Gabriel crossed the distance and pulled me into a hug. I didn’t return it right away, aware that we didn’t have time for family reunions, but the warmth of the arms encircling me brought the burn of tears to my eyes and I met Michael’s gaze. He gave me a tight nod.
“How,” I asked scanning the white-winged beings in our midst, two of which were supposed to be trapped behind the gates of heaven.
Two who had sacrificed their grace, for me.
Steve cleared his throat and I pulled away from my father.
“I promised you an army,” Steve said and waved his hand at the heavenly host, grinning like he knew a particularly intriguing secret.
Chapter 22 – Damian
Movement pulled my attention back to the woods and a chill lit up the area, pressing down on me. I moved away from my father, closer to Naomi. A solid line of demons stepped into view, stopping at the salt line I poured.
The next wave of assailants took up their posts, side by side with a legion of hellhounds. Naomi actually stepped back at the numbers and I felt her fear. It blended with my own and one look at Steve and his family revealed they were in the same place we were.
Terror gripped every one of us and we spread out on the shoreline far enough away from the woods to be safe, for the moment. Steve took the left side and I took the right. CJ stood dead center. Jennifer, Tom and Raven stood a step behind, relying on us to provide a solid wall of defense. I glanced down at Naomi and pointed for her to join them. She hissed at me, but obeyed my silent command to move back.
Angels flanked us, providing a solid line between the innocent’s behind us and the demon horde. My heart scrambled in my chest, pumping a beat that nearly seized my lungs and I traded a glance with CJ. He swallowed and curled his hands around his revolver, aiming it at the closest demon.
The air sparked with tension and when the demons blocking the path parted, I knew we were in for a nasty battle. Lucifer stepped inside the ring, swiping a clean path through the salt I had laid down and he wasn’t alone.
He dragged a beautiful blonde woman forward, tossing her at his feet in front of him. When she raised her bruised face, Steve cursed under his breath and the gun moved from the line of demons to Lucifer.
Lucifer just grinned at the assembly and his black wings fluttered as he cracked his fingers. His gazed moved over the crowd of angels. “What have we here?” he said, scanning the line until his gaze landed on Gabriel and Michael. He tilted his head in contemplation and then his gaze moved back to Steve.
“This lovely police officer was particularly useful,” he said, meeting Steve’s glare and waving his hand in the woman’s direction.
Her gaze bounced from the demons surrounding us to the angels in line, landing on the tiger behind me, then they jumped to Steve.
“What the fuck?” she whispered and Steve offered her a half laugh.
“I told you not to go to the house,” he said and I knew exactly who this was. The abrasive FBI agent Steve had spoken to on the phone. Sarah. Lucifer reached for the woman, grabbing a handful of her hair.
“Let go of me, asshole,” Sarah snapped, swatting at his hand. While her voice was defiant and full of moxie, her eyes held a soul-crushing fear that I knew all too well.
He pulled her to her feet, bringing her close to him. Her elbow connected with his stomach and he chuckled in her ear.
“I like my women feisty,” he purred in her ear, keeping his gaze locked on Steve’s. This primer was just the beginning of his dance and I knew the woman was doomed.
We were all doomed.
“I’ll tell you what,” he said running a sharp nail lightly down her arm. “I’ll let you and your family go, along with this lovely officer, if you leave us to settle our differences,” he said nodding toward Naomi and me, negotiating a deal that would seal me in my grave.
I didn’t move, but I made a point of recounting this beasts broken promises. The moment they stepped outside this cove, the hellhounds would tear them to bits.
“That includes leaving the angel and his son,” Lucifer clarified, his gaze landing on Ty, narrowing into a hateful expression that I was used to receiving.
Steve’s jaw clenched and his gaze dropped to Sarah.
“Do your magic and get me out of this,” Sarah said, the panic reaching her voice as Steve’s head shook back and forth.
His entire being shook and the frustration and anger pulsing in his veins drifted over me.
“You bastard,” I whispered and Lucifer sent a chilling smile in my direction.
“I can’t do that,” Steve said and I glanced at him. Jennifer’s hand rested on his shoulder and her forehead rested between his shoulder blades, her form shaking with silent sobs; and pain flashed in my chest.
I should have never let Naomi talk me into coming to Maine. We should have run across the globe and then these pure souls wouldn’t have to sacrifice those they loved for me.
CJ slid a glare in my direction and the mental reprimand resounded in my head like one of those obnoxious air horns. Stop the fucking pity party.