Sparks of Blue (Dark Light Book 2) (19 page)

****

“Well.”

The simple, vaguely startled, cultured female voice jolted Kai out of his dreams more effectively than the subtle, nonthreatening change in surrounding energies would have. In the split-second it took his mind to clear the fog of sleep he registered the comforting weight of Belle still settled in his arms. And he understood the odd tone in Isabella’s voice.

Shit.

He and Belle had rolled onto their sides during the night, his back exposed to the main part of the living room—and now his Commander. But it was hard to hide a person behind another on a couch.

Belle groaned, slower to awaken, and Kai swallowed his curse as he released her and rolled to his feet. His pants flashed on mere moments before the blanket fell away and for once in his long life he found himself fighting a rush of embarrassment as he locked gazes with his superior.

This was exactly the moment he’d spent a century hoping to avoid.

“Commander,” he greeted, keeping his voice calm. Behind him, he sensed Belle’s heartbeat double. She was awake now, then.

Eyebrows high on her forehead Isabella replied, “Good morning, Kai. Belle. I admit I’d hoped pairing you together for this mission would work out whatever tension you had between you, but this isn’t what I expected. It seems we’ve more to discuss than I thought.” She paused, her gaze flicked to the partially closed bedroom door behind them, and then she proceeded to help herself to one of the chairs. “Sit, Kai. I come with news. First, how is Madelyne?”

Kai reclaimed his seat as Belle sat up, mindful of keeping the comforter gathered in her lap.

Clearing the sleep from her throat, Belle said, “Madelyne’s wounds are healing slowly. She’s stable but has only briefly woken. Thank you for asking.”

“What’s this news?” Kai asked.

Isabella’s softened gaze hardened again. “I finally learned the name of the Archangel who holds that building. The one who’s betrayed us.”

Kai’s eyes widened marginally. That
was
news. He and Knox had made no progress tracking down information on that front.

“It’s Uriah.”

“What’s a Uriah?” Gwen asked sleepily as she came out of the bedroom, stifling a yawn, still dressed in the tank and shorts she wore as pajamas. As seemed to be her usual pre-coffee routine.

“The Archangel we’ve been looking for,” Kai said. Uriah was a lower-ranking Archangel, somewhere in the lower twenty percentile, but that was hardly anything to sneeze at. He also had a ruthless reputation, although everyone Kai knew assumed that that reputation still fell within certain laws. “You’re sure?”

“Unfortunately,” Isabella replied. “And it won’t be long before he learns his identity has been compromised. I’m going to assign a few extra guards to you until proper proof can be gathered to take to Michael.” Michael being the Archangel in charge—the one all were supposed to answer to.

Kai released a breath and nodded. He didn’t particularly like it, but he did understand.

“And that,” Isabella began, “leads me to the new topic we must discuss.”

Belle shifted restlessly beside him. If he were the type to shift restlessly, he’d have done it, too.

Clearing her throat, Gwen said, “I’ll, uh, go sit with Maddy. In case she wakes up.” It didn’t exactly take a genius to discern the topic Isabella was referring to.

When Gwen had disappeared from view, Kai let his scowl slip into place. This was not going to be a fun conversation, and he didn’t relish the thought of drawing it out. So he jumped right in.

“Before you say anything, I want to make my position clear. I’ll leave the armada if you feel it necessary, but I will
not
leave Belle. Nor will I allow her execution.”

He swore he could practically hear Belle’s eyes widen, but he kept his firm stare on his Commander.

Isabella remained quiet for a moment. Contemplating. “You’re familiar with the law, Kai. Why break it?” There was no accusation in her tone. She was curious.

“I broke it a long time ago,” Kai said. “Long before Belle drew anyone’s attention.”

“That’s what was between us,” Belle added when he paused. Her voice was stable. “Our history. He’d broken things off with me … to try and protect me. To keep me from the consequences of that stupid law.”

Isabella inclined her head and looked back to Kai. “And what would you do if one of the Archangels came to carry out the punishment?”

“I’d rather not put that into words,” Kai said honestly. “I harbor ill will only toward Uriah at the moment. But I’ll stand firmly between Belle and anyone who should threaten her, regardless of stature.” And though he hated to imply it, he needed Isabella to recognize that she herself was on that list.

“Belle,” Isabella called instead of responding to Kai’s words. “Would you give up your station to stay with Kai?”

