Reign of Night (The Thorne Hill Series Book 7)

by Emily Goodwin

  Color starts to return to the boy’s face, and his eyes spring open. Then he sits up, coughing, spitting out water. Michael’s hand lands on the boy’s shoulder, and he stops coughing, completely healed. He inhales, looking up at Michael in awe.

  “You…you saved me.” His hand goes to his chest, and he breathes in deeply again, needing to make sure he’s actually okay.

  “No.” Michael stands and turns to me, smile on his lips. “She did.”

  The boy locks eyes with me, and another shiver runs through me. Michael doesn’t need to explain it for me to know what just happened. I heard this boy’s prayers.

  “Th-thank you,” the boy says and starts to stand up. A lifeguard and several beachgoers come running over.

  “I’m fine,” the boy insists. Lucifer and Michael come back to me, and we get another look. I’m dressed for freezing weather, Lucifer’s suit is dripping wet with an obvious burn, exposing the skin of his chest, and Michael, who’s the most casual of us all, is still out of place for a sunny beach, since he’s wearing jeans and a long-sleeved t-shirt.

  “I didn’t know I could do that,” I breathe, shaking my head.

  “Your angelic side is getting stronger,” Michael says proudly.

  “Does that make me more at risk for the others to find me?” I ask, eyes falling shut.

  “Yes,” he says honestly. “But hearing prayers, Callie, that’s a good thing.”

  “And you know what’s not a good thing?” Lucifer interjects. “Remiel’s body in the woods. We should get back to Thorne Hill.”

  Michael nods, looking around the beach once more. “It’s nice here.” He turns to me. “Isn’t it?”

  “We can’t stay forever, brother,” Lucifer says gently.

  “I guess avoiding problems runs in the family,” I say softly with a smile. My heart aches to be back next to my love, and I hate that Lucas is no doubt panicking. I disappeared, leaving him and Kristy alone in the woods with a dead archangel. Hearing the boy’s pleas and prayer gave me a momentary short reprieve from my harsh reality, but Lucifer is right: we can’t stay here on the beach and pretend things are okay.

  They’re far from it.

  My pulse quickens and my throat gets tight. What the hell are we supposed to do? Getting rid of Roger’s body caused me enough stress and anxiety, and no human will find it in Hell. But Remiel…there’s nowhere we can hide him where the other angels can’t go. I got away with murder once. There’s no way we’re going to get away with it again.

  “We do need to go.” Michael holds out his hand and I reach for it, but right before my fingers touch his, a sharp, red-hot pain stabs me right in the chest, searing its way through me, right down to my stomach.

  Chapter 2

  I double over, hand landing on my abdomen. My entire middle feels like a rope is wrapped around me, and something is pulling it tight, squeezing me until I’m going to be cut in half. The pain intensifies, and I’m only half aware of Michael taking me to a shaded spot on the beach and helping me down onto the soft, warm sand.

  “Breathe,” he tells me, making me aware that I’m holding my breath. My lips part and I let out a sigh, leaning back and resting on my elbows. Lucifer stands above me, brows furrowed with worry.

  “What happened to her?” he asks my father.

  “Her body isn’t used to using that much divinity.” Michael puts his hand on my forehead, and the pain starts to fade. “And her child is more human than she is.” He slowly shakes his head back and forth and glances up at Lucifer. He doesn’t say anything, but I know: he has no idea what to do. I’m the first ever offspring of a witch and an archangel, and I’m the only Nephilim to get knocked up myself. “Are you feeling better?” he asks me.

  “Yeah,” I say, though I’m a little shaky. “Is my baby okay?”

  Michael moves his hand down, hovering it over my stomach. “She’s strong, just like you.”

  “She?” I let out another breath, and the pain subsides. “It’s a girl?”

  “Biologically,” Michael says with a smile. “Yes.”

  “I’m going to have a daughter,” I whisper to myself. I was under the assumption the baby was a girl, back when I thought I heard Michael tell me to do it for her, but Lucas and I couldn’t know for sure. I already felt bonded with my unborn child, but knowing that I’m going to have a daughter makes things seem even more real, and everything that happened weighs on me. “Can I go home now?”

