“A poacher’s move. What human will fight you in a tree?” Lark shoved Jett’s hands away. “Some humans will be dumb enough to fight you, thinking they have a shot in hell of winning. They do, if there are enough of them. But their goal is to get by you. If I’d been a poacher, you would’ve just given me a shot at the archangels, and look how far I got.”
Damn it.
“Your role is defensive. You’re a shield, an impenetrable wall. You do not let them get by you. Period.”
“I get it.”
Lark nodded, tossed his blade in the air, and caught it, as he often did in thought. “We’ll drill hand to hand again tomorrow night.” He checked the time on his cell. “I’m going back to patrol now, and you’re coming with me.”
They made their way through the woods. When they neared the archangel house, Lark let out a series of shrill whistles. Devin jumped down from a tree, nodded, and left.
“I don’t understand why Devin isn’t the family’s second dedicated Guardian,” Jett said.
“As Ginger’s adoptive father, Devin is in a difficult, unprecedented position.” Lark led them toward a towering oak tree behind the house. “He’s capable and he’s trusted. Unofficially, he guards the family with as much care as I do. He’s an extra set of eyes and ears, greatly adding to the family’s security. But, realistically, he needs to be kept out of harm’s way. He’s supposed to stay inside with the rest of them in an emergency.”
“Not to be cold, but he isn’t an archangel. We protect them because the species has been nearly wiped out, yes?”
“Yes, but Devin’s death would cause them—particularly Ginger—grief. Unacceptable.”
“Our job is to keep them safe,” Jett said.
“It’s more than that.”
“They’d also grieve for you.”
“True enough.” Lark paused at the base of the tree, his hand on the thick bark. “For decades after I became Raphael’s Guardian, I keep my distance for that reason. I rarely spoke to him. I didn’t want to be anything more to him than a bodyguard. But Raphael doesn’t trust easily. He needed to know me to trust me, and the unease I caused him was intolerable.”
Jett scoffed. “At least I’m not alone in being too damned sentimental. I never expected it from you.”
Lark frowned and stared at the sky. “Have you asked yourself why you came here? Why you couldn’t just leave Raphael in our hands and go on about your business? Why you’re ‘too damned sentimental’?”
“Every fucking day.”
Lark got out his cell and asked Devin to come back. After hanging up, he said, “To explain properly, I need to take you to meet someone. It’s not what I had planned for tonight, but it’s as good a time as any.”
Post-midnight darkness enriched the forest as they traversed the main path. Lark took them all the way into the center of the colony and knocked on the door of one of the residence buildings.
As they waited, Jett stared over his shoulder, every muscle in his body tense. Dozens of demons congregated outside the buildings, the red demon-fire lanterns giving the scene a festive appearance. One group of demons clustered around a food-covered table. Another group played a rough version of football. In front of the residence buildings, some demons gardened, some stood around and chatted, and some tended to repairs on a roof. More gathered farther down the path at the market.
“I don’t belong here.” The words slipped before Jett could stop them.
Lark had lifted his hand to knock again, but paused. “Beg pardon?”
Shaking his head, Jett swept his hand out to indicate the bustling colony. “Lawrence spent a lot of time schooling me, all subjects, because he assessed my intelligence as part of his studies. He insisted he provided me with a better home than my parents would have because demons were ‘vicious animals.’”
Lark smiled, the expression savage, showing off his fangs. “Oh, but we are! I slaughtered six human men a couple weeks ago when the colony was attacked. I tortured one for information. I’m a vicious beast.”
“He described demons as most humans would recognize them. Hell, Satan, all that crap. He said my parents would have eventually eaten me.”
“Eaten you?” Lark leaned against the door and laughed.
“I’m serious.”
All humor gone from his tone, Lark said, “Clearly you know every word was bullshit.”
“Raphael was my first insight into reality, and I’ve been observing the truth for the last eleven months. But, for most of my life, my reality was that I was a thing of evil. These civilians were raised by nice parents in nice homes. I don’t belong with them. It’s like I carry a taint with me, an ugliness that I don’t want anywhere near them.”
“Those are your protective instincts talking, the very ones we’re here to discuss. Don’t confuse that with thinking there is actually anything wrong with you. What about Lexine?”
Jett met the other male’s gaze. “Part of me thinks I should stay away from her, too. But I just can’t help myself.”
Lark’s lips twitched. “You’re not going to taint her, idiot. But if she taints you, you’ll be better for it.” A pause. “You do realize, as a Guardian to the archangels, you’re not going to have much time to offer her. We don’t make good mates.”
“What the fuck?” Jett stared. “Your voice just hitched.”
“No, it didn’t.”
“It certainly did! You had a girl?”
“Fuck off.” Lark knocked on the door a second time. “It’s none of your damned business.”
“But—”
Lark hissed.
The door opened, spilling the crimson light of a lantern at their feet. A demon female with red braided hair stepped back, inviting them inside.
“Hello, Cinnamon,” Lark said. They settled in a tiny living room, and Lark made the introductions.
“Please, call me Minnie.” The female shook Jett’s hand. She sat, stiff, clutching a steaming mug.
“We won’t stay long, Minnie,” Lark said. “When we spoke the other day, you agreed to give Jett a demonstration. Are you still okay with that?”
“It’s no problem.” A tiny smile lit her face.
“Thank you.” Lark turned to Jett. “You’re aware, of course, that the majority of the demons alive today were born on earth, but we originally came here from someplace else?”
“Yes. Like the archangels, they seemed to fall from the sky.”
“Exactly. Minnie is the only demon currently living in Sanctuary who wasn’t born on earth. She fell.”
Minnie fidgeted. “I woke up in the forest that day. I don’t remember anything from before that. I knew things, though. I could speak. I used a fork as if I’d done it before. And, of course, I could do this.”
She set her mug down, leaned forward, and leveled an unfocused gaze on Jett.
“What—” His question died on his lips as a profound sense of calm washed over him, like those few blissful seconds after waking from a deep sleep in a comfortable bed. He stretched and leaned back in his chair, shutting his eyes.
Ah, yes. He had to get one of these chairs. He could fall asleep right here, or read a good book. Better yet, he could pull Lexine into his lap and make love to her. Leisurely, thoroughly. They could fall asleep together, curled up in this chair.
It seemed like he was forgetting something important, something urgent. Did he have something to be angry about? He’d be damned if he could think of what it was. Oh, well. First a nap.
Wait, was someone crying? He opened his eyes. The girl, Minnie, held her head in her hands, her body shuddering with sobs.
“Enough, Minnie,” Lark said.