Acquainted With The Night

Author’s Note: This does contain slash and was rated for a purpose. If this offends you, please refrain from reading.

Dedication: This is for my best friend Brian who will probably never read this, but who was always looking for something more original that would make even a pyro feel hot.

0 0 0

The music was loud, pounding, the kind that buried itself into the mind and senses, taking over the body. A person’s heart pounded to the beat, their movements became extensions of the music, they lost themselves entirely. There was a line around the block, but the man who made his way to the door was immediately admitted. Leather pants hugged a trim form and dark violet eyes gleamed dangerously from beneath messy brown hair that insolently covered his face. He didn’t so much as spare the bouncers at the door a glance as he swept into the room, trench coat billowing out behind him.

Though the pounding music seemed to have no visible effect on him, Alexionn Tamsin could see instantly that others were not immune to the rhythm as his eyes immediately found the slender blond dancing in the center of the room. Barely looking old enough to drive a car let alone be in a club like this, the boy swayed his hips to the rhythm, his fall of platinum hair looking like a silver waterfall as it fell gracefully around a face with high cheekbones. He had a gently alluring grace that called to other dancers on the floor, lending him a fey beauty.

Though he was easily immune to the music, Alexionn found himself moving toward the middle of the dance floor, stopping just as the blond opened his eyes and pinned him with a blue gaze that took his breath away. Alexionn pursed his lips slightly as the blond threw him a smile before pressing his back flush to Alexionn’s body. Alexionn drew in a sharp breath and his hands settled onto the bewitching blond’s slender hips. He pulled the blond against him as he swayed lightly with the graceful movements.

The blond’s mouth fell open, and though his soft moan was drowned out by the music, his right arm raised to sensually wrap languidly around the neck of Alexionn just behind him. Though they were different as day and night, their movements on the dance floor were poetry.

The blond opened his eyes only as a pair of hands too large to be Alexionn’s settled onto the bare strip of skin exposed between the bottom of his shirt and the line of his dangerously low pants. He leaned into the alien touch, left arms looping around the shoulders of the man now pressed against his front.

With a slight narrowing of cool violet eyes, Alexionn backed off and seemed content to watch the blond dance with his unidentified partner, relinquishing control over to the blond. Briefly, as he made his way toward the bar, he wondered what idiot had let the blond go…only a fool would let a young thing like that off his leash in a place like this.

The blond slid seamlessly from one partner to the next, dipping down to touch his toes in teasing invitation before sliding into the arms of another man, looking perfectly content to tease and torment everyone he came into contact with. His blue eyes sparkled sapphire fire as he focused his attention on a figure near the corner of the bar, nearly hidden in shadows. He held his abandoned leash in his right hand as he circled the figure before allowing another partner to lead him out, back toward the middle of the dance floor.

The blatant invitation had been taken however as the figure moved out from the shadows. Tall and broad, this new man exuded sex in every movement that he made, an attractive contrast to the raw sensuality of the blond. Though he was classically beautiful, there was a cruelty in his smile as he found the blond and his hands settled onto the boy’s hips and curled possessively around his waist. He spun the blond into his arms, ignoring the growl of frustration this earned from the blond’s partner. His first curled into the waterfall of shimmering hair, and he pulled hard, forcing the blond to expose his throat.

If the rough handling bothered the blond, it didn’t show as his eyes fluttered closed and his lips parted in a silent gasp. The figure holding him smiled coldly, his eyes on his prize. His hands traced the blond’s hips, following the smooth planes of his young body. The blond seemed to appreciate the caresses, and the figure chuckled lazily, leaning in to brush possessive kisses over the blond’s exposed throat, staking a claim to the elfish beauty in his arms.

The blond didn’t seem to notice that he was being led slowly but surely toward the door. He never noticed as he passed Alexionn, his blue gaze cloudy, focused on the figure, his expression slightly dazed. A cruel smile formed on the figure’s face as he led his prize away from the relative safety of the crowd. As if picking up on the sensuality of the pair, the people they passed seemed to lose all inhibitions and ground together with no regard to sex. They moved together in a sensual dance that beat with the drum of the figure’s heart as he led the captive blond out of the door.

