Page 143 of Wicked Believer

“And you also said she’s the one who told you that God’s growing tired of humanity, correct?”

He inhales a deep breath, holding it. “I’m not certain I understand where you’re heading with this.”

“What if she lied?” I say, going all in on my play.Let the chips fall where they may, I guess.Who wants to accuse their Goddess of a future Mother-in-Law, God’s furious ex-wife, of lying? “What if she lied to both youandMichael?”

Lucifer’s brow pinches. “And why, pray tell, would she do that?”

“I don’t know.”

“And do you have any evidence of this?”

“No, nothing, but . . .”

Lucifer’s eyes narrow before he stands, gathering his papers. “Now, you’re talking nonsense, Charlotte. I don’t have time to listen to any half-baked theories. They—”

“They’re not half baked.” I press my palms flat on top of his desk to support my weight. I tell him about Jax’s vision then. About the dreams I had about his Mother evenbeforehe ever met me. “She’s been manipulating us all from the start. Don’t you see?”

Lucifer waves my accusation off, heading to the cabinet to pour himself a glass of whisky. “Even if that were true, little dove, even if you had any proof, what would it change? What purpose would it serve? Michael is hell-bent upon starting the apocalypse whether you, I, my Mother, or the whole blasted universe like it or not.”

My mind reels, my eyes darting back and forth as I struggle to connect all the dots. “What if she’s planning something worse?”

Lucifer leans against the edge of his desk beside me, raising his brows.

I glance toward the floor, my hands drifting up to my neck to touch my mother’s crucifix. “I would have doneanythingto get back at Mark for what he did to me.Anything.” I lift my gaze toward him.

Lucifer nods once, like he understands, before he takes a sip of his whisky and sets it down on the desk. He stares past me for a moment, as if deep in thought. “That may be true. But to what end? To what point? For what purpose would she—?”

“To punish Him. To punish Him for what He took from her.”

Lucifer goes still, our eyes locking. “You mean for the love she freely gifted Him?”

Neither of us is talking about his parents anymore.

I shake my head, placing my hand over his. “It’s not freely given if He wasn’t honest with her. If her love was wrapped up in His manipulation.”

Lucifer swallows visibly, pushing off the desk. “Be that as it may, Charlotte, this is all conjecture, speculation. Unless you have—”

He staggers, clutching at his side.

“Lucifer?”

His face pales.

“Lucifer?”

I step toward him, but then he collapses onto the floor.

“Lucifer!” I run to his side, my hands flitting over where he now lies on his back, his eyelids flickering like he’s struggling to remain conscious.

I don’t know how or why I choose what to do next, but suddenly, I’m gripping his shoulders, shaking him as I shout, loud enough the whole penthouse has to hear me, “Azrael!”

Azrael appears from a cloud of smoke that swirls at my side, his eyes falling to Lucifer as he swears loudly. “Itoldhim he was overdoing it,” he growls.

Without saying anything further, he lifts Lucifer up underneath his arms, hauling him into a nearby chair.

I run to the door, meeting a frenzied, concerned-looking Ramesh there. “Call a doctor.Now.”

Ramesh nods and rushes off.