  “Yes,” Michael tells me and helps me to my feet. He pulls me into a one-armed hug, and I reach out for Lucifer’s hand.

  “No one will see us disappear?” I ask when Lucifer takes my hand.

  “They might,” my father says. “But they won’t remember it.” With that, he flies out of here, landing us right back where we were. Remiel’s body is still motionless on the ground, with dark red blood seeping out from the wound in his chest. I break away from Michael and look around the forest. Everything is silent and still—too still. It’s eerie, and the feeling of being watched creeps over me.

  “Lucas?” I call, and my breath clouds around me. I shiver, having just come from the bright and sunny beach. “Kristy?” Frost-covered leaves crunch under my feet as I take several quick steps toward my house. “Lucas?” I call again a little louder. If he’s close, then he heard me.

  A dog barks in the distance, and right as the glow of the back porch lights come into view, Lucas speeds through the woods, stopping right in front of me. His eyes are wide, and he runs his eyes up and down me, making sure I’m okay before pulling me into a tight hug.

  “I’m sorry,” I breathe, wrapping my arms around his muscular body.

  “It’s okay, my love.” Lucas kisses my forehead and runs his hand over my hair. Scarlet barks again as she plods over, followed by my familiars who stayed by Kristy as she ran from the house.

  “You’re back,” my best friend pants, winded from running.

  “I am,” I say, and Lucas loosens his hold on me but doesn’t let me go. I think he’s afraid Michael will fly me away if he does.

  “Where did you go?” Kristy asks, stopping short when she sees Michael and Lucifer just yards behind me.

  “A beach in Australia.”

  “It’s the same one you went to before.” Lucas leans in and inhales. “I can smell the ocean on your hair.”

  “Yeah,” I say and inch back, keeping my own hands locked around Lucas’s waist. I don’t want to be flown away from here either. I shiver from the cold, and Lucas pulls me close to his chest, though his body offers no warmth. Regardless, being close to him is comforting. “Michael seems rather fond of it.”

  “It’s one of my favorite places in all of creation,” Michael states as if that’s a perfectly normal thing to say. I look at him, and then at Remiel’s body.

  “What are we going to do?”

  “You, my dear daughter,” Michael starts and walks forward. Kristy tenses and moves behind Scarlet. “Are going to go inside. We will handle this.”

  “We will?” Lucifer scoffs. “Like I said, I’m done—”

  “Enough,” Michael booms, and I shiver again. “None of this was your fault, Callie.”

  “Claiming my throne was,” Lucifer says as he moves over to Remiel’s body.

  “You can have it. I didn’t really mean it. I just…I didn’t know what else to do, and Bael…he…he was here. I don’t want it,” I spit out.

  “Neither do I,” Lucifer says and waves his hand over his dead brother. Fire springs from the ground, the same way it did when he took Roger’s body to Hell. “And you’ve just given me an idea, my niece. Thank you.” His eyes meet mine, and he smiles before disappearing, wings flapping and blowing my hair back.

  “Don’t go,” I rush out, moving away from Lucas toward my dad. “Please.”

  Lucas pulls me back to him, glowering at Michael. “You owe her at least half an hour,” he growls.

  “That’s all I can afford,” Michael says with a nod and motions to the house. “S
he should rest.”

  “I’m fine,” I rush out, but I really want to get inside and out of the cold because I’m shivering uncontrollably now, both from the cold and from fear. Lucas scoops me up, cradling me against him like I’m a baby. “Put me down,” I protest.

  “No,” he simply replies, and I fight against him just to prove my point. When it comes to a battle of strength, Lucas will always win.

  “Don’t speed me into the house then,” I shoot back. “Just walk.”

  “Fine.” He starts forward, and I catch Kristy’s gaze, rolling my eyes and shaking my head at Lucas’s insistence to dote on me like this. Bringing me food, rubbing my back, and insisting I take it easy by watching Netflix for hours on end, yeah, I’m more than fine with that. But this, this is excessive.

