Page 88 of Galen

Lazarus stepped closer, and my arm tightened around Simon. The angel’s eyes moved to me. “I have no intention of hurting him, Wrath.” He approached us and studied Simon’s face. “You’ve come a long way from the human who fainted the first time he saw me.”

“Not my proudest moment,” Simon said.

“Keep this strength, Simon Parks. Something tells me you’ll need it in the days to come.” Lazarus headed for the patio door. “We’ll be in touch. Remember what I said about the demons.”

And then he took off into the sky.

“You’re such a silly human!” Gray exclaimed, throwing his arms around Simon’s waist. “What were you thinking speaking to Lazarus like that?”

Simon hugged Gray and rested his cheek on his wild blond hair. “I couldn’t do nothing while he threatened you. You’re my…” He shook his head. “Never mind.”

“We’re you’re what?” Bellamy asked, smiling.

“Friends,” Simon said, his face reddening. “My family.”

Daman got up from the table and walked toward the archway leading out of the dining room, but before he passed beneath it, I saw a soft smile on his lips. Raiden jumped up and wrapped his arms around both Simon and Gray, lifting them off the floor in a big hug.

It wasn’t just me who cared for Simon.

All seven of us had been touched by his light.

***

“Quit glaring at me, angel boy, before I put a hex on you,” Clara said, flicking her hand at me.

My scowl deepened.

Simon looped his arm through mine and kissed my bicep. “Be nice.”

“I don’t trust witches,” I said, trying to stay annoyed, but his kiss melted my icy demeanor a bit. “Why is she here?”

My morning had been going well too. Simon and I had woken up in each other’s arms, and then I’d fucked him nice and slow before we’d showered, eaten breakfast, and come to his antique shop.

Clara put a hand on her hip. “Look. I know some witches have given us a bad rap, but not all of us become demon brides, slaves of darkness, or whatever shit you think we do. Some of us only practice light magic. I specialize in the art of healing. Tonics, salves, elixirs. They’re infused with magic to heal people. I don’t hurt them.”

“You don’t hurt people? You just threatened to hex me.”

“Okay. I don’t hurthumanpeople. Better?”

Simon snickered, then snapped his mouth shut when I raised an eyebrow at him.

“You expect me to take a witch’s word?” I asked. “Usually, I can see into a person’s heart. To see what harm they’ve done. But yours is guarded. Care to explain why?”

“Maybe you’re not as powerful as you think.”

“Or maybe you’re hiding something, witch.”

“Okay,” Simon said, looking between the two of us. “Enough of that. Kyo will be here any minute, and he doesn’t know about all this supernatural stuff. Last thing I want is him to walk in while you two are fighting about witches and demons.”

“Sorry,” Clara said.

“You should be,” I added.

Simon shoulder-checked me. “Be. Nice.”

They had developed a friendship over the past few weeks, much to my annoyance. Only through text message though, because Clara had returned to London and just recently came back.

The door opened, and Kyo entered the store. His black hair stuck up at the front, and he’d worn purple contacts that day instead of his usual blue. He looked at the three of us, puzzled.