Luc stood in front of her, unchained and clothed. How had that happened? The last thing she remembered was the searing pain of Michael’s sword tip piercing her flesh. She touched her chest, inspecting the spot above her breast.
“What happened?” she gasped. “Am I dead?”
He barked a short laugh without a single trace of humor. “No. God made a deal with the Devil.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means you will stay here, in the Kingdom. I will return to Hell, where I belong.”
Her head was shaking before the explanation cleared his mouth. “No, Luc! I want to be with you.”
His expression hardened. “Our wants matter not in the whole scheme of existence, pet. We shall do what is required.”
“No! This isn’t you speaking. You promised we’d stay together,” she cried, cupping his jaw between both hands. “You promised.”
“You should know, Nadia, that I am considered the greatest of liars. Never believe a word I say.” Bitterness dripped from his every word.
“Lucifer!” The Creator’s voice boomed across the space.
Nadia recognized it as a warning. Anger blazed on Luc’s face for a millisecond before being replaced by a bittersweet smile.
“I love you, Nadia.” Sincerity shone in his eyes. “In this, I do not lie.”
A sob shook her, and she blindly reached for him.
“I love you, too, Luc. Please don’t leave me here. Take me with you.”
“I cannot.” He brushed back her hair and lifted her chin to feather light kisses on her lips. “I would that I could,” he told her through their link.
“How am I supposed to go on without you?” she cried, uncaring that her heartbreak was on display for an insensitive god.
“You will forget me soon enough, pet. Then you will know peace once more.”
What the hell was that supposed to mean?
His smile told her he appreciated the obscenity she’d put out to him.
“Gabriel will take care of you. He will see you adjust to your new home. Try to be happy, Nadia. It is all I ask.”
Her stomach churned, and she placed a hand on her abdomen. A secondary thought occurred.
“What if there is a baby?” she whispered. “Can there be? Is it possible?”
Anguish twisted his beautifully chiseled features, and Nadia realized whatever pact he’d made, he’d thrown in the bonus of her not bearing his child.
“No! No! Tell me you didn’t take away my right to have children. Tell me!”
Luc raised distraught eyes to the Creator, and Nadia followed his gaze.
“No! What kind of Handmaiden-Tale bullshit is this?” she snapped.
“Control yourself, Triscelene!” the Almighty warned.
“I hate you!” she shouted. The great room rumbled with her displeasure, and one of the forty-foot marble columns crashed to the floor. “I hate you for doing this to us!”
“Nadia!” Luc shook her hard to get her attention. When he had it, he hauled her against him, hugging her so tightly, she couldn’t draw a full breath. He pressed his lips to her ear, warning, “Do not,” he hissed. “He will put you to death.”
“I don’t give a fuck. He’s taken everything from me. What’s left?” she asked raggedly, with tears blurring his beloved countenance.
