Lucca Read online

  “Yes? The female what?”

  Lucca glanced at Gideon. “Her scent was like an aphrodisiac. You picked up her scent, didn’t you?” Hell if he had, Lucca knew without a doubt he would have fought Gideon to keep him away from her.

  Gideon frowned, obviously thinking he’d lost his mind. Hell, he thought he’d lost his mind.

  “Were you attracted to her?” he asked carefully.

  “Attracted?” He almost laughed. His lustful thoughts went beyond the causal attraction. Obsessed, fit better.

  “Yeah, attracted like you have the hots for her,” Gideon went on.

  Lucca glanced at him, wondering if the Watcher mocked him, but the guy looked serious. “Hots for her. Is this a human term you’ve picked up?”

  Gideon’s chuckle grated on his nerves. “You need to keep up with the times man, this is the twenty-first century. Learn the lingo. The hots means you find her pretty. You want to—”

  “I get the gist of it,” he interrupted him, not wanting to continue this conversation, but Gideon never knew when to shut up.

  “So, do you?”

  Lucca’s brows furrowed. “She has a comely way about her, but…”

  “You hesitate. Why?”

  “It was her scent that drew me.” He looked at Gideon now, weighing his statement and wondering if he understood. Gideon liked the human realm and lived among them easily enough. Maybe this was a common happening. Gideon tugged on his arm, halting their steps. At this rate, he’d never arrive home.

  “You were drawn in by her scent?” Gideon moved closer and lowered his voice as if he feared someone would overhear the conversation. “That’s why you went all stalker-like back there?”

  A quick glance around them, told Lucca whispering wasn’t necessary. A woman and her two children walked toward their car with ice cream cones in their hands. Two men dressed in polo shirts and nice slacks headed in the opposite direction. Their attire and their slick back hair told him they were looking to get lucky. Most likely their destination would lead them to World’s End. Not a preternatural being in sight and he didn’t sense one lurking in the shadows, but he didn’t begrudge Gideon his I-gotta-secret-to-tell covert operation. Finally, the overdone production played out, and Gideon revealed what he knew.

  “It’s rumored that Eli found his mate by her scent.”

  Lucca snorted and took a step back. He wasn’t sniffing for a soul mate. There had to be another … more logical explanation. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

  Gideon lifted his shoulders in a shrug. “The elders are looking into it. They’re recording any information Eli can provide. Ryden, Eli’s mate—”

  “I know who she is.”

  Gideon ignored the interruption. “Ryden has agreed to be tested. See if being mated to Eli has changed her in any way.”

  Lucca rubbed the tense muscles in the back of his neck. “What do you mean changed her?”

  “The elders are interested to know if we take human mates if the mate’s lifespan will increase. You know like other shifters and their mates. The bonding ritual tends to make the human mate live longer, almost as long as the shifter they’re bonded to.”

  “I know the biological makings of a bonded were-creature. What does that have to do with the Fallen?”

  “In a sense, we function like a shifter.”

  He harrumphed with obvious annoyance. “You compare us to werewolves and such? We do not have the capability to shift to a lower being.”

  Gideon chuckled then covered his amusement with a cough.

  Most likely his lethal glare did the trick of shutting his trap. “You find this humorous?”

  “Yeah. Haven’t you always said humans were inferior beings? My friend, we shift from angelic beings to the so-called inferior human. We’re shifters.”

  Gideon’s smug look boiled his blood to the point that he found his hands balled into fists. One more word and he would punch the arrogant slant of Gideon’s mouth right off his face. “Shifters,” he spat and hissed, baring his fangs.

  “I do prove my point, or do you believe exposing your fangs makes you civilized.?” He grinned even more, letting his fangs lengthen, too.

  Through history, humans had mistaken the Fallen as vampires who could fly. Looking at Gideon’s fanged mug, made him realize why they came up with such a ludicrous idea.

