Page 8 of Galen

When I opened the lid, my heart thudded hard against my ribs. My hair ruffled a bit, probably the heater kicking on. I peered into the box and saw a red satin cloth covering something.

I didn’t know what I expected to find inside. A demonic imp that would jump out and eat me, something gross like a dead rat, or maybe one of those shrunken heads.

I lifted the cloth.

“A ring?”

It looked pretty damn ordinary too. Well, ordinary in an antique way. The gold band had faint etching on the sides, and a dark green stone sat in the center with smaller red stones around it.

I whistled under my breath as I studied it. The thing looked expensive. I’d have to check to make sure it was real gold before putting it out for sale. And to figure out what kind of stones were used. They looked like crystals of some kind.

“This is someLord of the Ringsshit,” I mumbled as I examined the markings along the band. It looked like words, but not in any language I’d ever seen before.

As I stared into the green stone, it almost looked like something moved inside it. Like swirling smoke. I blinked and held it closer to my face. Waiting. Then I softly laughed at myself for being so ridiculous.

I placed the ring back in the box and closed the lid.

I’d deal with it later.

Chapter Three

Galen

“Easy, brother,” Castor said as we stood across the street from the antique store. “I can sense your anger.”

“Of course I’m angry.” I gritted my teeth. “He told me no.”

Castor knew better than to laugh, though his lips twitched with a smile anyway.

“I should bust in there right now, take what I want, and leave. What’s a puny human going to do to stop me?”

“Lazarus wouldn’t be pleased,” he said, all traces of humor gone. The sun came through the branches of the tree we stood under, shining on his red hair. “He demands that we not draw unnecessary attention to ourselves.”

“Fuck Lazarus.”

“Galen.” Castor grabbed my arm as I started to step forward. “Don’t make me call the others to drag your ass back home.”

“Whatever the demons are after is in that shop,” I growled, jerking my arm out of his hold and staring at the building. “I felt something powerful, Cas. Something dark. I can’t leave here without it. If I sensed it, I know the demons will too. They’ll swarm this place come nightfall.”

I pictured the man I’d met. Young, probably late twenties. Sandy-brown hair, hazel eyes, and black-framed glasses. He had an average build, not much muscle. He wouldn’t be able to fend off demons. They would rip him apart.

“We’ll wait here, then,” Castor said. “Keep watch until the sun sets, then break in through the back once the store closes.”

“I’ll let Alastair know.”

I closed my eyes and searched for his mind. As Nephilim, we didn’t have full angelic powers, but we were able to communicate with each other telepathically.

“The item has been found,”I told him.“We’re waiting for nightfall to retrieve it.”

“Did you see what it was?”Alastair asked.

“No, but I felt its power.”

“What aren’t you telling me, Wrath?”

I deeply inhaled and faced the shop. A group of teenagers walked in just as two older women exited. Humans went on with their ordinary lives, ignorant of the threat surrounding them.

“Galen. Tell me.”