Fury lit a sapphire flame at the center of Michael’s pupils, and Luc realized he’d never back down. He’d rather die than disappoint the Creator with the news that the triscelene lived.
With a mighty shove, Lucifer threw him off and brought up his sword again. “Take Nadia to sacred ground, Gabe.”
“That’s dirty,” Michael replied disdainfully. “Even for you.”
He shrugged. “If it ties your hands and keeps her alive…”
“She is too powerful, Lucifer. Stronger than the four of us combined. You should fear her.”
“I fear nothing.” A blatant lie, but Michael didn’t need to know. “But she has a human heart, brother. She is kind.”
“You are a fool!”
Luc’s sword crashed against Michael’s, knocking the new thrust wide just as Gabriel charged, forcing their opponent to pivot. For the first time, he gave ground, adjusting to the two-on-one assault.
“Stop!” Nadia’s guttural scream froze time itself, halting their battle. Mid-swing, it felt as if Lucifer were slicing through water in slow motion.
He registered Gabriel and Michael’s incredulousness.
Closing his eyes, he sought the source of her power and connected it to his own. After removing the sluggishness from his movements, he sheathed his sword, ran to her, and swept her into his embrace. His wings extended like a sail, with a whopping flap echoing around them.
“Hold tight, pet.”
17
With a flash of red light, Nadia and Lucifer hovered above the treetops on the other side of Grimwich. He slowly touched down on the clearing behind their complex. His landing smoother than any 747.
She backed away the instant he released her, fearful of all she’d learned.
“That didn’t just happen,” she whispered as she shook her head. “You’re not the Devil, you didn’t fight other archangels, and you didn’t sprout wings when time stopped.”
He remained silent, watching her with something akin to compassion.
“Please tell me I’m dreaming,” she choked out. “Please.”
“I wish I could.” His voice was soft, but a muscle in his jaw pulsed, betraying his inner turmoil.
“How is this possible?” she asked.
Before he could answer, silver streaked through the blue above. A shadow fell over them, and she glanced skyward. Overhead, Gabriel hung for a heartbeat before joining them.
“God, this is fucking unreal.” Again, she shook her head as she stared at the two celestial beings across from her. Gabriel was as light as Lucifer was dark. Though the shape and color of their eyes were vastly different, both gazes reflected the same wariness and concern.
For her.
“Are you related to me?” she asked Gabriel.
Stupid question, really. They had identical coloring, unique to them, or so she believed.
“It would appear so, but how, I don’t know.”
Lucifer’s mouth tightened.
“But you know,” she accused softly. “Don’t you?”
“I suspect I do, yes,” he said.
“Why lie to me? Why pretend interest and treat me like… like…” The heavy weight of betrayal rose up, clogging her throat and threatening to choke her.
