Page 6 of Knight’s Absolution

Chaos gave him a chin lift. “What’s up?”

Gunner leaned his ass against one of the desks and crossed his arms. “I saw Roc last night. He fought beside me and Silas for most of the night.”

Silas nodded. “He was quiet, but he seemed more…focused.”

“Yeah?” There was no missing the hope in Chaos’s voice, or the pain. “You think he’s nearly ready to come home?”

“There’s still so much rage inside him, brother. He’s got his demon in control for now, but it wouldn’t take much to flip him out. I say we keep with the slow and steady approach for now.” Gunner let his gaze hit both his brothers. “And honestly, being around you and your mates might be the thing that sends him over the edge. It needs to be on his terms, when he’s feeling solid enough to be around it.”

Gunner found it hard enough to be around the loved-up couples in the compound on the regular, and he’d only felt his mate’s presence for a short time before she vanished—disappearing before he could get to her. He’d never laid eyes on her, knew nothing about her, and still, her loss was a yawning hole in his chest that no amount of killing or fucking could repair.

Not that he’d been up for the latter in quite a while. The killing, though, he’d been partaking in liberally.

He zeroed in on the slight weight around his neck, the small gold cross he never took off.

Close to a year ago, when things had been seriously fucked up for all of them, Gunner had been so unstable, so close to succumbing to his inner demon and hurting someone, he’d had to ask his brothers to lock him away. That’s when he felt her. His mate. He couldn’t get to her. And when he’d finally gotten free, he’d followed what he could only describe as a shadow, an echo of her presence.

He’d found this little cross on the pavement.

It was hers. He was in no doubt that it had once hung around his mate’s throat. The chain was delicate and just fit around his neck.

“He belongs here with his brothers,” Chaos said.

Silas’s silver gaze moved between them. “We can’t force it.”

Laz growled. “You’re not family, angel. Butt the fuck out.”

Silas stiffened but dipped his chin. “Apologies.” He backed up a step. “I’m just heading out, anyway. I found one of Lucifer’s handmaids. They used to have the ability to move between Heaven and Earth freely, it’s a long shot, but maybe she can help us get Kyler back to Rocco.” Then he turned and walked out.

“You gonna lighten up on him anytime soon?” Gunner asked.

Lazarus swung to him, still pissed. “Until you have a mate, I suggest you not comment, brother. Because that angel chose to withhold information, I almost fucking lost mine.”

Gunner bit back the growl climbing up his throat, fighting back what he really wanted to say as his blood pumped hotly through his veins. His brothers didn’t know what happened with Gunner’s own female, or that losing her was a direct result of what happened with Eve when Laz brought her to the compound that first time. And Gunner wasn’t sure if he’d ever be ready to tell them.

He sure as hell didn’t want their pity.

“But you fucking have her, though, right, Laz?” Apparently, he was going to say a few more things after all. “She’s walking and breathing and sharing your bed every night. I get you’re pissed, he shouldn’t have kept shit from you back then…but she’s okay. You have your mate.”

Laz growled.

Chaos cursed.

“Silas has tried to make amends, repeatedly. He’s actively trying to get Kyler back to Roc, right this fucking minute,” Gunner bit out. “Eve has no problem with the angel, so why the hell can’t you let this shit go?”

“I’m thankful for what he’s doing for Roc, I am, but, brother, you don’t know what you’re talking about,” Laz fired back.

“Silas had his wings literally torn from his fucking back and most of his powers drained before he was thrown away by his family for helping us. We are his motherfucking family. It’s time to get your head out of your damned ass, ’cause the way I see it, you’re doing a fuck of a lot better than he is right now.”

They stared at each other, Laz breathing hard.

“We don’t have time for this right now,” Chaos said as he stepped in between them.

Gunner forced himself to break eye contact. “I sure as fuck don’t. I’m gonna go find Roc, make sure he’s not dismembering demons in the middle of the goddamn street.”

Tugging his shirt off, Gunner tucked it in the back of his jeans and stepped out onto the balcony. Extending his bronze and gold wings, he took flight, heading for the city.

It didn’t take long to find Roc. He was where Gunner often found him. On the roof of one of the buildings overlooking the alley where the portal opened every solstice and equinox. Where demons tried to escape Hell.