keeping a tight hold of my hand, and looks around, sniffing the air.

Anything? I ask.

Nothing.

I magically lock up the house again, and by the time we’re walking down the porch steps, my familiars have come back, letting me know they haven’t found anything.

Thank you, I tell them as they shift back into cat form. Head home, and I’ll bring you my leftovers. I run my hand over Binx’s sleek fur. And then we’ll find a new show to watch in the morning. It’s been a while since we just sat around and watched TV.

They like to watch TV? Lucas asks, zooming to the passenger side of the Jeep and opening the door for me.

It mildly entertains them. It’s more so the cuddling that they enjoy. Binx loves to be held and have his belly rubbed. Freya snuggles under the blankets, and Pandora sleeps on my pillow. It’s glorious.

You really are a crazy cat lady even though you don’t really have cats.

Should we change that?

Lucas laughs. What about a dog?

I’ve never been much of a dog person. Mostly because I’m not home enough to take care of one.

Lucas closes the door and speeds around, getting in the car. He fires up the engine and I try sending my text again as the Jeep bumps down the makeshift driveway.

The house is situated on a large plot of land and sits back away from the road. The driveway is long, but I like being set back like this. In the winter when there are no leaves on the trees the house will be visible from the road, but the view will still be obscured.

Suddenly, Lucas slams on the brakes. I jerk forward in my seat and the phone flies out of my hands, clattering to the floor. Lucas brings his hand out, protectively holding it over me, though I don’t know what good that’s going to do against the man standing before us.

My lips part and my breath leaves me. I’ve seen this man before, and he’s seen me.

He knows what I am…and I know what he is.

An angel.

2

Before I can form a coherent sentence, Lucas is out of the car, racing with vampire speed to the man. Bright light from the headlights illuminates him, and when I blink, I swear I can see the dark outlines of wings behind him.

He’s the man from the alley, the one that led me to the demon in the old warehouse. I still don’t know if he led me there in hopes of killing me or if he knew I could beat the demon.

I did, but not without almost dying first. If Michael hadn’t intervened, I would have. Frantically, I unbuckle my seat belt and rush out of the car.

Lucas! I yell, seeing him grab the man by the throat. He goes in for the kill, mouth open and fangs bared. Stop!

Lucas jerks his head back but tightens his hold on the angel. Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t tear this winged fucker to shreds.

The angel leans away, fingers glowing bright with energy, similar to the way I conjure raw energy. It’s a rare skill for a witch to have, but not totally unheard of. I always thought my energy-summoning was part of being a witch. But is it from my angel side instead?

I shake myself. It doesn’t matter. I know him. I think. Or at least I’ve seen him before.

It’s true, the angel says. She has.

What are you doing here? Lucas demands and the angel tries to jerk away.

I was sent to watch over Callie.

Sent by whom? Lucas pulls his lips back, showing off his fangs.

Y-your father, the angel chokes out, looking at me. Michael.

What do you want? Lucas could easily crush the angel’s throat with his bare hands. It wouldn’t even take him much effort. But would the angel die? They’re immortal in the same sense as vampires, right? Never aging, never getting sick, but will die if they’re murdered.

The fact that I hardly know anything at all about angels is unnerving, considering that I’m half one.

To watch over and protect Callie.

You’ve done a shitty job. Lucas releases the angel but doesn’t retract his fangs. The angel staggers back, rubbing at his throat.

I wasn’t supposed to intervene unless other angels went after her.

I step forward, moving into the stream of light from the Jeep’s headlights. You’re the only other angel who thinks I should be allowed to live, aren’t you?

The angel nods, and Lucas looks at me in question. How do you know that?

Michael told me there’s one other angel who agrees with him on my, uh, fate.

I’m working on convincing others, the angel assures me. Hypothetically speaking, of course. We need to keep your identity as concealed as possible.

What are you doing here now? Lucas demands.

Michael sent me to protect Callie, he repeats.

I can do that, Lucas growls, flashing his fangs.

Against an angel?

I could drain you dry in seconds.

Lucas, I hiss, shaking my head. I am not about to watch them get in a pissing match over who’s better fitted to protect me. I’ve been very good at protecting myself, thank you very much.

The angel shrugs. You could try, but you’d fail.

Lucas growls again and I hold up my hand. Enough! I turn, eyes wide, and look at the man before me. You’re an angel, I state, needing to say it out loud.

Yes.

