Page 81 of Wicked Believer

“Shhh, I don’t want to talk about that.” I shake my head, kissing every part of him I can reach.

My newfound powers. My abilities. Iknowthat conversation is coming. Lucifer’s bound to have noticed the minor damages around the penthouse by now. He noticeseverything. It’s one of the many things I admire about him, actually. But I want to hold on to whatever tiny bit of my human self I can salvage a little longer.

“None of that,” I mutter as I trail my lips across his chest, down the thin trail of dark hair below his navel to the muscled grooves of his hips.

He chuckles. “All right. Have it your way. For now. Though whoexactlydo you think is in charge here?” He grips my hips, his fingers digging into me in warning.

We both know this conversation is far from over.

He never gives in to me this easily. Not on something as important as this.

I mean to end the discussion there, to not push my luck and ruin the moment, but somehow, I can’t stop the next question that escapes as I roll to the side and settle my head onto his chest, where he holds me. “This changes everything, doesn’t it?”

He lifts a brow, glancing down at me.

“The apocalypse. Getting married. Olivia’s death. All of it.”

He nods slowly, his expression turning grim. “The spear that was used to kill your actress belongs to my Father. It can end an immortal life, yours included. Mine and my siblings, too, I’m afraid. It will aid its possessor in winning any battle, even Armageddon.”

“Why does that not surprise me?” I sigh, rolling onto my back beside him and staring up at the ceiling. “You weren’t kidding when you said you didn’t know why He released you and your siblings, were you? Until now I mean?”

Lucifer’s grip on me tightens, his voice gravely serious. “Do I look like I would kid about something as important as your safety?”

I turn toward him.

No.

No, he doesn’t.

In fact, now that I take stock of him, he looks ... more tired than I’ve ever seen him before. Dark circles have formed under his eyes, and there’s a haunted, almost gaunt quality to his face that concerns me.

Like the weight of the whole celestial world sits on his shoulders.

“What happens now?” I whisper.

Lucifer glances away as he swallows. “Now, we go to war, darling.”

Though he doesn’t elaborate on what that means before he rolls over on top of me, unexpectedly pinning me in a way that causes me to squeal and silences all the worries that bubble up inside my head, until I have no choice but to smile and wrap my legs around him as I give in to our own perfect brand of infinity.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Charlotte

By the time we fall asleep again, naked in each other’s arms, I’m thoroughly spent, but a nightmare still wakes me—Mark hurting me, until that cold, never-ending embrace from my dreams saves me, Death cradling me protectively—leaving me lying there awake beside Lucifer a few hours later, uncertain what all this means. It isn’t until I hear the sudden snick of our bedroom door closing and the overhead light flicks on that Lucifer’s warning of war fully settles into me.

War isn’t coming. It’s already here.

And there’s a man in our bedroom I’ve never seen before.

A man with wings.

“Lucifer,” I gasp, unable to scream, but the fear in my voice must wake him.

He sits upright swiftly, effortlessly shoving me behind his back to protect me. “For fuck’s sake, whatisit with you and Mother? Really, Michael?”

Michael shrugs. “Lest you forget, brother,youwere the one who summonedme.”

The words pique both my nerves and my interest, but I don’t dare move from behind where Lucifer has shielded me.