“Remember what I said, pet. The Moles and a handful of selfless individuals.”
Michael stilled and shifted his way.
24
Raphael’s phone buzzed in his pocket, and he had a sneaking suspicion who was on the other end of the call.
Nadia.
If he answered in front of Michael, he’d be forced to betray her. Of course, it wasn’t what he’d intended earlier today. His true plan had been to honor the truce with Gabriel, but his fucking brother had to royally FUBAR everything in his need to control the situation.
“Answer the fucking call, Rafe,” Michael barked irritably, seeming to be distracted by other concerns.
Raphael followed his stare, seeing nothing out of the ordinary. It wasn’t to say that Lucifer didn’t have the power to cloak himself. Hell, they all did, but archangel energy was like a live wire. All his brothers could feel each other if they concentrated.
Perhaps Michael was searching for the telltale sign that Luc was close. Circling back to save Gabriel would be exactly the type of daring act Lucifer was known for. But he was inclined to save his own ass first.
“He’s not foolish, brother. He would head for the forest,” Raphael said.
“Be quiet. You know nothing of his devious nature.”
His phone began its second round of buzzing.
“If it’s the hybrid, tell her we have a knife at her father’s and Lucifer’s throats,” Michael instructed. “If she doesn’t give herself up, we will be left with no choice but to kill them.”
“No. She’s not an idiot.”
Raphael couldn’t say why he’d softened toward her. Perhaps because she was always willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. It didn’t hurt that she was easy on the eyes, but he wouldn’t let his dick lead him astray like Lucifer. He had no desire to get on the Creator’s bad side. A solitary life without touch would break him. How Luc lasted this long was a miracle in itself.
The ground rumbled as Michael turned disbelieving eyes on him. “You dare tell me no?”
“You act as if no one ever has.” Raphael raised his brows in challenge. “I’m done taking orders from a guy whose face is locked in a perpetual scowl.”
Rage flashed in those fierce cobalt eyes, lighting them with an indigo flame.
“I don’t have time to give you the beating you deserve. I am the General of Father’s army.”
“A general. Not the general. Remember that,” he snapped.
Ironically, Michael possessed a holier-than-thou attitude and had assigned himself as chief know-it-all. Raphael had been present when the Creator issued orders to them both. As equals, they were required to make joint decisions. More often than not, he would let his bossy brother take the lead. Mainly because it suited him not to be the bad guy. But in this, Michael had crossed the line.
“Why do you hate her so much?” he asked curiously.
“I don’t hate her,” came the swift reply. Glowering, Michael asked, “Why would you believe otherwise?”
“Your driving need to murder a helpless woman, for one.”
“Helpless?” His scoff accompanied a shake of his head. “Do you have any idea what she can do if she reaches her potential? If you’d read The Liber Inchoatus, you would know.”
Raphael stilled. “You know where it is?”
Michael’s reddening neck said he did.
“How do you have the ability? The key has been gone for years.”
Pink colored his brother’s cheekbones, and if Raphael didn’t know better, he’d swear Michael was embarrassed.
“She taught me before… well, before.” Michael cleared his throat. “I know its location.”
