24
Constance-Lilith
After we cleaned up from sex, we ate dinner together and I again told Luc I was feeling emotional so it was probably my time of the month. It explained why I wanted to stay so close to him all night. We weren't normally up each other's assesallthe time.
He took it in stride, holding me, caressing me, and giving me all the attention he sensed I craved.
When we went to bed, instead of cuddling for a moment then splitting off to get comfortable, he held me until I fell asleep.
I was still laying on his arm when a small noise jerked me from my sleep.
Jellybean stood at the foot of the bed growling low in his throat, hackles raised.
Michael walked into the room, settling Jelly.
Michael winked at me before pulling out a sword. I trickled a little extra sleep into Lucian so he wouldn't accidentally wake and experience his own death. Then, I grabbed his hand. Just because killing him was necessary, it didn't mean I'd enjoy watching him die. Lucifer would emerge, but this wasn't going to be easy.
The moonlight streaming in through our windows was just enough to let me watch as Michael lifted his sword. He met my eyes with his brows lifted as if to ask me if it was okay to do it.
I sucked in a deep breath and nodded.
Michael visibly braced himself, then brought the point of the sword down hard and fast. At the last second, Lucian rolled over, toward me, and Michael jerked. The tip of the sword swerved missing Lucian and the bed completely.
Michael screamed, jumping on one foot. I launched out of bed to help, and Jellybean barked excitedly.
I funneled a little more magic toward Lucian to make sure he'd stay asleep, and then tried to help Michael.
He flicked on the overhead light and leaned against the wall to examine his foot. He'd sliced it pretty deep. "Of all the bullshit."
He waved one arm, and the blood disappeared, but we weren't able to heal ourselves. And I didn't have enough magic to do it for him.
Michael held out his arm as the sword disappeared. He gave me a dark look then disappeared himself. Presumably to get someone to heal his foot.
Well, that hadn't gone well at all.
I calmed Jellybean down and turned out the light, then curled back around Lucian. I'd hold his hand as he died, but I didn't want to be the one to do the deed. Let Michael and Gabe handle it, the three of them loved one-upping each other.
Sometime later, as I was dozing restlessly, Jellybean growled again, but not as urgently this time. Michael stood in the doorway, waving me over. I slipped out of bed, leaving Lucian still sleeping with the aid I'd given him earlier, and followed him downstairs.
"What happened?" I asked. "Why were you jumping?”
"I wasn't," he hissed. "I had to go get Gabe to heal my foot, and you know how much that burned me to do."
I considered his feelings and held in my laughter. "Did he give you a hard time?"
"Of course."
"So, what happened?"
"I don't know. It might be the curse on him, but I'm going to chalk it up to a freak accident and try again." He sucked in a deep breath and walked over to my cabinets. Pulling a small paring knife out of a drawer, he held it up then marched up the stairs.
I scrambled to follow. When we reached the bedroom, Michael waited for me to get in bed beside Luc and grab his hand. I nodded when I was ready for him to try again.
He leaned over and got close to Lucian laying the knife at his throat. "One," he whispered. "Two..." As he opened his mouth to say three, our house phone, whichneverrang, shrilled sharply into the quiet room.
Michael flinched, apparently more keyed up this time. His hand jerked, and I watched with my mouth open as the blade headed straight for his face.
I didn't mean to laugh. Truly I didn't. But as Michael straightened with the knife sticking out of his cheek and blood pouring out of his mouth, he looked so consternated I couldn't help myself.
