When everyone settled down and all the children had been scooped up, we made our way into the living room where introductions were made. It felt weird to be back with my family. It wasn’t quite the same group I’d left behind, and the dynamic was different now that there were kids and spouses.
My gaze snagged on the blond boy in Sam’s arms. Unlike the other children, I couldn’t read his emotions. There wasn’t a drop of human blood in him.
“Your son’s an angel.” I can admit it wasn’t the best opening comment. I was so shocked by the fact that one of Sam and Piper’s adopted kids was an angel, my brain felt disconnected from my mouth.
“And?” Sam asked, warning sparking in his dark eyes.
I blinked. “Nothing. I just hadn’t known that.” The little boy had to have been born into the sixth or seventh order. He looked about five, and angels from the other orders usually couldn’t hide their wings until they were at least twice that age.
“I think there’s a lot we don’t know about each other at this point.”
A flash of sadness swept through me. I didn’t have enough time to get to know my brothers’ kids. I’d be the uncle who showed up from time to time, who missed birthday parties and holidays because I was traveling the world, looking for fallen angels. But I couldn’t have everything. We’d make it work. Video chats and birthday cards. I could find a way to be a part of my family’s lives.
We spent the next couple of hours sharing stories and catching up. It was strange being with everyone. In some ways it felt like we were exactly the same as we’d always been, and in other ways it was like we were strangers to each other.
Nova, Nathaniel and Sierra’s Nephilim baby, was almost four now. She didn’t remember me at all.
I’d never met Sam and Piper’s kids.
Danielle had gotten married to a human—Maggie’s half brother, Hayden—in January, right around the time Roth had stolen Laila out of Heaven.
The only people whose lives didn’t seem drastically different were Micah and Kylie.
When we’d covered all the most important points from the past three plus years, Danielle took Laila to Sam’s room to work on healing her wings. Everyone else headed for the kitchen and dining room to prepare dinner or get in the way of the people preparing dinner.
“Jor.” Sam pulled me toward the hallway between the bedroom and living room. “I wanted to talk to you about something.”
“What’s up?”
“Dion’s seventh order. He’s a brilliant kid, and he’s already doing well training to use weapons and control his heavenly fire, but it’s different for him than it was for me or Nate.”
“He’s got different strengths and weaknesses.”
“Yeah. I was wondering if you have any advice on how to teach him to fight.”
“Don’t give up on him. He’s going to have to work harder to get to the same place you are. And make sure you give him enough time to heal. He’s not going to be as fast or heal as quickly as you, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be a fighter. He just doesn’t have the same advantages.”
Sam nodded. “Thanks.” And then to my absolute shock, he pulled me into a hug. “Dammit, it’s good to have you back.”
I hugged him back hard. “You know I’m leaving again tomorrow.”
“You’re still back. You’ll visit, and you better pick up your damn phone when I call.”
I laughed. “I can do that.”
“Good. Now you should probably get in there before Danielle starts. According to Nate, regrowing wings hurts like hell. You should go hold your wife’s hand or do something else sweet and utterly useless.”
“I’m thinking it’s a good thing you never had to go through labor with Piper.”
Sam smirked. “You’re probably right. Now quit stalling and get in there.”
EPILOGUE
Laila
Two Months Later
My back itched.It had been getting worse lately. I was sort of glad my body had been healing so slowly while I was in Hell. This was a whole new kind of torture. I reached behind me to scratch my back, but a hand stopped me.
