My father addressed the wolves, ordering them to fan out around the bunker. If Julian had left his wolves to guard the door, defeating them would be our first priority.
Once we got within a few yards of the bunker, we could see there were no guards stationed. “Don’t you think it’s a little strange he hasn’t positioned any of his wolves here to be the first line of defense?” I asked. I lifted my nose and scented the air. My wolf growled low.
Something was wrong.
Before I could voice my concern, my brother said, “I smell something strange. Like smoke mixed with ash. I’ve never smelled anything like it before in my life.”
“I smell it too,” I said. “Ray spotted a strange signature out here before, one that he couldn’t identify.”
Eudoxia stood next to me. She didn’t have the same nose as a wolf, but she was old and had been around the block a time or to. “The vampires were right,” she stated flatly. “A celestial being is nearby. I’ve smelled that scent twice before in my life. Neither time was particularly pleasant.” She didn’t bother to elaborate.
“Why would a celestial being be helping Julian?” I asked. “I thought they were here to facilitate formation of the new Coalition. We’ve already met Leo. I can’t imagine him helping the opposition. And he didn’t smell like sulfur. In fact, he smelled good.” Like a sweet, musky earth coupled with fresh air.
“I am not here to do anything other than observe.” The voice filtered through the wind, and my head snapped toward it. I couldn’t tell if it was male or female.
We all glanced around, but saw no one.
Danny walked up to me. “A voice with no body is a bit peculiar, isn’t it? I don’t like this one bit. Getting into another battle with an opponent we can’t see is not high on my to-do list.”
“I will not battle you,” the voice said.
“If you are no threat to us,” I said, “show yourself.”
Approximately twenty feet in front of us, the air wavered, and a female figure solidified.
She was dressed in black leather, with long, flowing blonde hair. She looked as angelic as Leo, but feminine, her eyes bright and clear. I knew she had wings underneath her glamour. She looked badass as she walked purposely toward us, like a biker chick with a serious Harley parked somewhere nearby.
My wolf howled in my mind, her hackles up. Is she a threat? I asked. My wolf clicked her jaws together decisively. I took that as a yes. What do we do? Her power is crazy strong, just like Leo’s. It lashed against us, its tendrils stinging our skin. My wolf only continued to growl, which was not exactly helpful.
“What’s your name?” I asked as she stopped before us, openly assessing our group, her eyes landing on Rourke and staying there.
If she didn’t let up, I was going to start growling.
“Romeial,” she said. “But you may call me Romy.”
“You’re the Angel of Fertility,” Kayla said softly. It was a statement, not a question.
“I am, among other things,” the angel replied.
It seemed Ceres had some things in common with this angel. I would doubt it was a coincidence an angel with the same powers as the goddess was standing here in front of us.
“Do you protect those inside?” my father demanded.
Romy casually glanced over her shoulder toward the bunker. “Yes and no. I’m ultimately here for another reason. Normally, another dark angel would preside over this, but orders are orders.”
My eyebrows reached my hairline. She sounded like Jeb. This was just another day at work for her.
“You’re going to have to explain,” I said. “None of us is familiar with how the Coalition works, or who you are, or why you’re here. So if you could be a little more specific, that would help. Our friends are inside, and we’re anxious to free them.”
“I know,” she replied. “I helped put them there.”
“What?” I had trouble keeping my voice at a normal volume. “If you’re not helping Ceres, why would you do that?”
She rested her hands against her hips and tapped a foot. “Well, I figured you’d want this to be over with sooner rather than later, and this was the best way to handle it. They are all in one place, no need to search for them. One confrontation and it’s over.”
“I’m extremely confused,” I said. “If you helped Ceres, she thinks you’re on her side, which is likely why no wolves are present to fight us. She thinks you’re going to do her dirty work for her.”
“If I gave her that impression”—the dark angel shrugged—“that’s on her. She didn’t ask for specifics, and I didn’t give them.”