“Fuck you.”
He rammed forward in a flash, forcing me to blink back several steps to avoid his incoming blow. Instead of pursuing me, his attention lingered on the chain dangling from my fist.
“Where did you find the necklace?” His voice came out in a low growl, and his upper lip lifted, reminding me of a cornered animal.
“None of your business.” I jabbed my sword toward his chest, taking advantage of being higher and his sudden fixation on the jewelry.
I expected him to parry my blow, but instead he leaned backward so I swiped empty air.
Taking advantage of the move, I shot a tidal wave of energy to knock him off his feet, but he threw up a sphere of light.
As our opposite ethers collided with a hissing crackle, standing inside the safety of his shield, he closed his eyes and cocked his head as if listening to an unheard voice.
Pushing my advantage, I threw more force into my power, releasing wave after wave to bombard his light shield until it collapsed and left him exposed. My black sword, its dark flames caressing the steel, whistled through the air right before it sliced through his golden armor to land on his deltoid muscle.
Michael grunted but didn’t offer any fight. Instead, he nodded. “Of course. Everything makes sense now.”
I yanked my weapon from his skin and lifted it for another strike, ready to finish him so I could move onward to my true goal.
“You and she...the same. It’s fate.” He let out a small gasp then put the tip of his sword to the floor and leaned heavily on it. His damaged arm hung useless on the opposite side as bright blood and exposed tissue peeked through the sliced armor. “All this time, all this sacrifice, I thought I was protecting her.”
“Who or what are you babbling about?” I tensed my muscles for the killing blow, knowing I shouldn’t encourage more talk, yet unable to squash my curiosity.
“Phoebe,” he whispered.
Time froze as he breathed her name between his lips.How does he know Phoebe?The pain and shame of what I’d done, how I’d left her to Lucian and Malachi’s devices, pulsed once more, and I wanted to run away, to pretend I’d had no part in what I’d done.
“How do you know her?” My breathing hitched, and the adrenaline in my blood cooled.
“She’s mine.” He panted then slumped sideways to prop himself against the railing.
Jealousy and anger reared inside my blood, sending my temperature up a hundred degrees. “Phoebe ismine, not yours.”
My hand shook and a deep drive inside urged me to slash my sword at his lying throat for mentioning Phoebe’s name. But I held myself back. Something about this entire situation seemed off. There was no way I had bested one of Heaven’s top angels with only one blow.
Where are the other angels? Surely, they called for reinforcements.
“You think you’re on a mission of retribution.” Another low chuckle then a trickle of blood slid from the corner of his mouth. Slowly, with his back against the railings, Michael slid down until he sat, letting his weapon go to clang on the staircase.
Swords rang through the large room as Samael cut an angel from the air, her beautiful face grimacing as she fell, white feathers raining around me like snow.
Michael’s gaze met mine, and this time, something about his face seemed familiar. “I mean she’s my daughter, Cain.”
“What...?” I stumbled backward up the steps. “No. That would mean...” Dropping the shield, I carefully stuffed Phoebe’s necklace into my pocket.
Michael’s stare followed the movement. As much as I wanted to kill him, I couldn’t. Not if he was truly Phoebe’s father.
Why does it make a difference? You abandoned her to Lucian. But if Archangel Michael sired her, then it meant she too was Nephilim, and her body and soul would last longer. Which meant I could still save her.
Inside my head, vicious laughter taunted me.You’d give up your mission so easily for a scrap of a girl?No. I threw a harried glance toward Samael, who whirled and soared through the air as he tangoed with the last two angels. I wouldn’t and I couldn’t.Must stick to the plan.
I gripped my sword and pointed the tip toward Michael’s heart. “I left your precious daughter in Hell.”
“What?” Horror flashed across his face and he tried to stand, but I lifted an armored boot to his chest, slamming his spine against the banister. “How could you?”
“She has only ever been the means to an end.”Liar. She’s more than anything you’ve ever known.“Which will be coming soon.”
“You son of a bitch. Howcouldyou?”
