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“All right. I don’t think I could assign a better bodyguard to protect Bella than Harker. But I have to officially name him her bodyguard. Since this is my territory and Bella is my sister, I need to willingly delegate to him the task of her protection.”

“Harker still gets what he needs and you don’t lose face.” Nero smiled proudly at me. “I’m impressed that you figured it out.”

“I guess Colonel Fireswift is a better teacher than you thought,” I said with a smirk.

Nero’s smile faded.

I punched him lightly in the arm. “I’m just kidding. I learned everything I know about being a proper angel from you, of course.”

Nero appeared mollified. Somewhat.

We walked into the house. Calli was waiting in the living room with Zane, Tessa, and Gin.

“How’s Bella?” I asked.

“Sleeping in her bed,” Calli replied. “Harker says she should be completely healed by morning. He insisted on keeping watch by her bedside until she recovers. You were right, Leda. He is a good man.”

“He really is,” I agreed.

“But why would anyone attack Bella?” Calli looked uncharacteristically shaken. She really loved Bella.

“Nero and I suspect someone doesn’t want us to find the answers we seek, and so they tried to take Bella out of the equation,” I told her.

“No one will be taking my Bella out of the equation, not under my watch.” And shaken Calli was gone, replaced by eagle-eyed, kick-ass Calli.

“Leda and I will set up magical defenses around the outside of the house,” Nero said.

I followed him to the door. “Be right back.”

We left the house together.

“Shall I cast the defensive spells, or do you want to do it?” I asked Nero.

“I will do it. You should watch what I do.”

“So I can learn how proper defenses are made?” I chuckled. My spirits had lifted the moment I’d heard Bella would be ok.

Nero gave me a flat look. “Paint-filled balloons are hardly effective, Leda.”

“Hey, I only did that once, and it was pretty effective, if I do say so myself. You were very colorful for a whole week.” I grew more serious. “But I see what you mean. There’s a difference between pranking someone and protecting someone. I want my sister to be protected by the very best defenses magic can create, and you’re the most qualified to do that, Nero.”

Nero started casting spells, while I committed to memory everything that he did.

“I’ve been making a list,” he said as we moved on to the back of the house.

“And checking it twice?” I flashed him a grin. “Was I naughty or nice?”

Nero watched me for a long, reflective moment, then declared, “You’d be at the top of both lists, of course.” He started weaving more spells. “But I wasn’t talking about that kind of list. I’ve created a list of baby names.”

“That’s very domestic of you.”

“I collected the names of great warriors out of the Legion’s history and sorted them by the highest rank and honors achieved by each soldier.”

“And that’s very angel-like of you.”

“Would you like to see the list?” he asked seriously.

“Sure. If I can show you my list.”