What the hell kind of question was that?

“Absolutely.” Her reply was so fast he wondered if she hadn’t already made that choice. A part of him hoped she had.

Isabella nodded again. “And would you both consider keeping those positions if you were promised no repercussions?”

“Could we trust such a promise?” Because he doubted they could.

Isabella’s smile, however, brought a flicker of doubt to his heart. “Only if you feel you can trust me. You see, I suspected at least one of you had a fondness for the other. I
wanted
that to play out, however it had to. Having my Second at direct odds with our Master Healer is almost as unthinkable as losing both of them over something as silly as love.” She stood and let her ivory-hued wings flutter into view. “So if it is love, and if it is true, then you have my blessing. But for the sake of your own sanity, try to limit the PDA in front of the guards I’m about to send. And remember to complete your assignments.”

With a
whoosh,
she was gone, leaving Kai and Belle alone to contemplate what they’d learned.

The name of the Archangel was huge, and yet it changed nothing by itself.

Isabella’s openness to Kai and Belle’s relationship, however … changed everything. In the same way that it didn’t.

“Did … we just … get away with it?” Belle asked slowly.

Kai allowed a slow grin to lift his lips. “Yes,” he said as he turned and cupped her cheek. “We did.”

Chapter Nineteen

“So … I can’t help but notice no one’s dead,” Gwen said as she stepped into the living area, having taken the time first to pour herself a cup of coffee.

Belle couldn’t help the smile that resulted from Gwen’s simple statement. She couldn’t have asked for that conversation with Isabella to go better. She’d never
dreamed
it would go so well.

“That’s about how I feel,” she said, wrapping her arms around Kai’s nearest elbow. She felt almost giddy with relief.

“How’d that happen?” Gwen asked. “I mean, didn’t you kinda break a law?”

“We did,” Belle said. She turned a grin up to Kai. “You must be too valuable.”

“I wouldn’t wanna piss him off,” Gwen said with a laugh.

Kai rolled his eyes, a clear sign of his good mood, and said, “You should both get dressed. Our extra guards will be here any minute.”

Gwen’s eyes widened, and she scampered to her room.

Belle stepped back from Kai, turning to face him, and spread her arms wide. His long sleeves covered her entire arms, hanging off her fingertips. The hem of his shirt brushed her thighs under her butt. “You don’t think I can pull this off?”

Kai frowned, stepped up to her, and growled, “I think I’d kill any man who looked at you right now. Put on some shorts at least.”

Belle arched a brow and caught his hand, taking him with her toward the bedroom. “Just shorts? Nothing else?”

Kai tugged her into his chest outside the doorway and claimed her mouth in a hot, torturous kiss. Tongue dominating her mouth and hands burning through his borrowed shirt, Belle moaned immediately.

“I do like to brag from time to time,” he murmured, a smirk gracing his lips.

Belle laughed, catching a glimpse of a flash of light through the far kitchen window, and pulled from his arms. “I’ll do that, then. Your men are here.”

Kai released a breath and another shirt flashed on, hiding his perfectly sculpted chest and shoulders from view. “I guess I’ll be outside, then.”

Belle turned into the bedroom as Kai teleported outside to greet his backup. She was so over the moon with not having the threat of execution hanging over her head that it wasn’t until she was tugging her frayed denim shorts to her hips that she processed the other detail. They knew the Archangel’s name now.
Uriah.

She’d never met him, of course. She’d never met any Archangel. But she’d heard some of his reputation. He was considered the angelic equivalent of a businessman. A ruthless businessman whose idea of success was the end result, no matter the means. She’d always thought that meant he was firm and goal-oriented, maybe with a sharp tongue and narrowly traditionalist views. Apparently it meant deals with demons and threat of murder.

Her gaze slid to Madelyne’s prone form on the mattress, covered in a mid-weight blanket.
And something about his goals justifies, or excuses, torturing Nephilim.
But was that a disgusting personal hobby or a business maneuver?
How could it be for business when he had her for so long?

She was about to step from the room, wanting her own cup of coffee and perhaps some oatmeal, when she realized what she’d been staring at. Madelyne’s arm was protruding from the blanket. Like it had flopped or rolled off her chest.

She moved!

