Peace (7 page)

“Reassigned? What kind of bullshit is that? He was banished. They found out that Lam and I were more than passing acquaintances, so they judged him corrupt. They tossed him out of the heavenly realm.” Daystar ran his hands through his hair. “I need to find him.”

“I can’t help you.” Death shrugged. “I guess you could go talk to my predecessor. I remember Lam saying something about him living in Paris now that he’s mortal.”

Daystar growled then said, “I was just there and something happened to bring me here.”

Shaking his head, Death replied, “I don’t know about that. Hey, I have to go. If you find Lam, tell him I’ll miss working with him. He was all right for being a pain in the ass.”

Before Daystar could stop him, Death leaped on his horse and disappeared.

“Damn it! I’m going back to Paris and none of you can stop me. You’d better quit playing all these bullshit games, Gabriel, or the Quad is going to get a very nasty surprise,” Day warned before gathering his power to return to the mortal plane.

“I’ve told you what would happen if you keep threatening us.” Gabriel appeared, his blond hair sticking up as though he’d been running his fingers through it. “Why can’t you accept that you will never see Lam again? He is mortal and not for you. Well, he was never for you when he was an angel, but you couldn’t help tainting an innocent soul.”

Day reached out and grabbed Gabriel’s arm before the archangel could get away from him. He dragged Gabriel close then curled his lip in disgust at the fear swirling in Gabriel’s eyes.

“And I told you what will happen if I don’t find him. To be honest, I’m leaning toward burning you all anyway. You’re nothing more than power hungry creatures that don’t understand the mortals you’re supposed to be protecting.” Day shook Gabriel so hard, he could practically hear the angel’s teeth rattle. “Interfere one more time, Gabriel, and I will start a war that will make my revolution look like a child’s tantrum. You’ve forgotten I’ve had millions of years to learn how to use these powers the Judge granted me. Now leave me be.”

He tossed Gabriel away, not giving the angel a chance to stop him. When he materialized again, he was at the foot of the Arc de Triomphe. Sighing, he flagged down a taxi and climbed in the back seat when one stopped for him. He gave the driver the address of the apartment building where he’d gone with the drugs.

* * * *

“We think it might be a good idea for you to get out of here for a little while,” Aldo said as he strolled into the room, and Lam chuckled.

“Am I driving you all crazy with my pacing or something?” Lam was growing increasingly impatient while healing. The good news was that he was healing far faster than Aldo had thought he would. His back barely ached and his injuries were scabbed over instead of open wounds.

“Yes.” Baqir entered behind Aldo. “Kibwe will accompany you to one of the nearby parks. Gatian has actual business to attend to while Aldo and I are going to do some discreet digging. We need to get you a new identity. You can’t live as a mortal without the proper credentials.”

He frowned. “How did you go about getting the right credentials when you became mortal?”

Aldo smiled. “I knew a man from my time as Pestilence. He only knew me as a rather eccentric missionary living in the Amazon. I explained that I lost my personal papers and identification during a particularly bad monsoon and needed them replaced. He didn’t question me, simply got me what I needed. I used him for the others. Unfortunately, my man is in prison for other illegal activities. Baqir knows of someone here in the city who will do what we need done.”

“How will I pay him for it? These things aren’t cheap, right?” Lam rubbed his hands together, not liking the idea of doing something illegal, but knowing he didn’t have a choice. He wasn’t going to get his wings back. He was mortal and would die eventually.

“Don’t worry about that. Gatian will foot the bill and when—or if—you ever get a chance, you can pay him back.” Baqir held up his hand to stop Lam’s protest. “He suggested it. It’s the least any of us can do for you since you helped bring our husbands into our lives. I’m sure that was another mark against you with your superiors.”

He wasn’t going to confirm Baqir’s suspicions. It had been mentioned as one of the many rules he’d broken while the Quad had been deciding his punishment. Kibwe walked in, carrying a pile of clothes.

“Here. I thought you might not want to go for a walk in silk pajamas.” He shot Baqir a glance. “Whose are those anyway?”

Baqir grinned. “Whose do you think? I don’t wear clothes to bed and I’m pretty sure Aldo isn’t the silk kind of guy.”

