Gabrael smiled at Lexi, her brilliant blue eyes glittering as if infused with diamonds.
Was everyone in on a secret except Lexi? And was everyone someone else?
“This is unbelievable. You aren’t even Sam.”
“Part of me was. While I was in human form I was Sam.”
“And your kids?”
A sheepish hitch of her shoulders. “No,” Gabrael admitted and tilted her head at Rocky. “Imps if you will. Like Rocky.”
Lexi glared at the shapeshifter. “Did you know who she was?”
“No.” A wondering look entered his silver eyes. “She is Gabrael.”
Like that explained everything.
Lexi opened her mouth to say something that would make things clear, but the clash of metal reminded her this was so not the time or place for discussion.
Not with her angel involved in a battle with an uber-demon. Ignoring Sam/Gabrael, Lexi turned around. She placed a hand on her kubotan and sanjiegun. Despite this battle supposedly being Mikos’s alone, if he seemed to need help, no force on Earth or in Heaven would stop her from going to his aid.
It turned out she didn’t have to. A front kick jolted Beliel’s sword, tearing it from the demon’s hands. The long sword tumbled end-over-end, the metal flashing in the lights, before it came to a clattering stop. Both feet planted firmly, Mikos loomed over Beliel, his own greatsword poised for a killing strike.
“No!”
The voice rang out into the warehouse, a sharp bark of sound reverberating through Lexi’s head. She whirled to face the new threat.
Cold rage filled the face of the man standing in front of Mikos and the fallen Beliel. Blond hair tumbled in waves about his neck and shoulders. Black eyes as soulless as a shark’s eyes gleamed as they focused on Mikos.
Lexi sucked in a quiet gasp. She knew her eyes had to be wide enough to drive a semi through. The new man was the most beautiful man she’d ever seen. Really, not just pretty, not masculine, but beautiful. Perfection beautiful. God-like. Lexi swallowed around a suddenly dry throat.
“Lucifer,” Mikos said and bent his head, without removing his sword from Beliel’s neck.
Lucifer? That gorgeous man was the Devil? Where were the horns? The forked tail? The red skin? Lexi knew she was thinking in clichés and after what she’d seen in the last several weeks, the Devil not looking like the Devil shouldn’t be a surprise.
But still, for Pete’s sake, the Devil was stunning.
And what was that in Mikos’s voice? Respect? For the Devil?
Lucifer jerked his head at Beliel. “He is not yours to punish.”
Lexi felt her eyes widen when she saw Mikos hesitate. “Mikos, what are you doing?”
He glanced at Lexi then turned back to Lucifer. What had been in her dark angel’s eyes? Did he warn her? Threaten her? Tell her to piss off? Or maybe he just wanted her to trust him. Like she’d asked him to trust her about the Key.
When had she started thinking of him as hers? Don’t be stupid, Lexi, she told herself. You started thinking of him as yours almost from the first time you saw him.
Lucifer swung his soulless gaze toward her. Lexi sucked in a breath, feeling the intense. Wasn’t the Devil supposed to be fiery? This man was everything but. If she’d seen him on the streets, she would never have guessed he was more than a businessman. Until he turned those black eyes on her.
“You are the Defender?” He said it as if he asked her a question, yet she sensed he knew exactly who she was. So she didn’t respond. Neither did she drop her gaze.
“You look like your father, but you have your mother’s eyes.”
Her mouth dropped open. She felt it fall. She couldn’t help it. Of all the things the Ruler of Hell could have said, the comparison to her parents defied comprehension. All semblance of speech fled, leaving her swallowing convulsively to wet a dry throat.
After dropping what amounted to a bombshell to Lexi, Lucifer turned back to Mikos. “I cannot let you destroy him.”
“You know what he tried to do. What he’ll try to do again.”
“Yes.”
“Then why do I let him go?”
“Because he is my son.”
Good grief. Lexi was beginning to feel she was in a Hollywood thriller, as revelation after revelation sucked the breath from her body. Beliel was the Devil’s son? Sure, she’d known he was a demon, but his son?
Looking into Mikos’s eyes, she could tell he hadn’t known who Beliel really was. So, secrets are even kept in Heaven and Hell. Interesting.
