then?”
“We’re ready!” Levi called from the top of the staircase. He beamed down at them in a black jacket, his name emblazoned on the breast in orange lettering with an orange undershirt with a black cat
sitting on a pumpkin. He was certainly in a festive mood. Even his black Converses were laced with orange shoelaces.
“Anyone tell you that Halloween isn’t ’til next Friday?” Marius teased, winking at his nephilim lover.
Levi shrugged. “I’m celebrating all week.”
Marius really loved when Levi was carefree like this. When he was relaxed and cheerful, his eyes sparkled like twin emeralds and his easy grin was full of mirth and mischief. Marius imagined that the look was a leftover from more innocent days. He sometimes forgot how young Levi was. Most nephilim hit maturity at twenty-eight and their human maturity was past the youthful indiscretions stage. Levi had been tortured into awakening at eighteen, had been dealing with his angelic powers for five years now. He was the youngest nephilim Marius had ever encountered. He was most likely the youngest nephilim in existence.
“I look forward to your display, angel,” Marius said. Keer and Brax crowded in behind the nephilim and peered down at him. Erik came running down the hall behind them and nearly rolled them all down the stairs. Marius’s heart tripped over itself as the cluster righted itself and they all started laughing hysterically. Yes, it is hilarious to nearly give me a heart attack . Marius glared.
Axis clapped him on the shoulder with one hand. “Easy, Marius. They’re in a playful mood. Don’t ruin what we’ve started.” He looked up at the others and smiled. “Load up the cars, boys.”
Marius imagined Erik was grumbling about not flying into town yet again. He’d been trying to get them to carry him there for a few days now. His overeagerness to stretch his powers was making him restless and reckless. It was a dangerous combination given what he was. Marius sighed and decided not to think about it. Soon Erik would be learning everything the Elites had to teach him and coming fully into his powers. Until then, he would do as he’d always done, watch, wait, and protect.
* * * *
“Beautiful boy,” Jade murmured, wrapping his arms around Levi’s shoulders. Levi leaned back into the embrace as they waited in the line that snaked all the way outside Madigan’s shop. It seemed every local in the vicinity had turned out to buy something from Madigan’s shop. Levi wondered if it had been like this all day. His breath clouded around him in a steamy expression of life and he huddled further into Jade’s embrace. Keer stood in front of them,
hands shoved in the black pockets of his slacks. He looked as handsome as always, almost statuesque. Like a beautiful, ethereal painting, Keer was desirable and untouchable to everyone. Well, Levi amended, everyone but them. I have the most gorgeous men in all of Urun . Each one of them was like a unique and precious jewel.
He lifted his face for a kiss, and Jade gave him the touch he sought. A snort sounded from in front of them, and he looked up to see a tall, broad, light-haired angel standing there with a scowl on his face. Anger was written into the frown lines in his countenance. What was he mad about? Levi looked at his aura and saw the black mark of
rage as he stared daggers in Levi’s direction.
He automatically shrank back. Was this a hunter or a sympathizer? Sweat started to form on his skin. Were they in danger? Jade’s arms tightened around him as if he sensed his discomfort.
The angel that was glaring at him spat on the ground. “Would you two faggots knock off the PDA? There are children around.”
Levi blinked, and he nearly sagged in relief. Oh good. It’s just a run-of-the-mill
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