  He drew in a deep breath, letting the anger go as Gideon’s words truly sunk in. Eli found his mate by her scent. If it were true, that would mean… His gaze wavered down the block where he could still make out the light illuminating inside the Laundromat and spilling out onto the sidewalk. He shook his head. “No.” He refused to believe he’d fallen so low as to lust after a human.” She’s your mate. His pesky subconscious mocked him. “No, she’s not.”

  “What did you say?” Gideon’s brows furrowed.

  “Nothing.” He turned away. “Will you piss off, Gideon. I’m off for home.” He cringed at the word home. He never believed he would think of a place on the human realm as home, but there it was: life as a human. It sounded like a bad sitcom.

  “Fine, I’ll call on you tomorrow.”

  Lucca waved his hand over his head in farewell, but then remembered something important. “Gideon?” The Watcher turned to look at him in question. “When you happened upon me at World’s End, did you see anyone else with Kordon?”

  Gideon’s ruddy eyebrows drew together over the bridge of his nose. “Do you mean besides his goons?”

  Lucca nodded.

  “No. Why?” Gideon looked at him with concern. “Are you sure you’re okay? Do you need me to heal you?” He took a step forward and Lucca immediately stepped back, holding up his hands.

  “I’m fine. I don’t need your hands on me.”

  Gideon shook his head. “You know, you’re a stubborn sod. Heal like a human then. Maybe it’ll do you some good.” The glamour clogged the air and Gideon went off to do whatever the Nephilim did on the human realm.

  Heal like a human, he says. His fingers gingerly touched his scalp where a lump had already formed. This beating was nothing compared to others he’d endured.

  He shoved his hands in his pockets as he strode toward his apartment. What did Gideon do on this realm besides pester him? He’d make a conscious choice to find out. Gideon may be his only friend and only contact with what transpired in the Otherworldly realm. He could prove useful in finding out the elders’ progress with soul mates.

  Chapter Five

  Juliet frowned as she folded the clothes and placed them in the laundry basket. Who were those two men? Her senses honed in immediately that the auburn haired male was one of the Watchers, one of the Nephilim. His glamour poured over him in spades, but the other one… At first she thought he was one too, but his aura didn’t burn like the Nephilim’s would. God, her heart had stilled as her gaze slid over him in appreciation: Tall, broad shouldered and looking like he walked off the pages of a medieval romance novel. His brooding good looks and overbearing attitude only added to the fantasy. The only thing missing was his broadsword.

  His friend, the Watcher stood just as forceful, but with his spiked auburn hair and dangling earring, he looked more like a modern day rebel. Strange combination. The rebel claimed his friend was taking medication, but she’d swear the warrior’s eyes were lucid. They were the color of a stormy winter sky, a bluish-gray that seemed to burn right into her. It was if he wanted to ravish her on the spot. Forget they were in a Laundromat and there were witnesses. It was like he didn’t see anyone but her.

  She smoothed a wayward hair away from her face as she remembered how her body had tingled all over with awareness from that look. What would have happened if he touched her?

  In truth, she’d reached for her Glock, but faltered when the man’s gaze locked with hers again with a powerful slam of something hot, steamy, and full of promises. Maybe she should have grabbed for her protection amulet around her neck. It was one of King Solomon’s seals with ancient symbols against evil and
harm. Raziel had given it to her. It was one of many gifts and came in handy on a few occasions. However, she didn’t sense evil in the man who felt inclined to sniff her hair, only ... lust. No, that wasn’t all of it. It was recognition as if he had been searching for her all his life and his quest had finally ended. “I’m going crazy.”

  “Did say you something, Auntie Jules?”

  Juliet glanced over at Owen who sat on the chairs reading the latest graphic novel he picked up at the comic book store yesterday. “No, just thinking out loud.”

  Owen’s lips slipped into an easy smile before he went back to his book. Every so often he wiped his nose with the Kleenex he had clutched in his hand.

