Page 122 of Galen

I rolled my eyes.

“That part will be private,” Galen said, cupping my cheek. “There’s something else too. Remember how I bit you to mark you? Well, to fully become mated, I’ll need to bite you again… and drink a little of your blood.”

“What?” I squeaked.

Kyo, as well as any customers in the store, had probably heard me. Galen pressed two fingers to my lips, his amusement growing.

“Like a vampire?” I asked in a harsh whisper against his fingers. “But you’re an angel.”

“Half angel. More than that, I’m the son of a fallen angel.”

“Wait. So fallen angels drink blood?”

Galen nodded. “Some myths refer to the Fallen as blood drinkers. Also, flesh eaters. Their betrayal cursed them. Blood drinking is a sign of the damned. They have to drink blood to survive, much like a vampire.”

I gaped at him. “Doyouhave to drink blood?”

“Would you be disgusted if I said yes?”

“No. Just surprised.”

“Don’t worry,” he said with a tight smile. “While we do enjoy the taste of blood, we don’t have to drink it to survive. Our human halves cancel that out. It’s more like an indulgence we can choose to partake in. Though, it can make us stronger too.”

I scrutinized him. “That night at the club, you poured a vial of something red into your drink. Was that blood?”

“Yes. I usually only drink it when we go to Konnar’s club though.”

I thought back to my time in the underworld when Asa had become weak and that demon brought him a goblet filled with what I assumed had been wine. Had it been blood instead?

“I probably should’ve told you sooner. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.” I smiled up at him. “There’s so much I still need to learn about you and your life.”

“Ourlife,” he said, threading his fingers through my hair. “And I promise to tell you everything.”

“I can’t wait.”

When we returned to the mansion that evening, the brothers already seemed to know our news. Probably because of their mind-reading abilities.

“Congrats!” Castor pulled me in for a big hug. “You’ll officially be part of our family.”

“When Galen drives you crazy after a hundred or so years, you can always come stay in my bed,” Bellamy said with a wink.

Galen snarled at him.

Everyone seemed to be in better spirits. New furniture had been ordered to replace the torn-up, bloodstained couches from the fight. Stronger warding had been placed on the outside of the veil too. It wouldn’t keep the demons out for forever, but it would do for now.

According to Alastair, the demons were lying low. He hadn’t heard any news of Belphegor, Phoenix, or Asa since our return from the underworld.

Lazarus had come to visit us once. He only stayed long enough to inform the brothers that Ramiel and the other traitorous angels had all been banished from the celestial realm and hidden themselves. It wouldn’t be long before they reunited with Belphegor and joined forces with the demons. If they hadn’t already.

But that was a threat for another day.

“Gray wants to see us,” Galen told me, touching my lower back.

We went up the stairs and turned toward Gray’s room. Right when I walked through the door, he beamed up at me. In the days since his attack—mostly thanks to Clara’s healing practices—he was doing a lot better.

“Simon,” he rasped.