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His grin widened. “You’re a protective asshole. Understanding where Nate’s coming from shouldn’t be so hard. You have to give trust to get it.”
I blew out a harsh breath. “How did you know about me and Piper?”
“It’s obvious. Anyone just has to watch you react to her name being said to know. Besides, I can see her emotions. I know how she feels about you, and that’s a whole load of complicated that women don’t usually feel about just anybody.”
“Fuck,” I muttered. Any other day, I’d say I trusted Joriel more than any being in the universe, but he had months tops before his soul belonged to Lucifer. He wasn’t going to be my brother soon, and there was no telling how trustworthy he’d be in the very near future.
He let go of my neck and stepped back. “I’m going to move my stuff to one of the cells on your thirteenth floor.”
I shook my head. “Jor, you don’t have to do that. I’ll make sure you don’t do anything stupid. I promised, remember?”
“Better safe than sorry. You have too much to lose if I mess something up.”
I followed him out of the basement, making it out of the school just in time to see him take off, his spread wings as pure white as his skin was black.
I texted Sierra to let her know I was stopping by before getting into my car and heading back toward home.
Two hours later I was knocking on the Blues’ front door.
Sierra took one look at me and wrapped her arms around my waist. In the year I’d known Nathaniel’s girl, she’d never once attempted to hug me. Any other day I would be removing her arms and refusing her embrace. But today wasn’t any other day. I hugged her back, holding on like she was a lifeline.
“What can I do?” she asked as she pulled back. She didn’t bother asking what was wrong. She knew I’d share if I wanted to.
“Can I come in?” I asked. My voice sounded off, thick and husky in a grief way, not a desire way.
“Of course.” She backed away from the doorway, letting me into the bright house that was everything I’d never dared to believe I could have. I didn’t even know if I wanted the life Nathaniel lived because I’d refused to entertain the idea.
I followed her into the living room where Nova, who somehow looked even cuter than the last time I’d been here, was sitting in the same bouncy chair.
Sierra closed the laptop that was open on the desk in the living room and bent to pick up her daughter.
“Can I hold her?” I asked, dropping onto the black couch and holding out my arms.
Sierra handed me Nova and sat on the other couch. “Nate’ll probably be downstairs any second.”
The words were barely past her lips before Nathaniel appeared around the corner. “To what do we owe the pleasure of your company twice in one month?”
“Bad day,” I muttered.
Nathaniel collapsed beside his wife, his arm snaking around her shoulders and pulling her to his side. “Do you want to talk or fight it out in the gym?”
“You ever wonder how this is your life?” I asked, not able to take my eyes off Nova.
“Every damn day.”
“What would you have done if Father hadn’t let you keep her?” The question was out before I could think better of it. I could feel the tension radiating off Nathaniel from five feet away without having to look up.
“I’d have fought for her until my last breath.” His voice was low and full of lethal calm. “And I’d probably be dead by now.”
Nova reached out with one tiny hand and stroked my rough cheek. Her forehead crinkled as she frowned. She stroked it again and then giggled.
“She’s going to be one hell of a heartbreaker someday,” I said.
“Don’t remind me.” Nathaniel groaned. “I’m trying not to think about her ever growing up.”
I’m not sure how long we sat there not talking about anything important before Nova started fussing and reaching for her mother.
“I think someone’s hungry.” Sierra stood and took Nova out of my arms. I watched her head upstairs, leaving Nathaniel and me alone.