It was time…and Alexionn would enjoy ripping the heart from his chest. He swung himself off of the stool, tossing a few credits onto the bar behind him to pay for the drink he hadn’t so much as touched. There was an emptiness in his smoky violet gaze, and ice followed in his wake as surely as sensuality did in the figure’s. Without looking back, Alexionn followed the figure and his captive into the darkness.

He didn’t see them anywhere near the club, but that didn’t surprise him much…it wouldn’t do to stay close to the public, even if he was sure that his prize would be too far gone to put up much of a fight. He sighed softly and flexed his back, wincing at the pull on the muscles. He was also going to enjoy taking the blond home and dumping him into the laps of his loving family after explaining where he was and what had almost happened to him. A soft moan caught his attention as he made his way past two warehouses. Casually, he stepped into the small alley.

The blond stood pinned to the wall, the figure holding him steady with one hand, the other still curled in his hair. His shirt had been pushed up over his arms, exposing smooth, unblemished alabaster skin. The shirt tangled at the wrists to ensure that the blond was in no position to escape even if he did manage to come to his senses in time to sense the danger around him. The boy’s skin appeared silky, the planes of his body flat and enticing. Though he writhed against the figure, his sapphire eyes focused intently on Alexionn in the head of the alley.

Alexionn stopped dead as he caught sight of the almost feral blue gaze. Gone was the cloudiness and the dazed disinterest in where he was. Gone was the fey innocence the boy had wrapped around himself. There was an impatient anger in the blue gaze now, and it made Alexionn pause as he watched the figure ravish the slight blond.

Sensing his prey’s attention was focused on something else, the figure raised his head and caught sight of Alexionn. He snarled softly and glanced back at his prize, looking slightly stunned to see a wicked smile cross the blond’s face. Alexionn stepped forward, frowning slightly. “Release the boy.”

The figure growled, and the sensual planes of his face changed subtly. His eyes took on a blood red glow, his skin paling almost to translucence. His canines lengthened into dangerous, delicate points, and he dipped his head down in a swift movement over the blond. Alexionn stepped toward him, but stopped dead as the demon yelped in pained surprise, the shirt on the boy’s wrists catching flame and searing the beast. He backed off, snarling. Calmly, the blond stepped out of the creature’s hold, making a face as the tattered remains of his shirt fell to the ground at his feet. “Damn.” He muttered. “That was my favorite club shirt.”

Alexionn was torn, startled out of his element by the blond’s presence. He was torn between wanting to strangle the teen now frowning at his feet and his job…the job won out. “Lucian Dufoe…you are guilty of the deaths of twelve men, fifteen women, sixteen children…”

“And twenty-four babies.” The demon finished with a hiss, his eyes malevolent. They darted between the pair before focusing on Alexionn, obviously deciding that the blond still frowning moodily at his ruined shirt was little to no threat.

Alexionn’s frown deepened. “And you, blondie?”

“I resent that.” The blond looked up and Alexionn was pinned again by those intense blue eyes. “I’m here because he…” He motioned to the demon. “…killed my father. Prepare to die, foul beast.” He dimpled and Alexionn stared dumbstruck. “I always wanted to say that.”

The demon stared at the boy before he hissed. “Leo…”

The blond blew him a kiss. “Baby, you must have done something awfully nasty for me to be called out after your ass.” Though he looked like he wanted to say more, he didn’t get the chance as the demon lunged toward the side of the building, not even appearing to touch the smooth structure as he made a break for the stars ahead and the openness of the rest of the city. The blond grinned, a feral look. “Damn, I love it when they run. It just adds a spice to the whole evening, especially when you have someone tied to a bed waiting for you at home.”

“Leo…” Alexionn stared in shock, stunned momentarily into freezing. “…you…YOU’RE Leonardo Harada!”

The blond teen gave him a dry look. “And I’m busy right now, baby. You were a good dance…maybe I’ll look you up sometime.” Laughing, a pair of white wings flickered to life as a sight spell fell apart, the soft feathers beating the air once before he shot into the sky.

