Gabe nodded. “And remote mountaintops wouldn’t be razed to make room for new cities. It’s a good idea, Niel.”

“You know,” Shadow said, kicking out a chair and taking a seat on the wide terrace, “it’s always bothered me as to why there were Nephilim weapons in the Temple of the Trinity. It made no sense. Why would Raziel have stored them there? You,” she addressed Niel, “thought it was because he was screwing with you. What if he knew of Belial’s plans, and he was offering you help?”

“Without any explanation?” Niel snorted derisively. “That would be typical!”

Ash exchanged worried glances with his two brothers. “It’s a possibility, I guess. I never really considered why they were there. I was too worried about getting out of the temple at the time. And after, well… I didn’t care.”

Gabe stared at Niel. “You saw them better than I did. Whose were they?”

“There were a few different Houses. Tiril, Tumael, Baraquel, Meresin, and others I can’t remember.” He frowned as he sorted through his memories. “None particularly ominous. There were swords, shields, daggers. I considered taking a couple and then decided against it. Like you said, Ash. There was a lot going on.”

The terrace was dark now, the last rays of the sun had dwindled while they talked, and only a dim lamp from the room beyond and the city lights illuminated them. Shadow placed her sword on the table, and pale light glinted along the blade. “Were they as strong as this is? Imbued with magic and special metals?”

“Not fey-made, if that’s what you mean,” Ash said, picking up her sword. He had handled it before. It was incredibly light for its size, and perfectly weighted. The blade was engraved, but the hilt was plain except for a curl of a dragon’s tail engraved around it. “But yes, they had Fallen Angel magic. None were as fine as this, though.”

“Forged on Earth, that’s why,” Niel said. “However, they were stronger than the weapons we have now, even though El has woven magic in them. I didn’t want one though, if I’m honest. We carry enough of our past with us.”

“A gift, nevertheless,” Shadow said. “He knew, or suspected. He was arming you for a fight.”

“Well, he should have left fucking instructions!” Gabe said viciously. “Damn angel games.”

“It’s done,” Ash said, suddenly tired of the discussion. “Ultimately, it doesn’t matter whose weapons they were, or why they were there. We have no access to them, and don’t want them. What we have now is more than enough. As to how Jiri is here, well, no doubt we’ll find that out when we find him. We should also assume that if he’s here, others could be, too. It will make our job a little harder, that’s all.” He smiled at his brothers. “I take heart from the fact that they haven’t achieved world domination, and Belial does not stride amongst us.” He stood up. “Come on. Let’s eat, find the palazzo, and scope the area. Then we should have a quiet night while we can get it. The beds look too good not to sleep in.”

Thirteen

“I’m sorry about Reuben’s teasing, yesterday,” Nahum said to Olivia over breakfast in her flat on Monday morning. “He just gets carried away.”

He’d mulled over Reuben’s jokes all night, hoping Olivia wasn’t about to run for the hills and decide to have nothing to do with him at all. Nahum had a good sense of humour, but he’d just felt awkward yesterday. It was stupid, really, because Olivia seemed to handle it well. Everyone liked her. And she’d been invited to the wedding. As his plus one!

“He’s a tease,” she said, laughing. “Navia! Cheeky sod!”

“He’s always the same with everyone. He’s a joker.”

“He means well. He’s not malicious. Just naughty. I like naughty.” She gave him an impish grin, and his breath quickened. He still hadn’t got used to seeing her in her silk pyjamas and bathrobe, bare of makeup, and with her hair tousled. Although, it was brushed now, and he could smell the minty toothpaste from across the table. It felt intimate with breakfast laid out between them. Breakfast he’d insisted on preparing.

“Please don’t feel you have to go to the wedding, either,” he continued. “I mean, of course you’re welcome, but he might have put you on the spot.”

“If I’m honest, I’d love to go. A hand-fasting! I’ve never been to one before. I can’t wait. Are you sure you don’t mind? I don’t want to intrude. Our lives have become very enmeshed lately.”