A stirring off to the side. Malphas slowly got to his feet, his expression dazed and confused. He swung his head around, his dull stare locking onto Lucifer.
For a minute, Lexi wasn’t sure his mind had truly registered who he scowled at. When it hit him, the feathers on his skin flattened and his yellow eyes paled to a washed out, sickly puke.
“Morningstar,” he breathed, the scratch of his tone screeching its way up Lexi’s spine. He fell back to his knees and bowed his head. Terror, pure and simple, in every abject line of his body.
“You, on the other hand, mean nothing to me.”
With a sweep of his arm, Lucifer shot a wave of darkness at Malphas who squawked in alarm. His form wavered just before the darkness slammed into him. Yellow eyes widened. His mouth opened in a silent shriek.
Lexi resisted the urge to run screaming from the warehouse. Even though Mikos half stood between her and Lucifer, the cold execution of the yellow-eyed demon threatened to leave every nerve in her body screaming at her to beat feet from this place.
An agonized expression of confusion, mixed with doubt, mixed with rage etched deep lines on Mikos’s face. His silver eyes blazed, lit from behind with something Lexi could only identify as faith.
“Mikos, why are you hesitating?” She finally found her voice. “He killed Devyn. He tried to kill you and Sam.”
Well, actually, he wouldn’t have succeeded with Sam since she was an angel. Mikos turned those silver orbs on Lexi. The reflected agony of his indecision tore at her already much abused heart.
Mikos saw his pain reflected in Lexi’s cinnamon-shaded eyes. She didn’t understand—he didn’t expect her to. One did not go against the Ruler of Hell without weighing all the consequences. If Beliel were truly Morningstar’s son, killing him would upset the balance in such a disastrous manner it was likely mankind would be totally destroyed. And Mikos knew that couldn’t be permitted.
So, really, there was only one decision. A decision with its own consequences.
He turned back to face Morningstar. It almost hurt to gaze upon the countenance of the former angel who Mikos had once worshipped.
“I am within my rights to defend the Balance,” Mikos said. “Beliel’s actions are in direct violation of the agreement.”
He pulled back his greatsword and moved away from the demon. “Morningstar, you are assuming responsibility for Beliel’s actions.”
Not a question, more of statement, yet Lucifer nodded. Anger mixed with relief gleamed. Mikos knew Lucifer’s honor, such that it was, would owe for the life of his son. Being beholden to anyone was not Lucifer’s way. Especially to one he’d once counted as a friend.
Beliel staggered to his feet, his own red eyes ablaze with rage. He opened his mouth to say something. Lucifer slapped a hand down on his son’s shoulder effectively silencing whatever Beliel had been about to say. Instead, a grimace of pain flooded his face. He bowed his head.
As powerful as he was, and wanted to be, he was still less than nothing in power to Lucifer. Wisps of smoke trailed upward from under Lucifer’s grip on his son’s shoulder.
Hell’s ruler nodded at Mikos. Both demons, father and son, faded, their forms swirling into oily, dark and dank shadows. Mikos kept his gaze locked onto Beliel’s as the demon shifted. The red eyes promised something.
A return.
And revenge.
After a soft pop of sound, silence filled the deserted warehouse. Even the altar
accoutrements disappeared, leaving no sign that anything potentially world shattering had happened.
Lexi stared at the empty space, her mouth resting on the floor. At least that’s how she felt. That was it? The Devil came, took his son who’d killed Devyn and her professor, and was allowed to simply leave? What kind of justice was that?
“Not justice, Lexi, balance.”
The luminous voice came from behind Lexi. She turned. Like a curtain being pulled away from her mind, something clicked. Became clear. Gabrael was an angel. A full-fledged, spot on angel of the Touched by an Angel kind. Who could obviously read minds.
“When I want to.”
“Stop that.” A bark of sound. Lexi didn’t have more than that right now.
“I apologize.” Gabrael’s gentle smile widened. “It just seems easier to reply to your thoughts than wait until the words are spoken. Much quicker that way.”