A sensible man would turn away and let the suicidal idiot handle it himself. He knew the name of course…everyone knew who Leonardo Harada was. Born from an angel and incubus, Leo walked the line between worlds as if it didn’t exist and was the only one of his kind….he was also one of the best paid assassins on the planet.

Alexionn wanted to rip the bastard’s heart out himself. His form rippled as he fell to his knees. The familiar feeling of his bones crunching and reshaping themselves filled his body, a feeling of pain and pleasure both, and he writhed in the dirty alley. The night brightened as his pupils expanded, soft sounds became loud as thunder. A panther slowly raised his head and growled, nose lifting into the air.

Alexionn raced with the stars above him through the nearly abandoned streets in the warf district of the city. Here a man could strike a bloody deal, discard himself of unwanted evidence, pay for various favors. It was a pus filled wound on the face of a normally beautiful city. It was Alexionn’s hunting ground.

He followed the darkness left in the demon’s wake. As surely as the sexual tension had followed him, the darkness followed, cold, deadly. If left unchecked there would be violence in everyone it touched. Alexionn didn’t intend on leaving it unchecked.

He spotted his prey in the sky as he neared the docks, their forms briefly outlined before vanishing into low clouds. Even as he watched, Leo, high ahead, tucked his wings in and plummeted toward the ground.

His heart leaped into his throat where it pounded hard enough to make him growl, and Alexionn ran forward even as Leo fell through the sky toward the water. Somewhere in the back of his mind he was aware that the incubus would hit the water, but his heart forced him onward.

The shadow as it shot toward the sky made him growl, and even as he watched, Leo’s wings unfurled and he steadied himself before soaring into the sky after his prey barely a handspan from the water. Alexionn could hear the blond idiot laughing even from the docks. Growling, he turned to follow…and the shadow hit.

Cold like he had never felt before shot through his system, and he felt his legs collapse beneath him. He growled and thrashed on the docks…and his vision blurred before going black.

0 0 0

Leonardo Harada landed softly on the dock, and dimly, in the back of his mind, he wished that he had gone to the club barefoot…there was nothing better than feeling damp, slightly swollen wood beneath your feet…it was kind of like sand actually. It just felt good. The panther lay collapsed on the docks, the shadow demon nearly blocking him from sight in the dim evening light. “Now now…” Leo drawled. “…you should really let the poor kitty go. This is about you and me…always has been….and I tend to be the jealous type.”

The demon slowly raised his head, the shadows taking on the form of his face again. “He’s MINE.”

“Think again.” Leo drawled. “The kitty belongs to me. You belong to me too for that matter…I’m really terrible about sharing my toys. Put the nice kitty down and we’ll finish that dance.” He coaxed, holding his hand behind his back. A small ball of fire bloomed on his palm.

The demon growled at him as he approached, and Leo paused. He really didn’t want to burn the panther…but he wasn’t sure he would have a choice. The demon didn’t seem to want to step away. Damn…Leo hated the smell of burning fur. Like wet fur, there was something utterly unappetizing about it. He sighed regretfully. “I’m only going to ask one more time before I make you regret the day you killed that angel…let the kitty go and I might kill you fast. Stay and I’ll play with my toy for a while before I get rid of you.”

The demon hissed at him. “Abomination.”

Leo rolled his eyes. “You couldn’t think of ANYTHING better to say than that?” He released the flame and watched dispassionately as it engulfed the shadow. The demon screamed, and Leo allowed the flames to fan, spreading them as he encircled the demon. His wings twitched on his back as he approached the pair. The smell of burned fur filled his nose. Shit. Michael was going to give him hell for this.

The flames died as he approached, and Leo knelt beside the fallen panther. Not dead…but not doing so hot either. Damn! Why had the idiot followed him? WHO was the idiot anyway? Sighing, Leo drew his cell phone out of his knee high boots. “Tell me you got him.” Michael answered on the first ring, as Leo had known he would. “And tell me you didn’t make a mess. I need to hear those words.”

