“I’m not nervous about anything. I just want to get this done and over with.”
Okay, so he’s not going to admit it. I’ll leave it alone.
Just as Uriel finished his thought, the door to the private room opened and Dio walked in. “Sorry I’m late, I almost didn’t show up because I was nervous.”
Uriel turned and looked at Azazel, communicating his thoughts.If Dio can admit it, why can’t you?Azazel rolled his eyes and grabbed the menu.
“Let’s order, I’m hungry,” he grumbled.
“I’d rather we talk before we eat,” Dio said.
Uriel looked at Azazel, who had just put his menu down. “Let me say this before you start. I don’t know what happened to you, and frankly, I don’t care. I’m here because of Uriel. Regardless of how you tormented my mate, he still holds you in his heart. I can’t understand why, especially when you took advantage of his affection for you. The abuse he tolerated because of your greed for power is not something I’m willing to forgive.”
Uriel reached over and clasped Azazel’s hand, squeezing it in appreciation.
“I know what I did to you was wrong, and I will not ask you to forgive me,” Dio said. “I’ve lost your love and trust, but no matter how long it takes, I will earn it back. I hope.” He paused and took a sip of his water, then spoke again. “I knew that Micha was poisoning me.”
“What?” Uriel said. “Why didn’t you try to stop him?”
Dio sighed. “I saw it as my retribution for going against fate.” He faced Uriel. “I thought it was my tribulation for the mistakes I made in the past. But it seems there are more of my deeds that I need to repent for. I had hoped you'd agree to be Micha’s matched pair so he wouldn't go as far as he did. I knew he had designs on something bigger, I just didn't know it was the same goal as mine. But it all seems so trivial now.”
He turned his gaze to Uriel. Dio went to touch Uriel but stopped and placed his hands on the table.
“I didn’t know that you were being tortured by Gadriel and Dagon. They did a good job of fooling me. You were supposed to be under house arrest until I thought you'd come to your senses. My initial plan was to release you after a few months, but I got angry that you refused to see me during all those years. I also knew where you hid Kristoph, and I told Sagittarius to keep him safe until you returned. Uriel, believe me, I never meant for you to be hurt like this.”
“Why?” Uriel asked. “Why were you so angry when you called me back? You could have stopped it all if you’d just pulled your head out of your ass.”
Dio gave a sad chuckle. “I was too self-involved in what I wanted, and I told myself the fate sister was wrong. I could beat the odds and become the ruler of all gods.”
“How delusional are you?” Uriel asked, not keeping the anger from his tone. “We all followed you because we saw you as a god among all, yet you craved more. You have humans bowing at your feet and praising you for all the good in their lives, but that wasn’t enough. To get what you wanted, you ruined my life. So what now? We are supposed to look past it and tell you everything will be okay?”
“I told you I don’t want your forgiveness, but what I will ask is that you both give me time to right the wrongs I have made in your lives.” He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out an envelope and pushed it toward them.
“What’s this?” Azazel asked, picking up the envelope and pulling out a sheet of paper, scanning the contents. Uriel watched as his mate’s eyes widened, then raised his gaze to Dio.
“What kind of game are you playing?” Azazel demanded.
“I'm doing what I should have the second you were born.” Dio stood and fixed his jacket. “I will be turning over a new leaf, so I have moved to the human realm.”
“So you abandoned the heavenly realm?” Azazel asked.
“I did not abandon it, I left it in good hands,” Dio answered. “Since I will be living on my own, I will need a job. It seems even in my old age, I’m suitable to be a model and will be meeting with president Khray Wade, of Abandon. Don’t worry, I won’t tell him we are related. I will wait until you are ready to see me as your father. When it is appropriate, please allow me to meet my grandchildren. I’m very proud of their accomplishments.” With that, he nodded and walked out of the private room.
As soon as the door was closed, Uriel grabbed the paper and read it carefully, then looked up at Azazel in shock. “You are now the leader of all the angels.”
“It seems so.” Azazel sighed, slouching in his seat.
Uriel looked down at the letter. “It says once you accept the responsibility you will be given powers beyond your imagination.”
“I’m already powerful. What more do I need?” Azazel said and took the paper, pulled out a pen from his suit jacket pocket and wrote on the sheet, then handed it back to Uriel.
He looked down at the paper and saw where Azazel crossed out his name and wrote Uriel DeVine in its place.
“Why did you give it to me?”
“Your heart is pure, Uriel. Even after all that you’ve gone through, your goal was never to take the throne when you had the ability to do so. Micha was right, you’re powerful, but you have never used it to your advantage. Instead, you use it to help others. Like that former boxer Tank, you offered him a job, and sent the money he needed for his kid operation. And I know you’ve helped others over the years and will continue to do so. Good acts like that is what makes you a god among angels.” Azazel leaned forward and kissed him. “I really do love you.”
Uriel looked at the paper in his hand then set it on fire.
