More than you can imagine.
My wings flapped and I clenched my jaw. I so desperately wanted to blink myself out of here, but God—unfortunately—was my one and only shot at reconciling with Anna.
Her cool fingers fluttered against my cheek, drawing me out of my desperate thoughts. I tried opening my mouth to speak, but I had nothing to say.
I'd expected her to be angry at my intrusion into her plane, to be pissed at my audacity to ask for help, yet only kindness and compassion shone from her brownish-amber irises.
"We had some good times, didn't we?" She dropped her hand and stared into the orange tongue of fire.
"I suppose, at least before you betrayed me." I closed my eyes for a moment. "Look, I didn't come here to reminisce."
"Of course you didn't, but—"
"I need to right a terrible wrong. And the only way I can do it is by reversing time." I watched her face with a mixture of hope and shame.
A vertical line appeared between her brows. "Lucifer, that's a grave action with chaotic consequences."
Fuck. I must get her to do this. It's my only chance.I squared my shoulders and turned on the bench to fully face her. "I'm fully aware of the risks. Do you think I would come here like a beggar if there was any other way?"
"What terrible wrong needs to be corrected?" Her eyes no longer held any warmth.
"That is none of your con—"
"I won't lift a finger if you don't spill it."
Her back, ramrod straight told me she spoke the truth. As always.
"Fine." I scratched my cheek, the tiny bits of stubble poking into my fingertips. "I ignored a call for help, and because of it, she was hurt. And I also misjudged a situation." I didn't want to admit I'd killed someone with my little indiscretion.
I mean, come on. I'm the devil. I'm not perfect.
"Is this truly about righting a wrong, or is it more about easing your conscience?"
"Damn you." I stood, flexing my wings. "Will you help me or not?"
God held out her chin and her eyes became two hard stones. "No. I will not."
I stepped forward. "You—"
"Youwill help her." Heaven's Light outlined her body as she spoke. "I know of which girl, which incident, you speak. Anna."
Hearing her name on God's lips felt like being punched in the balls. The breath whooshed out of me.
Of course, she knows.Just as I knew all the sinners in my plane, God knew all the humans she'd ever created.
"Then you should understand why I need to save her. Youknowhow hard it has been to ask for your help."
"Lucifer, you have always been your own worst enemy. Anna doesn't needyouto save her. She needs to find her way, to find herself."
"And I suppose that's why you sent your priest, to mock me, to prove no one could ever love Lucifer the Devil." My words rang through the trees. I clamped my mouth shut when I realized I'd been yelling.
"It is always about you, isn't it?" She shook her head sadly. "Love is not about choosing sides, or who's the first to rescue the other. Love is about sacrifice and selflessness. I'd hoped, after all these eons, you'd have learned that by now. Your covetous heart has led you astray once more. I willnotjeopardize humans or their universe for the fate of one girl. Especially whenyouare the culprit behind the mayhem. You must live the consequences of your actions and inactions."
I balled my fists. Black shadows writhed around my hands to flow down my legs, leaking their way into the snow at my feet.
Breathe, just breathe.
"You're right." I turned away and faced the trees, letting the sun warm my face as its rays slanted downward. "I've always had to think about myself first, aboutmyangels, because you could never stoop to dirtying your hands when it came to conflict, just like sending Michael intomyrealm and turningmyson into an angel."
