Page 184 of Starborn Husbands

Daniel’s on a heap of broken ground. His heavy angel body opened a fucking crater.

“And I like you too, Merrick’s Dad, but even if I knew how to revive him—which I don’t—why would I want to? He’s hellbent on having me for the Garrison, or dead, but I’ve made other plans.”

“I get you, I do, but this is a mistake. The world needs him.”

“Youneed him.”

“That too. But I mean it. As much as you might hate him, we can’t lose him. Look, he’ll owe you. Think about how valuable it is to have the grand seraph owe you one.”

Erick’s reaching. I’m sure a favor like that is worth its weight, but do I need it over worrying about when Daniel will decide he needs me for his army again?

I check in with Merrick who’s been awfully quiet. He should want his father dead too. We’ll never get a chance like this again. Killing a seraph isn’t easy.

His fists clench, and a lone tear rolls down his cheek. Merrick loves him despite it all. That’s just the way it is with your parents. I’m fucking lucky to have the best ones in the universe.

Merrick wants me to save his father. He won’t say it, but he’s praying for it.

“Not so fast. You’re going to save him, and then you’re coming with us, kid.” An angel with curly blond hair bouncing all over the place approaches. He’s flanked by another dickhead angel with dark hair.

“Erick just said?—”

“Erick doesn’t make those kinds of decisions.”

“I just roasted your seraph. You really think you’re going to make me do anything? Go fuck yourself.”

“Stop it, Gabriel,” Erick says. “This was wrong in the first place.”

“Even Daniel saw the wisdom of our choices. We need him,” Gabriel says.

“And he’s a great kid. If you ask him nicely, he’ll help us.”

Godsdammit. Don’t they realize my plate’s getting a bit full? Now I feel bad for every prayer I’ve ever made. Gods must get sick of us all asking for shit and want to tell us to deal with our own problems.

“I’m willing to make a deal,” I say. “I’m not living in the Garrison unless Zhang can live there too. Fix that and we’ll talk. But first, get me back the fucking sunstar you stole, and it’ll open my schedule a little. Maybe I can fit you in.”

“If you have the sunstar, you can’t fight as a member of the Garrison.”

“If, someday, I want to be a member of the Garrison, we’ll talk about that too, but for now I’m a free agent.” I’d prefer being a guardian with my sunstar again over being a free agent, but that’s what I am for now. “You’re not making the best sales pitch, just sayin’, but this rune lets you know where I am, right? I’ll agree to keep it if you agree to leave me alone until you really need me.”

I’ve still got the rune Merrick stamped me with so he could track me.

“Gods, he’s frustrating,” Gabriel says. “How do you stand him?”

Merrick wraps around me from behind, I’m still hanging onto Zhang’s front. I’m a Treyu sandwich and will officially remain as such.

“Not sure, but if you don’t make the deal, I’m cursing you with him. Treyu living in the Garrison is the worst outcome for you.”

My chest shakes with silent laughter.

Gabriel’s body tightens with rage. “This isn’t over, but I’ve had all I can take for now.” He puts fingers to his temple, and angels take flight as if they just received some kind of hive-mind order, disappearing when they reach a certain point.

“I’m waiting,” Erick says.

“But he said?—”

“He’s not in charge either. Daniel is. Now get to healing.” Erick points toward Daniel.

“I can’t just bring people back to life. I don’t know how I did what I did to Zhang.”