Page 28 of Gods' Battleground

“Hey, how about sharing, Leda?” Damiel said.

“Not a chance, Damiel,” I replied, my hand closing around the bag. “They’re all mine.”

Eira fluttered off to join Sierra and Angel. The three little devils were probably planning their next assault on Calli’s kitchen.

The doorbell rang again. And this time it was Stash.

“Hey, coz, what are you doing here?” I asked him. “Has something happened? Did Faris send you?”

“No, Faris didn’t send me. And everything’s just fine. I was, uh, invited.” Stash’s eyes searched the room. They softened.

I turned around to find his gaze locked with Gin’s. And both of them were barely breathing.

“It’syou?” I gaped at Stash as Gin joined us, twining her fingers with his. “Youare the mysterious boyfriend?”

“Surprise?” Stash said with a shrug and a hopeful smile.

“Uh, yeah. This is definitely a surprise.” I cracked a smile, adding, “But if I had to pick any angel to date my little sister, it would be you.” I patted him on the shoulder.

“Right.” Stash hardly seemed to notice that I was there. He was too busy grinning at Gin. “Good.”

Gin guided him to the sofa, where the two of them preceded to make out with the enthusiasm of a pair of lovestruck tigers.

The bell rang again. I was on my way to the door when Tessa dashed in front of me, nearly bowling me over.

“Oops! Sorry, Leda!”

Tessa swung open the door with considerable enthusiasm. The man she revealed on the other side had long, blond hair and eyes that sparkled with magic. He looked like a male version of Cadence—minus the missing smile. Cadence actually smiled. This guy looked like he’d never met a smile that he liked.

“Hi, you must be Lucian Sunfire.” I cut around Tessa to offer him my hand.

“And you must be Leda Pandora.”

Tessa grabbed his hand before he could shake mine, assuming ancient Immortals even shook hands with people. “Sorry, no time to chat, Leda!” my sister said. “Gotta run!”

She led him to the sofa across from Gin’s—and then she and Sunfire started making out too.

“Well, he certainly likes her,” I commented to Nero as he joined me by the door. “Like a lot.”

“Well, you are all voyaging into the Veil, embarking on a reckless adventure after dinner, and it might be a while before we see you again,” Nero said.

“You could always come with us?” I suggested.

“I wish I could, but there’s too much work to do at the Legion. And not enough angels to go around.”

“I hope to find a solution to that problem very soon,” I told him. “There’s Nectar in the Veil.”

“And you’re going to find it? While at the same time saving your sister?”

I shrugged. “I excel at multitasking.”

“Yes,” he agreed, kissing my forehead. “You really do.”

I was going to miss Nero so much. I really wished he could come with us. Though I suppose it was pretty fitting that it would be the original Pierce household who saved Bella. We’d all be together, work together, and triumph together.

It would be just like old times. Before Zane had been kidnapped. Before Bella had gone off to the New York University of Witchcraft. Before Gin and Tessa had found their magic. And before I’d joined the Legion.

“Some people are worried it might be a while until we see you again.” Nero’s eyes flickered from Gin and Tessa and their beaus, to me. His gaze burned right through everything, straight to my soul. “They want to spend every waking moment together until your departure.”

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