I didn’t really want to think about it. Those weapons were too dangerous for anyone to wield. We had to hide them—or destroy them. Part of me protested the thought of destroying them. It was probably the same part that had made the weapons turn on Valiant and kill him.

The door creaked open and Calli peeked inside. “The First Angel is coming across the lawn.”

Nero rose. “Stay here and keep quiet,” Nero said to his father.

I slowly pushed myself up. Before I could get very far, Nero leaned down and swooped me up into his arms. The front door opened as he set me onto one of the sofas in the living room.

“Stay outside,” Nyx commanded her guards, then shut the door. She followed Calli into the living room.

“First Angel,” Nero said, bowing.

Nyx’s eyes flitted from him to me, bundled up in blankets on the sofa.

“I would bow, but I think I might open my wounds and pass out at your feet,” I said with a small smile.

“It’s quite all right, dear,” she replied. “Rise, Nero. We don’t have time for silly pleasantries.” She sat down on the sofa opposite mine, watching him take a seat next to me. “Have you forgotten how to heal people, Colonel?”

“No. She was shot by an immortal weapon. It’s not healing as fast as it should.”

“Immortal weapon, you say. Well, Colonel, that’s what we’re here to discuss.” She folded her hands together on her lap. “I got your report. And Colonel Fireswift’s report.” Her mouth thinned into a hard line. “They vary greatly.”

“With all due respect, Colonel Fireswift like to blow hot air.” He paused, dipping his head. “First Angel.”

Nyx took a cookie for the dish on the table, laughing. It was a genuine laugh. This was the side of Nyx that I liked.

“Ok, let’s hear it.”

So we told her Nero’s carefully crafted story. She listened in silence.

When we were finished, she brushed the cookie crumbs from her hands and said bluntly, “I don’t believe it. Osiris Wardbreaker’s and Valiant’s remains do seem to confirm that at least part of your story is true. Remind me again why Wardbreaker’s only ashes.”

“The weapons,” Nero said.

“Right.” Nyx paused. “And the weapons?”

“Destroyed during the fight.”

“So, you expect me to believe that weapons forged in heaven and hell could be destroyed just like that?”

Nero said nothing. Neither did I. We’d both agree that it was best. Being a smart ass would just get us into trouble.

Nyx sighed. “Well, I suppose it’s for the best. I just hope those weapons don’t resurface.” She shot us a hard look. “Ok, now, we come to the fun part.”

That sounded ominous.

“I trust you both remember our last conversation together, so this shouldn’t come as a surprise,” she said. “The two of us cause trouble. Nonstop.” She glanced at me. “You are a bad influence on him.”

“Actually, he’s a bad influence on me, I think.”

Nero’s hand closed around my wrist.

Nyx’s eyes dipped to that gesture. “Going to throw yourself in front of her to protect her from my wrath?” she asked, amused.

“Thankfully, that doesn’t seem necessary.”

“Indeed not.” She looked from me to him, shaking her head in slow disbelief. “What am I going to do with you two?”

I wasn’t sure if that was a rhetorical question or an actual question. I went with the safe option and chose to keep my mouth shut.

“Nero, you should have just let Colonel Fireswift deal with her,” Nyx said.

“He certainly tried to deal with her.”

“What do you mean?”

“She nearly died under his command. From the Nectar.”

“A lot of people died that night or almost died,” Nyx pointed out.

“Because they weren’t ready for the Nectar. Not because their Nectar was laced with Venom.”

Surprise flashed in Nyx’s eyes. “Are you sure?”

“I tested her blood. Someone tried to poison Leda.” His brow arched.

“iI wasn’t Colonel Fireswift,” Nyx said, picking up on the implication. “That’s ridiculous. You are letting your feelings cloud your judgment. Colonel Fireswift is a loyal soldier of the Legion.”

“You know as well as I that his ambition defines him. It guides his actions. He would do whatever it takes to secure his legacy, his family’s legacy.”

“Enough, Nero. You two have never liked each other, but even he wouldn’t go that far.”

“I will be keeping my eye on him. And especially on her,” he said, intertwining his fingers with mine.

“That will soon be difficult,” replied Nyx. “Look, unofficially, off the record, you two did a great job. You kept the relics out of enemy hands, stopped a rogue angel and stopped a misguided pilgrim who had the power to destroy everything we’re working for. If you two hadn’t acted fast like you had, we might very well be at war right now. You did the right thing. You are strong, true, and resourceful. A bit too resourceful if what I hear from the paranormal soldiers stationed in town is true.” The corner of her mouth quirked up. “The Legion is lucky to have you.”

She pauses, giving them a hard look. “But officially, I can’t say any of that. You went out on your own, knowing that if you’d come to me, I would have told you to let Colonel Fireswift handle it. You two are trouble together. Explosive. I can’t have you at the same office together. I can’t have her under your command, Nero. So I’m doing the only thing I can.”