Gates of Paradise (Blue Bloods #7)

chapter Fifty-Three

 

Mimi

 

don't believe it," Kingsley said, staring at the emerald stone that yoked her to Lucifer. "I don't believe it for a second."

 

But Mimi was tired of waiting and tired of playing this game. He was so close to her and so dear, and if she did not do it now, she would never have the courage again, and so she pulled on his sword and brought it against her throat, wanting to end it all, to save him even if she could not save herself.

 

She waited for death.

 

But death did not come.

 

Kingsley was faster, stronger, and instead of letting his blade cleave her in two, he directed it toward the heart of the emerald.

 

"No!" she screamed.

 

The emerald burst into White Flame and disappeared.

 

Mimi blinked her eyes open. She was alive and Kingsley was alive. The terrible dark burden had fallen from her shoulders.

 

She threw herself into his arms and sobbed.

 

Kingsley clasped her to him and they fell backward to the floor, and he was kissing her, and she was kissing him with a passion that surprised even her.

 

He was smiling. He was so handsome and brave, and he held her as if he would never let her go.

 

"How did you do that?" she asked.

 

"The godsfire. We have equipped all of our swords with the power of the Holy Spirit. It destroyed Lucifer's Bane. So what's going on? Are you going to tell me?"

 

She told him everything, just as the door opened with a bang.

 

Oliver stood there, babbling and hysterical. He had used the Venator's code that Kingsley had given him in secret to track them to the safe house. "Schuyler! They took Schuyler - they're bringing her to the gate!"