I debated walking through the doors as if I owned the place but knowing God—she would already be alerted to my presence.
Odd that it's so quiet.
A quick smash through the dome would get me into her domain, yet that violent act would be seen as a call to war, and battle was the last thing I wanted right now.
So, my choice was either submit and grovel for an audience or blast my way through her home.
She did allow her archangel Michael to crash into my plane and fortress, though. It would serve her right.
And then I would lose any chance of my plan coming to fruition.
I let out a sigh. "Fine." I tucked my wings tightly and lowered my head. "I'll submit to peace."
"How gracious of you, Lucian," said a soft female voice.
My eyes snapped open, and I jumped.
To my right, God stood in the snow, her dark skin a pleasing contrast to the brightness of Heaven's landscape.
She laughed, the sound like the tinkling of a million bells.
At one time, I would've done anything to hear that laughter.
Now, my heart no longer desired that fate.No, my heart desires an imperfect human with frizzy hair, soulful eyes, and a penchant for thievery.
"What could be so important that it would cause you to violate our long truce, I wonder?" Her knowing glance swept over my face, then she snapped her fingers.
A wooden bench formed in the snow with a glowing firepit a few feet away.
I licked my lips.I'm not sure how to go about this request.
"Please. Sit." She pointed to the bench.
I knew a command when I heard it, so I strode to the bench and sat like the good little angel I'd once been.
"Thank you," I growled in thanks.
She shook her head, causing the long, silver-white locks to touch her shoulders. Lifting a corner of her pale silk gown, she sat, leaving a space between our bodies.
The ice-laden tree branches, like the aspens of earth, sagged under the weight of winter, cocooning us beside the wide, stone road spanning the moat and ending at the doors of the citadel.
"It has been a long time, Lucifer." She warmed her hands by the fire.
"Not long enough."
"You still hangin' on to that old grudge?" Her tone shifted to amusement.
"You chosehumansover me." The rejection still stung, even after untold years.
"I love you just as much as I love them, but you didn't need me like they did." She dug her bare toes into the snow as if it were sand.
An urge to lash out rose within me, but I tamped it down.
Does it truly matter now?After all, hadn't I fallen in love with a human? Wasn't Anna the only reason I'd swallowed my pride and come to my enemy?
"I need you now." Those four words were thick in my throat as I quickly pushed them out.I detest showing weakness.
Her laughter shook her small body. She wiped the tears from her eyes. "How much does it hurt your pride to admit that?"
