Page 71 of Hunted By Fear

A chance to get my butterfly back made me weak in a way only she can.

She’s Lucifer’s mate…His words swirl around my mind, full of venom and dangerous, just like Talian intended.

She can’t be his mate, though, not my butterfly; she’smine!

Angry and confused, I go to the only person I trust to have answers.

Father.

I haven’t been back in Heaven since they took her. I’d been too angry, busy trying to find a way to bring her back to me. If not for my orders to come back here, I never would have lost her to begin with. But Father demands control, and if I pushed it too far, I’d end up just like the rest of the filth, stripped of my powers and suffering for eternity.

Though without her, maybe that’s what I’ll be subjected to already.

No! Father will know what to do and how to help.

My eyes take a moment to adjust as I teleport to the gates, the blinding whites and golds almost too much. Once upon a time, I strived for this, the perfection that was Heaven. I’d planned to have our mortal home reflect it, but in the end, it didn’t matter. The house Aeri chose was small, nothing compared to the luxury she was used to as a child, or what I wanted, but she was so happy I couldn’t deny her.

Months we lived there, and with every day, I couldn't help but agree.

It had been perfect;she’dbeen perfect.

“Rome.” I blink past visions of our time together and turn to find Uriel. I hadn’t even realized I was moving, but I’m already halfway to the palace.

“Hello, brother, are you alright?” I hate that term of endearment.

Brother?

Gross.

Uriel hates me, and I don’t much care for him either, by which I mean I would gladly pluck his wings if asked.

“Fine, simply in a hurry.” I wave a hand to dismiss him before I turn and once again head to the palace. It’s not a lie; I am in a hurry. I want to know what Father has to say, how to fix this.

“Rome!” I stop, grinding my molars together as I look back at him over my shoulder. To my utter dismay, he is headed toward me.

Why? What have I done to deserve this?

Never mind, stupid question. I’m far from innocent, but still, Uriel, why him?

He smiles at me, and I almost believe he doesn’t hate me. Almost, but not quite, as I watch the way his eyes trail over me, his lip twitching in a hint of a frown.

“Have you seen Ruin lately? It’s been far too long since he reported back.”

Damn it. I don’t know for sure, but I can guess where he is. Not that I can tell him that.

“I’m sure he’s simply busy with his mortal. Time is such a fickle thing. I’m sure he doesn’t realize he’s been away for long.” It’s a reasonable excuse; a few mortal years is nothing, a blink of an eye. It’s not uncommon for guardian angels to disappear while with their charge, though being unreachable is a little troubling.

“Yes, you're right,” he says, nodding his head, a frown marring his face as if he’s deep in thought, and all I want to do is leave. Unfortunately, if I were to leave right now, abruptly, it might look suspicious, and the last thing I need is more people paying attention to me.

With a sigh, I offer what I hope will be enough to get him to leave me alone. “I’m only here to speak with Father. Should I see him while on the mortal plane, I’ll tell him to come visit,” I narrow my eyes at him, unable to help poking at him just a little bit. “Let him know you're lonely.”

I see the anger in his eyes for a moment before he tempers it down, once again in control. But it was there, and I can’t help but relish in it. Everyone knows Uriel doesn’t go to Earth anymore, not since his little half-blood daughter was murdered by a group of demons a few centuries ago.

“Yes, please do that. I would greatly appreciate it.” He won't. I can tell by his clipped words, but that’s fine; I have no intention of finding or telling Ruin anything.

With a nod, I turn and once again make my way toward the palace, trying to keep a lid on my annoyance. What a waste of time.

“Oh, and Rome,” Uriel's voice carries to me, and this time I don’t turn or stop. He’s wasted enough of my time.