Angelic Avenger (28 page)

“Are you saying I’m not welcome?” There was more disbelief in his tone than outrage, but that was there, too.

“No, I’m saying that if you make me choose between you and the love of my life, you won’t like the end result. There’s one more house rule you need to think about before you make up your mind, though. Magic. No more magic against those who can’t defend against it.”

“She started it.”

“And you deserved it. That little slap on the wrist was the least you deserved the way you came storming in. Turning it back on her knowing what it would do to her was totally uncalled for.”

“So I’m supposed to sit there and take it? All I did was deflect it back to her with a push.”

Gray rolled his eyes. “Tony, you’re a Master Wizard. She’s not a magic user. A push from you is more than a nudge. You overreacted. I don’t care if you like her or not, but you need to come to terms with it on your own.”

Tony grunted and turned to face me. His face was closed, so I couldn’t even guess at what was running through his head. I was taken by surprise when he finally spoke.

“I call a spade a spade when I see one, and I admit when I’m wrong. He’s right. I overreacted. Honora’s call sent everyone spinning in Texas and I’ve never seen Dad jump through hoops to get a flight plan filed so fast to get me here to find out what was going on. I wasn’t happy about coming back and I took it out on you. I’m sorry. I don’t know you well enough to dislike you and judging you based on what you are was hasty and inappropriate.”

Well, I’ll be damned. A man who’d admit when he was wrong. I’d never have believed it. I sat there, stunned, even as I nodded.

“Don’t worry about it. A lot of people don’t like me when they first meet me. I’m an acquired taste.”

Ben choked on his coffee, reminding me of his presence and I frowned at him. He hadn’t liked me at all on our first meeting. Of course, I’d been rude and aggressive because I didn’t need a man as back-up…or so I thought. Ben had saved my neck and I’d made a friend. Maybe my luck would hold.

“Now that we’ve established family dynamics…” Gavreel smirked a little when he said it. My new sight showed me that he was pleased with the turn of events. Of course he was, he had pimped Gray out to me, after all. Mustn’t forget that. “…Shall we address the problem at hand, now that we’ve an expert among us?”

Expert? Oh yeah. I looked at Tony with a new respect. He was a Master Wizard, Gray had said. I didn’t know anything about the Wizards. They operated totally beyond the scope of our lives. As far as I knew, he was the first I’d ever met. I mentally made the note to ask if I’d always be able to see like this. It would definitely come in handy as far as work went.

I listened while Gavreel brought Tony up to speed on the events of the past few days and our suspicions. Tony turned to me and frowned softly.

“What did it feel like when he touched you?”

His tone was brisk but somehow, I knew it wasn’t me that was the problem this time.

“Pain. I didn’t even realize what was happening, not really. We reacted when he attacked. Of course, we thought he couldn’t hurt me, too.”

“Would you have done it if you’d known?”

The question made me frown. “Of course I would have. No one walks in and tries to hurt people around me.”

I must have been suitably indignant because he smiled a true smile for the first time since he’d arrived. To me, anyway. Yesterday, I wouldn’t have noticed the way his body relaxed. Today, I was magically enhanced. Let’s hear it for fringe benefits.

“Well, it looks like I arrived in time. I won’t be able to tell what kind of wizards are aiding him without seeing either the result of the spell or the residue while it’s in action. Our magic doesn’t leave traces like theirs does.” He nodded to the side, where Gavreel and Gray sat, indicating who he was referring to like I didn’t know. The simple gesture told me he was used to falling into lecturing mode. I guess the grand title came with responsibilities.

“We’re also born into our power. You’re only as good as your genetics and I’m lucky enough to have been blessed with the right genes on both sides of my pedigree. My parents married for power. The love came later.”

Now that was another interesting point to bring up when I finally got Gray alone. If I was going to stay in this family, I wanted to know the entire dynamic structure before I found myself in the middle of them all.

“So, we need to draw him out again.” Ben leaned back in his chair and frowned.

“The easiest way to do that is to mount another excursion.” Gray’s face was equally grave.

