Page 29 of Legacy of Chaos

But reality came crashing back all too soon. His mom pulled away to look up at him with a tender smile. She rested her warm palm on his cheek, her eyes locked on his.

“I love you so much,” she said softly. “You don’t know how much this means to me. I’d have a birthday party every day if it meant I could see you more often.”

He didn’t know how to respond, so he just pulled a wrapped box from his jacket pocket and handed it to her. “I brought you a gift.”

“Weird.” Blade’s deep voice came from behind him. “I didn’t see a celebrity news story about you traipsing through Harrod’s or some ritzy shop in Paris.”

Stryke’s jaw went tight at Blade’s not-so-subtle implication that Stryke hadn’t picked out the gift himself. He had picked it out. He’d just sent Leilani Giada to get it. The daughter of the Horseman known as Famine, Leilani had charmandbadass fighting skills, perfect for picking up merch from angels willing to bend the rules.

“Blade, why don’t you f—?” Stryke forced himself to shut up. If they’d been anywhere but their mother’s birthday party, Stryke would’ve happily finished that sentence. Sensing trouble, Shade stepped between them, his big body separating Stryke and Blade without a word.

Runa tugged at the ribbon and then carefully unwrapped the package. When she lifted the top of the little box, she gasped. “Stryke. Is this…is it what I think it is?”

“If you think it’s a golden pearl from the Heavenly Sea of Tranquility, then yes.” He plucked the ultrafine but unbreakablegold chain from its bed of spun silk and held the necklace up so he could fasten it around her neck.

Grinning, she lifted her braid and turned around. “It’s stunning.”

“It’ll protect you from psychic attacks and repel fallen angels.” He fastened the clasp, and she spun back to him, beaming.

“I love it.” Her fingers skimmed over the cool metal links and the gleaming surface of the pearl. “Should I even ask how you got it?”

Powerful beings owed him a lot of favors. “You probably shouldn’t.”

Behind him, he heard Blade’s quiet snort. Once again, Stryke held himself in check.

Still stroking the necklace, his mother smiled up at him. “I saw on the news that you donated a billion dollars’ worth of playground equipment to elementary schools around the world. That was very generous.”

“Kids need to play.” And they needed to be safe, so all the equipment was enchanted to repel evil. Unfortunately, many schools had refused his gift, afraid it was some sort of deception. Some went so far as to decline his monetary donations as well, citing fears of using funds from a demon.

A slew of newcomers made their way into the room, and gasps rose up as one of the world’s most famous pop stars, Grace Obert, crossed the floor, flanked by an entourage of at least a dozen.

Kynan sidled up to Runa. “Shade told me Grace was your favorite artist,” he said to her. “We handled a demon ex-boyfriend problem for her, and she wanted to pay me back. So, I called in a favor.”

“Lots of favors being called in, just for you,” Shade said to her, his gaze so full of affection that Stryke felt a pang of…something deep in his chest.

“I can’t believe it,” Runa breathed. “This is all so amazing.”

Stryke backed away, melting into the background as Grace approached. He’d met the human female at a couple of fund-raising and award galas and had turned down her advances more than once. He didn’t want to take any attention away from his mother.

So, as a crowd gathered around, he made his escape, glad to have any and all focus centered elsewhere. He beelined for the exit, but a voice stopped him in his tracks.

“Stryke?”

Stryke’s little brother, Crux, called out his name as he exited the restroom, his big eyes, the same pale champagne color as their mother’s, as round as saucers.

“You’re here!” Crux ran at him like a yearling colt—all long, gangly limbs—and engulfed him in a hug as tight as their mother’s had been. “You came!”

He pulled back, grinning from ear to ear. The kid was nearly as tall as Stryke, but hadn’t transitioned yet, so he was bony and thin. And as innocent as the day he and Chaos were born.

“Yeah, I came,” Stryke said on a ragged breath. “I’m surprised to see you here, though. I didn’t think most people at DART knew about you.”

“We’re telling everyone I’m Kynan’s nephew.”

That made sense. Plus, Crux’s long sleeves and turtleneck kept most of hisdermoirehidden so no one would know he was a pre-transition Seminus demon. His birth during a time when no demons were being born would cause too much attention and suspicion.

“So,” Crux said, “does this mean you’re back? We’ll see you more? You should come to the house! We can have dinner. Radeis a really good cook. He took lessons from Suzanne! You know, the star ofAn Angel in the Kitchen? Have you had his chili? He says it’ll make you piss fire and like it.” He shrugged as if confused. “I’m not sure about the fire part, but I do like it.”

Fuck. This was what he’d been afraid of. “Crux, I’m just here to see Mom. This doesn’t change anything.”

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