Belle rushed forward and rested her palm on Madelyne’s forehead. A quick health scan assured her that Madelyne’s condition had improved. Naturally, while she slept. Her heart leaping joyfully, Belle turned and sprinted from the room. She’d need to postpone Gwen’s first hour of healing for an hour or two, but she had to capitalize on this opportunity. First, though, she needed to tell Kai so that he’d know.

She pulled the front door open and practically leaped through the opening. “Kai!”

The elation in her chest stalled, however, at what she saw.

Three new angels—including Jaelyn—and Kai all stood, swords drawn, forming a half-circle between the suite and the river. Between the suite and a horde of demons, led by a one-armed Creed.

“Get inside!” Kai ordered.

****

It was turning into one hell of a day.

Around him fellow warriors from the armada stood, swords at the ready, as they faced Creed and a flock of suicidal demons. They were outnumbered to be sure, but ordinarily Kai wouldn’t have worried about that. Ordinarily all he had to worry about was winning his fight. This time he had people in need of his protection. It was more than a battle to the death.

“As you can see,” Creed called arrogantly, “I’ve been busy making some new friends these last few weeks.” He raised his left stump. “Never thought losing an arm would be so useful. I oughta thank you, angel-boy.”

Grinding his teeth at the jibe, Kai said, “I take it Uriah doesn’t want to get his own hands dirty.”

Creed’s eyes widened, and he knew the demon had been unaware that his partner’s identity was compromised. “You accusing me of working with an
angel
?”

“Oh, I could accuse you of lots of things,” Kai assured him. “But I’m tired of talking. Take them.” The last was an order for his warriors. An order they understood and wasted no time in obeying.

The angels surged forward, and the group of demons reacted. Dark and light energy spiked everywhere, creating invisible waves with each point of contact. A blade swung through a dark energy construct caused a ripple effect. A poisonous weapon shattering a pure energy shield fired a shockwave. The trees began swaying, and the tide of the river roughened. Breaking hard over protruding rocks, creating small whitecaps.

Creed and another demon came at Kai with an angry ferocity. Kai recognized the other demon’s energy; he was the one who’d successfully abducted Gwen.

“Where’s your little buddy, Knox?” Creed taunted as he dodged a swing of Kai’s sword.

Kai blocked a blunt energy surge with his forearm, wrapping his energy around his skin to act as a shield. Blue flame spiked as his strength beat out the strength of the attack from the other demon.

“You should be more concerned with your own fate,” he returned, flipping his sword around in his hand to repel Creed’s energy claws.

“Oh, I’m not the one who should start worryin’,” Creed said.

The other demon came in low, attempting to sweep Kai’s legs out from under him.

Kai kept his sword aimed at Creed and snapped his wings out. The blue flame sliced the other demon in half before the demon had time to pull away.

“Now you are,” Kai said.

Creed leaped backward, putting some distance between them. “You know I got backup. What makes you think you stand a chance?”

Kai smirked. “You mean Uriah? Unless he’s feeling suicidal, he won’t be interfering in this fight. It’s too public.” Which was a shame, really. That’d be one way to convince Michael of the Archangel’s treachery.

“Or maybe he’ll slip inside and kill your women,” Creed suggested, curling his lips around his teeth in a taunting leer.

But Kai dismissed that notion, too. “Or maybe he’ll leave you to fight your own battle, like always.” Only with a different outcome. Kai was sick of letting Creed get away.

****

“Oh, my God,” Gwen exclaimed as she joined Belle, at Belle’s insistence, in the room off the kitchen. “It’s a warzone outside!”

“Unfortunately, yes,” Belle agreed, the weight of her angelic hilt heavy in her pocket. “Come sit on the bed.”

Gwen gave her a funny look, glancing down at Madelyne. It was true there was plenty of room for both of them, but Belle imagined Gwen didn’t understand the odd request. “Um, why? Is now a good time for healing? ’Cause I kinda doubt it…”

Belle moved, grabbed Gwen’s shoulders, and guided her to the bed. “Get comfy,” she ordered firmly. “With that many demons outside there’s a real chance one of us may get hurt. I’m taking what precautions I can
while
I can.”

Moving to stretch her legs out, her back against the headboard, Gwen said, “Okay, I hear that, but this is just … it doesn’t feel right, Belle. What if you exhaust yourself and Kai’s the one who winds up needing you?”