  The laundry soap and fabric softener fragranced the air, but the warrior-looking man had come in demanding she reveal the perfume she wore as if the scent was what drove him to distraction. She raised her forearm to her nose and took a hesitant sniff then a deeper one, feeling ridiculous as she did so. She smelled like her Dove soap, nothing out of the ordinary. The guy had to have a few screws loose. She reached for Owen’s T-shirt to fold next. She should have asked for their names, but the truth was she’d been a little in awe herself. Maybe not by the man’s scent, though when he stepped closer, his earthy allure did catch her attention.

  She picked up the last item and quickly folded the pair of jeans and placed it in the full laundry basket. She glanced at her watch and grimaced. Time had ticked away and she still needed groceries. Maybe she’d just hit the mini-mart down the block from where they lived and pick up a few items to hold her over until tomorrow.

  She hoisted the basket up, taking most of the weight on one hip. “Ready to go, kiddo?” She looked at Owen.

  “Boy, am I.” He grabbed his backpack and slipped his graphic novel inside before putting his arms through the straps. “Auntie Jules?”

  “Hmm?”

  “Who was the man who sniffed your hair?” He rubbed his nose with the back of his hand.

  A good question and she wished she had a good answer. “I don’t know.” They headed for the door and Owen held it open for her.

  “He looked like he really liked you. I thought he was going to kiss you right there and then.”

  She choked back a chuckle. Kissing her seemed more of an afterthought to the guy. When the man’s gaze finally lingered on her lips, for about half a second, she thought he’d indulge, but then he backed away. She’d been disappointed. It was an odd feeling to have when she didn’t even know the man.

  Owen looked up at her thoughtfully as they walked to the car. “Why don’t you date?”

  She fumbled with her car keys, but managed not to drop them. “I don’t need to date. I have you.”

  Owen shook his head, not buying her explanation. “Dylan’s mother goes on dates. She says she needs it now and again.” His gaze met hers. “What do you suppose she means by needing it?”

  “Uh…” She had a good idea, but Owen was a little too young to hear about it. “She probably means grown up talk.” She opened the car door to the backseat and waited for Owen to file in and put on his seatbelt. “Listen, kiddo, if I find the right guy, I might go on a date one day, but I’m in no hurry.”

  “You don’t need it?” He gave her a direct look. Worry shadowed his gaze.

  She smiled and patted his leg. “I’m fine.” Need it? She’d be lying if she hadn’t said she fantasized about sex. Fantasized being the appropriate word. Ten years ago, before she became the guardian for a Nephilim child, she hoped to marry, but her betroth had died, like so many, of the black disease. Now, in this century, sex didn’t necessarily mean marriage came with the bonding. With all of Raziel’s knowledge, she couldn’t change her upbringing. Casual sex wasn’t what she wanted. To sleep with a man, she’d have to love him, trust him with her life and with Owens. No, dating wasn’t an option for her. Therefore, sex was out of the question, too.

  As she slid into the driver’s seat, her cell rang. Her hand fished into her purse. Her hand brushed over the dagger Raziel had given her for protection against Angels and the Nephilim included. The power radiating from the weapon was like a live wire flowing with electricity. Humans saw the dagger as an intricate carved stick. Preternatural beings would see its true self, recognizing the danger. Finally her fingers clasped the Bluetooth. She attached the device onto her ear. “Hello.” She started the car. She glanced in her mirrors before easing onto the road.

  “Hey, my gal.” It was Leroy Fennings, a dear friend, a Watcher who ran a café in Orange. He was also her mentor.

  Raziel knew magic, real magic from the elements, not an over the counter version of hocus-pocus. The Archangel touched her, opened her to the otherworld, but she still had a lot to learn. Leroy was teaching her to control the magic, master it so it didn’t master her.

  “What’s up, Leroy?”

  “Oh, the usual. How’s the new place?”

  “It’s perfect. Thanks for putting a good word in with the landlord.”

  “Not a problem. Have you met the neighbors yet?”

  Most of the Watchers didn’t believe in forging friendships, but Leroy had lived on the Earth’s realm for some time now. He also liked to play matchmaker with his patrons. She so far had stayed under his radar, but she had a hunch it wasn’t going to last. He’d been eyeing her and asking questions to find out her likes and dislikes. He thought he was doing it on the sly and she let him believe it. “Not yet. We’re staying at the place for the first night tonight.”

