Angelic Sight (15 page)

rather than later.

“You okay?” Jade asked as Levi thumbed through the menu. It all looked like random stuff to him because there were no explanations for what the items were for
. I guess you actually have to know what you’re looking for when you come in
.

The cops came in then, and Zeke went to meet them. Levi supposed that they would file yet another report. Brax was obviously relaxing because he fished his phone from his pocket. Levi leaned into his shoulder as he started playing Angry Birds.

“Here are the three charms that we have ready made. I can get something custom ordered for the nephilim, but it’s going to take a few weeks,” Rayl said, returning from the room behind the bar. In his fist dangled three black cords with a turquoise, orange, and black stone on each. “The onyx has been dipped in the pit, and it’s going to have the most repelling kit, might make the nephilim sick though, forewarning. I’ve had a couple nephilim who just can’t handle hell stone. The orange is sunstone. It’s a little less powerful than the onyx, but it will burn the hell out of any enemy who touches him. The blue is straight from the heavens, dipped in the fountain of knowledge, and sealed with a demon repellant used by soldiers in Archangel Michael’s army.”

When Rayl switched into sales mode, it was an interesting flip from the growling bartender he’d played the moment before. It made Levi wonder exactly which person was real and which was the mask. He tilted his head and examined the vibrant green aura that was freckled with gold. Neither face was exactly right.

“What are the prices?” Jade asked. “We have two nephilim, but if we can’t afford to outfit both of them, we will settle for one.”

Rayl shrugged. “A vision from an Oracle would act as adequate payment to outfit both your nephilim with charms as well as the books you seek regarding your Oracle and the role of his Keepers.”

Levi shifted uneasily. What did a vision entail? He didn’t have any control over what he was seeing, and he had yet to make any real predictions that would mean much to a former demon lord. He looked at his lovers. They looked just as perplexed as he did.

“It doesn’t entail much from your Oracle. We’d have to hold hands, but that would be the extent of it.” Still they stared at the bartender blankly. Rayl frowned. “You all know next to nothing about him. I suppose that’s a good reason to want those books. He can call up visions if he touches someone. That’s why he gets overwhelmed if he is around too many people. Oracles are delicate things, too fragile for the outside world for the most part. The last Oracle I met in Babylon was confined exclusively to the harem of his lover, a big angel named Marcellus. He worked by appointment only. You’d do well to follow the example and move him somewhere that the energies of your neighbors won’t saturate his space and send him into dreams that could last months. It’ll do him good to do minor predictions to hone his mental fortitude, though. Anyway, the way it works it pretty simple. He’ll take my hand and draw my life energy toward him. If he concentrates on the ends of it, he should be able to

see an event or a choice that, if made correctly, will bring me fortune. That will be ample payment enough.”

Axis made a noise of displeasure and crossed his arms over his massive chest. He wouldn’t be happy with anything that he felt exploited Levi or his powers. Jade didn’t say anything either, but he did send Rayl a calculating look. He was probably trying to figure out his motivation.

“A fortune from an Oracle is worth more than two charms,” Levi

said before he could stop himself. He wasn’t sure why he was saying the words, but he knew that he had to say them. Being driven by forces beyond his control was becoming almost normal for him. The thought was wry. It would’ve been comical had it not been so absolutely true.

Rayl’s eyes flared, respect simmering in their depths. “Ah, so it is.

I will also have some charms made custom to be delivered in a few

weeks’ time. How is that, Oracle?”

A calm filled the nephilim as he saw the correct path. “Call me Levi. This won’t be the first time you ask us for a favor.”

The demon grinned. “Then it must be so, Levi. Are my terms acceptable?”

“Fetch the four books we need and get the purple charm you’ve got in back that you didn’t bring out and give it to my lovers. Give the sun charm to Erik.” Levi pointed to his fellow nephilim. Rayl fingered the orange charm in his fist and considered him. “Take it or leave it, Rayl. Anything else is unfair and you know it.”

Finally he tossed the charm to a still-stunned Erik. “Sorry, Oracle. You can’t blame a demon for trying.”

Levi smiled. “I don’t, but if you ever try to screw with my lovers again, I will take your future and twist it into something most unpleasant.”

The demon nodded and stood. “I’ll be right back.”

“Are you sure, Levi?” Erik asked.

“Levi, I don’t know if it is best. We know very little of your visions, and trusting a demon is never something you want to do,” Axis added before Levi could say anything.

“The commander is right, angel. Demons are”—Brax wrinkled his nose—“unsavory beings.”

“He’s different, not without a sense of honor,” Levi said. “He

deals with all creatures equally, which is more than I can say about most angels we’ve encountered.” He paused, feeling the situation. “I wasn’t sure of what was right before. I see what we’re supposed to do. I can use it.”

I can use it to help us
. He finally found a way to take care of his lovers, so he was going to learn everything he could in order to achieve that goal. They had risked their lives in order to protect him. He was going to do everything in his power to repay that

debt. He looked around the tables at his lovers and the humans who

had accompanied them.

“I love you all very much,” he said to the table. The Elites and Erik gave him their undivided attention. “I never knew what it was like to love like this. It’s only been a few weeks for some of you”—he nodded to his new lovers—“and some a few years. But all of you have become infinitely precious to me. I hope that in the future I can give you all the joy you give me.”

A quietness settled over the table as Levi finished speaking. He hoped he hadn’t spoken out of turn. He knew that it was really soon to exchange the I-love-yous, but they were mates. There wasn’t a time limit on love.

“And we love you, Levi,” Keer said, his voice firm and steady despite being filled with emotion.

“I second that sentiment,” Jade murmured, his eyes blazing.

Brax shifted, his eyes glued to his game. “You know I love you. Everyone ought to know I love them.” The mutter made Levi smile. IT was so sweet.

“And I love our family and all its members as well,” Axis said.

“Oh my God,” Becka interjected, rolling her eyes. “You guys are so sweet you make my teeth hurt. We get it, everyone loves everyone else. Is there a place where a girl can get a harem of her own in this town? Seriously. There is an overabundance of gorgeous, love-struck males around here, and I want in on it.”

“Becka!” Christian said, looking scandalized. “I’m so sorry, guys.”

Levi just laughed, winking at his loved ones. “We’ll continue this later.”

“Damn straight we will,” Erik rumbled. Levi turned his attention to Rayl as he came back into the room.

“I think this is just what you had in mind, Levi,” the bartender said. Levi watched as Rayl handed the things they needed to Axis before turning his attention back to Levi.

“Let’s do this,” Levi said, offering his hand. Today was the beginning of a new age for Levi and the rest of his lovers. He considered his thought. No. It was a new age for the whole world. The time for the nephilim was rising, and change was in the air. Levi drew the energy from Rayl’s hand and pitched his mind toward the future. It looked bright.

End of Book 2: Angelic Sight

To be continued in

Book 3: Angel Awakening

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jana Downs lives in the beautiful mountains of western North

Carolina with three cats, one dog, several dozen fish, and a very understanding partner in crime who hates to read but makes exceptions for her stories.

You can usually find her either watching bad reality TV, buying way too many books on Amazon, or dreaming up another man or two to occupy her time, because life is good, but several drop-dead gorgeous, nonexistent men is just better.