Page 31 of The Night Vision
“He is different, though. I can feel it.”
“Let me see,” Merlin said as he went to Niall and caught his chin, studying the younger man intently. “I have never encountered a nephilim but I would wager they were very similar to this,” he murmured as he studied Niall.
“No!” Smoak shook his head and laughed. “It doesn’t work like that. When a demon mates with a human you get a baby succubus or an incubus,” he reminded them.
“Ifthe human is capable of reproducing!” Nox shook his head at Smoak. “I warned you thatsomethingwould happen. That much exposure to magick will change Niall and it has to manifest in some way when you mate.”
“But why would he turn into a nephilim? I’m not an angel,” Smoak pointed out, making Merlin snicker.
“You most certainly aren’t but it would appear that your magick cannot alter the nature of Niall’s soul, only make it stronger,” he explained and Nox cheered.
“It’s better than that!” he said as he gave Niall’s hair an affectionate ruffle. “If Merlin’s right, you could absorb enough of Smoak’s magick to live for areallylong time. You might even gain a few of his powers.”
Niall shook his head. “I don’t want all of that. I’d like a long life with Cenn, but a longhumanlife. I don’t want to live for hundreds of years or forever.”
“Then you two should probably stop having so much sex and spend a lot less time together,” Merlin said slowly, causing Niall to draw back.
He chewed on his lip, still shaking his head. “I can’t live without Cenn and I don’t want to go back to being alone.”
“You won’t!” Smoak vowed, putting a possessive arm around him. “If they’re right, this could be a good thing. You get todecide how long we have, instead of worrying that your heart will stop or you’ll get sick.”
Merlin humphed in agreement. “You’re lucky this isn’t hurting you.” He cast a mournful look at Nox and sighed. “But we should keep a close eye on you in case something more ominous happens.”
“I like that idea,” Nox said as he nodded.
“I don’t. I’d like to leave,” Smoak interrupted but Nox flailed a hand, ignoring him.
“You can deal with the discomfort and I told you, you and I can work on that later. We have plenty of room and your timing is perfect. We’ve stumbled upon Hugh Dùbhghlas’s latest scheme and we could use a second opinion,” he told Smoak and the demon hitched a brow back at him.
“I told you before, I’m not taking sides in this feud.”
Nox held up his hands. “You don’t have to. But hypothetically speaking and just as an academic or an intellectual exercise… What doyouthink Dùbhghlas would do if he got his hands on an Ossor? A really strong one,” he added and Smoak whistled loudly as he honed in on Tighe and nodded.
“He could do a lot with a strong Ossor… But if I had to guess, Dùbhghlas would kill him and resurrect him into something that can fight a hellhound and that mutant pixie of yours.”
“Fuck!” Silas whispered and Smoak nodded.
“I’d be worried too and I’d keep him here, out of Dùbhghlas’s reach. How did you find him before Dùbhghlas? Your oracle?” he guessed but Nox pointed at Silas and Nelson.
“All Tony gave us was a vision of some remains in a stream to work with. Shelby found the location and gave Nelson enough to put out a BOLO for a missing hiker with Tighe’s description.”
Niall gasped. “That’s brilliant, Shelby!”
“It was,” Nox agreed and flashed Smoak a wide smile and batted his eyelashes. “I need a favor, Smoak.”
“No.” He shook his head, then stopped when Niall turned and gave him a threatening look.
“Nox welcomed us into his home and they’rehelpingus.”
They stared each other down for several moments before Smoak threw up his hands. “Fine. I’llconsider it.” He raised his brows at Nox and gestured for him to explain.
“Team work makes the dream work!” he said as he pumped his fists. “I need you to spy on Dùbhghlas for me. You know where he is and you can get to him by dead air and listen without him seeing you or you can send one of your minions,” he suggested.
Smoak snorted and waved dismissively. “That’s barely a favor. I’ve been ignoring your nemesis’s trials, tribulations, and machinations, but I can see what he’s been up to. I have eyes and ears all around him.”
“A wise move on your part, Lord Smoak,” Nox said sweetly, earning a bored huff.
“Just a moment,” Smoak said as he held up a finger and his dreamy green eyes turned solid black.
