Alex coughed wildly, and I shared an amused look with him while he shrugged his s
houlders.
“The Demon…” Sariel sighed. “Are more trouble than they are worth.”
“And we keep them around because… why?” Alex yawned. “Just say the word and I’ll go all Siren on their asses.”
“I think they’d enjoy that way too much,” Ethan teased.
“No.” Sariel dusted his hands together. “We do this the right way. There’s no need to start a war, and there certainly isn’t any need to exterminate an entire race just because they’ve been bad. Think of what would have happened with Dracula.” All eyes turned to Ethan.
“Horrible example,” Ethan grumbled.
“Cassius, since you’ve discovered the answer to your little riddle, your thirty days are now over.” He snapped his fingers. “You are fully restored and are ordered to immediately investigate, with your mate’s help, the sudden influx of Demon.”
“And the Angel blood?” Mason asked. “Where the hell are they getting it?”
“Cease from cursing in my presence,” Sariel snapped. “And if I knew I’d tell you.”
A wry grin widened Alex’s mouth. “That damned missing half side of things…”
Sariel shot him a withering glance, and the grin faded.
“So, it’s only us then?” I braved the question. “Just me and Stephanie?”
Silence answered us, and then, “You have your orders. Keep me updated.”
He moved away from the kitchen, as his wings disappeared, replaced by a leather jacket and dark-wash jeans.
“So he uses the front door now?” Alex asked.
My skin prickled with awareness. It was too easy.
The entire thing was too easy.
And if there was anything I’d learned in my time on earth, it was that things were never as easy as they seemed.
“Wait here,” I whispered to Stephanie, following Sariel out the door.
His footsteps crunched against the gravel and then he stopped, lifting his eyes heavenward as stars shone down on both of us. Only I was still blanketed in darkness—the light couldn’t shine on a Dark One.
We weren’t given the honor.
Only Angels.
Pure bloods.
“There’s something else, isn’t there?” I asked.
Sariel pointed up to the sky. “How many do you think… look down on us… wish for more than their existence? None. I would venture none. Do you know why Cassius?”
More riddles. Just my luck. “No. No, I do not.”
“Because their purpose is to shine, not to have an opinion or feelings. They rest in the occupation they have been given, and they excel at it.”
“Yes.” A few more stars twinkled down, casting a light glow across Sariel’s face.
He turned to me, his eyes white. “Ask your question, son.”