Page 189 of Wicked Believer

And I hate it. I hate that I must ask this of him.

I fucking hate it so bloody much that as soon as I have a hold of that insignificant Holy Lance, therealone, I will use it to torture Michael for the rest of eternity.

As soon as this whole charade is over, regaining what my brother has stolen from me will be my first and highest priority. Along with reclaiming Charlotte’s heart, of course.

My Father’s Armageddon can wait until I’m well and goddamn ready.

Azrael’s eyes go wide at the dominant tone of my command, but he doesn’t try to resist it. “I can’t, Lightbringer. If I were to leave your side ...”

My siblings and everyone present would know exactly how vulnerable Michael has made me.

If it weren’t for the trick, the distraction I have up my sleeve.

I attempt to snag Azrael by the throat again, but this time he’s ready for me, using my weight against me so that suddenly our positions are flipped.

I chuckle and lean into where he clutches me like I am still the one with the upper hand. “If you truly mean what I think you do with that little kiss, Azrael, then allow me to make one thing abundantly clear.” I draw as close to him as I’m possibly able. “Youwillchoose her over me. Always. Starting now and for the rest of time. For infinity. She isallthat matters, that is my one and only ask of you. Do I make myself clear?”

Azrael releases my throat as he swallows. “Yes, sir,” he whispers.

A feeling of satisfaction courses through me.

Death is under my command once again.

At least when it comes to this.

“Good,” I growl. “Then go find our girl, Reaper. Consequences be damned.”

Chapter Sixty-Four

Charlotte

I’ve locked myself in the ladies’ room on the other side of the closed museum as I try to figure out what my next move is. It’s not like I can make it out through the regular exits without anyone noticing me, and with the amount of paparazzi prowling around, that’d be asking for a whole different kind of trouble than I’m already going to be in.

Lucifer and Azrael are going to lose their shit over this.

But honestly, I don’t really care.

I’min charge of my life.

Me.

And making my first act of independence saving my bestie from some radicalized asshat who betrayed us both seems like the perfect decision to me.

That’s my best guess as to why Ian’s doing this. He was so salty because I refused to date him, he turned into some kind of freaking incel or something. Or maybe he was one from the start? Hehadto be the one who drugged Jax at Az’s club. Just like I originally thought.

Ugh.

“Big Guy, when am I going to catch a break from all these unhinged men you keep throwing at me?” I grumble up at the ceiling as I pace the length of the bathroom.

Someone tries the handle a second later, and a loud shout follows.

Fuck. They’ve already found me.

It’s not like I made it that hard.

Even in a museum of this size, there are only so many places with a locking door that isn’t someone’s office.

I have a matter of minutes or seconds to get the hell out of here before one of the security guards comes along with the key, or Lucifer—or Azrael, considering Lucifer’s current celestial-dysfunction situation—manages to kick the door in.