“Of course it is,” I say with a sigh, dipping the chip into salsa and taking a bite before I lose my appetite.
“Where is it?” Lucas asks.
“I don’t know,” Julian answers.
“What kind of fucking angel are you that you can sense a demon crawling out of the bowels of Hell only to lose it?” Lucas draws his fangs right as the waiter comes back over. He jumps back, holding his pen and ordering pad up to his chest.
Don’t worry, buddy. You’re getting a big tip.
“Hi,” I say with a smile, blindly reaching into my purse for my wallet. “Can I get a mango margarita. Large or extra large, whatever the biggest size you got.” I pull out my ID and hand it over to the waiter. “And then the dinner combination number two.”
The waiter glances down at my ID, nodding. “And d-do you, uh, want chicken or beef tacos?”
“Beef, please.” I flash another smile, which I hope shows that I’m friendly and not going to murder him or pull anything out of any sort of bowel, but probably just come off as creepy. “And soft shell. That’ll be all for now, but I would like three plain tacos to go.”
The waiter just nods and hurries off.
“I will alter his memory,” Julian says, planting his hands on the table, ready to get up. “Make him forget what he heard.”
“Wait until he puts my order in?” I ask. “I really want my tacos.”
“Very well.”
“And chances are he doesn’t actual think you’re an angel.”
Julian tips his head, looking at the waiter. “He’s religious and believes in angels. Demons too. He’s scared of vampires but tries to be respectful because they tip well when here with human companions.”
“How do you know all that?” I turn, looking in the direction of the kitchen.
“I’m an angel,” Julian says as if it’s obvious.
“So this demon that just arose,” Lucas starts. “The last time a demon came straight out of Hell, Callie almost died.”
“I know. This time, we’ll be ready.” Julian’s eyes flash blue for a split second.
“Yes,” Lucas agrees. “We will.”
Another shiver runs down my spine, and Binx jumps into my lap, curling up to offer his warmth. I just said yes to marrying the love of my life. I want to be celebrating. Squealing on the phone with Kristy and going through that wedding board I so don’t already have on Pinterest. Picking out dates. Venues. Why type of dress to wear. Who’ll we’ll invite.
Instead, I’m worrying about the Grand Coven, who have forbidden our relationship, and now another powerful demon is on the loose, no doubt searching for the long-lost Nephilim baby, born of light and of night.
Trembling again, Lucas takes notice and puts his arm around me. He’s cold, though, and while my body heat eventually warms him up, it’s not helping. The air conditioning vent is right above us, but the temperature in here isn’t all that cold. No, the chill is coming from knowing that this is my life now.
Hunting demons is one thing. I can handle that. Hell, I’ll go so far as to say killing lower-level demons is fun. But having to hide from angels…I don’t see how I can forever.
“Would you like me to get you a sweater?” Lucas asks. “You have one in the Jeep.”
“Oh, right. I do keep one in the back. Yeah.” I nod. “That would be nice.”
Lucas kisses my forehead and then gets up, walking at normal speed through the restaurant. My margarita comes, and I suck down a big mouthful, getting brain freeze only a few seconds later.
Rubbing my forehead, I squeeze my eyes closed and wait for the pain to pass.
“Did other angels notice?” I ask, eyes still closed.
“Notice what?”
“The gates opened?”
“Yes,” Julian answers. “Michael was able to dispatch me down to earth, giving me more cover as to why I’m here. I will have to go back soon.”
“So, Michael…my father…he’s the Archangel?”
“Yes.”
And here comes another chill. “Wow.”
Julian reaches out and puts his hand on top of mine. “He loves you, Callie. I want you to know that.”
I pet Binx again, and he presses his head against my hand before tipping his head up for me to scratch under his chin. “Are the Archangels different than, uh, regular angels?”
“Much. As half an Archangel, Callie, you have as much power as I do.”
“So I’m basically angel royalty?”
Julian laughs. “You could say that.”
“And my powers…are different now than before? I could already do magic.”
“Throughout my years of doing research, I’ve yet to come across a witch-angel hybrid like yourself. The few other Nephilim that have survived into adulthood weren’t from an Archangel either.”
“What happened to them?” I ask and take another sip of my margarita. Slower this time, of course.
“Two are still alive and living under the protection of monks in Tibet. They’ve been there for years, having committed to a peaceful life.”
“And the others?”
Julian casts his eyes down. “I think you know.”
I nod. “Angels or demons?”
“Both. But you should fear not, Callie. Your powers are great, and you have those around you willing and ready to protect you from evil and prove your worthiness to the others.”
Lucas walks back into the restaurant, carrying my black sweater. He slides back into the booth next to me and drapes the sweater around my shoulders. “Better?”
“Much. Thank you.”
He moves closer and puts his arm around me. I tip my head up, looking at his handsome face, and feel a different sense of peace coming over me. We’re not one of those couples that says love can fix everything. It can’t and it won’t, no matter how hard I wish it could. But when I’m with Lucas, everything seems manageable. We’ll get through whatever is thrown our way because we have each other.
“Did you know my mother?” I ask and Julian shakes his head.
“Unfortunately, I did not get to meet her, but I wish I had. From what Michael told me, she seemed like a wonderful human.”
“How did you come to know about Callie?” Lucas asks.
I slide my margarita in front of me again, waiting for Julian’s answer.