I have so many questions for you. Our eyes meet, and something passes through us both. He’s familiar in an unfamiliar way, and it occurs to me that we’re related…somehow…someway.

I wish I could answer them, he says gently.

Why can’t you? I shake my head and my hair falls in my face.

I…I shouldn’t.

Please? I’m not above begging. I just found out I’m a Nephilim and I could really use some fucking answers. Light from the headlights flicker, and the angel’s jaw tenses.

I really shouldn’t.

I curl my fingers into fists, thinking back to the night when I saw him outside the old warehouse. I followed him and he was gone, making me think he can teleport or fly or something—so why did he get caught now?

You…you wanted us to see you tonight, didn’t you? I ask.

The angel’s jaw tenses. I was ordered not to approach you, but in the event of being seen…I found a loophole.

Why?

There are things you should know about your new powers, and about the other angels.

A chill works its way down my spine and Lucas sidesteps over to me. He wraps his arm around me, but his cool skin against mine only makes me shiver more.

Do you eat? I ask the angel.

Do I eat? he echoes.

"Yeah. Do you eat? I really want a taco and Maria’s doesn’t stay open all night."

No, he says, brows furrowing. I don’t need to consume human food.

I look him up and down. He’s a good four inches taller than me—yet still shorter than Lucas—and has dark hair and dark eyes that apparently glow blue. Maybe that’s an angel thing? He’s dressed in a t-shirt, jeans, and biker boots, making him look completely normal. I can feel the divinity coming off of him in waves, and it’s drawing me in, calling to me like an old friend.

Come with us, I blurt and Lucas tenses. Michael told me I can trust this guy, and while you could argue I shouldn’t trust Michael, he is my father. My real father. And he saved my life a couple of times, risked his own to save me, and pulled the wool over Heaven’s eyes in order to keep me from being murdered as an infant. I’m used to being the only one at the table who’s eating anyway. Though people are probably going to assume I’m on a hot date with my two vampire boyfriends, and if either one of you does anything to muddle that reverse-harem image, I’m going to be pissed. Though really…aren’t we related?

You are my cousin in a sense, he says and takes a step forward. Lucas pulls his lips up showing off his fangs.

Stop it, I whisper as he protectively steps in front of me.

I mean her no harm, the angel assures us. If I did, she’d be dead already.

Reassuring, I say with a smile.

The angel shrugs. I’m Julian, and yes, I will escort you to your human restaurant. Though I don’t know what reverse harem is.

Lucas lets out a snort of laughter. You can explain that one, he tells me, and I shake my head.

Another time. We all stand there, awkwardly looking at each other for another few seconds. I can feel Binx watching from the shadows, and I hold out my hand, telling him that he can join us. I’ll cast a cloaking spell on him and will let him sit at our table. I might have abused that witch privilege before so I can take my cat with me in pubic.

Well, let’s go, I say and inch forward. Lucas takes my hand and starts to walk me to the car. In a rustle of feathers, Julian disappears from view and reappears inside the Jeep, sitting in the middle seat in the back.

Whoa. My eyes widen. Please tell me I can learn how to do that.

Perhaps, he says. There haven’t been many recorded cases of Nephilim. As you know, surviving a divine pregnancy is a feat, and then once born…

You have a tendency to kill us? I finish.

Julian casts his eyes down. Yes. And I feel I should be upfront with you, Callie. I started my case supporting you out of curiosity. I wanted to see what a Nephilim could do. What you’d be like.

Lucas starts down the driveway again, looking up in the rearview mirror at Julian every few seconds.

And if I’d turn evil, I only half joke.

Yes, he says seriously. For that is the fear and the reason we are given not to trust Nephilim. Humans are easily swayed to do what pleases them, no matter the cost to others. Their souls are easily tainted. And…and even the devil was once an angel.

I swallow hard and twist in my seat. And he was…was…what really happened? Is it like we thought and—holy fucking shit. Am I related to the devil?

All of the angels are.

Fuck. I twist in my seat and run my hand over Binx’s head. I stare at the dark road in front of us for a few minutes, mind whirling yet too overwhelmed to think about anything at the same time.

My phone rings, connecting to the Bluetooth in the car and cutting off the music. It’s Kristy, and I almost forgot why she’d be calling me. Right. I sent her a photo of my ring.

Because I’m engaged.

There’s a vampire next to me, a familiar in my lap, and an angel in the backseat. Yet I look at my hand and smile.

I’ll call her back later, I say and end the call. She’ll probably think we’re having sex or something.

