Page 16 of The Nephilim's Touch
“Too bad. I think I already am.” Gabe slams a hand over his mouth and groans. “Me and my big mouth.”
“I like your pretty mouth.”
Gabe’s blush flushes his cheeks as he turns on his heel and starts walking.
“Hey, whatever you are, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”
“I’m not embarrassed. But you’ve already said you’re not into humans, so I shouldn’t?—”
“Angel, you’re not human. I can tell that much. But I’m not liking whatever shenanigans you have going on that keeps your true self hidden away.” Not at all. I wave my hand through his aura and it doesn’t tell me the complete story either.
“I’m half human. Dad’s side. I’m not ashamed of it or him. He was an amazing dad. And?—”
“Gabe. What are you?”
“You don’t like that Ethan guy and he’s human.”
“I have beef with humans because they toy with people’s hearts. I will admit that Ethan’s a good kid. Or adult. Whatever.” I roll my eyes. “Also, think about it. I’ll probably think no one is good enough for Wick. And right now, yes, I am irritated at Ethan for running away.” Though I know full well, he was head over heels puppy love in love with my brother when he disappeared. There’s definitely magic involved, but a demon and a witch, even a born witch, don’t belong together. Witches just don’t live long and we demons are practically eternal once we’re born. I scratch at the device in my chest and frown. I sign and my shoulders drop. “It’s okay if you don’t wanna tell me.”
“It’s… not that. Most people avoid me. They get this feeling or something that I’m different. It was so hard making friends before. Hex is… paradise. Everyone’s accepted me and?—”
“I accept you as you are. I just don’t like unsolved mysteries and you’re a mystery.” My eyes brush over him, taking in every sweet feature. That strange halo effect is back, but I can just be imagining it. Then there’s a dark shadow looming over him, but I can’t make out the shape. It’s like a pair of huge black feathered wings, and it dawns on me. “You’re a nephilim.”
“Yeah.” Gabe’s gaze drops to the ground, and he scuffs at the road with the tip of his shoe.
“Gabe.” He doesn’t look at me, and I use my tail to tip his chin up, but he still refuses. “Outside of Hex, no one understood what the heck they were feeling around you. I’m not sure when you sealed everything away, but Hex is the best place to let yourself free. No one will give you grief here.No one.” And if they do, I’ll gladly take any punishment Poe might want to dole out when I break the rules to teach someone a lesson.
“I know.” He grins at me as he finally makes eye contact again. “I just… I don’t knowhowto be a nephilim. I can use my magic, but I taught myself from the internet.”
My mouth drops open. “No. No, no no no no no no nono. You never ever ever evereverlearn magic from the internet. Humans have no idea what true magic is. So you’re probably?—”
Gabe lifts his hands where his fingertips glow and spark white light. “I used magic to get you inside my apartment, so humans must knowsomething.”
“Of course they’ll get something right every time. But—” I shiver at the idea of using human knowledge for magic. “No. I’m teaching you magic. Magic and sex. Oh, maybe sex magic!”
Gabe’s grin grows bigger. “I still haven’t agreed to the sex part, but I’ll take the magic lessons for sure.”
“Angel, I’ll woo you into those sex lessons.” I blow him a kiss, but if he really doesn’t want sexy lessons, I’ll drop it. “Now, where is that magic shop?”
Gabe picks up speed the closer we get to The Magic Shop. That’s literally what it’s called. The Magic Shop.
“The Owner is so nice, I really like him,” Gabe says and a sprig of jealousy tries to bloom from my heart. It takes everything in me not to bare my teeth and growl even though the two of us met mere days ago.
The red script is a little hard on the eyes, but whatever. The strip mall seems like a weird place to me. I feel like a shop like this should be in one of the old houses that line the main road into Hex, but what do I know?
“Back so soon?” A tall guy with a black silk top hat says as soon as Gabe bursts through the door. The intense scent of incense knocks me in the face and I stumble back a few paces before getting my bearings.
“Yep, and brought a friend this time.” Gabe practically sparkles with excitement. His entire body glows just like Lark’s wings. I don’t think I’ve met a nephilim before, so I don’t know if they normally glow when they’re happy or if Gabe is just special. Of course we all joke that Wick’s part angel because he has feathered wings, but who knows who his father is?
“The missing demon,” Top Hat Guy says.
“That’s me. Evil killer just trying to keep people safe.” My hands fist and my tail curls like one, too. The more I think about the Drake situation, the more angry I get. I shouldn’t have to be punished for protecting those I’ve claimed as mine. Hex is ahaven, and Drake spoiled it with his ill intentions. My tail flicks and catches flame.
“Van?” Gabe’s voice snaps me out of my haze of irritation and I quash out the flames with my mind.
“Didn’t call you evil, nor a killer.”
“Right. Sorry. Thoughts got away with me.” I bow with a theatric flourish. “I’m Vanderburgh.”
