Page 14 of Destined for Eternity
She nodded, not appearing the slightest bit bashful about spying on them. “Lucas and I had a visit from Jeriel earlier today as well.”
“Your mate didn’t mention that when I saw him at the compound this afternoon.”
Lucas walked into the foyer. “You were in such a hurry to go to your mate that I didn’t have a chance.”
Bartol supposed he had a point there. “What does the archangel want from you?”
Lucas’ lips thinned. “He has plans to take over the compound as soon as the nerou graduate. It’s going to be his headquarters on Earth to run his operations and generally annoy us, I imagine.”
“And just when I was starting to like Alaska,” Kerbasi grumbled from near the steps.
Bartol refused to turn and look at him. The guardian craved attention like a love-sick dog.
“He’s already demanding to take over one of the offices,” Melena added.
“Did he say anything else?” Bartol asked.
The couple gestured at him to come inside and led him into the living room off to the left of the foyer. Kerbasi joined them as well, uncaring of the lack of his invitation. No one protested but only because the guardian’s knowledge of the archangel and ways of Heaven might prove useful.
It was a large, formal room compared to their more comfortable den at the back of the house where Bartol had spent a lot of time when he’d briefly lived with them after leaving Purgatory. The living room had cream couches and loveseats, mahogany side tables, and patterned red curtains. A Persian rug with maroon and gold colors was set in the middle of the wood floor. They’d redecorated this room last year because of an attack on the house, so everything was relatively new.
“He said nothing more of importance,” Lucas said, settling into a cream chair in the corner. “Jeriel is allowing us a couple of weeks to prepare for his full take-over, but he’ll be overseeing the nerou’s final training and relocations in the meantime.”
The mysterious archangel was dipping his hands into everything.
“He wants me to hunt and execute demons,” Bartol informed them.
Lucas gave him a pointed look. “You have proven good at it.”
“Killing, yes. Hunting is another matter.” Bartol sat at the edge of the largest couch in the room—well away from Kerbasi who stood by the front window. “My father can pull them out of thin air if they’re nearby, but he didn’t have time to teach me that skill.”
Bartol’s time with his sire had been short, but he was glad to have at least met him. Raguel hadn’t been anything like he’d expected. His father had been kind and helpful, as if making up for their forced separation, but he’d had to return to a sleep stasis shortly after the battle was over in London. The fact he hadn’t been sent to Hell as soon as it was discovered he’d impregnated a human all those centuries ago was a small miracle. It was only because of his special abilities that he instead remained on the sidelines in case he was needed, albeit in a magical coma with all his powers drained.
Melena’s expression brightened. “Negotiate to have Raguel released again to train you. If it happens to coincide with your child’s birth, all the better. He could meet his grandchild.”
“I’m not certain that would work.” Bartol shook his head. “The deal Jeriel is offering is that my child be allowed fifty years to mature and then work as an enforcer for one century after that before being free. I don’t like any part of my son or daughter’s life being planned without their consent, but I doubt he’ll negotiate.”
Lucas’ jaw hardened. “Whatever precedent you start will probably affect the rest of us when we decide to have children. This is not good.”
“He says I have twenty-four hours to agree, or he’ll take the baby after it is weaned and place it in Purgatory until he or she matures enough to become an enforcer.”
“What the Hell kind of ultimatum is that?” Melena asked, outraged. “They can’t do that!”
“We can’t fight an army of them.” Lucas’ face hardened. “This is definitely a move to show us how all new nerou will be treated in the future. We have to keep working for the archangels just to give our children a chance at any kind of future for themselves.”
Kerbasi crossed his arms. “I am not surprised. When they first began bringing nerou to Purgatory, I disagreed with it. That is no place for young ones.”
“Coming from the man who enjoys torturing people,” Bartol scoffed.
“Those who are guilty of crimes, of course.” The guardian lifted his chin. “But children are another matter, and I refused to be any part of it.”
“Why didn’t they do the same thing to nephilim babies?” Melena asked.
He shrugged. “They’re not mortal or easy to control. It was too late to set a precedent after it was realized how problematic those with part angel blood could be. With the nerou, the mindset had changed, and the archangels formed a new plan for them. They thought raising them away from Earth in a controlled environment would make a difference when they became useful in the future. We all knew the time would come when humans became aware of the supernatural, and measures had to be taken to prepare for that.”
“So there’s no give on this?”
Kerbasi grimaced. “I highly doubt it.”
