I started at the beginning, explaining to him about Paxton De Vil. Vagar. Apate. Jay summoning the powers of Hell. My incarceration in the Celestial jail and Gabriel’s anger at Uriel before Michael stepped in. I don’t know how long I babbled.
David listened quietly, and when I ran out of breath and tears, David gently clasped my arm in a fatherly gesture I’d never experienced before in my life—or afterlife. “A loss like that is hard to accept. I remember how much I missed my Lucy when I first died. I still love Keir’s mother, and I miss her every day. That doesn’t stop. Our destinies simply didn’t line up at this point in time. Someday, she’ll be with me.”
“Was it hard for you when she fell in love with someone else? Will I have to sit back and suffer silently while Jay goes about his existence as though I was never in his life? I’ve been told princes can’t be mated, so that’s it, right? I’ll just have this hole in my chest where my heart used to be?”
“I’m sorry, Scott, but I don’t know. I am, however, well acquainted with that feeling. Even though I like Lenny, and I’m grateful he makes Lucy happy, I wish it was me instead. Lucy deserves to live the rest of her life to the fullest, even if it’s with someone else but I still have enough of my humanity that I’m jealous. At the end of the day, we all deserve happiness, Scott.”
“I know, David, but I don’t see where that’s in my future. Archangel Uriel said I didn’t deserve it, and I’m starting to believe him. I’m ready to... Michael said I shouldn’t say what I’vebeen thinking because there are always listeners, but I miss my mate, and I’m no longer sure of my purpose.”
David stood and extended his hand. “Would you like to go with me to check on a few things?”
“I told Michael I’d be—”
“It’s okay. We’ll find him. Come with me for a little while before I have to get back to work.”
I took David Dearly’s hand and stood next to him. “I can’t thank you enough for checking on me. I’m not sure why you knew I needed it. Did you talk to Keir?”
David smiled sadly. “Not recently. I can’t check on him as often as I’d like, but Michael is kind enough to keep me updated. I’m so proud of Keir, and I had my last visit when he and Dash got married. I’ll be there to protect and support him when the fight begins.”
It wasn’t a surprise, but... “Do you have any insight into when Nyx will make her move?”
“Not a clue. There are things we’re just not meant to know, and it’s frustrating. I understand how you must feel right now, Scott, but don’t give up hope. There are times in our lives when all we have is hope. I have no proof, but I don’t believe you and Jay are through.”
All I could do was nod. In the blink of an eye, we were standing in the Celestial Hall, but no one seemed to notice us. “How’d we get in here?”
David chuckled. “As long as you touch me, you’re cloaked from other’s vision. We can’t hear them, but body language can be very telling, don’t you think? This is how I keep track of things.”
Michael stood about ten feet away from us with a menacing scowl as he watched Uriel laughing nearby. “What’s that about?”
“Michael is in investigative mode. He would have been a great CIA operative had he not been destined to be the leader of the Creator’s armies. You’ve seen him when the Council is seated.He observes more than speaks until he believes he has all the information.”
I chuckled. “Yeah, and then look out.” Michael wasn’t shy at all, and he called things as he saw them. I respected the being more than I could articulate.
“Exactly. There’s Jophiel. They’re another good investigator. They’ve been working hard to close the additional portals around the Human Realm to force the fight to take place in Reardon, where Keir and Dash will put an end to this uprising.”
“Is that in stone?” I certainly hoped so.
David turned to me and lifted his eyebrow.
“So, no?” Why would I be dumb enough to think the Universe would establish anything definitively?
“I brought you here to show you that there are beings on your side, and they’re working to get to the bottom of this, so don’t give up.”
“I’ll try.” And I would.
I blinked again, and we were in a place I didn’t recognize. “Where is this?”
Before David could answer, Jay walked down what appeared to be a street. His facial expression gave away his misery in an instant. My eyes prickled with tears again.
“Hades. Jay’s just as miserable as you.”
A being crossed his path, and Jay grabbed it by the neck, ripping off its head. “What's that?”
“That’s Paxton De Vil. With Jay being a prince of Hell now, Lucifer needed a new valet. Paxton is now Aeacus’s student. Every time Jay sees it, he decapitates it. He blames De Vil for this current situation, and he won’t let De Vil forget it. Lycus ended Paxton’s human life, and Lucifer ate his powers so De Vil could never harm another. Nyx can’t find him either.”
The head rejoined the body quickly before De Vil rushed away. I was sure Jay would enjoy removing De Vil’s head repeatedly.
“Is there any way Jay can have a mate? I’m assuming the princes aren’t allowed to have them since none do, but I’m not sure why. Is that a rule?” My own ears recognized the hope in my voice.
