For what seemed the hundredth time, he studied his surroundings, refining his escape plan.
The warehouse, open and vast, had scant cover. Every sixty seconds, the air pulsed, indicating the security wards remained active.
But he’d worked out a way around those, too.
Michael had smugly informed him that the Creator had called for a court of inquiry into his and Gabriel’s behaviors. The knowledge was of no consequence. Lucifer didn’t answer to anyone anymore. His primary concern was Nadia, and he hoped to Hell and back Gabriel had protected her.
It surprised him to realize he missed her in the interim. Her breezy laughter, her refreshing outlook and dry humor, the citrusy scent of her newly washed hair with its silky feel. All imprinted on his memory.
But oddly, he missed her. Listening as she spoke about her work and detailed what she’d translated in her quest to find The Liber Inchoatus. Fighting a murderous urge as she voiced her irritation with Salvokos. Laughing as she’d expounded on the joy of New York-style pizza. All those moments had become the highlight of his evening. Many a night, he’d wake from the beautiful dream of touching her, sharing a passionate kiss, or even holding her innocently as she slept. The last was pure fantasy. Fanciful musings of what he’d hope could come to pass, if he saved her from certain death.
Yes, he’d break free.
When he did, he’d enact his carefully plotted revenge. Michael would pay for every minute Luc had spent in this godforsaken cage and for every second Nadia lived in fear for her life.
Buzzing began in his ears, and he shook his head to dislodge the annoying sensation. He cared not what others from the Kingdom had to say.
“Luc.”
Nadia’s voice whispered across his skin, and he feared he’d gone mad.
He sat straighter. Rather than call her name aloud, he sought her within the confines of his mind.
“Luc? Oh, thank God! You’re alive!”
He winced at the echo, then laughed at her choice of words. “He has nothing to do with it, pet.”
“Right. Sorry. Listen, I’m worried about Gabriel. Raphael and Michael attacked us?—”
Not one for swearing, Luc nevertheless released a string of curse words to make a sinner blush. She was safe, or they wouldn’t be holding this conversation.
His heart hiccuped.
It was entirely possible for her to be dead, and him to be delusional, having gone off the deep end upon hearing of her demise.
“Nadia? Pet?”
“I’m here. I promise I’m alive. Just how we’re holding this conversation, I’ll never know, but something clicked on in my head.”
“Where are you?” he asked.
“Safe in your bed.”
Then he certainly was delusional, because there was no possible way she could reside in Hell without him. She couldn’t survive the sulfuric atmosphere he’d created to keep out the unwanted.
“Yeah, the rotten egg smell isn’t the greatest, but you get used to it from inside the palace. It isn’t as strong,” she replied.
“You’re really alive and reading my thoughts?” he asked in disbelief. How the blue blazes had she advanced in so short a span?
“It appears I can.” After a lengthy pause, she added, “Also, it makes me happy to know you care so much.”
The smile in her voice traveled through their mental connection, and he couldn’t stop his responding grin.
The atmosphere shifted, and the pulsing security beams cut off.
The warehouse bay door lifted, and LED headlights swept the interior, blinding him to the vehicle’s approach. Luc shielded his eyes, but counted the slamming of four doors and the hatch. The SUV’s headlights dimmed, eventually shutting off. But by then, the fluorescent tubes overhead illuminated the entire space.
He recognized the three outlines of his brothers—two in front as hulking guards dragged the third between them.
