PROLOGUE
A Little Over Thirty Years Ago
Uriel humbly went downon one knee and bowed his head respectfully, with a hand tightly clenched into a fist over his gold-plated breastplate, while the other hand was hiding beneath his six folded wings.
On the white marbled floor lay his shiny gold sword, unsheathed, sitting next to the matching scabbard. A gift given to him from his lord when he was a cherub and his wings first sprouted.
The throne room was filled with angels dressed in silver and brass, showing their ranks. They stood at attention with their wings flared, as if they were ready for battle. However, they were not a threat to Uriel, since he was the highest-ranked angel and their commander.
Uriel had titles and merits he’d gained over his lifetime of service to Lord Dio, but now it all seemed like wasted trinkets the way his heart was in turmoil.
“Tell me, my most trusted angel, have you made your choice?” the soft yet commanding voice of his lord asked.
Uriel closed his eyes, holding back his tears. “Yes, my lord,” he whispered.
His lord was silent for quite some time, and Uriel wondered if the man had heard him.
“What have you decided?” Lord Dio’s voice was calm and collected, but Uriel could hear his disappointment.
Uriel didn’t speak up right away; he wasn’t sure what he wanted to say. He had too many things going through his mind, along with a broken heart. Not more than an hour earlier, Lord Dio had told him to choose between his heart and his loyalty.
Uriel felt like a fool thinking he’d finally found his mate, only to realize it was all a dream. The image of Azazel, the king of the lower realms, making love to another was burned in his mind and could never be erased. It would be a reminder that he wouldn’t open his heart to anyone else in the future.
“I will remain by your side, my lord.”
“I am relieved to hear that, Uriel. However, you have made me worry, and as such, you will be punished.”
“I understand, my lord, and I am sorry for causing you to worry.”
“Are you really sorry, Uriel?”
“Yes, my lord.”
“What do you deem would be an appropriate punishment, not only for making me doubt you but for your failure in killing the devil king?”
“I...” Uriel couldn’t think of anything. He’d given his entire life to the service of Lord Dio and had nothing else to give. “I’m not sure what would alleviate my lord's worry, but I will do as you ask, as it is my duty and my service.”
“Really? Even if it is giving up the child you now carry?” Dio asked.
Uriel snapped his head up, looking at the handsome man whom he’d always seen as a father figure, sitting on a gold throne and draped in the finest red silk robe. Uriel had found out that he was pregnant earlier that day and was excited. He'd been about to deliver the news to Azazel when Lord Dio had requested his presence.
Before he'd been able to speak, the lord had asked about the progress of the mission Uriel was sent on a year ago. Seeing his reluctance to speak, Lord Dio, as if he knew that Uriel had fallen in love with Azazel, gave Uriel an ultimatum.
“It seems your heart has wavered, and you no longer cherish the words of your lord and father in your heart. So I will give you time to consider your options.”
Uriel gasped. “My lord...” he started but stopped.
“Am I still your lord, Uriel?”
Uriel didn’t answer and bowed his head. His heart had wavered, and he’d fallen in love with the enemy.
“I see,” Lord Dio said. “When you have searched your heart for your answer, return to me.”
Uriel had hurried out of the throne room to tell his lover the good news. But it hadn't worked out the way he'd hoped as he caught Azazel making love to another man. In despair, he reluctantly returned to Lord Dio with his answer, only to have his heart break even more. He couldn’t believe Lord Dio would be so cruel by asking him to give up his child. Uriel didn’t need to question how the lord knew about his pregnancy; the man was a high god among the others and had ways of finding out things, even before anyone else did.
Uriel was always willing to do as Lord Dio ordered, no questions asked, since the man had saved his cursed soul, giving him a new life. Uriel was once fortunate to be born a prince and had the misfortune of dying after only living for ten summers, from an illness that plagued every third male born to the royal line.
An ancestor many generations before Uriel was born had angered a witch who cursed every third male born in the family to die from an illness before their eighteenth summer.
