“Not if the four fall in line and join forces once again,” he argued.
“And you believe you will bring Lucifer and his brothers to the table, to once more work side by side without hatred in their hearts?” She shook her lovely red head. “Michael will be a problem.”
“He always is,” the Creator replied tiredly. “But there is a plan for him as well as the others.”
“But you do not wish to share it with me?”
When he looked up, there was a small smile playing about her full lips, and her eyes held a distinctive twinkle. Whenever she pasted on her teasing expression, as now, he was reminded of Lucifer. And like her, Lucifer was too clever for his own good.
“In due time, my love.”
She laughed, and he had the distinct impression she’d already guessed his game.
Luc called Thamiel to his study.
“It seems you’ve been recalled home, my friend,” he began without preamble.
Confusion clouded his guard’s visage before his brows drew together in consternation. “Home? I am home. With you.”
“No, Tham,” he said, using Dinathial’s nickname for her twin to soften the blow. “Home to the Kingdom.”
“But I don’t wish to go.” The fierce denial in his voice was paired with an offended look. “My purpose is your guard. I shall remain at your side.”
“You can’t stay. You’re yet another punishment on the long list of those to be used against me. But I cannot gainsay the Creator on this.”
“Because he holds Nadia,” his friend said flatly, the light dulling in his eyes.
“I’m not choosing her over you, Tham,” he said roughly. “He insisted. I didn’t expect he’d name you as the final punishment. But once the order was given, I couldn’t argue. I granted him this boon for sparing her, because it spares you, too.”
“How?”
“He’d send Michael after you, and I can’t always be around to stop him.”
“I understand, my liege.”
“Not your liege. Your friend.” Luc circled the desk, wishing for the millionth time he could hug the man who’d become family to him. “Should you ever have need of me, send word. I will come.”
It was a long moment before Thamiel nodded. “And I shall be there for you, no matter what.”
“Go in peace,” he said gruffly. For as much as Luc wished he could call on him again, he wouldn’t be able to.
“Know that I will protect your lady, my liege.”
“Your memory will be wiped clean, like the others in His service,” Luc finally admitted. “But if you should recall, I will be eternally grateful.”
He watched Thamiel leave with a heavy heart. Half of him wanted to curl up and sob his grief, but the other half was engulfed in fury, wishing to rain fire down on all involved.
Yet he wouldn’t.
He’d bide his time. And should he accidentally revert to his old ways long enough to dole out a lesson or two, who could blame him?
32
“You probably shouldn’t have been the two Father sent,” Luc drawled. Today he dressed the part of the uncaring Devil.
He sat with one leather-clad leg hooked over the arm of his throne, casually gliding the edge of his sharpest knife along the underside of his nails.
“He didn’t trust the transport of Thamiel to anyone else,” Michael said.
