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I want nothing more than to beg them to remain home and safe from the angels’ wrath. But I can’t ask that of them when there’s no way I can avoid the battle myself. I’m one of the four horsemen, and the apocalypse is coming if we can’t stop it. It’s literally what me, Gael, Octavius, and Riggs were created for—to prevent the coming apocalypse.

We’re definitely not the ones meant to initiate it like the mortals’ stories tell them. It’s always been funny to me how they twist the heroes into villains and villains into heroes. I’ve never understood it, but it’s not really relevant to my life, so I don’t usually worry about it.

But this time, I hope they get it right. If they even realize what’s going down. Humans especially like to bury their heads in the sand and ignore the world around them when they can’t easily explain something away with their science or religion.

“Good morning,” Nex says as we step into the kitchen, his eyes moving to Brenden and then Audrey before he glances away. “Breakfast is almost ready. No one else is up yet—“

“Ahh, but we are.” Lucifer steps into the kitchen, eyes narrowed on the incubus. “I hope you made enough for everyone.”

Nex nods his head. “I did, sir. I probably made too much, if I’m honest with myself.”

Lucifer waves off his words and gestures for us to follow him. We step into the dining room to find Wren and Ana already seated at the table. Lucifer indicates the seat beside him. “Audrey, if you’ll sit here?”

She glances at us, and we all shrug. If she wants to sit beside him, she can. If she doesn’t, one of us will.

“Sure. Yeah.” She moves to take her seat but freezes when Nex steps into the room.

“Umm…Brenden? Audrey? Would you mind helping me bring the food in?”

My eyes narrow on him, but he shoots me a pleading look, and I have to bite back a sigh.

None of us are happy about the incubus’s actions, but he’s doing everything he can to make it up to both Audrey and Brenden. Tomorrow, we’re going to war, and I’m sure he wants to say his piece before then. I can’t blame him for that.

I nudge Audrey toward him. “Go.”

She stares up at me in shock. “What?”

“Go help him. You’ll need to hear him out eventually, won’t you? Do you really want to go into battle tomorrow with all of this hanging over your head?”

She looks uncertain, her eyes searching out Brenden, who just shrugs.

Brenden is much better at hiding what he’s feeling, but right now, even I can tell he wants to hear Nex out. He also won’t do it if it’s not what Audrey wants.

“Yeah. Sure. I guess we can do that.” She grabs Brenden’s hand and they follow Nex back into the kitchen.

I stand beside the doorway, my back flat against the wall, as I nod for the others to take their seats. Cassian makes a face and sits in the seat next to Audrey’s—asshole. Not that I blame him. I would’ve done the same damn thing.

Donovan, on the other hand, shakes his head and flattens himself on the other side of the door.

We both turn our heads so we can hear what they’re saying.

“I know neither of you is ready to forgive me, and I understand that. I’m not going to talk about how badly I fucked up because we all know that, and there’s no reason to go through it again. But I can’t go into tomorrow without saying this.” Nex pauses. “I love both of you, and I plan to spend the rest of my days making this up to you. It doesn’t matter if you never wantanything to do with me. I will do what I can to make your life easier. I will do anything you ask of me except leave you. None of us will survive being apart.

“If you want me to clean the toilets every day or scrub the floors with a toothbrush every other day, I don’t care. Anything you want from me is yours. If the worst happens tomorrow and I don’t make it, I want you to know I’ve spent the last few weeks enjoying providing for you. It doesn’t make a dent in what I owe you, but it’s a start. I don’t wish the pain of my death on either of you, but if that’s what it comes to, I’m okay with it. Especially if it means I can protect you.

“And I just want to say I’m sorry once again. I don’t want to be the man who does things like what I did to you. Both of you make me want to be a better man, and I’m working on that. I need both of you to take care of yourselves tomorrow. No playing the hero to save someone else.” Nex clears his throat. “I know it’s selfish of me, but the idea of anything happening to the two of you makes me want to lock you in a room and leaveyou behind.”

“If you think for one second—“ I snort at Audrey, who, of course, focuses on that one part of his speech.

“I said I wanted to—not that I would try to,” Nex says, cutting her off. “I know both of you will insist on being there tomorrow. All of your mates know that, Audrey. They know that arguing with you won’t do any good, so they’re not bothering. I know it’s hard to trust me, but if there’s anything you can trust me on, it’s this—if they could get away with it, they’d lock you in a room and leave you there where you’re safe.”

Audrey makes an outraged sound, but Brenden chuckles. “He’s right, firecracker. I’d lock you and all your mates in a room if it could keep them safe and you happy, but that’s not how we’re going to win this. Nex, you know where I stand on this.”

“I do. You stand beside Audrey and the decision she makes. I understand. I don’t expect forgiveness. I just needed to tell you to be safe and that I love you.”

“I’m glad you don’t expect forgiveness because I can’t give you that.” Audrey’s voice is much softer now. “But please keepyourself safe as well. I’ll never be able to forgive you if you die.”

Silence falls in the kitchen before I hear shuffling footsteps. Donovan and I hurry away from the door and drop into our seats just as Audrey and Brenden step into the room, with Nex following right on their tails.