“Oh, I was. It wasn’t a cheap or easy project. Easy for me to say, though, I didn’t do any of the work.” We go into the kitchen and get started on the snacks. Kristy and the twins come just a few minutes later, and I give them all a tour, saving the wine cellar for last.
We take our food and drinks into the conservatory. It’s another one of my favorite rooms in this house, and the black-and-white checkered floor is original and worn. The contractor suggested taking it out and putting in something new, but both Lucas and I like it as-is. There’s nothing wrong with the integrity of it, and the scuff marks are like a map of the people who used to live here before.
“I think Bael was at the grocery store today,” I say, breaking my own rule of not talking about demons.
“What would he do there?” Evander asks. “Buy a tub of Ben and Jerry’s? Cherry Garcia?”
“He’d be more of a Chunky Monkey kinda guy,” I shoot back. “And no. I was there, and he must have been able to pick me up on his radar again since I was out of the protection of the house.” I take a drink of my sparkling grape juice, really wishing I could feel the numbing effect of wine right now. “I know I’m safe from him here for now, but I can’t live like this forever.”
“You can’t,” Naomi says, shaking her head. “You’d basically be on house arrest if you wanted to avoid danger, and we know even that isn’t a promise. You’ve been attacked at home plenty of times.”
“I know,” I sigh. “And even if we summon Bael and kill him, it’ll only be a matter of time before another demons figures out I’m not just any old Nephilim. And the more demons who know, the more likely it is the other angels will find out.”
I let my eyes fall shut, trying to stop my racing thoughts. I don’t want to put anyone else in danger, and I can’t even imagine the fallout that could happen if angels and demons clashed over me.
“I know,” I tell her. “When Julian went to repair the rift the first time, he got stabbed and nearly died.”
“Angels can die?” Evander picks up the bottle of wine from the coffee table and refills his glass.
“Yes, but only with a Hell-forged blade and it has to pierce their heart. When Bael stabbed him, he missed, thankfully. Julian claims he got stabbed on purpose so he could bring the dagger back.”
Kristy’s eyes widen. “You have an angel-killing blade and I’m just now hearing about it?”
“I kinda forgot. It’s upstairs, hidden. I can’t touch the blade. It’s poisoned or something.”
“But you have a way to kill an angel?” Evander repeats.
“Yes,” I say with a nod.
“So, if one comes for you…” He makes a stabbing motion in the air.
“I don’t think it’s that easy,” Ruby counters. “Killing an archangel…it has to have major repercussions too.”
“I don’t think I’ll be able to kill an archangel,” I say. “Though if it came down to it, I’ll do whatever I can to defend myself.”
A heaviness hangs in the room, and we’re all thinking the same thing. If the other angels find out about me, I’m toast. My only hope would be Michael defending me, the odds would be stacked against him.
“So, I pissed off a werewolf today,” I say to change the subject. “Also at the grocery store.”
“Remind me never to go shopping with you.” Naomi tosses her hair over her shoulder and looks at Evander. “Wasn’t the wolf issue handled?”
“I thought it was,” he tells us. “What did you do, Callie?”
“Nothing,” I start. “She came up to me and was all we want the Ley line because it’s like a constant full moon. I said we don’t have an issue with wolves, but this is not the time or the place to try and get into a turf war.”
“Yeah, that won’t end well for them.” Kristy takes a big drink of wine.
“Or us,” Ruby adds. “Not that I think we’d lose, because we wouldn’t, but witches versus werewolves…it’s a good way to get outed.”
Shit, she’s right. Hunters already know about us, and if they get word of a war between weres and witches, it might be the push they need to work with politicians like William Martin to expose us