“Well, you are carrying my ‘Nahum package.’ They’ll be even more enmeshed soon.” He grinned. “Unless, of course, Reuben and my brothers have scared you off.”

“They are all amazing. It’s a long way off though yet.” She patted her flat stomach, but her smile faded. “I must tell Natalie. She’s my best friend, and I’m keeping everything from her. I won’t mention what you are, but I have to say something. It’s killing me not to.”

“Of course you have to tell her. If she wants to meet me, I’ll play normal.”

“Thank you, but she’ll pepper you with a million questions, so we’ll put that off for a while. I need her to acclimatise first.” She glanced around her eclectically decorated flat that was full of occult objects and treasures from her travels. “At least you haven’t had to rescue me from anything yet.”

“And won’t. It’s a precaution.” He checked his watch. “We have a few hours before we have to sign the paperwork at the British Museum and we become insanely rich. Anything you want to do first?”

“Actually,” she said, buttering her toast, “why don’t we go to the museum early, and check out the displays? They have a huge amount of ancient Mesopotamian and Assyrian treasures, and also the Sutton Hoo treasure. I love it there. Who knows, we may even see something useful. They even have JD’s old scrying glass. Mason has given me the time. I checked with him yesterday.” She laughed. “I think he thinks that with me and Harlan there, we might get on the news and drum up more work for The Orphic Guild. He’s probably right, too. I’m amazed he’s not coming.”

“Do you really think it will be on the news?”

“Today? Maybe. They could see this as stage one of their publicity plan. Having authenticated the treasure, they will be planning a huge display, and when they announce the news to the public, it will be enormous. Newspapers, TV. Everywhere! You found Templar treasure!” She stared at him, amused. “This has been debated over for hundreds of years, searched for by countless numbers of people, and you found a large part of it. In fact, I’m probably underestimating the impact this might have. It could well dominate headlines for weeks when it breaks. They’ve sat on it for months while they catalogue everything, but now? All bets are off. Knowing Theo, he might have organised some publicity, too. The village will be inundated with visitors. Are they opening the church vault where you found everything?”

Nahum looked at her, baffled. “I haven’t even considered that!”

“If they’ve preserved the place, and I’m sure they will have, it will be a huge money maker. They’ll probably open it for tours.”

“Well, it’s certainly possible to organise access from the crypt, but they’d have to make it more accessible, and yes, organised tours only, I’m sure. Wow!” Nahum sipped his coffee, remembering the fight with the Knights of Truth and Justice, the Templars’ descendants, the huge, vaulted space beneath the church, the traps, and the riddles. “I’ve been so busy with Black Cronos, I hadn’t considered any of it, but of course they will open it up. I’m sure Theo will have been working on it for months! I’m such an idiot!”

Olivia laughed. “Having missed out on all that fun, I know I must visit it! And I can’t wait to see the treasure this morning. If they show it to us. They could be cagey about it, even now.”

“I didn’t consider that.” He returned to her suggestion that they might be on the news that morning. “Say the publicity machine does start today, I’m not sure we should be photographed and splashed over the papers. We might be recognised by Jiri.”

Olivia froze. “He knows you?”

“It’s possible.” Nahum shrugged, trying to cast his uneasy feelings aside. “Unlikely though, right? I mean, there were hundreds of us. It’s not like we all knew each other. Sorry.” He smiled, trying to make light of it. “I’m just paranoid.”

“I might be wrong, too. There may be no press there at all. Besides, you will get to choose whether you want to be photographed or not. Theo will choose to be, I’m sure. So will Harlan. It means you’re off the hook, as long as they have someone for photos!” She bit into her toast, chewing slowly and looking thoughtful. “As for The Brotherhood, it’s unlikely they have photos of you. I mean, no one knows we were involved with Jacobsen’s death. However, we can’t forget that Amato knew about Gabe and the others.”

