“I’m aware. And I’ll do my best to keep them apart,” Gabriel responded gruffly. “I need to get back.”
“Thank you.” As his brother turned to leave, Luc called him back. “With your permission, I’ll begin a search on this side. Between us, we will discover what happened to Adalyn.”
“Thank you. Send word with what you find. I will do the same.”
“Watch out for Thamiel, won’t you? He’s accumulated many enemies in his years at my side.”
Gabriel nodded. “It shall be known he is under my protection.”
He wanted to hug his brother tightly as he once would’ve, but he didn’t deserve the pain Luc’s cursed touch would inflict on him.
“I owe you, Gabe. Whatever I have to do to repay the debt, you have only to say the word.”
“Find Addy, and if she’s still alive, keep her hidden until I can get to her.”
With a nod of understanding, they parted. Gabriel to return to the Kingdom, and Lucifer to resume his miserable existence—alone but for the memories of a too-short love affair.
EPILOGUE
As the days passed, Nadia was positive she’d forgotten something important. Or someone based on her vivid dreams. Each night, he came to her, this mystery lover named Luc. With intense blue eyes and jet black hair tending to fall across his brow, he had to be the handsomest man she’d ever encountered. Every visit made her burn, and they’d cuddle, trading secrets until she fell asleep. Yet whenever she woke, tears stained her pillow, and she’d brush away the remains of her anguish for a lover departed.
The damnedest part of it all was how real it felt. Did he truly exist, or was her loneliness creating a phantom relationship for her to cling to?
Other than a lesser-ranked angel named Ariel, who had taken a liking to her, Nadia kept to herself. Her daytime hours were filled with chores or training by an archangel named Gabriel, who bore an uncanny resemblance to her. No words were spoken of a relationship, but she trusted him above all others. Felt bonded to him to a degree she couldn’t explain. And when she needed a friend, she looked to him for guidance.
On occasion, she was required to socialize with others. But if she could weasle her way out of it, she did. No one sparked her interest. All she wanted was to read books and spend time with a man who didn’t exist.
Two individuals to whom she’d developed an instant aversion were Michael and Raphael. Perhaps her dislike resulted from Gabriel’s distrust of them. Or maybe Michael’s hard stare unnerved her whenever they happened to pass. Additionally, Raphael’s syrupy overtures annoyed the living piss out of her. Still, whatever the reason or reasons—probably all three—Nadia made sure she was never alone with either of them.
When she had a spare moment, she came here, to the Kingdom’s park at the farthest boundary. Filled with wildflowers and waterfalls, it soothed her soul, and she allowed her mind to wander back to the fantasy man who occupied her dreams.
“What are you thinking about?”
She jumped guiltily as Ariel joined her. “You scared the crap out of me.”
Although her friend’s pale green eyes lit with laughter, she refrained from comment. She’d been the only person to welcome Nadia without reservation. Her sunny attitude was a blessed change from the other residents, though they never shared any meaningful conversations before.
“Woolgathering, I suppose. Nothing important,” Nadia replied with a smile.
Deny anything profound or resembling true emotion—that was the Kingdom’s way.
“Hmm, somehow I doubt that,” Ariel said with an arch look. But her expression turned into a grin as Nadia snorted.
“You can’t pull off arrogance. Don’t try.”
Ariel sniffed in mock disdain. “I’ll have you know, I’m super skilled at arrogance.”
They both laughed.
Her friend sent a covert glance toward the park’s entrance, then lowered her voice to say, “If I had to guess, I’d say you’re dreaming about a tall, dark, and dangerous man. One who always dresses in the latest Armani fashion?”
Nadia gasped at her accuracy. “How… What… You know him? Who is he?”
“Shhh, keep your voice down. He’s not mentioned here. Or at least not in good terms.”
Too soul-weary and impatient to care about anyone else, she shrugged off the warning.
“Do you know him, Ariel? Do I?”
