to get in trouble for using your powers so much,” she admonished.
For seven weeks a year, each archangel was given free rein to use his powers to facilitate in training new Marks, a duty they rotated between them. But the rest of the year using their gifts meant facing consequences. Suggesting they live secular lives was God’s way of fostering empathy for mortals. Eve thought it was a recipe for resentment.
Smiling, Alec said, “I’m not a firm leader yet. The same rules don’t apply to me.”
“Isn’t that always the case?”
He leaned forward and rested his forearms on his knees. “I’ve double checked the security measures we installed against the Nix the first time around, both in this building and in your parents’ house. I’ve also assigned a security detail to guard the perimeter against any new threats.”
“Can they get rid of that nut job on the corner?”
“What nut job?”
“Don’t tell me you haven’t seen him. The guy who looks like an evil Santa Claus? Preaching fire and brimstone with his acoustic guitar?”
He stared at her.
“The dude with the big sign that says ‘You are going to burn in Hell’ ?“ When he continued to gaze at her blankly, she shook her head. “Are you shifting around so much that you haven’t checked out the neighborhood in a while?”
Alec was gone in a blink. A split second later he was back in the same spot.
“I see,” he said. “He’s harmless.”
“He’s annoying, and he’s been there for days.” She snapped her fingers. “Hey, maybe God will take a trade between him and me?”
Eve was only partially kidding. The whole marked system was jacked, in her opinion. There were millions of religious zealots around the world who killed in God’s name every day, but they didn’t get marked.
Instead, the Almighty used the impious. It was like boot camp for sinners and nonbelievers. God seemed to be saying, See who you shall hang out with f thou shalt not change thy blasphemous ways?
“Not a fair exchange,” he said, with a hint of a smile. “You’re worth a hundred of that guy.”
“That’s your opinion.”
“Clearly I’m not the only one who thinks so, since he’s out there and you’re with me. I’m also going to talk to Abel about lowering your caseload for a while.”
Eve’s brows rose. “Won’t that put a burden on the other Marks in the area?”
“Somewhat.” –
“You can’t ask me to do that and live with the consequences.”
“I’m not asking you.”
She considered that for a moment, her fingers drumming on the armrest. “Being an archangel suits you, I see.”
“Don’t,” he warned.
“Infernals are swarming into Orange County— possibly because of me—and you want me to sit around while other Marks deal with the mess? They already don’t like me.”
“They’ll get over it.”
“Easy for you to say. No one hates you for working with me.”
“You wouldn’t do anyone any favors by getting yourself killed.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that.” Her smile was grim. “I can think of a few people who want me dead.”
“Not funny, angel.”
She sighed. “You know me. I’m a big scaredy-cat. I don’t want to jump into oncoming traffic, but I can’t hang out here watching Dexter reruns and eating Ben Jerry’s while other people are facing a horde.”
“Argue all you want, it’s still not happening.”
“Gadara would put me out there.”
“He’s not here”
“And what’s being done about that?” she challenged. “Or are archangels more expendable than I thought?”
Alec reached out and touched her calf with his fingertips. “We’re working on that, too.”
“It’s been two months. I can’t imagine it’s been a vacation for him in Hell.”
“We can’t charge in. It would be a suicide mission.”
“So what do we do?”
“You are going to follow orders. I’m going to work on securing leverage.”
Eve ignored the first part of his statement and concentrated on the last half. “Leverage. As in.. . something you have that Satan wants more than he wants to keep Gadara?”
“Yes. Sammael has to bring Raguel to us. That’s the only way we’re going to get him back.”
“What does Satan want more than an archangel bargaining chip?”
His mouth twisted wryly. “That’s the question, isn’t it?”
He ducked without warning. Something small and white flew through the space his head had been occupying. If Eve hadn’t been gifted with enhanced sight, she would have missed it.
“Watch it, prick!” he barked at Reed.
“Keep your hands to yourself,” Reed shot back.
Eve watched the object hit the balcony screen door and bounce back into the room. It rolled to a stop by the leg of the coffee