Page 109 of Lust

“No weapons.” Gabriel brandished her tablet. “And the Nephilim lives.”

“Nephilim are an abomination,” Chris choked out.

“Bullshit,” Ramiel snapped, then blithely ignored that he’d expressed pretty much the same opinion earlier when he said, “They are rare and unknown, but that does not make them dangerous.”

“I saw her during the altercation downstairs. She’s strong, and she’s fast.” Chris glared at Wrath. “Wrath confirms it. He says she goes into a fighting rage. That makes her dangerous.”

“Only to you.” Shade’s low voice was loaded with menace. “And only if you so much as blink in her direction.”

“Let’s all remain civil,” Gabriel murmured, not looking up from her tablet.

“And you.” Chris rounded on Dee. “You can consider yourself struck from the council.”

Dee snorted and folded her arms. “You can’t do that. I was born into guardianship, and I will stay right where I please.” She closed on him with a vicious expression. “Why don’t we talk about how you hounded my daughter and forced me to place my granddaughter in hiding.”

“Rosabella was hounded?” Wrath’s wings whooshed out again, and death beamed from his eyes. “By this worm.”

“Put those away.” Ramiel spat black and red feathers as he struggled around Wrath’s wingspan.

“Gabriel?” Another gorgeous male angel sauntered into the greenroom. “I have the reports you requested on activity to this hell gate.”

Did anyone in heaven or hell have so much as a minor skin blemish?

Tall, broad, and muscular—ho hum, weren’t they all—with copper skin and piercing light gray eyes, his bone structure seemed to be carved out of glass. Sensual, pillowy lips stretched into a polite smile as he nodded to her. “Good afternoon. I am called Raguel.”

“Raguel!” Shade smiled and clapped the newcomer on the back. “Gabriel keeping you locked in that mausoleum of hers?”

Raguel blushed, adorably it might be added. “I am happy to serve my archangel. Always.” The glance he sent Gabriel’s way should have set the archangel’s panties aflame, and Eddie got the impression Raguel would like to serve Gabriel in all sorts of ways.

Holding out her hand for his report, Gabriel behaved as if he wasn’t standing there. “And have we any more information on the demon incursion on earth?”

“What demon incursion?” Chris shot to his feet.

Dee stepped up and cold cocked him.

Guardians surged for her.

Wrath, Shade, and Raguel closed ranks in front of her.

“I think you owe her that one,” Shade drawled. “For all you’ve put her through.”

“I can’t believe you condoned what Dee just did.” Gabriel finally looked up to scowl at Shade. “You are putting this entire operation in jeopardy with your impulsive actions.” She sneered. “Although I can hardly expect more from a hell prince.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” A hell prince with shoulder length, raven dark hair and amber eyes loomed over Gabriel.

It occurred to Eddie that she should be paying attention to the other occupants of the greenroom, but it was all too overwhelming.

“Calm down, Zeb.” A dark-haired beauty with onyx eyes and a swagger to match her leather breastplate put her hand on his arm. “You know what they’re like.” She rolled her eyes. “Judgy.”

“We are not—”

“Sanctimonious pricks,” someone else shouted.

And it was on.

Wings flared, feathers flew, weapons appeared in hands, and there was shouting, lots and lots of shouting. Voices bounced off the walls and made Eddie’s head ache. They were going to bust the entire theatre apart if this carried on. And Eddie had had enough. She channeled her best Wrath energy and bellowed. “Enough!”

The mirror behind the sofa shattered, and glass rained down on stunned archangels and hell princes.

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