Angel Kin (6 page)

“Clear,” they said in unison. Madigan let a reluctant excitement  fill him. He needed to look at things in a positive light. They were  moving, starting over in a new place, but they were also moving as a  family. That meant something. Their first home together. Hell, it was  Madigan’s first home ever.

“After dinner, you want to check out the real estate online?”  Madigan wondered as he mopped up his belly and made his men  move so he could gather up the second pair of sheets they’d soiled  today.

Cross’s eyebrows drew down in a frown. “I don’t know if they’ll  have listings, but you’re welcome to try.” He considered for a  moment. “I would really like a finished basement, somewhere where  we could relax in relative safety without having to worry about  anything else.”

“A library wouldn’t be amiss, either.” Yuri added his request to  the conversation.

“Workout room,” Bren and Dex said in unison.

Madigan grinned. “And a big kitchen.” His smile faltered. “What about a bedroom? There is no way that we’ll find one big enough.”

Dex stretched his arms above his head, stretching out the muscles of his back like he always did after sex. “Get a two story. We’ll knock

down some walls upstairs and renovate the space so that it’s all one

room. Piece of cake.”

“Your father has given us plenty of money to do anything we wish  to with the new place, Madigan,” Cross assured. “Don’t worry about  anything but what you want and let us worry about the logistics.”

It would be nice not having to worry about money or danger or a  million other things that he knew were normal concerns for a man  when buying a home with his lovers. Most of all, he was happy that  maybe they’d get a chance at really finding peace with one another. If  only they could get there…

* * * *

The next morning, the feel of moisture in the air signaled a cold rain. Though the number of bags they had to carry out to the car was few, it seeped into their clothing and dampened their skin. They’d have to fly low to maintain any sort of visibility of the car. It was not what Cross wanted to deal with, and it was far from ideal, but his

choices were limited. He could call the whole thing off and wait until  Thursday for better conditions, or he could just push ahead. Calling  the whole thing off didn’t seem like a good option with the news that  the hunters were scheming so close to home. Of course, in this  weather, flying would be more difficult, and Cross’s stamina, while  better than Yuri’s, was not at full strength yet. He was stuck firmly  between a rock and a hard place.

“You can ride in the car with them if you need to,” Dex offered,  reading his mind as he looked from the vehicle to the skyline and  back again. Cross’s largest lover had been turned into a nurturer these  past few weeks, caring for them all as they nursed their own particular  ailments. His strength amazed Cross.

He looked toward the SUV that was a veritable tank in

comparison to Madigan’s former vehicle. But still, the idea of being  behind the wheel again…He swallowed hard at the thought. Anxiety

speared him. The idea of being trapped inside the hunk of metal again  made his insides writhe like snakes in a pit of coals.

“No,” he said at last. “I’ll fly with the rest of you. I’ll be of better  use in the air.” He hoped he would anyway. What if he couldn’t keep  up? The idea chilled him. He’d never been so aware of his own  weaknesses.

Dex’s firm hand landed on his shoulder. “You will persevere,  Cross. You are our leader and can do nothing else.” The faith in Dex’s voice calmed him. It was a balm to his soul. He’d felt like he’d failed

to protect his men last week. To know that they still looked to him for  guidance restored a little of his faith in himself.

The front door opened and shut again, drawing his attention to the  entryway. Bren came out carrying two bags of Madigan’s things and  right on his heels was Madigan and the other two nephilim carrying  boxes of something.

“What is all that?” Cross asked, pointing to the things that they  were carrying. Madigan gave him a sheepish grin.

“They’re my kitchen equipment. Levi and Erik still want me to do  their wedding cake, and I can’t very well do it without my stuff. I’d  love to get my stuff from the bakery, but I know I won’t have room.  So you’ll have to deal with the four boxes of kitchen tools.” Madigan  seemed to be in better spirits now that they were moving from the  house. His good mood did seem a little forced, but Cross suspected  that it was only because worry was straining Madigan’s otherwise  positive personality.

“Is it necessary?” he asked, eyeing the back of the SUV as Bren  put the last bag in the trunk portion. It would be a tight fit to get the  rest of everything inside.

“It is definitely necessary,” Madigan said, giving him that same  soft smile that was designed to break down Cross’s defenses. It  worked every time.

“Well, if you want it to come with, you’re going to have to find  room for it so that everyone can still ride semicomfortably. You, Levi,

Erik, Yuri, and Bren need to be able to fit,” Cross lectured as his lover

opened the back door and started fiddling with the levers in the very

back set of seats.

“Since there are two rows of seats, I figured I’d just put the back  row down and put the boxes there. That way Levi, Erik, and I can sit  in the back seat while Yuri and Bren can take the front. We’re less

visible that way.” Madigan grunted as he hauled up the box and slid it  into the space he’d made in the back. “We’re lucky we’re not packing  too much. Otherwise this might’ve been a pain.”

“You’re lucky you had more stuff to pack. We lost everything.”  Levi’s forlorn voice interrupted Madigan’s mild complaints. The little  nephilim sighed, a pained expression on his face. “I wish we  would’ve had time to get more of our things when we left. I’m just  glad Marius was able to get Miss Kitty back.”

“No worries, angel,” Erik said, wrapping an arm around Levi’s  shoulders. “We’ll get new things when we get to sanctuary.”

“Oh! I just had an awesome idea!” Madigan said suddenly, nearly  bouncing with excitement as he slid the last box in place. “Why don’t  we have our pictures taken when we get there? I mean, like family  pictures? We could start making some memories right then. What do  you say?”