“I got him.” Leo replied calmly. “But I need a little pick-up and a bit of a healing. Ariel around?”

Michael groaned. “You were supposed to stop him from hurting anyone!”

“You shouldn’t send two assassins after someone if you don’t want one of them to get hurt, Mikey.” Leo replied coolly. “There was another player and he wouldn’t take “shove off” as an answer.”

There was silence over the line as Michael processed the news. Leo’s eyebrows rose…he had assumed that the angel had sent the shape-shifter to keep an eye on him…he looked down at the panther curiously. “I need a pick-up, Mikey. Any time would be great.”

Michael paused. “I’m on my way.”

Ten minutes later found the archangel himself stepping out of a cab, dark golden hair tied back by a leather thong, jeans hugging his trim form. Leo hummed appreciatively. “Mikey as always you look good enough to eat.”

Michael gave him a dry look. “You are such a whore.”

Leo laughed. “Only for you, love. Only for you.”

Michael’s face didn’t soften, his ice blue eyes moving to the panther. “He’s still alive…who is he?”

“How the hell should I know?” Leo asked coolly. “I assumed you sent him.”

Mike rolled his eyes. “God help any man paired with you on a mission. I didn’t send him.” He paused. “Let’s get him back to the apartment. Ariel can clean him up and get him home.” He stopped. “Where’s your shirt?”

Leo sighed regretfully. “Had to burn it. Cuddle-umpkins over there walked in on me while I was stalking my prey…”

“You mean while you were playing the whore.” Michael picked up the panther as if he weighed no more than a stuffed kitten.

“Mikey, never trust the naked baby you take home with you from a club…” He grinned. “…besides to be a whore I have to have SEX…and as you know I’m lily-white.”

Michael snorted and they vanished. Leo hated Michael’s apartment. The archangel had a permanent stick up his ass and it showed in everything. His office was immaculate, his clothing was pressed and always matched, and his apartment was so clean and new-age it made Leo uncomfortable just to LOOK at it. One day he was going to bring in a can of spray paint just to piss the angel off. “What’s this?”

Leo smiled at Ariel. She was one of the only angels he could stomach for long periods of time, mostly because Ariel knew how to let her hair down. “Ariel…” he licked his lips. “…lookin good.”

Ariel laughed. She was dressed simply in a white cashmere sweater and a pair of soft green slacks, her dark brown curls caught at the nape of her neck by a white ribbon. Small and fey, Leo always found it hilarious that this little thing could wield a fiery sword like nobody’s business…and had no qualms about shoving that fiery sword right up your… “Leo, what did you do?”

Leo winced. That was another reason he both loved and hated Ariel…she could make him feel like an asshole with one sentence. “I didn’t have a choice, Aer…but I’ve always wanted a pet. Can I keep him?” he gave her his best goo goo eyes.

Ariel pursed her lips at him. “Leo…that’s not funny.”

Leo snorted. “Not to you maybe…but if this guy is who I think he is…hell…I wouldn’t mind keeping him tied to my bed until the end of days. The boy is hot.”

Michael snorted and Ariel gave him a disapproving look even as she held her hands out. All angels were granted with a gift of magic. Frankly…Leo rather preferred his fire, though he had to admit that Ariel’s healing light was damn useful in a tight situation. The panther’s wheezing breath slowly lengthened and, as if released from a magic spell, his form rippled before melting into that of a man.

It WAS him…Leo had thought it would be. Dark brown hair hung becomingly over a chillingly handsome face that was sinfully relaxed in sleep. A light scar cut across the man’s face, giving him a dashing look rather than taking away from his beauty. His eyes had been…violet. Leo grinned down at the man. It was a pity Ariel and Michael were there…he could bet that his little kitty would be fun in his dreams. Leo hadn’t forgotten the tall body pressed against his, the possessively hot hands on his hips, the breath ghosting across his hair. He sighed regretfully...he really was a whore…still there was something compelling about the unconscious man on the floor of the apartment.

Michael swore under his breath. “Alexionn.”

