“I wouldn’t be so sure of that,” Nox replied and there were several gasps and swears as Smoak’s wounds began to heal.
Smoke was replaced by flesh and bone until he was just a man, unconscious and naked on the grass. His cheeks received a soft pat from Merlin and the gasps turned into shocked shouts when Smoak opened his eyes and blinked up at Nox. He looked confused as Everly passed him a blanket from Merlin’s bag. “What happened? That should have done it,” he said, sounding a bit disappointed.
“Sorry,” Nox said but he wasn’t and laughed as he helped Smoak sit up. “Looks like there’s more than one way to undo a demon.”
“What do you mean? That was a threefold death. I don’t have a soul so that should have been it,” he repeated and Nox winced apologetically.
“Au contraire. I feelsomethingglowing inside of you and it was just enough to counteract the threefold death.”
Merlin made a curious sound as he leaned in and gave Smoak several curious pokes. “If I had to guess…I’d say he’s nephilim but how can that be?”
Nox’s lips twisted as he considered. “IfIhad to guess, I’d say it’s Niall’s soul at work here,” he said, causing Smoak to clutch his chest.
“Niall’s soul?” he parroted and Nox nodded, his smile growing bigger as he worked it out. Love really was the purest and strongest magick.
“You have a piece of his soul within you, Smoak. Although, you might consider changing your name, now that you’re no longer a demon.”
“What? Never.” Smoak laughed incredulously. “What else would I be?”
“Well…” Nox held up his hands. “In order to become a demon you must forfeit your soul, make an enormous spiritual sacrifice—like killing the part of yourself you love the most, and you must physically die. But you have a piece of a perfect soul and you sacrificedyourselffor the thing you love most when you died,” he explained with a proud smile at Smoak. “You broke your own curse when you took that blue fire bullet for me.”
“So…I’m not a demon anymore?” Smoak verified and Nox shook his head.
“No, but you’re not a human either. I can feel that there is still a great deal of power here and it is dark and ancient. You are no longer a demon but they are still your children and you will always serve the darkness. When you aren’t serving Niall,” Nox added with a cheeky wink, making Smoak laugh in relief.
“I’m still me?”
“Yes,” Nox confirmed. “Just a non-demonic version of the old you, unfortunately.” He was joking and Smoak knew it too. “The world is safer if I don’t have a demonic nemesis—but there is nome, no sun god—without you. There’s no reason we can’t be more like brothers, because that is what we truly are!” Nox clasped Smoak’s hand tight. “We are both children of the Badb and are one with the earth and the elements.”
Smoak nodded. “Opposite sides of the same coin.”
“You’re the Yin to my Yang!”
“I get it,” Smoak said with a bored glare. “You need a dark counterbalance, so you don’t turn into an all-powerful asshole.”
“Exactly.”
Nox shooed Merlin away and Smoak was given clothes and privacy so he could dress while calls were made to those waiting back in Georgetown. With Smoak back on his feet and the others celebrating, Nox was able to turn his attention back to Nelson.
“I’m never letting you out of my sight again,” Nox vowed as he covered Nelson’s face in kisses.
“I want to go home and stay in bed with you for a month.” His voice was weak, his face was haggard, and he could barely stayon his feet, but Nelson was aterriblepatient and hated being confined to a bed.
“Four days,” Nox predicted.
“At least two weeks,” Nelson countered, winding an arm around Nox’s waist and leaning into him for support.
Nox kissed his temple and nodded when the twins signaled that they were taking off to get the vehicles. They could run like demon hounds so it wouldn’t be long before they were back with Fletcher’s van and Clancy’s Range Rover.
“I can’t…travel like I used to,” Smoak grumbled when he joined Nox and Nelson.
“You might learn again,” Nox said. “I think I’ve just about got the hang of it. Maybe we can practice together,” he suggested but Smoak didn’t look thrilled at the idea.
Chapter Twenty-Three
“Iwas afraid I would never see you again,” Nelson whispered and kissed his fingertips before placing his hand on the hood of his car. He closed his eyes to hold back the tears of gratitude but they spilled down his cheeks.
“Clancy kept an eye on your baby for you and Merlin put a protective charm on it so no one would scratch or ding it while you were away,” Nox said, making Nelson grin.
