She needs rest.
I paused and propped my weight on my arms, then stared at her perfect nose, the bow of her red lips. Such love and tenderness I felt for this woman. Her strength had always been what I admired most, and her beauty shone through that indomitable will to survive, to thrive.
The trauma of being assaulted by Malachi and Marzan has not set in yet, though, and I need to ensure she has ample time to work through the assault.There would be plenty of chances to enjoy one another later.
"Anna?" Her brown curls fanned around her head.
"Hmm?" Her eyelids drooped.
"I love you. So very much."
A giant yawn escaped her mouth. "I love you, too, Lucian."
Placing a tender kiss on her neck, I laid down and gathered her to me, pulling her spine against my chest and stomach, cradling her human form against my immortal body. "As much as I'd love to ravish every inch of your skin, you need sleep. I healed your body, but the mind is a much more delicate type of healing. Plus, I have unfinished matters in my throne room."
"I'm okay. Really. I’m not as delicate as..." Her breathing deepened and her eyes closed.
Smoothing a runaway curl from her cheek, I smiled.No, you are not as delicate as you look, my Anna. You are made of steel and fire—a perfect match for me."Sleep, dear one. I will show you wonders when you are ready."
But first, I would deal with the riffraff of traitors and the uninvited guests in my home; my son and his Nephilim.
As I blinked to my throne, I froze at the emptiness.
Cain's silver eyes, bright and intelligent, widened slightly.
Phoebe averted her gaze and fingered the golden necklace at her throat.
Samael pressed his lips together and scratched his head.
No one would directly meet my stare.
I glance around. "Where the fuck is Malachi and Lilith?" I turned a complete circle. Neither of the demons were in sight.
"Um, yeah. About that…" Cain swallowed and raised his eyebrows at Samael, who shrugged.
"I. Am. Waiting." I crossed my arms over my chest.What in damnation is going on?
Even the feathers and the wings I'd torn away and discarded on the floor were gone.
"Good God. Just tell him." Phoebe scowled, then turned to me. "Your psychotic ex-wife and Malachi disappeared. Poof." She threw up her arms and splayed her hands. "Like, they just blinked out of existence."
"Impossible." A slow annoyance began burning in my stomach.
"Improbable, you mean." She smiled, her wildly colored hair damp against her scalp. "God I hate this place. It's like slowly baking in an oven."
Before I could respond, thunder rumbled outside and shook the walls.
"What in the bloody fucking fuck?" I marched through toward the front of the room and pushed open the enormous doors leading to the outside.
Malachi and Lilith will not get far.
Gray, cloudless skies met the reddish sand of the desert. My plane did not have storms or rain, so where did the thunder come from?
I stopped a few paces outside and stared up at the sky.
A streak of lightning shot to the ground, causing black smoke to rise from the soil.
Cain, Phoebe, and Samael moved to stand to either side of me.
