“The guest room closest to mine is made up, so we’ll be sharing a bathroom, if you don’t mind. Not that you need to shower or anything,” Cass laughed, turning and starting to walk towards the stairs. “I know angels and demons have fun powers, but hot, steamy showers are pretty amazing, and even you lot ought to enjoy them now and again,” he called over his shoulder. “And we didn’t really eat dinner, because I was snacking at the shop and ate a late lunch, but I can cook something if you’re hungry.”
Kushiel muttered a “No thanks” to food then followed Cass, feeling vaguely flabbergasted. He was staying over? Why was he staying over?
“I have great towels, too. Soft and plush. Bath sheets, they call them. There’s actually a tub with jets if you really want toenjoy the pleasures of mortal flesh,” Cass joked, starting up the stairs.
Kushiel followed, and he was glad that Cass wasn’t facing him, because he blushed at the last line. Pleasure of the mortal flesh made him think of something other than hot baths, and following Cass up the steps and seeing a view of his backside did not help matters.
Cassius had a lovely backside.
Not that Kushiel should be thinking about such things. And that wasn’t because he was an angel—he knew some angels who partook of pleasure more exuberantly than some demons. Not that he was totally angelic anymore, anyway. It was just that he had a job to do.
It had also been a really long time since he’d partaken in any sort of pleasures. Angels certainly weren’t approaching him, and demons tended to think that angels were stuffy. Of course he had demon friends, but he wouldn’t risk their friendship with anything that might make things… awkward.
He almost bumped into Cass, who had stopped near the end of the upstairs hallway. Cass turned to look at him, and Kushiel couldn’t help it, he blushed again.
Cass didn’t say anything, though, he just waved his arm towards the open doorway.
Kushiel entered and noted a four poster bed with a light blue, plush comforter, a dresser, a nightstand, and a rather soft looking rug. There were two doors in the room as well, one which probably led to a closet, and another which must lead to the shared bathroom.
Kushiel looked at Cass, who smiled softly at him from just inside the doorway. “I know you can just magic up some sweats or something to sleep in, but you’re welcome to anything I have, although my pants will probably be a bit short on you. Helpyourself to any food or drink downstairs as well if you want something.”
Cass waited a moment, then he turned to go, but Kushiel was suddenly a little desperate to not lose sight of him.
“What about the soul? The ghost, I mean?” Kushiel asked, realizing as he said it that it was a question he probably should have asked sooner.
“Ah. It’s here already,” Cass said. “It came in as soon as you entered the room. Does that bother you?”
“No. Not at all. I think I will rest easier knowing that it is here with me. Perhaps I am familiar.” Kushiel hoped so, at least.
Cass smiled again, and Kushiel thought how sweet and kind that smile was.
“Thank you,” Kushiel murmured.
“You’re welcome. I’m right next door if you need me,” Cass answered, and then he was gone, the door shutting behind him.
Kushiel sat on the bed, and it was amazingly soft. He laid on it then, wondering when the last time he had actually rested was. Not since he had found the mountain empty, and he wasn’t sure how long before that.
He felt the presence of the soul next to him, and the weight of it was familiar and comforting. “I will not fail you, lost one,” he murmured.
He knew he needed to think of a plan of action, but his thoughts were distracted by the thoughtfulness and kindness of Cass. The bed was soft, the weight of the lost soul was like a warm presence curled up next to him, and he felt more at peace than he had since Erebus. He closed his eyes, determined to think of what to do next, only the darkness behind his eyelids lulled him into rest.
Chapter 9
Cassius
Cassius stared at the door to the guest room that he’d just shut. He was strangely hesitant to walk away and head to his own room, even though exhaustion was pulling at him. He had been up very early and it had been a long day.
There was just something about Kushiel that tugged at him.
Cass had known a lot of demons and angels. Granted, he probably knew more demons than angels. Demons were always mucking about in this town; Cass thought of them like toddlers who were running around without parental supervision and causing minor messes. Sure, they might color all over the walls and leave their toys all over the place, but they rarely caused catastrophic damage, and they were kind of cute in their exuberance.
Still, he’d met his fair share of angels over the years as well. As a whole, afterlifers tended to be confident and self-assured. At their first meeting, Kushiel had seemed to be a swaggering afterlifer just like all the rest. He’d mistaken Cass’s offer to help for flirting—which, ok, Cass could admit it had sounded that way when he looked back.
Yet the more he got to know Kushiel, the more he saw something else. There was a strange nervousness and lack ofconfidence in the angel. Yes, Cass knew that he looked different from most angels with his black wings, his dark hair, and his gray skin. He also recognized that most angels were not able to enter hell, and yet Kushiel could.
He had never met an angel or demon with self-esteem issues, but he could understand where perhaps Kushiel was the exception. Angels in particular seemed like they wouldn’t welcome much in the way of differences, although the shining light of Kushiel’s soul should be clear to anyone. How could they not flock to him with all that brightness inside?
Still, there was more to it than feeling self-conscious about his appearance. Kushiel jerked away from touch, and that more than anything pinged alarm bells in Cass’s head. It was like Kushiel expected Cass’s anger in response to his jerking away, too.