  Michael follows behind, turning around every once in a while to stare at the spot where Remiel had fallen. There’s still blood on the earth, and I can’t help but wonder what kind of stain that will leave—and I don’t mean just on the dirt.

  “Is there any sort of spell you can do to keep her safe from the other archangels?” Lucas asks when we go up the stone steps to the back patio, which leads into the conservatory. Lucas is still holding me, so Kristy goes first, waving her hand over the lock while muttering an incantation. She must have put an extra warding on the house while I was in Australia with my father and uncle.

  What a week this evening has been.

  “Any sort of warding against angels will hurt her,” Michael says, stepping into the house. I wiggle against Lucas’s hold, and he finally sets me down. I conjure an energy ball, lighting the dark room.

  “When Ruth tried to ward off angels, it felt like I was being ripped in two,” I remind Lucas. There are a lot of windows in this room, making it colder than the rest of the house. I have plans to get some sort of planters and grow my own herbs, though I feel that’s very much a pipe dream. I’m a terrible gardener and have had to beg Olive, Kristy’s familiar, to come over and salvage my dead plants more than once.

  My familiars and Scarlet rush ahead of everyone, and Lucas doesn’t set me down until the door is shut behind Michael.

  “Anyone else hungry?” I ask, twisting my hair nervously around my fingers. “I guess I mean are you hungry, Kristy?”

  “I could use a drink,” she replies. “Is there any wine in the kitchen?”

  “I put it back in the wine cellar,” Lucas tells her. “I’ll get you something.”

  “Thanks,” she says, and Lucas speeds off. Taking a few more steps into the room, I flick my eyes to Michael. Everything about this is so weird, and I don’t know how to act. Ever since I found out he’s my father, I’ve had so many questions for him. Now that he’s here and is going to sit down and talk for a while, I’ve forgotten everything I wanted to ask.

  “So, this is my house,” I start. “Lucas and I restored it and moved in only a few weeks ago.”

  Michael nods, looking around. “It’s very nice. It’s much bigger than your previous home.”

  “Yeah, it’s a lot bigger. It was in really bad shape when we bought it. I say we, but I mean Lucas. He bought it for me as a surprise. He, uh, has a tendency to overdo things.”

  “You can say that again,” Kristy mumbles, and I laugh. “Look at your ring.”

  “It’s a little over the top,” I admit.

  Lucas zooms down the hall, holding a bottle of Chardonnay. “Only the best for you, my love.”

  “I agree with that,” Michael says.

  “The best doesn’t always mean the most expensive,” I counter. “Though I’m glad we spared no expense with this house.” I pat the wall. “It has character and feels alive at times—but not in a haunted way. I was actually a little disappointed by the lack of spirits here, especially since we found a body in the attic.”

  “You did?” Kristy asks. “I didn’t know about that.”

  “I told you,” I say. “Didn’t I?”

  “I knew about the bodies in the graveyard, of course, but the attic…nope…I don’t think you mentioned it.”

  “It’s sad when you deal with so many dead bodies you forget to mention one.”

  Kristy laughs and shakes her head, linking her arm through mine. She’s trembling and has to be working so hard right now to keep calm. I’m a ball of nerves, and I’m usually dealing with this shit. I can only imagine how this is for her, and my mind goes right back to thinking maybe the angels were onto something when they said Nephilim shouldn’t be allowed to live.

  My life has caused so much grief for so many people.

  “What did you do with it?”

  “The body?” I shrug and look at Lucas. “He buried it somewhere. I think that was the last body on the property. Unless we find a surprise when the pool is put in. Maybe then we’ll wake and anger a spirit. I haven’t had a seance in a while.”

  The lights are already on in the kitchen, and I take the bottle of wine from Lucas so I can use magic to pull out the cork. I’m not really a fan of Chardonnay, though to be fair, when I buy wine myself, I don’t usually spend more than ten dollars on a bottle. This bottle came from Burgundy and was pricey. Maybe it’s good? I won’t know since I’m not drinking.

  “I know you don’t have to eat or drink,” I start, getting two wine glasses from the cabinet. “But do you want anything?” I ask my dad. Lucifer drank, so I know it’s possible for angels to consume food, unlike vampires. It raises a few questions, though. If food goes in, it has to come out, right?