  “Good, good.” There was a long pause before he spoke again. “Are you free tomorrow morning.? I’d like you to stop by. I have someone you should meet.”

  Her lips curved. “Who’s this somebody? Male or female? You know how I feel about meeting new people. No blind dates for me.” The light turned red and she slowed to a stop. The engine purred softly as it idled.

  He chuckled. “He’s male and you’ll like him. Besides, you’re too pretty a lass to be by yourself, but I promise I won’t push. Fate has a way of finding you no matter where you hide.”

  “Fate would have to be a great sleuth then, now wouldn’t she?” Leroy was clairvoyant, sensitive to the future and what it held. It wasn’t always spot on, due to human choices and unforeseen interferences. Every being’s path had three outcomes, depending on those choices.

  She tried not to think about it too much. Alternate universes and changing destinies seemed too science fiction to her, but then Leroy spoke of her future. Had he found her intended soul mate? She crinkled her nose at the thought. She couldn’t risk a relationship. Leroy knew this and still the Watcher insisted she take the herb to ward off unwanted pregnancies from preternatural beings. She tried to give it back, but he told her it was in case one of the Nephilim caught her eye. Her sister may have fancied Angels, but it didn’t mean her taste ran in the same direction. She’d taken the herbs anyway, tucking them in her sock drawer for safe keeping. “Does nine work for you?” she asked. The light changed and she lifted her foot off the brake.

  “Good as rain.”

  Leroy used the phrase as if saying yes didn’t quite cut it for him. “You mean right as rain.”

  “So you say, but good as rain suits me better.”

  She chuckled. “All right, Leroy. I’ll see you tomorrow then.”

  Chapter Six

  Lucca knew he should stay home and order in, but he wanted chocolate chip cookies. He craved an indulgence after a good fight. It used to be a smoke and a brandy, but once he tasted his first chunky-chocolate chip cookie, nothing could come close to the bit of heaven it supplied.

  The mini-mart down the street carried his favorite brand. After washing away the grunge the Hashasheen demons left on him, he brushed the long stands of hair away from his face, tying his bangs off with a leather strip, but leaving the back portion of his hair free.

  His ribs were still sore and there were a few scrapes on his face along with a bruised cheekbone, but presentable without raising too many eyebrows.

&n
bsp; He grunted in annoyance as he frowned at his reflection. The woman, who owned the mini-mart, feared him. Her hands shook when she handed him his change, as if she worried he would grab her arm and rip it from its socket. Heck, some of the questionable sorts who might have gang ties didn’t make her quake as he did.

  He was pretty sure it was his size that intimidated her. He towered over most and from centuries of wielding a broad sword, his arms were big as tree trunks—or so some female told him a few years back, as her fingers caressed his biceps. Hmm…she hadn’t feared him, but her annoying attempts to seduce him became tedious. When he didn’t respond to her attempts, she eventually grew weary and turned to some other poor soul. Good riddance, he had thought at the time. He had no need for a human female’s attention.

  He locked up his place and headed out into the courtyard. A fountain sporting a ridiculous cherub on top, stood as the focal point. Brick benches curved around the rim of it, allowing the tenants a place to lounge. The landscape was kept fresh and trimmed by a gardener. Overall, the place had a homey appeal.

  His gaze caught sight of the hydrangea plant with its pink clustered flowers. There had been a ‘for rent’ sign in front of it a few days ago. Its absence meant he had a new neighbor across the way. God, he hoped they didn’t have any children. He shivered at the thought. Children were worse than Hashasheen demons when it came to high pitch screams for no reason other than to hear their own voices.

  He shoved opened the wrought iron gate leading out to the street, letting it close behind him. With his hands in his pockets, he strolled at a quick pace toward his destination. He should have donned a jacket. The wind proved brisk, the temperature dropping again from a few hours ago. The cold seeping through his clothing felt like tiny fingers searching for an entrance into his body.