“This is what Kai does,” Belle assured her, hoping that hearing the words aloud would solidify them in her own heart. “I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve had to heal him after a big fight.” Granted, she had to consider that perhaps he’d always been too stubborn to come to the Clinic given their history, but she couldn’t afford to let herself think that way. She couldn’t afford to worry about circumstances outside her control when there was more than enough to keep her occupied with what she
could
control.

Gwen frowned at her as Belle climbed up and slipped awkwardly between Madelyne and Gwen. She’d never attempted this before but if ever there was a need it was now.

“How is this safe?” Gwen asked as Belle placed a hand over the top of her chest.

The comforting warmth of her power flowed through her, pouring out through her hands. One on Gwen’s chest, one on Madelyne’s. And for once she didn’t put a filter on her power. Double-duty meant she needed everything. Every last drop, but preferably not all at once. For a moment the warmth overwhelmed her, made her dizzy, but she released a slow breath through her nose and let it happen.

“Whoa,” Gwen mumbled, echoing the feeling in Belle’s chest.

“Too much?” Belle asked.

Gwen’s answer was delayed but confident. “No, no. It’s like… settling into hot water. It feels good now.”

Like settling into hot water.
She’d never visualized her power that way before, but over the decades she’d often found visualizing her power made managing it easier. So she pictured a large hot spring, pouring slowly and steadily into two smaller pools. Keeping them full but not overflowing. Keeping them
just
hot enough.

The dizziness eased and Belle drew another breath. She could do this. She could push both of the women beside her to heal faster without hurting them, the same way the flow and heat only polished and smoothed the stones of a natural spring. They lost none of their sturdiness and neither would her patients be harmed.

Just let the water flow.

****

Kai rolled, the sting of dark energy poison in his torso already fading, and brought his blade up in time to slice through the boulder hurtling toward his head. Creed was a dirty fighter when he wasn’t running away like a coward. But that didn’t surprise Kai. Most demons were dirty fighters. It was in their nature.

“I always wondered how old you are,” Creed declared, coming up behind Kai and sinking his re-fashioned claws into Kai’s wings.

It felt like someone had stabbed a hot, dull blade into his spine. Searing agony tore through him, and Kai drew blood, biting back his outcry. He ground his teeth, released his tongue, and shoved back with his body, careful not to move his wings. If Creed succeeded in ripping out even one wing, he was dead.

Creed laughed, stumbled, then dug deeper. “Looks like I finally got ya,” he said with an arrogant jeer. “Should I give your little Nephy a kiss goodbye for you?”

Belle.

“You’ll never touch her,” Kai said, his voice barely more than a growl, before he spun his sword around and blindly shoved it over his shoulder.

He got lucky. The blade bit into something solid and meaty, something that roused a painful cry from Creed moments before he released his hold on Kai’s wing.

A wounded wing was vulnerable in battle, so Kai tucked them both away, released his blade, and turned sharply in place. His sword was sticking out of Creed’s chest at an upward angle and blood trickled down the front of the tattered shirt.

Creed reached up with his remaining hand as if intending to remove the angel blade.

Kai leaped forward, planting the heel of his booted foot over the butt end of the hilt and pushing.

Time seemed to slow as Creed released a cry of pure agony. He stumbled and fell to his knees, giving Kai a brief glimpse of the bloodied tip of his sword protruding from Creed’s lower back. Creed lifted his red, dulling eyes in a failed attempt at a glare and Kai’s expression fell to stone. He may have hated this demon beyond any he’d known before, and he would be glad to be rid of him, but the moment of death was never a pleasant one.

Kai stepped forward, grasped the hilt, and tugged the sword free as his power rushed back over the blade.

The surge of pure energy was the final push and Creed’s body imploded in a burst of fiery, retched brimstone. When the scorch mark that always followed the demise of a demon appeared on the dirt Kai opted to leave it.

A foe worthy of his hatred was worth remembering.

****

She was depleting her power faster than she could regenerate it. A risk she’d known was unavoidable given the circumstances. The natural well of her energy was at less than half capacity. But her patients were responding well.
Both
of them. And the joy that brought her helped her energy to redouble on itself. It was hard to distinguish the specific details of their individual health, but she could tell they were faring well. Gwen was releasing occasional happy sounds of relaxation and seemed to be on the verge of falling asleep.