“And the award for random words…”

Michael shot him the finger, making Leo chuckle. “It’s Alexionn. Alexionn Tamsin.”

“Alexionn? The one who took out the vampire hunting tourists last year?” Ariel looked surprised.

Michael snorted. “The same. What the hell was he doing there?!”

Leo paused. “My guess? Hunting Lucian. He knew what he was looking for. He was waiting for Lucian to haul poor unsuspecting me outside to seduce and kill. He knew where to look, he knew what to do…hell if I hadn’t been there with the same intentions he probably could have won.”

Michael paused thoughtfully. After a moment he shook his head. “Doesn’t matter. Ariel, get home. Erase his memory. There’s no reason for him to remember any of this.”

Ariel nodded, crossing the room gracefully before placing her hands lightly over the shape-shifter’s head. She released a long sigh and glanced over. “Sorry, Leo…your pet needs to go now.”

Leo sighed. “Story of my life, babe. Go on, take him away before I cry.” He paused as he watched the angel vanish, running his hands through his hair.

“Leo…” Leo glanced sideways at the angel and got a face full of cloth. “Put on a shirt.”

0 0 0

Light flooded Alexionn’s eyes and he groaned as he turned over in bed. Had he forgotten to pull the drapes? He didn’t remember forgetting to pull the drapes…he didn’t remember going to bed at all actually. His eyes opened slowly and he groaned again. He felt like he had gotten hit by a car.

Though he debated going back to sleep, he resolutely slipped from bed and ran his hand through his hair, wincing at the pull of his muscles. Why the hell did he hurt this badly? He only hurt like this when…he paused as he caught sight of his reflection in the mirror.

Most of the time Alexionn preferred not to look into mirrors. Mirrors were portals into other dimensions, and frankly, he disliked letting some kid walking down the street see him in his home, let alone let someone ELSE see him. Still, it was difficult to explain the shattering of the bathroom mirror to one’s landlord. The mirror had been allowed to stay.

The man looking back at him was familiar to Alexionn…and alien all at once. Rather than the sensible sweatpants he normally went to sleep in, he was dressed in a pair of form fitting leather pants that hugged every curve and left little to the imagination. Rather than his usual T-shirt, he was wearing a black leather vest that showed more skin than Alexionn liked exposed. The man reflected in the mirror was dark, sensual, dangerous.

Alexionn swore under his breath. What had happened? He remembered getting dressed to go out…wearing an outfit like the one his reflection sported would guarantee him access into the goth club ran down by the docks…so he could stop…Lucian.

Too many people were going missing, it was starting to attract attention. At first it had been just the poor in the dock area….and there were a lot of poor. Homeless people went missing and turned up dead all the time…it didn’t alarm anyone, though most of the city thought it was a damn shame…and then the daughter of a prominent politician went missing. Her body was found days later, icy to the touch, wearing an outfit Alexionn doubted her mother bought for her. The girl’s death sparked rumors….the corpses all died in great pain, they showed signs of torture…almost as if they had been…eaten.

Alexionn had made his move. He hadn’t been able to save the youth that the shadow demon had taken out…he hadn’t been there in time, but he had at last viewed his prey. He had intended on showing up at the club to see if he could save the life of whatever poor, unsuspecting kid the bastard was going to pick up.

Had he fallen asleep? Alexionn grimaced at his reflection and reached for a worn pair of jeans that his landlord’s wife, Rosita, had left neatly folded near his door. Why the hell had he fallen ASLEEP at a crucial moment like that?

Peeling the pants off of his legs, he frowned as the ache in his muscles protested even that much movement. No…he hadn’t fallen asleep. He felt like he had shifted. Frustrated, he growled. What had happened? He was dressed for the club, had the pain in his body that always followed shifting, but had woken up in his own damn bed?

He checked himself over as he unzipped the vest. No sign of blood…and there was none on his small bed either. “What the HELL?!”

“Language, Alexi.”