“But way more freaky,” Lexi snarled. “So, what’s the big deal then?” Another thought occurred to her. “What was this then? A freaking test?” She held up a hand. “Don’t tell me Devyn’s death was part of the test.”
The light in Gabrael’s eyes dimmed. “No, your friend’s death was not part of the test. We never thought he’d go that far.”
“But you still let him off the hook for her death.”
“Lexi.”
She snapped a glance at Mikos who made a brief shake of his head. Obviously telling her not to push Gabrael. Yeah right. Like she’d suddenly learned to listen.
“Yes,” Gabrael said.
Lexi puffed out a breath of air. Her bangs bounced, brushing against her forehead in a spider-web tickling sensation. God, she hated cryptic statements. “That doesn’t make any sense.”
“It will.” The tender smile was back on the lovely angel’s face. “Later.” She looked at Mikos. “Phoenix, you’ve done well,” she smiled, a soft stretch of her lips.
At that moment, the deep gray of the warehouse seemed to lighten. A benign glow infused the interior, bathing the dirty structure with a mellow light, a dust of brightness.
Then, like the beam from the movie Ghost, a white shaft arrowed at Mikos enveloping him in a tranquil glow. His form seemed to shimmer a bit. But it was his eyes, not the obvious stairway to Heaven that had her transfixed.
First an expression of wonderment softened the silver depths and before her astonished gaze, lightened to a pale blue. Not silver, nor washed out, more like a pure spun snowflakes.
Even as she watched, the light seemed to rush through Mikos, cleaning and flushing out darkness. The black of his double set of wings faded, first slowly then faster and faster until with a snap of radiance the feathers turned completely white, an opalescent glitter shimmering on a pristine background of snow.
Lexi sucked in a breath and held it. Her body seemed to have forgotten how to breathe. Her gaze traveled up and down Mikos, noticing each change. From the brilliant alabaster of his wings, to the ice blue of his eyes to his blond hair.
Blond hair? Mikos, as a full on angel, was a blond? Even in the midst of what was obviously a miracle, Lexi could only think there was something just not right about him being blond.
Mikos turned that shimmering gaze on her. She let out the breath she’d been holding. A tentative smile stretched her lips. She wasn’t stupid and knew what his change meant. It meant he was going back to Heaven.
Something, a deep part of her had always known once she’d accepted he was an angel. Even when she found out he was one of the Fallen, a supposed demon, her heart and soul knew he’d, one day, leave.
Did that make it any easier? Hell, no. She’d gotten used to having him around. To being around him. And after their lovemaking, she’d felt something more. A connection she never expected to feel. Ever.
“Congratulations, Mikos. Looks like Heaven wants you back,” she said around the football size lump in her throat.
He swung his gaze along the pure shaft, staring intently as if he searched for something beyond the glow. She stared at him. His tall form, proud and confident. The hungry look in his eyes. The sweep of hair brushing against his shoulders. And those full lips, the ones she loved caressing with her own.
Unable to stare at what she was about to lose, Lexi lowered her head and focused, unblinkingly, on the cement floor. Ice spread through her stomach, an acute sense of loss solidifying in her chest. Right where her heart used to be. She closed her eyes against the pain, then turned away.
“Alexandria Michaela Thermopolis Harrison.”
Deep tones, the ones with the power to turn her insides into mush, halted her in her tracks. Gabrael stared past Lexi’s shoulder then smiled, a wide eye-popping white smile. “That is my cue to leave.” In a flash of sun-bright light, the angel disappeared.
Lexi could only stand still, staring off into the dark. She didn’t want to turn around. Didn’t want to see Mikos in all his angelic glory as he left her. She wasn’t freaking Demi Moore to watch in weeping wonder as the man she loved with all her heart and soul left her forever.
“Lexi, turn around.” Soft as silk, his voice washed over her. “Please.”
It was the please that did it. Had she ever heard him say please? Lexi slowly turned, her heart pounding its way into her throat making it difficult to swallow. To breathe.
When she saw Mikos, she actually forgot how to breathe. Her Mikos stood before her. Dark hair, wicked gray eyes and crooked grin. No more blond hair, white wings or pure blue glow in his eyes. Just the Mikos she’d fallen for. Minus the wings.