  “No, but thank you.” Michael sits at the island, resting his hands on the counter. I pull Thanksgiving leftovers from the fridge as Lucas grabs plates and forks for Kristy and me. Kristy fills her wine glass and leans against the counter on the other side of the kitchen from Michael.

  “What would you like?” Lucas asks me.

  “A bit of everything,” I tell him and pull a pie from the pantry. “As much as I’d like to sit and eat, I know you’re short on time.” I pick up a fork and don’t bother with a plate. I shovel a forkful of pie into my mouth. I can’t drink my worries away like I usually do, so I’m going to have to settle for pie. Lots of pie. “What do I do?” I ask with my mouth full.

  “In regard to Remiel, nothing,” Michael says calmly. His presence is soothing, and for some reason, being in the company of other angels feels right. My angelic side seeks out their company, I guess.

  “Nothing?” I question. “Are the others going to be pissed and wondering what happened to him?” My pulse quickens again, and I scoop up another forkful of pie, shoving it into my mouth.

  “Let angels deal with the matters of angels.”

  “But I’m half angel,” I counter.

  “Exactly,” Michael tells me. “Half. And your human half needs to rest, now more than ever.”

  “I claimed the Throne of Hell,” I say, getting all jittery as I think about it. It feels like that happened so long ago, and I haven’t had time to think about it yet. What it means…and how it felt.

  Good.

  Right.

  I liked having that much power.

  “You did,” Michael says.

  I nervously poke at the pie. “I didn’t mean it, though. I just said it because I had to, and I don’t even know how the idea occurred to me. But it did, and I stopped Bael and saved Lucas and Kristy. I just said some words, it’s not like I had a ritual or anything to become the Queen of Hell, right?”

  “You have archangel blood in you, making you a rightful heir to any part of Heaven or Hell,” Michael tells me. “You willed yourself the crown and named yourself queen. Right now, you are the ruler of Hell.”

  Chapter 3

  “But I don’t want to be,” I blurt. “Can’t I un-will the crown or whatever?”

  Michael’s brows furrow, and he casts his gaze down as he thinks. “Perhaps. The simplest way to remedy this is to get Lucifer back on the throne. You were able to claim it due to his absence, but if he were to return and you didn’t fight him for the throne, it wo
uld be his once again.”

  “Then do that,” Lucas says. “And Callie won’t have to leave.”

  I look up from my pie and see the terror on Lucas’s face. It hits me all at once, and now I understand why he was so mad when I named myself the Queen of Hell. If I rule Hell, I’ll have to go there. Literally.

  “That is my plan, as soon as I find my brother.” Michael’s eyes meet mine and his face softens.

  “Until then?” Kristy asks, voice thin. “What will Callie do?” She takes another sip of wine.

  “Nothing,” Michael says again. “Live your life.” He’s told me that before, and I know now just how much he wants me to do just that. It’s why he risked everything to keep me out of the hands of the angels.

  So I could live.

  “You want me to go on like everything is normal?” I ask dubiously. “I don’t think I can do that.”

  “Normal for you is far from typical for most other humans,” Michael says with a slight smile before his face goes somber. “The demons will come. Word will get out not only that Lucifer is gone but that you claimed your blood right to the throne. You must be vigilant, Callie. I will do what I can to protect you, but I will not be able to come back as easily as before. It’s imperative now more than ever I don’t raise any alarm to you. Now that Remiel is gone—”

  He pauses, sharply inhaling. It has to hurt, losing a sibling, and the guilt must be crippling. I have no idea how archangel emotions work, but if he fell in love with my mother, then certainly he loves his other siblings. He killed his own brother for me, and Lucifer is presumably hiding the body in Hell. Out of my thousands of cousins, only one doesn’t want to kill me, and he’s working as a double agent, keeping up the pretense that he has no idea I was even born.

  And I thought the Martins were full of family drama.

  “The others will be on high alert,” Michael finishes.

  “What are you going to tell them?” Lucas puts my plate in the microwave. “I can’t imagine archangels are easy to kill.”