“But Belial saw us,” Nahum reminded her. He’d never forget the look on Jacobsen’s face as he whirled around in the nave, eyes wide with terror. “Not like a photo, but through the connection with his jewels and Jacobsen, and he will have told Jiri and whoever else. He can connect with them, mentally. They would know what we look like. We have all carried his jewels.” He tried to suppress the shudder that ran through him at the memories of using them at the farmhouse. He and Eli had channelled Belial’s power and had become incandescent with his angelic magic, allowing them to crush many Black Cronos soldiers. He would have known. And Ash had survived because of Belial. “He warned Jacobsen that I was behind him, and he would have detected that his jewels were used. Plus, he obviously knows you and our baby. He possessed you!”

“But really,” Olivia persisted, “would he have known what we looked like? He doesn’t have eyes. He wasn’t in Jacobsen, or Amato, from what you’ve said. He felt your presence. Our energy.”

“But he’s a Fallen Angel. He would see what others couldn’t. They set a trap for us, under the church in Florence.” Nahum glanced uneasily around the room as if he was watching them now. He rubbed his jaw, feeling the clenched muscle. He really was becoming paranoid and over analysing everything.

Olivia sat back, as thoughtful as Nahum. “He’s the Angel of Death and Destruction. The bringer of madness. Maybe you feeling paranoid is exactly what he wants. I don’t think he can know what we look like!”

“So how do you explain what happened in Florence with Amato?”

“Like you said. You touched his jewels, and he registered your presence. He alerted The Brotherhood. Perhaps they can attune to your energy if you’re in close proximity? He clearly has a level of consciousness, which is why Jacobsen knew you were behind him in the church. And of course!” she said, rolling her eyes. “You said Amato was wearing his jewels that Shadow removed. He would have whispered to him as he did to Jacobsen, knowing you were watching him in Florence.” She smiled, pleased with herself. “That must be right! You’re the angel expert. What do you think? Logically! Let’s not get paranoid.”

He huffed, resigned to her suggestion. “Yes, that is the most likely scenario. When we carry his jewels, it’s like we’re wiring ourselves to him. An even better reason not to carry them. Now I’m even happier that they’re in the cellar, under levels of spell protection. Hopefully my brothers are now invisible to Belial again, although I’m sure they are searching for us. I’m sorry that you were dragged into this.”

“I was the one who dragged you into this! Anyway, it’s done now, and we have to deal with it.” She leaned forward, squeezing his hand. It was the first time she had touched him in days. Weeks, even. They had kept a wary distance, apart from an awkward hug in greeting. A hug that said, I’m pleased to see you, but we’re just friends. Her touch was electric, and they both felt it. To her credit, she didn’t pull back. “We’re in this together, and I don’t regret a thing. Not what happened between us, or our impending child. We’ll get through it.”

“Yes, we will. I promise.” He wrapped his fingers around hers, fighting back the urge to lean in and kiss her. To lose himself in her soft skin and warm embrace again. He didn’t want to think about how their daughter might not survive, or how he’d feel if the worst happened. How the loss would strike both of them like a blow. For now, their futures were entwined and ripe with possibilities and promise.

Silence stretched between them, their gazes locked, words bound behind their uncertainty, both unwilling to say more and risk everything. Then Nahum’s phone rang, shattering the silence, and he wasn’t sure whether to curse the interruption or welcome it.

Shadow studied their unexpected visitor, Romola Falco from The Orphic Guild, who Niel had just admitted to their apartment, hoping that they could trust her.

“We were expecting a phone call, not you in the flesh,” Niel said, eyeing her warily. “Is everything okay?”

She beamed at him, eyes roving over his impressive physique before resting on his face. “Everything is great, but I decided that what I had to share should be said in person, rather than over the phone. All of this is fascinating! Especially the Lambertis.” She tapped the leather briefcase she carried. “I have lots of information in here. Sorry if my arrival has upset your plans.” She cast a quizzical look at all of them gathered in the lounge, watching her with narrowed eyes.