“I don’t think I’ll be giving them back,” Wrath taunts. “Not until you give me back what you took.”
“And what is that?” I snap.
“Why, the kingdom, of course, and the title. I wish to continue my reign as Lucifer. I never realized how much power comes with the job. I like it. Besides, you’re too weak to do what needs to be done, and far too weak to control the Divine. We’ve already signed a nice little peace treaty.” he laughs.
“Too bad you don’t hold the authority to negotiate a treaty, and your agreement means nothing in the eyes of the universe.”
“Is that true?” Michael snaps.
Wrath ignores him, enraged that I foiled his plans. But Michael refuses to be ignored.
“I said, is that true?” Michael asks again, irritation lacing his words.
“Not if I kill him again,” my brother shrugs.
“How are you going to do that when I’m invincible?” I growl, threatening to undo his very existence.
“A deal’s a deal, “ Michael sings gleefully. “Except, I guess, we no longer have one. Do we?” His voice is high-pitched and cheerful.
He grabs her mother, and Selestina screams. “No!”
My scream for her echoes. “No!”
Michael looks at me, his beady eyes dancing with delight at his victory. “Choose, daughter. Either come with me, or I kill your mother. You don’t belong to that abomination.”
She opens her mouth to argue, but I level a glare that makes her stop.Do not listen to him. Selestina, do not sacrifice yourself for a mortal.
A mortal!she yells back.This mortal is my mother. Maybe I made a mistake.
Selestina! My angel. Darling. Don’t do this. Remember you must stay close to me. They’re manipulating you to get exactly what they want. Don’t let them win, my love.
But she can’t hear me. She’s shut me out and is looking at Michael, her eyes dart from his face to her mother’s.
“Mother, it will be okay. I’m going to save you,” she calls.
“No, Mercy,” she sobs. “You must let me go. I warned you that your real father was a vile creature.”
Michael presses his sword to her neck, drawing a prick of blood, but it’s too much for Selestina to handle. I’m no match for her as I try to restrain her. She lunges at Michael, dagger drawn, driving it into his shoulder and taking him completely by surprise.
For a moment I’m proud of her—but then her screams fill my ears, and I see the red-hot crimson blood pouring from her mother’s neck. Michael grabs Selestina by the hair, and in a flash of light, he and the rest of the Divine are gone.
All I can hear are her screams and mine mixing together as hers vanish, leaving me to roar with an anger so deep I’ve never felt before.
From the corner of my eye, I see Zora spring to her side, attempting to save her life, Sylis beside her. The small army from Hell has Wrath surrounded, and I charge him, driven by my rage. I move so quickly he doesn’t even have time to react. I slice through his heart in one fluid motion as he drops to his knees, sputtering.
“Azrael!” he shouts. “Brother!” You would truly end me? How could you?”
I pull the sword from his chest and stand over him. My fangs drip with saliva, and my wings curl around me as anger pulses through my body. I draw the sword overhead, slamming downinto the soft spot between his neck and shoulder at just the right angle to pierce his heart once more.
“The same way I ended Leviticus, brother. You’re out of control, and when the universe deems you rehabilitated, you can walk these realms once more. Goodbye.” I snarl, stepping back as his body turns to ash.
I hold an enchanted glass vial in the air, and my shadows corral the pieces of him into it. Then I run to check on my mate’s mother. I can’t sense her life anymore. I know she’s already gone, but some part of me needs to see it. I need to apologize. Dropping to my knees, I whisper, “I’m so sorry. You never deserved any of this.” I lay my hand on her chest and bow my head. “May your next life be filled with peace and happiness.”
The ground opens up and swallows her into the Underworld.
I stand, wiping the blood on my pants, and slam the sword into the ground, take a knee, and glaring up at the big top’s peak.
“I will bring Hell to the mortal realm unless she is returned to me unharmed! Do you hear me, Michael?” I shout. “I will bring about the end of creation, releasing the worst creatures to prey on the precious mortals.” I take a breath. “I swear on my soul. I will personally end you for taking what’s mine and meddling with Destiny. Selestina is mine, and we were promised a lifetime together.”
