“Is he not handsome?”
“Oh! You mean try to score?” She nodded. “Makes sense. He’s smarmy that way.”
“Smarmy?”
“Similar to Sal, but not quite as creepy.”
Lucifer looked at Dimitri with new eyes. Had he missed corruption in the man’s overall energy? He’d need to check with Thamiel and see if perhaps Dimitri had turned dark. If he had transformed from daemon to demon, he’d need to be added to a watch list.
His skin tingled, and the hair on his neck rose.
Michael was close.
“We must go, Nadia.”
“Do you have another appointment? I can catch a ride with?—”
“No!” he barked, turning heads. Rather than apologize, he gripped her hand and squeezed. “I’ll see you safely home.”
“Old-school gallantry?” she quipped with a nervous laugh.
Making a decision, he spun to face her, tipping up her chin. “Can you trust me when I say there is something dangerous brewing here? You’re not safe.”
She shifted from his grasp and glanced around at the still crowd.
“What’s going on, Luc?”
“You have to leave right now,” another deep voice cut in.
They turned to look at Raphael, who stood ten feet away.
“Michael is coming.”
“I’m well aware,” Lucifer snapped. “Did you call him?”
“Who’s Michael?” Nadia asked, her gaze flicking back and forth between them.
“Someone you don’t want to meet today or ever,” Raphael said grimly. “You should go, Luc.”
Hating to be run off but knowing he needed to protect Nadia at all costs, Lucifer gave a sharp nod.
Relief shone in his brother’s eyes. Had he not been a victim of Raphael’s games in the past, Luc might’ve believed his emotion to be honest and not another trap.
He and Nadia were almost to the car when the atmosphere around them grew thick, as if the power of the Heavens struggled to burst free. Lightning rippled across the sky, and the energized air crackled.
Michael always did prefer a flashy arrival.
Rather than let Nadia witness an archangel touch down, Luc cradled her head in one hand, drew her close, and touched his mouth to hers. The shock of the remaining mourners—morbidly curious onlookers who weren’t wise enough to scatter at the first thunderous boom—rippled across his skin, making him hyper aware of his surroundings. From the corner of his eye, he witnessed Michael arrive and retract his wings, magical sword in hand.
“No matter what, you stay behind me, Nadia. Do you understand?” He ran his knuckles along her cheekbone. “Don’t get close to Michael, and always keep a person between you.”
“You make him sound like?—”
“Lucifer,” Michael spat. “Hand over the triscelene.”
Nadia gasped.
“Where did he come from?” Her eyes rounded as Michael’s words sank in. “Did he just call you Lucifer? Is he insane? Is that why he’s dangerous?”
