Page 79 of The River of Hatred

“Psst. Hey, archangel,” Mike whispers to Saraqael and I turn around to see what he’s up to. The golden male squints at the boy. “Wanna see my piercing?” the Nephalem asks with a wiggle of his eyebrows.

Saraqael eyes him up and down. “I do not see any such adornments.”

Mike grins like a fox that found itself alone with a chicken. “Exactly.”

Nephithar’s hand flies out to hit the boy upside the head.

∞∞∞

“The Council will not take any testimonials you bring forth with surety after you massacred the very creatures you lobbied to protect.”

Saraqael looks extremely uncomfortable sitting with our motley crew at Syriniana and Nephithar’s dining table. Kevin and Naamah joined us for the conversation, having obviously waited to see the lay of the land once an archangel appeared in the house.

“That wasn’t our fault,” Kevin says now, clenching the succubus’ hand in his lap. In turn, Naamah wraps her tail around his neck like a pet snake.

“They didn’t exactly let us reason with them,” Lana continues. “They were more of the ‘shoot first, ask questions never because thinking hurts’ types,” she says, using her fingers to draw quotation marks in the air.

“Not to mention Andras being there, attacking from a distance like the coward he is,” Aim speaks next, having just returned from reporting to his master, Ashtaroth, to discover the house now holds an archangel.

“I am merely stating that you are not very credible reporters against a lone demon lord wanting to exterminate mortals with Celestial blood,” Saraqael says, then tilts his head to the side. “You did that yourselves.”

“It’s certainly not just one lone demon lord,” Nephithar jumps in. “Andras is sly and has long been known for having a hatred for humankind, but he is not a planner.”

“I brought the few Cambions you left bound, and more importantly alive, to Purgatory so they can testify anyway,” Aim says.

Lana covers her head with her hand. “Meaning they’re now able to use the ether. Just what we needed.”

“They’re not gonna know how if no one teaches them,” Kevin shrugs.

“Yeah?” Lana straightens and slaps her palms onto the tabletop. “You know who’s going to have to teach them?Moi. Think Daniel and Maalik are going to throw away free soldiers just because they’re brainwashed? We weren’t exactly willing those first few weeks either.”

Kevin winces. “Maybe we’ll get lucky and a golem will sit on them.”

“Maybe they’ll learn the error of their ways and switch teams?” Jessica asks hopefully.

“Sweet, naïve baby,” Naamah sighs.

“I don’t see why you need to have this conversation in my home,” Nephithar says. Syrin rolls her eyes at him. “Take it to your Purgatory,” the demon continues despite his wife’s disapproval.

Bau, the dog, walks up to Saraqael on silent paws and pushes her head into his lap, gazing up at him with lovestruck eyes. Mike’s eyes bounce between the dog and the archangel who extends a hand to caress the top of the retriever’s fuzzy head.

“I’m going with them,” the young mortal speaks, drawing Saraqael’s eyes. “I want to help find out who’s involved, who wants us dead.”

“Over my dead body,” his father growls, hitting the table with a fist.

Syrin places a hand on her husband’s. “He’s an adult, my love. If he wants to fight for this cause, we should be proud of him, not hinder it.”

“It’s dangerous,” the old demon says through clenched teeth. I can appreciate his reluctance. I’m about to speak up to say I would protect him when someone beats me to it.

“I will be with him,” Saraqael says.

My mouth drops open. “Youwill join us in the Underworld?”

My mentor’s ageless eyes turn to me. “I may not agree with your methods of handling this situation, but I too wish to see it disarmed.”

Sariel whistles and leans back on his chair. “Well, I can’t wait to see what comes next.”

Bau noses at Saraqael’s palm, demanding his attention. Once the archangel’s hand returns to her scruff, her tail thumps against my leg as she wags it in contentment.

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