And too much information. “I didn’t mean during fornication.”
“Are you condoning murder?”
“If the punishment suits the crime.” Gabriel didn’t shy away from a little violence. Some people deserved to be hurt. Like Osiris.
“Yes, we are going to make great partners indeed,” the Ichorian beamed as he accepted a glass from the bartender. “Cheers.” He rose the amber liquid in Gabriel’s direction.
“Partners?” he repeated. Did Gabriel not say last time they were together that he preferred to work alone?
“To partners,” Ezekiel said, clinking their drinks together and completely missing the question in his voice. Or perhaps ignoring it.
“And what are we partnering on, exactly?”
“The future of humanity.” Ezekiel downed his brandy in one swallow before slamming it on the counter. “Drink up, Stark. We need to get moving.”
Gabriel bristled at the nickname but did as the Ichorian requested. He tossed a few large bills on the counter for the redhead. “You can keep the change.”
Without a backward glance, he followed Ezekiel out the door. “She totally would have fucked you, had you asked,” the Ichorian informed.
“Who?”
“The bartender.”
“Why?”
Ezekiel’s ebony gaze danced over him. “It’s true, then—what they say about Seraphim and sex?”
“Depends on what they say.”
“That you don’t indulge in it.”
Gabriel shrugged. “Pleasures of the flesh are for humans.” Though his mother seemed to differ on that opinion now, something that concerned him slightly. Sethios had clearly manipulated her senses somehow.
“You must be a virgin,” Ezekiel said, surprising Gabriel.
“My status is neither relevant nor pertinent to our ‘partnership.’ ” And not something Gabriel had any desire to talk about. Because he actually wasn’t a virgin. He’d tried sex two years ago just to see why the humans fancied it so much, and found it quite uneventful.
Granted, it’d been with another Seraphim, who was equally curious, and they both blundered through it.
But that belied the point.
Ezekiel and Gabriel had no business discussing it, as it held no relevance whatsoever.
“Oh, it’s very pertinent, but don’t worry.” Ezekiel clapped him on the shoulder. “I’ll solve that problem for you after we handle the prophecy business.”
What the hell was wrong with this being? “It’s not a problem that requires solving.”
“I disagree, friend. Strongly disagree.”
“With what? No. Never mind. Take me to Skye so I can be finished with this business.”
Ezekiel chuckled. “Unfortunately, I think we’re just getting started.”
Yeah, he doubted that. As soon as he had his information, he’d pass it along to Caro and head home for a long nap. Then he might venture out to procure some decent brandy. Or maybe he would try bourbon.
Ezekiel turned into a vacant alley and stopped several feet inside. “Here is good.” He turned toward him, legs braced. “You mentioned entering wasn’t an issue so much as locating, so I imagine you’ve found a way to circumvent the wards, yes?”
Gabriel folded his arms and nodded. “They are intricate, but I can weasel my way through undetected.”
