having problems. But a portal has opened up in New York City. To Below.”
“A portal to Hell has opened.” Phoenix narrows his eyes, as if he’s calling his brother’s bluff. “Why am I not hearing news stories about it then?” He tilts his head toward one of the TVs on the wall. “Nothing on CNN here about a mysterious explosion, or nuclear meltdown, or whatever lie they would be telling to try to cover up the insanity.”
“The human government is covering it up as usual.” Beckett shrugs. “There was a short news segment about it last night, but the very fact that there hasn’t been more reporting on it should tell you how serious it is.”
Sloth scoffs. “There are demons running all over NYC, and they’re covering that up?”
“No.” Beckett’s voice is hard. “Trinity closed the portal last night. And the demons who did manage to get through nearly killed her in the process.”
Phoenix’s gaze shifts to me, something new burning in his ice-blue eyes. I wouldn’t call it respect, exactly. He probably doesn’t respect anyone who would work so hard or throw themselves into danger like that. But he does look a bit surprised, as if he’s reevaluating his initial impression of me.
I shift uncomfortably under his gaze, brushing off Beckett’s words.
“I put a… a stopgap on it, I guess you could say. I closed it for now. But it won’t last forever; I don’t have that kind of power. So we have to find a permanent way to close it up.”
Phoenix squints at me. “How’d you close up a portal to Below?”
“She’s an angel,” Beckett says impatiently.
His brother snorts with laughter. “What? Uh, no way. Nah. No way is an angel fucking around with the likes of us.” He shakes his head, still chuckling. “Sorry to tell you this, bro, but you got taken for a ride. She’s probably just a pixie with delusions of grandeur.”
Something about his attitude rankles me—the way he so clearly doesn’t care and is looking for an excuse to just go back to his video games. Without even thinking about it, I shoot my wings out from where they’ve been tucked away into my back.
“Holy fuck!” Phoenix blurts out as my wings burst out, feathers going everywhere, my broad wingspan puffing up.
“Wow.” Remington’s voice is low. He sounds genuinely in awe. “Those are really beautiful. May I?”
Beckett grumbles under his breath, but I can’t make out what he’s saying as I nod at Remington. The gentle man reaches out, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiles and strokes my feathers lightly.
A shudder runs through me, and I realize too late what a bad idea this was. Wings are… well. Like I said before, they show my emotions, and they’re a lot more sensitive than the rest of me.
Remington tightens his hold on my feathers a little, and heat shoots through me. The desire to take a step closer to him and press my body against his overtakes me like a storm, and I have to politely clear my throat and force myself to focus on Phoenix.
“You were saying?” I drawl.
“Holy fuck,” Phoenix repeats, his voice a startled croak. “You’re really an angel. Well, fuck me.”
“If that was a serious offer,” Beckett notes, “then you’ve truly gotten lazy. Even your attempts to pick up a woman are half-assed.”
The man on the couch tilts his head back, glaring indolently down his nose at his brother. “We both know if it was a serious offer, she’d be on my lap already. But thanks for reminding me yet again why I never invite you over.”
“It’s not my fault I’m the only one around here with true ambition.”
“There are other ways to have ambition, you know. You don’t just have to shove a stick up your ass and wear a suit.”
“Look,” I say, realizing we’re getting off-track again. They’re distracted by needling each other, and I’m distracted by unbidden images of crawling onto Phoenix’s lap. “This portal to Downstairs is going to affect all of us. Beckett and Remington have agreed to help me close it permanently so that you guys don’t have to deal with the corrupted. Would you be able to help us too?”
Phoenix freezes. His gaze slowly transfers from his brother to me, his brows pulling together slightly.
Then he bursts out laughing.
Chapter Twelve
Trinity
“Are you serious?” Sloth glances at his brothers. “She’s serious. Ha!” He looks back at me. “Oh, sweetie, sweetie, sweetie.”
My feathers ruffle as a jolt of anger flashes through me. “Do