Page 179 of Wicked Believer

Man, God was a much bigger asshole to His own children than I ever would have expected He’d be.

Even if I do still plan to say my prayers in hopes that He and His followers become, well, self-reflective enough to help fix this whole apocalypse situation we’re dealing with topside.

The amount of pride and ego it would take to not see themselves for the hateful monsters they’ve allowed themselves to become is, well ...

Nearly as villainous as the fallen angel standing next to me.

Lucifer doesn’t say anything for a few moments, like he recognizes I’m lost in my own thoughts, before finally he clears his throat. “Michael may have stripped me of my powers while I’m on Earth, but what he took is only a fraction of what lies here.”

“You just need to figure out how to reclaim it.”

He nods, taking my hand in his.

I honestly understand the feeling.

He draws me to the edge of the balcony then, and I watch a few of the souls move about below, one of them waving up at me.

“Is that—?”

“The nun who helped you from the church down on Seventh Avenue. Yes.”

My brow furrows. “How did she—?”

“I’ll explain later, darling, but what you should know is that since my Father abandoned us all, well, it seems you were the only one given the option to head upstairs, I’m afraid.” He nods toward Hell’s sky as if to indicate where Heaven waits somewhere above.

“So, everyone who’s died in the decade that you and your siblings were released?”

Lucifer’s jaw sets with a hint of bitterness. “All down here, I’m afraid. The growing population is becoming a bit of a problem actually.”

“Overpopulation. In Hell,” I exhale.

Exactlywhydid I want him to be honest with me again?

Sometimes I think staying ignorant might have been easier.

But then I wouldn’t know if what he and I have is truly real.

Now we can choose one another without fate getting in the damned way.

“There’s something about that I’ve been keeping from you for some time.”

I nod. Whatever it is, I think I’m prepared for it.

“Tell me.”

“When I gave you my Father’s redemption, I also might have made you the only immortal capable of reopening the pearly gates.”

All my breath rushes out of me.

“Oh yeah, sure. No big deal,” I squeak, my tone going significantly higher at the end until I sound as mousy and timid as I used to be. “I’ll just throw those ol’ gates open and help fix your little overpopulation problem, while meanwhile your Mother expects me to be the champion of her freaky-as-hell prophecyandgive her grandbabies.”

“Her prophecy?” Lucifer’s brows shoot up.

This is the first he’s hearing of this.

“I ... may or may not have met your Mom on the way to the play party. Allthreeterrifying versions of her.”

Lucifer sighs. “Sometimes her level of theatrics rivals my brother Gabriel’s.” He pinches the bridge of his nose like he’s trying to find patience as I lean into him. “I apologize if she scared you.” He pulls me to him and kisses the top of my head softly.