What have you been up to?
“I’m sorry, My Lord. She has been a slippery one to catch.”
With a languid stretch of my arms, I held out my palms. “And yet you seem to be empty-handed.”
“Trust me, I know.” He sighed and leaned against the black stone of the hallway. “I’ve never met anyone so brash and reckless.”
“Please tell me you at least figured out what she’s doing on Earth before she vanished.” I raised an eyebrow and crossed my arms over my chest.
“Her mission has nothing to do with us. She was commanded by another archangel to track a human girl and her mother.”
His mention of a human brought Anna to my thoughts and a tightening of my chest.
What is she doing right now?Studying for a test, eagerly awaiting her new life away from the dreary, suffocating church and orphanage?
I let a slow smile pull my lips upward.
Perhaps I’ll drop in today and keep myself hidden, just to get a glimpse of her.In and out, I won’t allow myself time to become ensnared by her loveliness.
“And then the dreadful woman gave me the slip.” Samael shook his head, the locks of his hair swinging across his shoulders.
“What?” I refocused.
“I said she tricked me, Lucian. Me, Samael,theAngel of Death, outwitted by a lady.” He snickered.
“For someone who has just confessed to being bested by his enemy, you don’t seem that put out by the fact.” I narrowed my stare on his face. Something about his stance and the way his eyes lit up bothered me.
I took a step closer, my attention on his every move.
The grin dropped from his mouth, and he pushed himself from the wall. “I’m sorry, My Lord. I will try harder.”
And he’s apologizing?The hairs on the back of my neck lifted. I would need to keep an eye on him. He would never betray me, but if he’d somehow gotten his heart involved with this heavenly angel…
“Yes.” I coiled a dark rope of ether around his neck, yanking him to his knees. “I will not tolerate failure, Samael. There must be more to her story. An archangel does not justwatcha human for the sheer joy of it. God must have a special purpose for this girl, and I will know why.”
His eyes widened as his fingers clutched his throat.
“You will not fuck this up. Do you understand?”
Nodding frantically, he tried to speak through the chokehold.
I released my power. A thin red welt circled his throat.
“I will not fail you.” A trickle of sweat rolled down his temple.
“Do not make me bind your will to mine, Samael. We have been together since the Fall, and I would not like to feel my trust has been misplaced.”
He bent his forehead to the floor, letting his flesh touch the black stone. “I swear, Lucian, you can trust my counsel and friendship. I will redouble my efforts to locate and bring her to you.”
For a few seconds, I stared at the back of his head.He would never betray me.“Stand, friend.”
Taking my outstretched hand, he rose, his eyes shining with gratitude. “Thank you. I will leave at once and reengage the hunt.”
I squeezed his trapezius muscle gently. “Go, then. Report in when you can.”
“As you command.” With a nod, he blinked from the hall.
I’ve been in my realm for far too long when I start seeing subterfuge with my most trusted commander.Yes, a quick visit to Earth would lighten my mood.