“The angels were alerted about a possible Nephilim in the making,” he starts. “Your father did his best to keep the suspicions off of him, and as far as we know, the others do not know you are his. He was sent to destroy you, acting as a double agent, if you will, and was able to keep your mother safe during the pregnancy, be there during your birth, and then find a place to hide you.”
“Wow.” I suck down another few mouthfuls of my drink, not caring if I get brain freeze again.
“From the start, I was against destroying the child. Being half human, you have free will, which is what puts you at risk for turning evil. But all humans run that risk, and while humanity as a whole might have taken a downturn—I will never understand your view on politics—most humans are good. They want to do good. They might be selfish and look for instant self-gratification, there’s a fine line between poor moral character and a supernatural serial killer. I thought you should have been given a chance. So much so, I was stripped of my wings for five years.”
Julian pushes his shoulders back, making a face as if he’s remembering the pain of having his wings stripped. I’m guessing it’s much more involved than just giving up a badge and gun, so to speak.
“Once my grace was restored, Michael sought me out and spent the next ten years making sure it was safe to trust me. By then, you were already a powerful witch at the Academy, but we knew it was only a matter of time before the truth got out.”
“It always does,” Lucas muses. “One way or another.”
Nodding, I get my list of questions out of my purse. Some only Michael will be able to answer, I know now. The biggest one I need to know is how aging works for a half-human creature.
Lucas will never age.
As a human, I will.
But if I don’t…
“I have to go,” Julian says suddenly. “I’m being summoned.”
“Summoned?”
He nods. “By the other angels. I don’t know when I’ll be able to come back without raising suspicions. Be vigilant, Callista.”
“Wait,” I rush out. “Will I see you again?”
“Perhaps.”
“Is there a way to…to call you or anything?”
“Pray.” He puts his hands on the table, and his eyes glow bright blue for a split second. Then, in a gust of wind and the sound of feathers flapping, he disappears from the table.
“The fuck,” I mutter again, only to turn and see the waiter standing several feet from the table, holding my food.
“I’ll handle this,” Lucas says and meets the boy’s eyes, holding him spellbound in just a second. “Nothing out of the ordinary happened at this table tonight. You served a happy couple celebrating their engagement. Nothing more. Nothing less.”
“Right,” the waiter says, and his body relaxes. “Congrats on…on…the engagement. I’ll see if I can bring you some flan or something to celebrate.”
Lucas breaks his hold and the waiter sets the food down on the table before walking away with a smile on his face. I mix my rice in with my beans and eat it with a chip.
“How are you feeling?” Lucas asks carefully.
“Let me finish half this marg and get back to you.”
“Demons were always after you,” Lucas starts. “But now you have more power.”
I suck down another mouthful of alcohol, getting hit with the strong taste of tequila. “I know. But you also know the more powerful I am, the more demons are going to want to kill me.”
“I do. But you have me, Callie, and I will stop at nothing to keep you safe. I love you.”
“I know.”
He wiggles his eyebrows. “Are you purposely quoting Han Solo?”
“Does it turn you on if I say yes?” I ask, knowing Lucas is a big Star Wars fan.
“It does. Though pretty much everything you do turns me on. Even more so now that you are my fiancée.” He kisses my forehead. “You wanted to celebrate, so let’s celebrate. The demon isn’t going to attack tonight.”
“If it does, I’m so blaming you for jinxing us.”
Lucas laughs. “Fair enough. How is your food?”
“Good,” I say and pick up my fork, scooping up some of the rice and bean mixture. “Is it too soon to start talking about a wedding date?”
“Why would it be too soon?” Lucas cocks an eyebrow.
“Because you just asked me to marry you.”
“Yes, exactly. I want to marry you, hence the need of a wedding date. Sometimes I really don’t understand humans and all your unwritten societal rules. Do what you want, Callie. You want to get married tomorrow? I’ll make it happen. Though I did think a Halloween wedding would suit you.”
I can’t help the smile that comes to my face. “It would. But not on actual Halloween. It’s Samhain and is kind of a big deal for the coven.”
“The week before?”
“It only gives us a few months to plan everything, but…yes.” The end of October is always fun and exciting from the holiday festivities alone. The Academy has its first dance mid-month, and everyone goes all out for Samhain.
“What kind of wedding do you want?” Lucas asks, words coming out a little forced, as if picking wedding theme and all that goes with it is a foreign concept to him.
“Something kind of classic, but with an enchanted forest twist, with an outdoor ceremony and the reception in some sort of historical venue. I don’t have a lot of people I want to invite, benefit of not being close with family, I suppose. Does Eliza know?” I ask as the thought enters my mind. Eliza and I have come a long way in terms of tolerating each other and even friendship. But Lucas marrying me…I’m not sure how she’ll handle that.
“Yes. I informed her I was going to propose.”
“And?”
“And what?”
“Did she freak out? Tell you that you’re being stupid? Curse my name? That sort of thing.” I pick up one of my tacos and take a bite.
“Nothing of that sort. She knows you make me happy. I believe her exact words were, ‘I’m not wearing a fucking bridesmaid’s dress’, but that was it.”
“I don’t even know who I’d—” I cut off again, remembering that I shouldn’t even be talking to Lucas, let alone marrying him. Nope. I’m not going to let myself go there. I’m allowing myself at least an hour to pretend like this wedding will actually happen as planned. Smiling, I go back to my taco. I will enjoy this moment—the night I got engaged—even if it kills me.
And there’s a chance it actually might just do that.