can do that.”
“Don’t mention anything to him for now. Brax, e-mail Daisis in the morning and ask what it could be. The archseraphim should know what direction to point us in,” Axis said. He walked over to the Rover. “Unlock the back so we can get the groceries into the house. IT, see what you can get from the online sources just in case Daisis isn’t sure.”
Brax nodded. “No problem, Commander.” He followed Axis over to the back of the car and was surprised at the number of black and orange bags displaying the logo of the Halloween store that had set up shop in the plaza. “We’re decorating?”
“Levi wanted to. Since next Friday is Halloween, I figured it would be okay,” Jade said. “I made room for it in the budget.”
“It’s fine. He needs a little normalcy,” Marius said before anyone else could comment. “It’s our first holiday that we actually get to celebrate, so bring it on.”
“Couldn’t have phrased it better myself,” Axis said, gathering up bags. “Everyone take a few.”
Chapter Three
Marius would never get used to the absolute knowing that took place inside him every time he looked at his new lovers. There was a deeply animal part of him that said without a shadow of a doubt that they were his mates, and his other side, the part that was all angel, should just hush with the doubts and get with the program. That part of him was growing stronger with each passing day. It seemed to be driving him toward something, but he wasn’t sure of what.
Erik was passed out on the couch, his head in Keer’s lap as the angel watched some modeling show on Bravo. Marius watched the two of them from his place in the doorway, and the protectiveness he normally felt toward his two nephilim extended to Keer as well. In the kitchen, he could hear the others putting away the groceries and taking the decorations out of the wrappings so that they could plan where to put it all. Levi was upstairs doing Creator knew what.
After checking up on Erik, he’d disappeared up the stairs. It wasn’t like him to want to be alone under any circumstances, but he hadn’t been gone long and Marius tried to tell himself over and over again that it wasn’t a good idea to fret over him so much. They were in a safe place, and if anyone needed his attention, it was Erik. Levi’s powers had been there ever since he’d met the two nephilim and were a contemplation for another day.
“How’s he doing?” Marius asked Keer as Keer’s program went on commercial.
Keer turned his head and met Marius’s gaze. “Exhausted. He worked himself hard today. I’m proud of him even if he did overdo it. How’s Axis’s arm?”
“Healed.” He didn’t want to explain all about Levi’s strange contribution to the healing. He figured they’d discuss it when they had a house meeting tonight. Marius had never been part of a group quite like this before. Being an Elite was a definite experience. Hunters had worked in units, but they’d all just been taking orders from the designated leader, who took orders from Azrael. The Elites had genuine debates and discussions, compromises. It was nice. His thoughts returned to Levi. Why didn’t he tell me ?
“What are you thinking about?” Keer asked, studying him.
“Nephilim, life, love. All the good and bad of it all,” Marius answered vaguely. What else was there to say?
Maybe Levi didn’t feel comfortable telling a former hunter about his powers. Erik knew the whole story, but neither nephilim had given Marius anything but sparse details about the event that had changed Levi from seemingly normal eighteen-year-old male to fully awakened nephilim before his time. He knew the hunters had gotten ahold of him and given him the horrific scars on his back but none of the details that accompanied the story.
“When dealing with nephilim,