Admitting to the forbidden would see one or both dead.
Gabriel’s shouted warning came too late, and Luc shifted in time to witness Michael’s short sword hurling toward Nadia.
30
A guttural cry was ripped from every cell of Luc’s being.
“No!”
Time stopped.
He spun around, registering every single soul in the great hall was frozen in place with the exception of him and the Creator.
Michael’s sword hung midair with two to three inches of blade embedded in Nadia’s chest.
Luc sped to her.
After assessing the damage, he attempted to withdraw the sword, using the space between his shoulder and neck as his makeshift grip. He’d only succeeded in tearing skin and slicing the meat of his deltoid. Although not yet deep enough to kill, the fucking sword wouldn’t budge.
“You cannot prevent her death, my son. Once time restarts, Michael’s throw will hit the mark.”
A sob caught in Luc’s chest, and he turned with a desperate plea on his lips.
“But you can,” he rasped, falling to his knees and bowing his head in supplication. “Please, Father. I will do whatever you require. Spare her.”
“You love her.”
The statement didn’t need to be confirmed, but Luc did all the same. “I do.”
“Look what she’s done here. No one has been able to destroy what I’ve built. This is why mating is forbidden for your kind. She is too powerful to exist, Lucifer.”
“Perhaps in the human world, yes. But here… where you can guide her…” He didn’t care if he was begging. Knowing she was still alive would be enough. It had to be.
“No.”
“Then take my life!” he shouted. “Please. Not hers.”
“We’ve been here before, Lucifer,” Mother said, coming to join them. “Anida poisoned your heart and mind against us.”
He shook his head in denial. “No. Never that. We just couldn’t understand why we couldn’t be together.”
“And yet here you are again, in the same situation,” she stated softly. Her eyes held sympathy and love for him, forcing him to look away.
Was it shame? Perhaps. But he would never understand why finding happiness with another would be wrong.
“Should I spare you both, you would go on as before? Without the girl?” Father asked.
Slamming his lids shut, Luc swallowed hard. “Yes. I will stay away from her if that is required.”
“And you will not seek vengeance against your brothers?”
The tightened muscles of his jaw made speech difficult. Agreeing to let go of his grievances went against his very nature.
“I asked you a question, Lucifer!”
“They attacked what is mine,” he ground out.
“She is not yours.”
