“You have chosen poorly, Gabriel,” Michael stated. “Father will be disappointed.”
His voice had the effect of an arctic blast, chilling Nadia to the bone.
“If it will prevent bloodshed, I can go with him,” she found herself saying despite her building fear. “I don’t want anyone hurt on my account.”
She touched a hand to both their shoulders, and the electrical current nearly knocked her on her ass. It did send her reeling backward against the passenger door.
With an undignified “oomph,” she straightened. Her previous trepidation turned to outrage.
“Dude! Did you just electrocute me?”
Lucifer’s furious voice echoed in her mind. “Don’t ever volunteer to sacrifice yourself again, Nadia.”
Thunder rumbled overhead, deafening as it shook the earth.
“Who is doing that?” Gabriel asked as he adjusted his stance wider.
“She is,” Luc said. The hard edge in his reply was tempered with dry humor.
“She?” Nadia croaked.
“You, pet.”
Gabriel swore in time with her “Fuck!”
“Precisely. It’s why Michael is interested in her demise.”
“Demise?” She felt faint. “What do you mean by my demise? Why?”
They ignored her as if she didn’t exist, drawing out flaming swords from previously invisible sheaths.
“This is a goddamned nightmare,” she muttered.
Thunder rumbled.
16
“Get in the vehicle, girl,” Gabriel ordered.
Although she didn’t love running and hiding as an option, she wasn’t opposed to it, Chicken Shit Hall of Fame candidate aside.
“No.” Luc’s succinct reply halted Nadia’s compliance. “She stays by me.”
“Lucifer, she can’t withstand a direct hit from Michael,” Gabriel replied in a low tone.
“He’ll never get close.” Without turning, Luc said, “Stay where you are, Nadia.”
Lucifer.
At the second mention of his full name, Nadia’s blood ran cold. Her insides had to resemble a gel freezer pack.
Who the hell were these men? Surely not the four angels of legend? Half of her suspected a prank. But the other half, the one positive Luc would never be so awful as to pull a stunt at a memorial service, assured her this confrontation was as real as it got.
Flaming swords and all.
“Uh, fellas. What happens when someone strolling by decides to film this?” she said, cringing internally at the tremble in her voice, yet impressed she could still reason.
“The humans in the vicinity are currently experiencing an urgent need to shelter in place. They will not come close,” Gabriel assured her.
