“Ok, let’s hear it.”
So we told her Nero’s carefully crafted story. She listened in silence.
When we were finished, she brushed the cookie crumbs from her hands and said bluntly, “I don’t believe it. Osiris Wardbreaker’s and Valiant’s remains do seem to confirm that at least part of your story is true. Remind me again why Wardbreaker’s only ashes.”
“The weapons,” Nero said.
“Right.” Nyx paused. “And the weapons?”
“Destroyed during the fight.”
“So, you expect me to believe that weapons forged in heaven and hell could be destroyed just like that?”
Nero said nothing. Neither did I. We’d both agree that it was best. Being a smart ass would just get us into trouble.
Nyx sighed. “Well, I suppose it’s for the best. I just hope those weapons don’t resurface.” She shot us a hard look. “Ok, now, we come to the fun part.”
That sounded ominous.
“I trust you both remember our last conversation together, so this shouldn’t come as a surprise,” she said. “The two of us cause trouble. Nonstop.” She glanced at me. “You are a bad influence on him.”
“Actually, he’s a bad influence on me, I think.”
Nero’s hand closed around my wrist.
Nyx’s eyes dipped to that gesture. “Going to throw yourself in front of her to protect her from my wrath?” she asked, amused.
“Thankfully, that doesn’t seem necessary.”
“Indeed not.” She looked from me to him, shaking her head in slow disbelief. “What am I going to do with you two?”
I wasn’t sure if that was a rhetorical question or an actual question. I went with the safe option and chose to keep my mouth shut.
“Nero, you should have just let Colonel Fireswift deal with her,” Nyx said.
“He certainly tried to deal with her.”
“What do you mean?”
“She nearly died under his command. From the Nectar.”
“A lot of people died that night or almost died,” Nyx pointed out.
“Because they weren’t ready for the Nectar. Not because their Nectar was laced with Venom.”
Surprise flashed in Nyx’s eyes. “Are you sure?”
“I tested her blood. Someone tried to poison Leda.” His brow arched.
“iI wasn’t Colonel Fireswift,” Nyx said, picking up on the implication. “That’s ridiculous. You are letting your feelings cloud your judgment. Colonel Fireswift is a loyal soldier of the Legion.”
“You know as well as I that his ambition defines him. It guides his actions. He would do whatever it takes to secure his legacy, his family’s legacy.”
“Enough, Nero. You two have never liked each other, but even he wouldn’t go that far.”
“I will be keeping my eye on him. And especially on her,” he said, intertwining his fingers with mine.
“That will soon be difficult,” replied Nyx. “Look, unofficially, off the record, you two did a great job. You kept the relics out of enemy hands, stopped a rogue angel and stopped a misguided pilgrim who had the power to destroy everything we’re working for. If you two hadn’t acted fast like you had, we might very well be at war right now. You did the right thing. You are strong, true, and resourceful. A bit too resourceful if what I hear from the paranormal soldiers stationed in town is true.” The corner of her mouth quirked up. “The Legion is lucky to have you.”
She pauses, giving them a hard look. “But officially, I can’t say any of that. You went out on your own, knowing that if you’d come to me, I would have told you to let Colonel Fireswift handle it. You two are trouble together. Explosive. I can’t have you at the same office together. I can’t have her under your command, Nero. So I’m doing the only thing I can.”
“I’m being moved,” I said glumly.
“No, you’re staying right where you are,” Nyx said to my surprise. She turned to Nero. “You are being moved. And I know just where to put you.” She gave him a long, hard look. “You’re being promoted. Congratulations, General.” She winked at him.
“Now,” she said, rising. “I expect to see you in my office in LA tonight, Nero, so we can discuss your next assignment.”
Then she rose and walked out the house. As soon as she was gone, my bedroom door creaked open and Damiel stepped into the living room.
“I couldn’t help but overhear,” he said.
“I have half a mind to kill him,” Nero muttered. “Or turn him over to Nyx.”
“You can’t bribe the First Angel into letting you stay in New York,” Damiel said.
“I can’t certainly try.” He looked at me. “I should have seen this coming, her promoting me to solve her problem.”
“Stop being cynical.”
“Such an attitude is necessary at the Legion.”
“Nyx is promoting you because she needs you,” I told him.
“I know. But she’s also getting rid of a problem.”
Damiel grabbed one of the cookies Nyx had been enjoying so much. “He’s right. By having you not under his command, she is allowing this lovely relationship to blossom.” He looked at Nero. “Assuming you can behave yourself and not try to save her at every opportunity. And assuming you survive the ceremony. Level ten is brutal.”
“As always, you give the best pep talks.”
“I can help you prepare,” Damiel offered.
“I don’t need your help.”
I made a note to get tips from Damiel. I was not going to lose Nero because he was too stubborn to accept help.
“Nyx is right, you know.” Damiel’s eyes shifted between me and Nero.
“About what?” Nero asked impatiently.
“It wasn’t Fireswift who poisoned Leda. He couldn’t have. Angels can’t get the Venom. But the gods can.”
Nero’s expression changed. He no longer looked anger. He looked scared. I’d never seen that expression on his face.
“What is it?” I asked him.
“He’s realized that I’m right. And what it means,” Damiel said.
I looked at Nero for clarification, but he didn’t say anything. So turned to Damiel instead. “What does it mean?”
“Best case scenario, one of the gods wants you dead.”
“That is the best case scenario?”
“Yes. When it comes to the gods, if you gain their attention, death is the best you can hope for. The other reason a god might have poisoned you to to test you.”
“Test me how?”
Damiel shrugged. “Maybe see how resilient you are. Or the god thinks you’re special and wants to figure out how, turn you into a weapon or a guinea pig. That happens all the time.”
“Stop talking now,” Nero said to his father, his voice dangerously quiet.
“You sure are on edge, Nero. Are you sure there isn’t something you want to get off your chest?” He glanced at me.
“I told you to stop.”
“I’m just trying to help.”
“No, you’re not.”
They stared at each other for what felt like an eternity. I felt like they were having a silent discussion, excluding her. Maybe they were speaking telepathically.
“Careful, old man. I can still throw you to the wolves,” Nero said finally.
Ok, now I was sure they’d been talking telepathically.