Levi brightened at the suggestion. “Oh that would be lovely! We  could go get some new clothes and find a photographer. It’ll be great!  Like engagement photos or something.”

“Angel, we don’t have much money,” Erik reminded, looking a  little downcast at the thought. “We don’t exactly have Madigan’s  connections. Marius has already put most of what he had into the  wedding. Please, don’t burden him with asking for more. You know  he’d come up with some scheme to get more, and the last time he got  arrested, and I don’t want to have to figure out how to get him bail  money again.”

Cross knew what Madigan was going to say before he even said it.  His mate was far too generous and kindhearted. It made him smile.

“Well, there is no reason that we can’t pay for it. Consider it a  wedding present from us.” He turned his soft green eyes on him. “We  can do that, can’t we, Cross?”

Cross found himself nodding, knowing that he was technically only supposed to use the funds for Madigan’s welfare but caring more about Madigan’s happiness than anything else. “I don’t see why we can’t.”

Bren smirked knowingly, leaning his hip against the side of the vehicle. Their eyes met, and Lucifer’s angel gave him a wink. Oh, he was going to get teased for this later, he just knew it. The nephilim exploded into excited chatter, warming the hearts of every angel present if the looks on their faces were any indication. The younger men seemed so vibrant, so full of life. Being around other nephilim would do Madigan some good.

Marius chose that moment to drop from the sky and onto the front lawn, three bouquets in hand, two of white and pink tea roses, one of mixed Chrysanthemum of various shades. His pale green wings extended in a stretch before folding down close to his back. Not for the first time, Cross wondered who Marius had paid to have glyphs of concealment drawn on his back. His were not as perfect as theirs. The wings themselves were still there, just not visible when he activated them, but it was still a fairly good charm.

Cross watched as Marius approached the nephilim. “Hello, lovelies. In celebration of us leaving today, I got you all a little present.” The grins that the younger men gave Marius made the angel frown. If he hadn’t been familiar with the meaning behind the flowers, he would’ve been a little more than miffed at the sight of another angel, albeit a Fallen one, handing his lover and charge a bouquet.

Cross frowned as something struck him. “I thought you were going to keep a low profile today. You know the hunters have spies everywhere.”

Marius shrugged and met his eyes over the younger ones’ heads.  “I was careful. I went to one florist shop near here and was in and out in less than ten minutes. Chill out, Cross. Live a little.”

Were it not for the expression of pure joy on Madigan’s face,  Cross would’ve had a word or two with Marius over taking foolish risks. As it was, he just filed away Madigan’s love of flowers in his mental notes on what to do for Madigan upon occasion. Being bound was really turning him into a romantic.

“What do they mean, Marius?” Levi asked excitedly as he wrapped his spare arm around Marius’s neck and hauled the angel down for a kiss.

“Yours and Erik’s mean that I love you still and always,” Marius  explained, scattering kisses across Levi’s face. “The ones to Madigan  mean that I value the friendship we have with him and that he is a  wonderful friend.”

“Thank you very much,” Madigan said warmly. He buried his  nose in the bouquet, inhaling the subtle scent. “They’re very  beautiful.”

“I guess that everyone is ready to go?” Cross asked as he took  count of the people around him. “Where’s Michel?”

“Right here, Cross. Sorry, was finishing up the dishes Madigan  left in the sink from breakfast. I put them all away so it took a  minute,” Michel said, coming out of the front door at the same time  Cross asked the question.

Cross nodded. “All good. Just wondered where you were at.” He  took a head count once again. “Looks like we’re ready to go.”

There was a moment of pause when everyone seemed to be aware  that they were heading into danger. Unlike before when they’d headed  out, there seemed to be a special emotional quality, a reluctance to  part ways even for the brief amount of time. There was fear there as  well.

“Well, get over here and give me a kiss before you go flying off,”

Madigan demanded, putting his hands on his hips. His bravado was

funny and served to break the tension a little bit. All of the guardians  approached Madigan, standing in a line before him, willing to serve  and protect him from anything that would harm him. It was the way  things were meant to be and the way Cross preferred it. This was the  reality of having a charge. There was no one more worthy than  Madigan of their protection and love.

Madigan reached for him first. Cross could posture all he wanted  about being professional, but the reality was that he melted a little  when Madigan touched him, just like the rest of the warriors. Their  lips met in a kiss that was so sweet it was almost chaste. He wrapped  his arms around the smaller man, holding him close as they shared a  moment of closeness before they parted ways for a little while.

Madigan’s hand touched his chest above his heart. “Be careful,  Cross. I don’t want to lose you again.”

“I will be,” Cross promised. It might seem silly to have them all  lined up, saying their good-byes like this, but it could very well be a  very permanent sort of good-bye if they weren’t careful enough or  their enemies were clever enough to get the best of them.

Madigan went down the line, whispering words to each of his men  in turn and pressing reverent kisses to their lips as he did so. It was  beautiful to watch. When he finished, he didn’t say anything else but  climbed into the back seat of the car and buckled his seat belt. Cross’s

heart swelled. Madigan had a deep inner strength, just like his father.  When he reached his angelic maturity, he was going to be quite a  power to reckon with. Cross looked forward to the day.

He turned his attention from Madigan and nodded at his lovers.  “Keep vigilant. We’ll be keeping formation above the vehicle on the  ride into Sanctuary. If anyone sees anything, and I do mean anything,  out of the ordinary I expect to be notified immediately. Swords are to  be drawn for those of you who are going to be in the skies with me.”  His eyes went to Bren and Yuri. “Drive safe and keep the faith.”