“Despite Malachi’s misgivings”—Lucian’s black gaze raked over said angel—“it seems you’ve not faltered in your mission.”
Malachi continued kneeling with his head bowed, fists clenched with knuckles flat against the shining obsidian floor.
“He tried to persuade me you’d grown soft, that you were thinking of turning your back on me and all I’ve bestowed over the years.”
My breathing accelerated, and a terrifying need thrummed inside to look away from Lucian’s intense gaze, but I stood my ground, knowing my fate—and Phoebe’s—depended on my next actions.
“My Lord,” I said, lifting my chin, “I have only ever lived to serve you and earn Chosen status.”
He strolled the last step and stopped before me, tilting his head. His stare searched mine for several long moments. “Tsk.” He gripped my shoulder. “I knew you would succeed. The real test was not in gaining information from the girl but confirming the bonds of love and service.”
I frowned. “I don’t understand.”He doesn’t want information about Phoebe?
Lucian’s attention turned to Phoebe, who continued to kneel but her bright gaze strafed Lucian’s face with anger and insolence. “Did you forget I can see into the heart of man?” He chuckled then sidestepped to the sweet girl at my side, gently taking her chin into his hand.
Her jaw tightened.
Tensing, I held my breath.Calm, I must remain calm.
“You are quite an enigma, though, I cannot lie.” He twirled a finger.
With a jerk, Phoebe shot to her feet.
“But mortal love cannot match eternal desire for ascension and family, for belonging.”
“They call you the Father of Lies for a reason. Don’t listen to him, Cain.” Phoebe’s neck muscles strained as she tried to jerk away from his grasp, but Lucian held her with his dark power, letting it gather and caress her body. “Your lies will be his undoing, you disgusting piece of—”
“That’s quite enough.” Chuckling, he motioned to Malachi. “Take her. As I promised, she’s yours to do with as you will.”
With a sly grin, Malachi rose and created chains around her wrists.
Her lovely eyes turned toward me, pleading and desperate. “Cain, don’t listen to him, don’t let him kill the goodness and light still living in you.”
Steeling myself, I forced my attention to Lucian. “Does this mean I’ve earned my wings?”
Phoebe let out a small gasp, and I could imagine the look of disappointment on her face.
Lucian wrapped me in a quick, curt embrace, curling his wings around my body, then pushed me at arm’s length. “Son, you’ve earned more than Chosen status. You’ve earned the truth.” Pride, or something similar, flashed in his dark gaze, and he blasted a blinding smile. “Through all these countless years, you’ve always felt like an outcast, yes?”
Hesitantly, I nodded, wondering where he was going with the conversation and how I’d get Phoebe and myself out of this mess without help.
“Do you recall the part in Genesis explaining your mother, Eve, being deceived by the serpent and taking the apple from the Tree of Knowledge?”
“Yes, Lord.” Confusion swam in my head.Why is he telling me this story?I knew it well. It was about my parents, after all.
“An apple? Really? That’s the best the monks could come up with?” A dark chuckle slipped from his mouth, echoing against the curved roof and wide space of the throne room. “The church is ridiculous, but what’s worse is that people believed it.” He rubbed his jaw then shrugged. “It was not an apple she took, but a person.” An arrogant smile curved his mouth. “True innocence lost occurred when I showed her the carnal pleasures of the flesh before Adam had a chance. But I don’t know why it was such a big deal—he still received the sloppy leftovers.”
What?I tried not to curl my lip. No one wants to hear about their parents’ sexual exploits, least of all me.And he’s saying my mother had been unfaithful to my father?Could it be true?
I recalled growing up under their tutelage and guidance. Father had always been unbending and harsh in his judgments, yet Mother had been the soft hand ready to wipe my tears or pat my cheek when I’d made mistakes.
“And thenyouwere born, Cain. This is what truly angered God, not eating an apple from a tree. That doesn’t even make sense.” He gripped my upper arm and leaned closer, his voice lowering. “I raised the stakes when I dared to create a new breed with God’s newly formed humans. I dared flaunt the rules and tainted God’s creation. I committed the ultimate sin and spawned the first Nephilim the world had ever known.”
Out of the corner of my eye, Phoebe’s head whipped toward me, but I didn’t dare look her way. I needed total concentration on Lucian’s revelations.
“Are you saying...?” I couldn’t put my scattered thoughts into words.It can’t be true, can it?Was he saying I was something more than my father, than Abel? And he’d known the truth this entire time...he’d seduced my mother?
The world seemed to tip on its axis, and I would’ve fallen to the ground if Lucian hadn’t kept his fingers wrapped around my arm.