Whirling, Alexionn caught sight of a tall, familiar figure. The man standing in his studio apartment was tall and broad shouldered. He was achingly beautiful, deep blue eyes seeming to laugh at Alexionn’s state. Black hair framed his face as he crossed his arms over his chest. “Uriel…”

On the best of days Alexionn had very little patience for the angeli. More than not they wanted very badly to help people, but when it came down to the darkness, they were always afraid to get their hands dirty. The archangels were the only ones Alexionn could stand for long periods of time. As was usual, the angel was dressed in a matching suit, and he wore glasses. Alexionn smirked inwardly…Clark Kent Goes To Heaven. God he needed a life. “Alexi…” The angel paused. “…you look well.”

Alexionn shot the angel a glare. “I don’t look well.” He replied calmly. “I look pissed and I know it. I feel like I shifted last night but I don’t remember anything. I was going after Lucian.”

“Lucian’s dead.” Alexionn looked up in stunned surprise and met the angel’s calm eyes. “It wasn’t by your hand.” He paused. “I have something I need from you, Alexi.”

Alexionn made a face. “And I want you to stop calling me that. I haven’t been Alexi in hundreds of years, I don’t plan on changing that now.” He paused. “…what do you want?”

Uriel paused. “There’s a power rising…surely you can feel it.”

Alexionn didn’t even look up. A power rising…did that explain his restlessness lately? He had never been one prone to insomnia, but lately he could count the number of hours he slept on his fingers…and he wouldn’t have had to use both hands. Then again that probably described why he passed out and screwed up the hunt. He frowned. No…it didn’t and that was what pissed him off. “I don’t know what I feel, Uriel. I don’t care what I feel. Just tell me what you want from me.”

Uriel nodded. “Very well. I can see you’re determined to be surly today.”

Alexionn snorted. “Aren’t you an angel, one of the beings who see us at our best?”

Uriel rolled his eyes. “Alexi, I’m an archangel. I drove the demons out of Heaven. I’m not a guardian angel. I have no interest in being a guardian angel. If you want to bitch take it up with one of them.” Alexionn rolled his eyes in reply and slipped a T-shirt over his head. “But I do need your help.”

Alexionn sighed. “So you said. What is it?”

The angel paused. “Light, Alexionn. Pure light. There’s a boy, a teenager. We’ve managed to keep him safe up until now, but as he nears his majority and will come into his power…well…he’s become a beacon. He’s the Lightbringer, Alexi.”

Alexionn froze. The Lightbringer? Was he kidding? “The Lightbringer.” He repeated dumbly. “You’re telling me that the LIGHTBRINGER is a little kid.”

Uriel pursed his lips. “He’s sixteen years old, hardly a child.”

Alexionn gave the angel a cold look. “Hardly an adult either.” He paused. “You’ve kept him alive so far…why can’t you keep doing it?”

Uriel shook his head. “Because the boy is beginning his work…and because they’ve found him. Someone has to keep him safe and allow him to reach his majority. If we don’t…”

“The world spirals down into eternal darkness.” Alexionn finished, intoning the last few words. He ran a hand through his hair as he thought about the city he had come to call home. He remembered living there over the years when it was just a settlement, remembered when things were simple, when crimes like there were now were not even conceived. Slowly he closed his eyes.

Uriel knew him well enough to know when he had given in. “I want you working with someone on this.”

Alexionn’s eyes flew open. “What?!” He yelped. “Are you out of your mind? I’m not working with one of your angel peons.”

Uriel sighed, a long-suffering sound, and Alexionn paused. Very few things made Uriel sigh like that. “He’s hardly an angel, Alexi. Come…I’ll introduce you and brief you both on what we need from you in order to ensure that you are positioned correctly.”

Great. Just what Alexionn wanted to do with his day. Wordlessly he took the angel’s hand. Alexionn hated flash travel. There was something about it that made him feel vaguely nauseated, like he had left his stomach behind. “Uriel!” A male voice drawled lazily as they appeared. “And here I thought my day was incomplete after Ariel bitched me out for an hour and the stick up Mikey’s ass turned a bit putting him in a great mood…and now here you are. Well at least it’s not a stick…though in your case I think it’s probably a tree….” The voice trailed off and Alexionn was pinned by startled sapphire eyes.

