Page 33 of The Nephilim's Touch
“Awe, girl. I missed you, too.” Van drops to his knees and takes all the slobbering, flaming kisses the Hellhound gives him. Despite his magic being gone, her lava like saliva doesn’t affect him.
When she’s done with him, Frankie makes her way to me and boops me a few times with her nose as she extinguishes the flames from her ears so I can pet her head. “Sweet Frankie. Are you having a good day?” I ask and she boops me a few more times. We discovered months ago I can’t handle her saliva. At least not yet. I have to wonder if I broke the magic sealing away my wings and my full abilities if she wouldn’t affect me. “Okay, I gotta get ready for my shift. But I’ll come play with you when I can.”
She yips and barks before running in circles and dashing back to her favored couch to chew on her toy again.
Pike laughs. “She knows your schedule and gets sad when you’re not here.”
“I miss her, too.” I wrap my half apron around my waist and start with my prep. I haven’t been to work since Van fell into my life and I’m anxious to get back to it.
“You charm every person and creature you meet, don’t you?” Van asks. He takes me in as if he’s never seen me before.
“Everyone deserves kindness, and that’s how I strive to live.” I slice into the first lime of the night with him watching my every move.
Warwick slams back another shot of HellFire, and Van sighs.
“How much have you had to drink already?” he asks his brother.
“None of your business.”
“I just.” Van wipes at his face. “I wish I could help you. I wish I could snatch Ethan back from his family for you, but he’s unobtainable.”
Wick pounds his fist on the countertop. “Don’t you think I know that? I try everything I can find just to get a glimpse of him, and yet every effort is thwarted by his bitch of a grandmother. Everyone says Cordia’s the best thing for Hex since the founding leaders, but they don’t know what she does for power. It’s almost as bad as Drake tethering Lark’s soul to him.”
We all tense and Lark lets out a small chuckle as he waves his hand around. “And Pike freed me from the soul tether. I’m sure one day you’ll find your Ethan and live happily ever after.”
“Exactly,” I say. “If there’s anything you think I can help with, let me know.” I reach out to squeeze Warwick’s hand before remembering I’m covered in lime juice now. “Anything.”
Wick gives me a lopsided grin, then looks at his brother with a scowl. “Do not hurt this man like you do all the others.” My heart aches. What happened to the others?
Van growls. “Idon’t hurt them. They’ve all been one-night stands, or several night stands and don’t understand leaving me alone afterwards.”
I go back to my limes. Van’s different with me, I just know it. He wants to be a better person and I can help him. I think so anyway.
Wick rolls his eyes. “Sure, tell yourself that, Van. Yev was at my place fordaysafter you rejected him.”
“Yev? I have no idea who the fuck Yev is.”
“Exactly!” Wick shouts. “You can’t keep treating people like they’re disposable.”
“I don’t treat people like that.” Van’s tail rattle snakes behind him and I’m surprised he doesn’t stomp his foot.
“Wick,” Pike says, getting the demon’s attention. “I think you’ve had enough HellFire for now. Go sit with Frankie and sober up before you start saying things you’ll regret.”
“I haven’t said anything I’ll regret.” Wick slides off his chair and sulks over to Frankie, who barks a happy little bark and pounces into his lap.
Van stands staring after his brother, fists clenched. “I don’t treat people like that. I don’t.”
“Van,” Pike says his name as if to contradict Van’s words.
“I don’t mean to.” Van turns. “I’ll see you at the end of your shift, Gabe. If that’s okay?”
“You don’t have to leave,” I say.
“I do. I need to.” Van runs a hand down his face. “Or I might start a fight.”
“Whatever you need to do.”
Van nods and leaves the bar.