Lucas just nods and grips the steering wheel a little tighter. I let out a breath and reach over, resting my hand on Lucas’s thigh. He relaxes a bit at my touch, and I let my head fall back and close my eyes.

I live on the outskirts of town, and the drive in is feeling much longer than usual. I jerk forward, picking my purse up from the floor. I dig around for the little notebook I keep in there and a pen.

What are you doing? Lucas asks me.

Making a list of questions. I have a million I wanted to ask Michael if I ever saw him again but now my mind is blanking. I’m going to write them down before I forget again.

I stare at the paper, suddenly unable to remember anything I wanted to ask Michael. I put the pen against the page, thinking for a moment before I start writing.

1.) The fuck?

Okay, not a question, but it sums up how I feel.

2.) Are you an archangel?

3.) Am I immortal?

4.) Can you teach me to fly?

I scratch out that last one, thinking it’s too far-fetched even for me. Feeling a weird tug on my heart, I squint in the dark and start writing again.

5.) How did you meet my mother?

6.) What was she like?

7.) Did she know you were an angel when you met?

8.) Where was she from?

9.) What Coven did she belong to?

I stop, realizing I could quickly get that list to one hundred with questions about her alone.

10.) Do you have a house?

11.) Do you sleep?

12.) Do you live in Heaven?

Figuring a good dozen is enough to start with, I put the pen and notebook back in my purse and shove it back down to the space by my feet, allowing Binx to move back into my lap. Purring, he puts his front paws on my chest and rubs his head against me.

My familiars have a way of comforting me, and Binx and I operate on the same wavelength more times than not. The bond between a witch and her familiar is hard to describe, but I assume it a similar feeling to that of having a child.

A child who’s thousands of years old, who commands a legion of spirits, and can kill you without breaking a sweat.

It’s busy downtown, Lucas notes as we pull onto the main street that runs through Thorne Hill. It happens to be right above the Ley line as well, hiding it in plain sight, so to speak.

Oh, right. The county fair is going on. It’s a big deal here. I usually go but I totally forgot about it this summer.

When does it end?

I shrug. Honestly I don’t even know what day it is today.

Do you want to go tomorrow if it’s still going on? Lucas asks. He’s so fucking good to me.

Maybe. I’ll have to see if Kristy is going. We always go together, eat way too much fair food, and have fun using our powers to win all those rigged carnival games.

Lucas smirks. I like when you’re a little wicked.

I smile right back and then stop, remembering Julian’s words. The devil was once an angel. I don’t want to turn evil. I’m not evil, and I’ve never once been worried about crossing over to the dark side before. The fact that I’m half angel doesn’t change that.

Yet…it does.

We park a block away from Marie’s, and Binx gets out, sitting perfectly still along the curb so I can cast a cloaking spell over him. I hold my hands out, thumbs and index fingers touching to make a triangle, and close my eyes.

Light of the moon, dark of the night, cloak you from all, hide you from sight, I whisper and feel a pulse of magic go through me. Binx meows and winds around my ankles as we walk. Lucas takes my hand, fingering the giant diamond I’m wearing.

I meant it when I said we’re celebrating tonight. And it just so happens extended family is in town. Maria’s is crowded, as it usually is on a summer night. There aren’t too many places to eat in Thorne Hill, and Maria’s has the best house-made salsa.

We walk up to the host to put our name in. She’s all smiles, eyes going a little glossy when she looks at Lucas. He has that effect on women, and—call me petty—but I purposely take my hand out of his and push my hair back to show off my ring.

Yeah, bitch, I landed that.

"Hi, welcome to Maria’s, she says cheerfully. How many?"

Three, I tell her.

Okay… She looks down at her tablet. It will be about a half-hour wait, is that all right?

Yeah, I start but then Lucas leans in, catching the host’s eye.

You will give us the next available table, he says as he holds her spellbound.

She nods and flicks her eyes down, tapping something on the tablet. With a dreamy smile she looks back up. You’re next in line. A table should be available shortly. It’s being wiped down right now.

Good girl, Lucas tells her, and she blushes. He blinks and looks away, breaking his hold on her. She tips her head, looking a little perplexed, but then is distracted by the large party that comes in right behind us.

That wasn’t necessary.

You said you were hungry, Lucas replies.

I am, but I could have waited. Thanks, though. It was sweet and I do like chips and salsa. I take his hand again as we move to the side. Binx jumps up on the back of a booth. I should cloak him and take him with me more often.

We step back and out of the way. Julian