“You once told me Nadia couldn’t remember her parents, but recalls snippets of the kindly woman who raised her. What if it’s Addy? What if the memories are distant because of the time lapse or a reset?”
Luc nodded. “It would explain much.”
“The more I’m around her, the more I see my wife’s mannerisms. The two of them spent a great deal of time together. I’m sure of it.”
“It’s possible she lied to me,” Luc said flatly. The thought stuck in his craw.
“No. I don’t believe she did,” Gabe replied slowly. “In the span I’ve come to know her, she’s been honest in all things. Painfully so.” Eyes identical to Nadia’s, yet worldlier, studied him. “Are you trying to find flaws so you don’t miss her as much?”
Was he? If he could find a reason to despise her, as he had with Anida for provoking his revolt, perhaps he wouldn’t be as devastated. Maybe this constant ache in his chest would ease.
“I don’t know,” he confessed.
They shared a commiserating smile.
“Adalyn’s father was Phynnias, right? What happened to him?”
“Dead by my command. He was the first I revived after Dinathial and Thamiel. But he was mad, Gabe. Too shattered from the fall. I should’ve never pieced him back together. He was the worst of the worst. A demon through and through.”
Phynnias, a fallen angel like Lucifer, had been nearly unstoppable, and it had taken him, Thamiel, Dinathial, and Adalyn working together to take him down. His muscle power had rivaled Michael’s and was the reason Luc had recruited him to his war. But he became twisted without the Creator’s guidance.
“Yes. Adalyn bore the traces of his cruelty.” Gabriel’s mouth twisted in distaste. “But as powerful as their line was, Addy, as half-human, was no match for Michael in the end. Would he have murdered a pregnant woman?”
It didn’t require thought.
“No,” they both said without pause.
“So he held her prisoner, at least until her child was born,” Luc concluded. “Then, and I’m surmising here, because Nadia was a bright and lively little girl, Michael had difficulty fulfilling his original task. He let her live. It would explain why he was so dead-set on finding her before it became known what she was.”
His brother nodded his agreement. “Agreed. How do we discover the truth?”
“Other than Father, only Michael would know now that Nadia’s memory has been wiped clean.” Luc slouched low on the throne with a careless shrug. “Best of luck getting him to confess.”
“Yes. He’s trying to make right his original dereliction of duty. He wants back in Father’s good graces.”
“Doesn’t everyone?” He snorted his derision. “But where does Raphael come to play in all of this? He was never such a suck-up, as far as I recall. He broke rules whenever he could.”
Gabriel shot him a sharp glance. “I thought his behavior obvious.”
“Why?”
“He’s developed feelings for Nadia, brother. From the moment he met her, in fact. We played into his hands.” With a narrow-eyed stare, he watched Luc closely. “He’s smarter than he lets on. He could almost guarantee you’d bargain for her life. Knowing you, he predicted you would agree to set her free. It left the playing field wide open for him. She has no memory of you, only what she’s been told about your unsavory character.”
Fury blazed to life inside Luc, and he surged to his feet, prepared for battle.
“How do you mean? Who is telling her I’m unsavory?”
Gabriel’s brow shot up.
“Never mind. I can guess.” Luc swore, and thunder could be heard in the distance, despite the layers of earth. “I should have cut off his balls, slit open his throat, and shoved them inside.”
“You have truly earned your reputation.” Gabriel mock shuddered.
“Perhaps he won’t be as attractive now that I’ve decorated his face.” One could only hope Nadia wouldn’t find Raphael’s scar dashing. Women who believed dangerous equaled sexy were out of their bloody minds!
“She loves you, Lucifer. Her mind may not realize it, but her heart is telling a different story.”
“Please, brother, if you’ve ever cared for me, keep her away from that bastard.” Luc’s voice broke. He hated showing any sign of weakness. But if there were one person who understood, it was Gabriel. “If mating is still forbidden for angels and they break the law, the Creator won’t sacrifice Raphael. It will be Nadia who pays the price.”
