Ares and Ruth watched the entire group with the quiet vigilance of parents who’d spent millennia guarding their family.
This was what Nick needed—normalcy, belonging to a family who cared more for each other than themselves. The past week had turned his world upside down, and tonight was the first time I'd seen him truly relax.
Unfortunately, it wouldn’t last. He’d start training sooner than I’d like, but it couldn’t be helped. He had powers that rivaled all but the most powerful angels. Once he learned to use it, he might top the list.
“I need to teach you the art of negotiating,” Hector said. “Torturing the con artists who sell cars is half the fun. They need the sale more than you need the car.”
“I think I’ll pass,” Nick said. “It’s just a car. In the time it took to haggle, I made more in interest on the money Mom left me than I saved. I’d rather have had that hour back.”
“Leave it to the accountant to reduce this to a number,” Hector rolled his eyes. “What would you have done with that time?”
Hector was about to learn a lesson about privilege. Nick had spent his life finding things that made him happy that didn’t cost money.
“I’d have gone for a run along the river,” he said. “I ended up not having time.”
Ruth Masterson, seated across from Nick, reached over to pat his hand. “Sweetheart, you can go running any time. You only buy a car once in a while. Even I negotiate when buying a car, and I'm four thousand years old.”
“You’re a bad example, Mom,” Brenda said. “You haggle over the price of bananas at the farmer's market.”
“And I usually get a discount,” Ruth replied, winking at Nick.
“Speaking of negotiations,” Zeke said. “Have you decided where you’re going to live?”
I smiled at him for moving us past a topic where Nick was self-conscious. Zeke wanted us to buy a property in Alexandria, but that was before Nick went through the lengthy list of assets he’d inherited.
Nick became the center of attention, but this was a subject he was more comfortable discussing. “Thanks for that,” hesaid, giving Zeke a fake scowl. “Henry and I want to visit the properties I own before we decide. We’ve ruled out the ones in major cities as a primary home. Same with those that are too remote. For now, we’re going to live on a horse farm in Barnesville, Maryland. It’s got a big house, and a smaller guest house in case Trevor wants to come stay with us.”
“Thanks for thinking of me, bro, but I’m gonna pass,” Trevor said. “Aside from not wanting to be a third wheel, I’m looking forward to traveling. I’ll come visit, of course.”
Nick expected that would be Trevor’s answer. Trevor spent the last six years essentially on guard detail. Nick wanted his best friend to go enjoy his life, but also know he’d always be welcome.
“About that….” Orion exchanged a glance with Ares.
“What?” Trevor looked around the group. “No, no, no! I’ve earned this time off.”
“Michael wants you to train with Nick,” Orion said. “The new class is starting next month.”
“You've got to be kidding me.” Trevor threw his hands up. “This is so not fair.”
He wasn’t wrong. Trevor had been on assignment the longest. He’d also had to go back to college and then take an entry-level job so he could live with Nick. “They’re giving you a month off,” I said. “And you’ll still have a life. Sorta.”
“What does that mean?” Trevor’s gaze swept around the group. “What aren’t you telling me?”
“First, this is necessary,” Ares said. As the oldest, his voice carried the most weight. “The Drevlin are here already. You’re not safe if you can’t use your powers.”
“No,” Nick said. “This isn’t fair. Trevor gave up so much to help me.”
“You’re thinking of this like a punishment, and it’s not,” Perseus said. “Learning how to use your powers is a rite of passage. It’s also vital to your survival.”
“None of us gets to do whatever we want right now,” Victoria said, her tone making it clear she included herself in that group. “There’s a lot happening. Dad is going to send out an update tonight to all angels. The Drevlin are here, so it’s begun.”
The table fell silent as the implications of her words sank in. I felt Nick's tension increase, and instinctively moved closer to him. He was reliving the fight in his dream. The get together was supposed to be a party, not a war council.
Reaching over, I grabbed his hand. “How about we go for a walk?”
Our eyes met and he nodded. “Yeah.”
Before anyone responded, we headed for the back gate that led to an alley. If we followed the passage for a couple of blocks and we’d come to the river. It would probably be busy with people enjoying the weather, but no one would bother us there.