“I don’t understand,” she said.
“I’m not going back.”
“What? Did they change their mind? How could they?” She threw up her hands and stomped over to Mikos. “After what you did—”
He took her by the shoulders and pulled her close to him. His chest rumbled under her cheek. With a sigh, Lexi snuggled closer not caring about anything except being in his arms. His strong, warm and all male arms.
“My warrior,” he said, his voice low and smooth and infinitely tender.
Reluctantly leaving the comforting sensation of her cheek against his chest, Lexi pulled back and met his gaze.
“My decision. My choice to stay,” he said, laugh lines crinkling at the corner of his eyes.
“Let me see if I understand. You gave up Heaven for this?” She swept her gaze around the warehouse.
Another rumble of laughter. He cupped her face in his hands, his thumbs tracing a tender path down the line of her jaw.
“No, I gave up Heaven for you.”
Epilogue
“Hope is the thing with feathers;
That perches in the soul.
And sings the tune
Without the words,
and never stops at all.”
Emily Dickinson
Lexi swept her staff at Jackson’s legs. He leaped upward escaping her sweep, but she was ready. At the same moment, she thrust out with her fist, knocking him in the chest.
His eyes widened. Off balance, he never landed on his feet. Instead, his ass hit the mats first, followed by his back. Air left his lungs in a rush.
For nearby, the rolling sound of Mikos’s laughter mixed with the sultry tenor of Marisol’s, turned Jackson’s face a lovely shade of apple red. Then his chest.
Lexi lifted a brow. Hmm. Just how far down did the red go?
She leaned on her staff and tilted her head at Jackson. “See,” she chided. “You need to be prepared for anything.”
From his position on the floor, Jackson shook his head, a rueful twist to his lips. “I feel dumb as a box of rocks,” he groused.
Lexi held out a hand. Jackson’s warm fingers clasped around hers, and she helped him stand. “Don’t leave yourself open.”
At the mischievous gleam that entered his eyes, she continued, “And don’t even think about it.”
He offered her a sudden, arresting smile. Damn, if she didn’t already have her Prince Charming, she’d be tempted. In the last
six months, she’d come to like the tall, boyishly charming Texan.
Jackson shrugged, good-natured as always. A trait that seemed to piss off Marisol on a regular basis. Something Lexi enjoyed seeing.
There was something about Jackson’s fearless attitude where the lovely demoness was concerned. As if he knew something about her the others didn’t. Something that protected him from the worst of her aggravation.
Even after the last several months spent retrieving relics together, Lexi couldn’t say she understood Marisol any better than she did when they first met. The redhead kept her secrets woven tight.
Lexi felt Jackson move up beside her. “What’s with him?” He jerked a thumb at Mikos. Her gaze flicked to Mikos, a grin stretching her lips.
Ah, her dark angel. The man who had helped her find her heart. Her soul.
Her faith.
At the expression in Mikos’s silver eyes, her grin slipped. His eyes were blank. Well, not so much blank as focused on something else. He cocked his head.
“I’m guessing he’s talking to Michael,” Jackson continued.
She nodded. “Very possible.”
“An assignment?”
“Again, very possible.”
Silence fell over the room as they watched Mikos. A few seconds later, he closed his eyes. When he opened them, they were the normal, icy-gray color. He looked over at Lexi and offered her a slow smile she felt clear to her toes.
At the soft, affectionate gaze, her heart swelled until she thought it might burst through her chest. He grinned and held out his hand. Without hesitation, she crossed the room and wrapped her fingers into his warm ones.
“So,” she said. “Another trip to retrieve a relic?”
Mikos gave her another slow smile and lifted her hand to his lips. He pressed a gentle kiss on her skin, and she shivered.
“Yes, another assignment. But not for us.” Mikos paused and his gaze tracked to Jackson then on to Marisol. “For them.”
Lexi turned to look at both pairs of startled figures—one human. One definitely not. Interesting.
“Michael wants you both to go to Central America, to the lost city of Lubaantun in Belize to find the crystal Mayan Death Skull,” Mikos explained.
Key of Solomon: Relic Defenders, Book 1 Page 27
