“We will give you training. Gabrielle and I will help you,” Raphael said.
“Threats of an impending battle with Lucifer have been going on for centuries,” Lash said. “Why now?”
Raphael looked down nervously.
“We’ve been able to divert Lucifer from taking over Earth entirely. Admittedly, for the past few decades, it has become increasingly difficult.” Raphael paused and threw a glance at Lash. “Something happened a few years ago that placed Lucifer in a position to have more power than ever before.”
“What was that?” Naomi asked.
“He’s positioned himself with Jane Sutherland of the American Federation Party. I believe that is why Lucifer was after you. With you on our side, we have a better hope of bringing him and his army down.”
Naomi furrowed her brow. “I don’t understand. I mean, I know she has a lot of money and power. She was able to con everyone into thinking that it was my father’s own fault that he got killed. But what does Lucifer want with her? I mean, isn’t he powerful without her?”
“He needs her to gain world power. With each position she rises to, more power will fall into Lucifer’s hands. We must stop her, and soon.”
“There you are.”
Rachel fluttered to them. “Oh, Naomi, your hair does look much prettier down.”
“I think so, too.” Lash tucked a loose strand behind her ear and caressed her cheek. “Thanks Rachel. For helping her—and me.”
“No problem.” She smiled at him then turned to Naomi. “You asked me to get you when the little one was near home.”
“I need to go,” Naomi said to Lash. “Bear’s almost home, and I want to look in on her and Welita.”
“Sure, I’ll be with you in a moment,” Lash said. “There are a few more things I need to talk to Raphael about.”
“Oh, by the way, Rachel said I could stay in your room. I moved some things around to make space. I hope you don’t mind.” She grinned.
Lash kissed her. “Take all the space you need.”
***
When Naomi and Rachel were out of earshot, Lash turned to Raphael. “Thanks for not telling her that it was my fault for the Jane Sutherland situation.”
Raphael moved to sit next to him. “We all make mistakes. I have made them as well.”
“Not as bad as I have. I basically opened the door for the apocalypse.” He let the ramifications of what he’d done sink in. In addition to world destruction, he didn’t know how Naomi would take it if she found out that her father was dead because of him.
“Do not take this all on yourself. Remember, people still have free will, and I have faith in them”—he placed a hand on Lash’s shoulder—“as I have faith in you.”
He swallowed the lump that grew in his throat. He wanted to accept the words Raphael was telling him, but there was still something in the back of his mind that was bothering him. “Who’s Rebecca?”
Raphael paled and blinked rapidly. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
“It’s not a difficult question. Who is Rebecca?”
Raphael let out a deep breath, and a haunted look crossed his face. “She was my wife.”
Visions of the hazel-eyed woman and of Raphael calling her Rebecca resurfaced again. The woman’s voice that had pleaded with Raphael in his vision was the same voice he had heard in Welita’s backyard. Welita’s guardian angel, Rebecca, the one who looked after them all. The pieces slid into place, and he fell back onto the bench, breathless. “She was my mother. Then that makes you—”
“Yes, she is your mother,” Raphael quickly interrupted. “And as you know”—he turned to Lash and looked him straight in the eye—“I’ve always been a father to you.”
“And Jeremy?”
“He is your brother.”
He looked away and let out a rush of air. “Then what Lucifer showed me was true. Jeremy was betrothed to Naomi.”
Raphael’s nostril’s flared. “Lucifer shows you only what benefits him.” He placed a hand over Lash’s. “Look at me and hear my words, for I speak the truth. Naomi belongs with you. No one, not Lucifer, Jeremiel, nor even I, can ever take her away from you.”
He nodded, feeling overwhelmed by what he was hearing. He had a mother he’d never met. He had lived a life with Naomi and hadn’t even known about it. And Raphael and Jeremy were still a part of his life. Why? “Why couldn’t I remember it? Does Jeremy?”
“Neither of you can. You two were not meant to remember.”
“Why?”
“It is my punishment.”
“Your punishment?”
Raphael sighed. “As I said before, I too have made mistakes. When it comes to loving someone, you and I are the same. Rebecca was human, just as Naomi was, when I fell in love with her. I trusted in the wrong person, and for that, I had to pay the price. I lost her and, to some extent, I lost you and Jeremiel.”
“You don’t see her? But she’s a guardian angel.”