A blond youth, his almost silvery hair framing his face which was insolently beautiful, stared at Alexionn as if he had seen a ghost, his mouth open. For his part, Alexionn found himself unable to look away from the boy. It wasn’t that he was beautiful or even that he had just accused two archangels of having anal probing done…it was the nagging sensation in the back of his mind that he KNEW this boy. “Well…you’ve managed to make Leo go silent. I’ll have to bring you around more often.” Uriel didn’t seem upset about the boy’s words, only crossed his arms. “Alexi, meet Leonardo Harada. Leo, this is Alexionn Tamsin, your new partner.”

The blond’s mouth dropped open. “Partner?”

For his part, Alexionn was as stunned. He knew who Leo Harada was of course…EVERYONE knew who Leo Harada was. Some said he was an abomination, that he was never meant to exist, others said that he was a savior, a sign of the coming of…The Lightbringer. Surely he was the first of his kind, the first result of a dark creature aligning with a light one. Half angel, half incubus, Leo Harada walked in both worlds.

“Partner.” Uriel confirmed. “I need you both on this. It’s imperative that you locate the boy and keep him safe.”

Leo gave the angel a dry look. “That’s all well and good, Uri, but doesn’t make much sense in the long run. In case you didn’t notice, Lexi here is very much adult.”

LEXI? Alexionn gave the boy a glare and was rewarded by a chuckle. Uriel sighed. “Try not to antagonize Alexionn, Leo. I realize it’s hard for you, but make an effort. Alexionn is going to pose as a transfer English teacher…they’re looking for one right now, the teacher is about to have a baby. You’ll have the best recommendations of course…it shouldn’t be difficult. Leo, you’ll enroll tomorrow. There’s a family out there you can stay with…and they already have a Halfling living with them.”

Leo snorted as if he found the whole thing hilarious. “A Halfling? Does he know?”

Uriel shook his head. “No. His name is Gabriel. He’s a latant talent, has an affinity over plants. You can explain to him what’s going on while you’re out there.”

Leo rolled his eyes. “God that sounds like fun…guard the kid who has to be higher on the world’s hit list than Bin Laden and then tell some poor defenseless kid that he’s half angel. You just want me to do your dirty work for you.”

Uriel rolled his eyes. “I can assure you, Leo, we were telling people unbelievable things long before you existed.”

“Which reminds me now that you mention it…I know Gabe, Uri…and I can’t figure out why Mary and those shepherds believed that pretty boy.”

Uriel sighed. “Leo.”

Leo snorted. “Like I’d say no. I just have to give you shit.” He glanced sideways. “What about you, Lexi?”

Alexionn ground his teeth. “Don’t call me that.” He ordered quietly. “A teacher. You want me to be a teacher.”

Uriel nodded once. “Yes. Maybe this is what you need, Alexi. Perhaps this is the guidance and next step in your journey.”

Leo leaned in, and Alexionn’s reply was cut off as he caught the scent of vanilla and something spicier, headier…and achingly familiar. His eyes met the sapphire blue of Leo…and the light in his gaze was almost…sympathetic. “Wasn’t it nice when angels claimed to know everything?” Leo asked dryly. “Anything else you need to tell us?”

Uriel paused. “You won’t have help when you go.” He said finally. “There’s an aural shield that blocks angels from approaching. It won’t hide him…but it hinders us. It’s been enough to keep him from being watched and taken notice of until now, but it won’t be enough to keep him hidden forever.”

Alexionn snorted. “So that’s why you need a Halfling and a shape-shifter.”

Uriel shrugged. “I never claimed you two were stupid…and I chose you two specifically. I need you to work together on this. Keep the boy safe. Keep him safe at all costs.”

Leo turned and a wicked, challenging grin crossed his face. “Well…” He held out his hand. “What do you say, Lexi? Partners?”

Alexionn paused for a moment before he slipped his hand into the Halfling’s. “Don’t call me that.”