There was so much he wanted to say, so many things to apologize for and promises he wanted to make. The weight ofJehovah’s power lifted, and he staggered upright. “Michael... Mags...”
“Luce!” The small woman reached for the bars of the cage but recoiled as her fingers met the shimmering metal with a stinging hiss.
Lucifer tried to go to her, but Jophiel quickly stepped into his path, brandishing Michael’s sword. “I can’t allow you to interfere.”
“And I can’t allowyouto keep that blade.”
“You have no claim to it.”
“I have more claim to it thanyou,” Luce sneered, “as I’m the one who originally gifted it to Michael.”
“Oh, let him keep it, Jophiel,” Jehovah threw his hands up, impatient. “It’s just a sword. Frankly, it has a negative history that I’d rather not have around.”
“I’m surprised you even want it.” Jophiel still hesitated, sounding like a sullen child.
“Call me a masochist,” Luce shrugged. “Maybe I just want it to remind me of him.”
Jophiel huffed but sheathed the sword and practically threw it into Luce’s hands. “Fine, torment yourself.”
Luce rolled his eyes. “So glad to have your permission, Lord Jophiel.”
The blond sneered but climbed astride his horse without additional comment.
“It’s going to be okay, Mags.” Luce swallowed. “Christos won’t let anything happen to you.”
She nodded, not trusting herself to speak. Michael squeezed her shoulder reassuringly.
“You are bold, to speak for my son. Be prepared to deal with me again once I settle these affairs,” Jehovah cautioned Lucifer as he climbed onto his horse, and Ezekiel actually took pains to fluff and settle the King’s cape before he mounted his own steed.
Rag balked at the action, averting his gaze with an expression of mingled disgust and disbelief. Ezekiel refused to look at any of them, staring off into the distance with a practiced disinterest.
“I would expect nothing else,” Lucifer muttered. “You always did insist on dictating the lives of others.”
“And you insist on testing my patience.” Jehovah frowned deeply. “You tread dangerous ground, Lucifer. If I were you, I would get that wayward son under control before I am forced to address that situation for you.”
“I could say the same of Gabriel for you,” Lucifer hissed. “It is his fault we’re even in this situation, after all.”
“Liar!” Jophiel spat. “Always with your lies!”
“Settle down,Jophiel.” Jehovah waved a hand, annoyance in the furrow of his brow. “You honestly expect I would take you at your word, Lucifer? That might be your greatest delusion yet. Gabriel is one of my most loyal servants.”
“So was Michael,” Luce said, flippant. “So wasI.”
Jehovah looked at him for a long time, and then simply shook his head. “Goodbye, Lucifer. This is not the end of this.”
They were gone before Lucifer could shield his eyes, enveloped in a brilliant glare of sunlight that quickly faded out. The world seemed duller in the wake of such bright light. Colors were faded, the clearing vaster and more desolate. He waited one beat, then another. After a tense moment, Luce allowed himself to breathe again.
He dropped his barriers, then fell immediately to his knees. Uriel tried to turn and help despite his own pain, only to be cut off as Remi rushed to Luce’s side, Rag and Bal at her heels. Glory remained in place, staring vacantly at the space her brother had occupied moments before, arms wrapped around her knees in a defensive hug. Judas sat beside her, watching her cautiously.
“You idiot!” Remi shouted, falling to her knees and flinging her arms around Luce. She hugged him tightly, tears streamingdown her pale cheeks, and rocked him like a child. “You could have died!”
Bal sank into a crouch. “You can siphon power from me, if you need to.”
“I’ll be fine,” Luce insisted, absently patting Remi’s back as she clutched him tighter.
“Stop putting on a show,” Rag said sternly, and gripped Luce’s wrist in one hand, Balthazar’s in the other. “And take what we’re offering.”
Rag closed his eyes and focused on drawing enough energy from Bal and transferring it into their King to bolster his shockingly depleted reserves. When he finished, Bal sank back on his heels.
