And that had nothing to do with the fact that Lucifer was standing a few feet behind me, surprisingly enough.
Feeling Zayne’s gaze on me as I walked forward, I scanned the blurry house ahead. I saw no movement, but a wave of goose bumps broke out across my arms. I stopped less than half the length of a football field from the sprawling colonial-style farmhouse. I squinted as the last of the sun seeped away and shadows rapidly grew along the front porch of the house, pressing against the white pillars and the walls of the first floor.
Except they weren’t normal shadows. They moved too quick, darting from one pillar to the next like Ping-Pong balls.
Shadow People.
“Hey,” I called out, the hot tingling at the base of my neck growing.
The shadows stilled.
That was a little unnerving. “Is the Harbinger of Overly Long Monologues home?”
Whispers carried on the breeze reached me, the voices of the SP too low for me to understand. “If he is,” I yelled. “Tell him it’s rude to keep visitors waiting even if it’s a surprise.”
“A surprise?” Gabriel’s voice echoed all around, but I didn’t see him. “Silly nephilim.”
I tensed, gaze flickering from the house to the thin trees lining the driveway. He could be anywhere, and with my vision, I’d never know, but I had other eyes with far better vision backing me up.
Without warning, dozens of floodlights from the house and side yards sparked to life. Bright white light funneled through the gathering darkness. Blinded, I didn’t resist the urge to shield my eyes. I lifted a hand as my eyes watered and stung from the intense light. Cloudy splotches gathered in my vision as my grace stretched at my skin. My eyes would adapt—hopefully—but it would take a couple of minutes.
A shape appeared behind the house, sweeping into the air. I could make out the width of wings. My heart skipped a beat. There he was. I drew in a deep breath and nearly choked on the sickly sweet smell of...of rot.
Where was that coming from? I quickly looked around me, and from what I could see, there was nothing nearby. If there were and I was unaware, Zayne would be out here in a nanosecond. Could that smell be coming from Gabriel?
I lowered my hand, wishing I could see him. All I could tell was that he was hovering above the house like a demented guardian angel.
I ignored the insult as I forced my arms loose at my sides. “You’ve been looking for me, so I decided to come to you.”
“I appreciate that.” Gabriel’s wings moved silently in the air. “Makes my life so much easier.”
“You sure about that?”
His laugh reached me, sending a rush of iciness through me. “Oh, I am sure.” He drifted over the home, stopping in front of the porch. “Just as I’m sure you did not come alone.”
Warning pricked my skin even though I wasn’t surprised he knew. “I would be stupid to come here alone, and I’m not stupid.”
“We’ll have to agree to disagree on that, child of Michael.”
My eyes narrowed. “How’re those bullet wounds treating you, Gabriel?”
His wings stilled. “I’ll make sure I show you in great detail later.”
“I think I’ll pass,” I told him. “But I did bring you a present. Spoiler alert, it’s not me.”
“Spoiler alert?” Confusion filled the archangel’s tone.
I sighed. “You don’t even know what a spoiler alert is? I mean, come on, this is getting ridiculous.”
Gabriel flew forward suddenly, and in the next heartbeat, I felt the warmth of Zayne at my back. The golden white glow of his wings washed over me.
Gabriel halted, still several feet away. “Is that who you’ve brought me?” he asked. “A Fallen in need of his wings and grace to be stripped? I’ll be more than happy to kill him.” He paused. “Again.”
Anger flushed my system, but I knew better than to cave to it. I learned that the hard way. “He’s a gift,” I said, keeping my voice level. “But not for you.”
Zayne’s right wing brushed over my back as he came to stand by my side. “You’re not looking very well, Gabriel,” Zayne said, disgust creeping into his voice. He was right. The archangel was close enough for me to see that there was more of an oily sheen to his wings and skin than a luminous glow. “And is it you that smells like decay?”
“You smell that, too?” I asked. “Because I was wondering if Gabriel crapped himself or something.”
“My brother didn’t crap himself,” Lucifer said, and my hands balled into fists. Of course he didn’t listen to me. He came to stand to my left. “Yet.”
“That’s your surprise,” I said, feeling like this was so anticlimactic now. “Surprise,” I exclaimed, throwing in jazz hands in the process.
“I do not accept this gift,” Gabriel snarled.
“Too bad,” I said. “No returns or exchanges.”
Gabriel focused in on his brother. “I knew I felt the taint of your presence.”
“The taint of my presence? Have you smelled yourself recently?” Lucifer looked up at Gabriel. “Your essence—your Glory is rotting.”
“My Glory is not rotting,” the archangel snapped.
“Um.” I drew the word out. “Something on you is definitely rotting.”
“Even mine never smelled that bad.” A twinge of awe filled Lucifer’s tone as he continued to stare up at Gabriel. “You know what that means.”
“You have no idea what you speak of,” Gabriel bit back.
“What does that mean?” I asked, glancing at Lucifer.
The devil smiled. “I have a feeling we’re going to find out.”
Gabriel drew farther back. “You know what I plan, brother. You of all people should be celebrating what needs to be done. I will end this—end this corruption that has become this realm. I will do what needs to be done. And yet you stand before me instead of behind me?”
“Yeah, well, what you plan is my kind of party,” Lucifer said. “But it ain’t my party. You feel me?”
“He probably doesn’t get your analogy,” I told him.
“I understand it fine,” snapped Gabriel. “I give you this one chance, Lucifer. More than our Father ever gave you. Join me, and together, we will end this.”
Lucifer cocked his head to the side. “Now, you know damn well Father gave me so many chances it was absurd. Even I can admit that, but you? Oh, Gabe, what have you done to yourself?”