“It was all we had that would fit him,” Gatian commented as he stalked in. “I wasn’t going to let him sleep naked. Now that he’s going out, Lam can buy some clothes for himself. Here.”

He took the wallet Gatian held out to him. “What’s this?”

“It’s got some cash in it and a credit card in your name. Kibwe can take you to one of the department stores, so you can get some items.” Gatian turned to Kibwe. “Make sure you explain things to him as you go. He doesn’t know the basics of living as a mortal.”

“Yes, sir.” Kibwe flashed Gatian a cheeky smile.

“Wait. I don’t have time for shopping. I need to find Daystar. I need to make sure the Quad didn’t do anything to him because of me.”

It was the one thing haunting him. He worried that the archangels would disregard the law the Judge had laid down about Daystar. He was to be left alone, suffering in his solitude, and there was to be no other punishment. No one was to harm Lucifer Daystar.

Lam had always wondered about that condition from the Judge. Its necessity shouldn’t have surprised him, though, since the Quad would have been more than happy to destroy Day as soon as they could. Thank God, the Judge didn’t believe in killing creatures. He didn’t have a problem punishing them, though.

Gatian shook his head. “You need to get stuff to fit into this world. Once that happens, we figure out how to find Daystar for you. I have an idea, but I’m not sure if it’ll work. Maybe if there was some way we could get in touch with one of the new Horsemen, they could get in touch with Daystar.”

“Not sure if that would be a good idea. I don’t want to get them in trouble with the Quad. We have ample proof they will turn on anyone who they think will be on Day’s side.” Lam bit his bottom lip while he thought. “I’ll go to Michigan where his home is. Hopefully, he’ll be there instead of looking for me.”

“Why would he be looking for you?” Aldo studied him. “Have you ever traveled like a mortal before?”

Lam shook his head. “No, but it can’t be that difficult. I’ll need a passport as well as all the other stuff.”

Baqir sighed. “I’ll go with him. We can’t let him wander around the world alone.”

“Russ won’t be happy to hear you’re not coming back as soon as you thought,” Kibwe pointed out.

“True, but he’ll understand why I can’t let Lam go off on his own. I’ll head back when I know Lam is with Daystar. It might not be the safest plan, but I doubt Lam will leave him once they find each other.”

“I’m in the room. Don’t talk about me like I’m not here.” Lam took the clothes from Kibwe. “I’ll change then we can head out. Maybe we could get something to eat while we’re shopping.”

As he walked into the bathroom, he heard them talking behind him, but he didn’t care what they were saying. Baqir was right. Once he found Day, he wasn’t going to leave the fallen’s side. Not only because it was the safest place to be when the Quad got pissed, but because he loved the bastard more than anyone could imagine.

He’d gotten his wings ripped from his body because of that love. Lam wasn’t going to leave Day behind when things got even more dangerous, which he knew they would. Day wasn’t going to sit back and accept what had happened to Lam. He would do what he’d promised the Quad all those centuries ago.

After getting dressed, he rejoined Kibwe. “Where are the others?”

“They went off to do their jobs. We’re going shopping, having lunch then getting you and Baqir on a plane.” Kibwe gestured to the hallway. “Let’s go.”

Lam made his way to the front door then outside where there was a car waiting for them. He slid in and rested his head against the seat. Goodness, he was tired from even the little bit of walking he’d done to get there.

* * * *

Day stepped onto the sidewalk and glanced up at the building. It looked like the right place. Gathering his power, he slid through the door then up the stairs to the penthouse where he slipped into the front room.

There was no one there. He could feel the emptiness as he moved throughout the rooms. People had been there recently. Their essences lingered in the air, but he couldn’t tell who they were. Mortals were such a pain sometimes. Day couldn’t distinguish one from the other. He didn’t even know if he had the right place.

Now that Lam was mortal, Day couldn’t track him and it was driving him crazy. All he wanted was to wrap his arms around the angel, hold him close and promise to never leave him again.

“Where the hell are you?” Day rubbed his hand over his hair then suddenly wanted his home.

He wanted his bed where they had lain, talking about all the places they’d been and things they’d seen throughout the history of the planet. His balcony overlooking Superior where they’d made plans, even though they’d known there wasn’t a future for them together.

Home then. He’d rest and regroup to search for Lam in some other way.