“Absolutely not.” Everyone at the table turned to look at me and I shrugged. “We’re so not taking that baby out where the big bad wolf can get her so Merlin, here, can see what kind of ace he’s got up his sleeve.”

Just like that, the debate was on. I understood the logic of it, but my mind couldn’t fight how close we’d come to losing the last time. Hell would freeze over before I let them put her in that kind of danger again. Of course, they were men and they thought they could wear me down. I wasn’t saying they weren’t making good points. I’m saying I had my heels dug in deep.

Chapter Twenty-Six

I had to stop arguing to answer the door. It wasn’t like I was winning anyway. Of course, all thoughts of the wisdom of going out into public so soon after Turel’s attack went straight out the window at the sight of the Wolf King bleeding all over our porch. Gavin was barely conscious and I could tell from the glazed look in his eyes how much pain he was in. It takes a lot to put a shifter, especially a powerful one, into a state of incoherence. My face must have revealed my shock because I didn’t even see Alex standing on one side of him with the other side being supported by a man I didn’t recognize.

“Well, it’s not every day someone manages to catch you speechless. Can we bring him in before he dies out here?”

I stepped back on autopilot. What the hell happened? I didn’t even bother to argue the boyfriend comment as Alex and a man I didn’t recognize dragged Gavin past me and into the house.

“What happened to him?” Ben asked my question for me. I was grateful, closing the door to follow behind them. Gray was already directing them while Tony ran off for supplies. I guess he knew where the first aid kit was which was more than we could say for me. There was nothing like a group of men who took action in crisis situations.

“Bella did.” Alex didn’t glance at me and his voice was carefully devoid of blame.

“No offense, Alex, but I’m not hardly strong enough to do this much damage to him. I could kill him, yes, but not beat him to a pulp.” I was a bit snappy, all things considered for my afternoon. I most certainly hadn’t laid a hand on the wolf and wouldn’t have, even if I could have stood a chance in a fight.

Tony came running out of the bathroom with a large first aid kit in his hand, waving them toward the door to the study off the living room.

“We’ll put him in there. It’ll give him a chance for some privacy while we figure out what’s going on.”

The other man had been silent up to that point, but he spoke up as he followed Ben’s lead.

“He spoke out against Gregory and started talking about moderation and long term consequences.” The sandy-haired youth glanced over his shoulder with haunted eyes. “The local Alphas jumped him. We all thought it would end when he shut up, but they were going to beat him to death. The other shifters stepped in and broke it up. They were still fighting when Alex and I managed to get him out of the brawl. We didn’t know where else to take him where he’d be safe.”

What was I, Witness Protection? Alex was right. I was responsible. It had been my little talk with both Gregory and Gavin that had set them on a collision course. One strong voice of reason was enough to offset Gregory’s delusions of grandeur. Unfortunately, we’d all underestimated his influence. None of us had considered that the masses were ready to get violent among their own kind. We’d been worried about how they would treat mortals, not each other. My oversight had damned near got them all killed.

Gray looked him over and shook his head. “He needs to shift. It won’t clear up all the damage, but it would help stabilize him.”

“He can’t.” Alex still hadn’t looked at me as he bent over his king. “He’s too weak. He used a lot of his magic staying alive. I don’t think he has the reserves to heal himself or shift.”

Well, hell. I couldn’t just let him die. I did the only thing I could do. I called out to Raphael. The Angel of Truth arrived in a brilliant flash of green light. Every man in the room froze and stared at me.

“Don’t look at me like that. I can’t let him die.”

“Bella, Bella, Bella,” Raphael chastised. “You’re asking me to interfere with things you don’t understand.”

I looked at him in his stern persona, all ageless and pulsing with power.

“Don’t give me that,” I snapped back, refusing to be intimidated. “He wouldn’t be in this mess if I hadn’t started meddling in the first place. We’re trying to prevent genocide here, you know.”

The new wolf’s eyes were wide as he stared at me, backing slowly up to press against the bookshelves along one wall. Alex’s eyes were as wild, but he stood his ground next to his king, loyal to the end. It made me think better of him. Ben had taken a respectful step back, but his face was solemn. Every line of his body told me he didn’t expect the Archangel to help us. Gray was the only one conscious who didn’t change his outward demeanor. He kept checking the Wolf King over, muttering under his breath. Whatever Raphael was about to say was cut off when he looked at us with a frown.