* * * *

Day sat at a table outside a small café in Lisbon. He watched as Lam, the gorgeous
Agnus Dei he’d noticed that day in Michael’s office, approached. He was stalking the angel now. Day couldn’t even explain why he’d gone looking for Lam that first time all those centuries ago. Or maybe he didn’t want to admit how much he wanted to see him again.

Foolish really. No angel in his right mind would want to speak—or even be seen—with Day. He knew that, but he couldn’t help thinking that maybe Lam wouldn’t mind having a cup of coffee with him at a romantic Spanish café. Day stood as Lam started to walk by him. After reaching out, he took a hold of Lam’s arm.

“Hello there. I’ve been hoping I’d run into you again,” Day said, as though he hadn’t set the whole thing up and hadn’t been following the angel everywhere

Lam grimaced then tugged to try to force Day to let go of him. “Why are you here? And why would you want to run into me again?” Lam repeated Day’s statement as though he couldn’t believe the fallen was there.

Day chuckled. “I’m here because you are. Why don’t you have a drink with me? The coffee is quite good at this place.” He motioned to the other chair at his table. “Please.”

He didn’t say that word. Ever. Yet for some reason, he was pretty sure Lam would respond better to politeness then Day’s usual arrogance. Lam studied him for a second then sat.

“What would you like to drink?” He waved down a waitress.

“I don’t need anything to drink.” Lam turned to face the sidewalk where people strolled by.

Day watched him while they waited for the waitress to bring Day a refill. There was something bright about Lam. Something that drew Day like a moth to the flame that would destroy him. Or maybe Day should have said him drawing Lam into his world could destroy Lam. Day knew that, but he couldn’t help wanting to spend time with the angel.

“Here you go.” The waitress returned, carrying a tray of tapas as well as Day’s new cup of coffee.

“I hope you’ll being willing to have something to eat at least.” Day motioned to the food.

Lam didn’t speak until after Day took a bite of his own. “You wanted to spend time with me, so you’ve been stalking me. Seems a little creepy to me.”

Day snorted. “I do admit I’ve been wandering around hoping to see you, but I’m not entirely sure it’s stalking.” Even if he had admitted to himself that was what he was doing. “There’s something about you, Lam. Something that attracts me and I want to see what it is. Once that happens, I’m sure I’ll lose interest and leave you alone.”

“What you’re saying is if I let you talk with me, you’ll eventually leave me alone?”

Shrugging, Day replied, “It’s a strong possibility. I tend to have a short attention span and when something comes easily to me, I find myself moving on rather quickly.”

After glancing at the watch on his wrist, Lam sighed. “All right. I have a few minutes before I have to leave for my next delivery. The sooner you move on the better. What do you want to talk about?”

Excitement rippled through Day at the thought of being with Lam even for a few minutes.
Fuck!
He’d never felt like this with anyone, which frightened him even more than being banished from the heavenly realm had. Day had no idea where this was going, but he would ride it to the end.

Chapter Eight

“Is this it?” Baqir asked as they pulled up in front of Day’s enormous log cabin.

“Yes.” Lam managed to get out of the truck slowly, even though he wanted to throw himself out of the vehicle and dash up the walk.

“Nice.” Baqir joined him on his side of the vehicle. “I should ask Daystar to come build something for Russ and me in Mongolia.”

Lam laughed. “I’m pretty sure Day doesn’t do anything halfway, so be careful what you wish for. Trust me. You’ll end up with a very ostentatious palace in the middle of the steppes. The Mongolians won’t know what to do with something like that. Definitely stick out like a sore thumb.”

Baqir snorted, but didn’t answer. He motioned for Lam to go on. Lam’s palms grew sweaty and his mouth dry. What if Day didn’t want him now that he was mortal? What if all the talk of love was just Day roping him along so he’d do whatever the fallen wanted?

“If you were going to have second thoughts, you should’ve had them before all of this started.” Baqir patted him on the back. “It’s all a little late for changing your mind about him.”

“I’m not really changing my mind,” Lam retorted. “Just worried.”

“You’re worried that Daystar will turn his back on you now that you’re mortal. It’s understandable. I might not know Daystar as well as you, but my instincts say he’s not going to dump you.” Baqir squeezed his shoulder. “But if that does happen, we’d help you establish a life somewhere.”