“If you’re going to help, Raphael, don’t posture for effect. He’ll be dead before you make your point.” Anger and something else laced his voice. “Since we can’t get him to shift on his own, there’s nothing else we can do. I doubt a hospital could help him at this point.”

Raphael sighed and let his wings unfurl. I’d never seen him with his wings and was more than slightly surprised to see them glow in burnished red with golden tips. It made sense, though. The truth was neither light nor dark, it simply was. Healing was equally as benign. It passed no judgment. With a significant glance in my direction, he strode over and knelt by the sofa where Gavin lay.

“Your loyalty is commendable, but if I’m to heal him you must step away.”

His tone was kind, directed at Alex, who blinked at him. Obediently, he moved to the end of the couch, staying within reach and out of the angel’s way.

Everyone in the room knew I was going to owe the angel for this. On a technical basis, what he was doing was forbidden. Mortal wounds were supposed to be
mortal
in the divine consequences way of things. By rights, we should all let him die, but I couldn’t do it. This was my fault.

We all turned away from the blinding flash of green light that engulfed the angel and the man. When we turned back, Gavin’s breathing was deep and even.

“His body is healed, but I cannot recharge his magic or his mind. He’ll need to rest and recover those on his own.” Raphael stood and didn’t step away from the couch as his gaze locked with mine. “Services rendered and payment will be collected once all this chaos is dealt with.”

Then he was gone. People talk about deals with the devil, but they have no idea how complicated it could get. The devil, at least, made it worth your while. The rest of them got their pound of flesh in the end and it wasn’t always something you wanted to pay. Funny how that worked, sometimes.

“Wow.”

I blinked and looked at Alex. He was staring at me with something akin to awe on his face. I knew my face was hard from the way his nostrils flared as if trying to scent my mood. In this case, my new senses weren’t helping me at all. I didn’t want to know I scared the shifters. I wanted to be just me…plain harmless me.

“He did what he did to help me. I never forget aid—” I let my gaze slide to the other wolf who was equally as awed as Alex, “—or betrayal.”

My mind was suddenly made up and I strode from the room. Ben fell in behind me. He knew me well enough to know the next course of action was retribution for what had happened. Gregory DeFlores was about to learn the lesson his intelligence should have taught him. Never try to battle with me through my friends.

Did I consider Gavin my friend? An hour ago, I’d have said no. We respected one another, but we weren’t friends. One swing of the bat and a line was crossed, so now we were. Whatever happened when this was dealt with, right now we were on the same side.

“You two stay with him. There’s food in the fridge and don’t let on to the little girl who’s out in the back playing with Craig that you can shift. She’s had Craig pouncing around the house to the point we’re going to have to get the floors refinished when this is all over.”

Ben and I were putting on our coats and checking our weapons when Gray joined us in the foyer.

“You can’t go in there alone.”

I looked at him and realized he really didn’t know me that well despite the fact we were all but married. Hell, we were married on the cosmic scale. That didn’t change the fact he saw me as a woman instead of a professional. While that made my heart glad, it was going to make today take a serious turn for the worst.

“I’m not alone. Ben will be there. We’re only going to talk some sense into them.”

Ben studiously tucked his pistol into the waistband of his pants and didn’t look at us. He knew I was going to take Gregory DeFlores’s soul. If it caused the movement to split, I didn’t care. When it came to the point of killing the people who spoke out against you, it was time for it to stop. I wasn’t in the mood for anarchy on my watch.

“What am I supposed to do?” Gray snapped as he reached out to grab my arm.

I stared at his hand then back up at him. He flinched at the look on my face and dropped his hand before taking a step back.

“You’re going to stay here and hold down the fort while I do what needs to be done. Lizzy needs to be protected. Turel is getting bolder. He might take the opportunity to swoop in while we’re gone. Even if he doesn’t, Gavin’s vulnerable and neither one of those wolves are bodyguard caliber. Go get your gun out of your safe and be prepared to use it is my advice.”