Page 139 of Lucifer's Redemption

“I will see you soon”—I petted her hair—“because I can’t live without you. Not now, not ever.” I shook my head, my tears falling on her ashen cheeks.

Hera and Michael sat at the feet of my mate; Hera’s sobs barely drowned out my own. Michael held onto Hera with one arm and rested his other hand on his daughter’s ankle. Vulcan held one of Uriel’s hands, rubbing his thumb across her flaking black knuckles.

The cries continued for what felt like it could have been hours before my mother knelt down beside me. Taking her finger, she brushed the messy hair from my face. “You’ve mated,” she whispered. “I can see that now that my power is returning.” Her tiny hand pulled down the front part of Uriel’s dress, exposing my mark.

“We haven’t had time to enjoy each other.” My voice cracked. “I always wanted her, even when I didn’t know that I did.” Gazing into Uriel’s discolored face, I pulled her head close, cupping her cheek. Slowly, I pressed my lips to the only skin that was left uncharred.

Expecting my calloused lips to feel cold from her pouty lips, since the warmth was leaving her body, I was stunned to feel warmth flow into her. Pulling back momentarily, I noticed the charred ash around her lips faded.

Noticing the same, Mother gripped my shoulder. “Kiss her more,” she urged, “more!”

Not hesitating, my lips slammed back to Uriel. I didn’t just leave my lips on hers; I kissed those lips with unabated breath, sucking her lips, pulling at whatever evil tainted her soul. Her face warmed slowly. My eyes slid open watching her beautiful face emerge from under the ash that was flaking away. Rubbing her face, more flakes fell away from her.

Rosey cheeks, fluttering lashes—her face had become completely clear. I wanted to pull my lips away to see the beautiful face before me, the face that has soothed me since the first day I laid eyes upon her. However, I dared not let go, not until I took every bit of that suffocating evil away from her.

Gasps echoed through the crowd; Hera screamed for joy as I felt Uriel’s arms slip around me. Her fingers ran through my hair until she gripped hold of my neck. Utter joy raced through my body, and the bond burned bright into my chest.

There is no damn way I will ever let go now. I would never let my lips leave hers again so she would stay alive.

Here, in my arms, is where she will stay forever. Never again will I let her out of my sight. I will never leave her to face any danger, and she will touch no one with any evil within. I will snuff out all the evil that dared try to take her away from me.

Uriel giggled, trying to push me away, but I held on tighter. Her heavy sigh let me force my tongue into her mouth to taste every part of her. The sulfuric smell lifted from her body as gardenias and vanilla replaced the rotting stench. My mate was here, she was moving with her heart beating steady in her chest. My hands roamed her body, feeling the softness of her skin. The top she wore was pushed aside so I could feel the tempting curves of her body.

By the Fates, she was alive.

“Luci.” Mother nudged me. “There are other people present,” she whispered.

“Tell them to close their eyes,” I mumbled, ready to grab ahold of Uriel’s breasts.

Someone’s continued throat clearing had Uriel stop kissing me, and I pulled away only to look her in those golden eyes. “You’re here,” I whispered in her mouth. “Never do that again.”

My bunny’s shy face shook her head, her curls coming down her face. “I won’t. I’m sorry.” I pecked her lips, clenching her to my body.

Mother nudged me again. “I think her parents would like to see her.”

I growled, holding onto Uriel. “She’s mine!” My body covered Uriel as I kissed her up her neck. Uriel petted my hair as I kept my face buried to her shoulder.

“Hi.” Uriel’s hand left my hair to wave at her parents who still held her feet. “Are you guys okay?” she muttered.

Hera cried out, now holding onto Uriel and me; her father followed all of us into one gigantic pile of gods.

“You scared us so much, my sweet.” Hera petted her hair. “I’m so sorry for everything.”

Michael kissed Uriel’s cheek, his wings engulfing the lot of us. I grumbled, irritated with the feeling of other bodies on top of me.

“I’m fine now.” Uriel rubbed her eyes. “Luci saved me.”

Sitting up, still holding Uriel on my lap, I kept my arms around her while the other gods continued to watch. “No, Uriel; you saved me. From the very beginning, you saved me.” Uriel and I stared at each other, our hands cupping each other’s faces.

“What just happened?” Poseidon stood over us, filled with curiosity. “How was Lucifer able to suck the evil from her?”

Mother stood with Father’s arms wrapped around her while Lilith slept in the crook of Father’s arm. “Once you are bonded, you can take on some of the abilities of your partner. That is why Hades can turn into a wolf.”

Poseidon shook his head in disbelief. “I clearly know nothing of bonds then,” Poseidon chuckled. “They seem strange.”

“Well, you should know more about them.” Ember nudged Poseidon, who only raised a brow. Mother had her way with her bonding secrets, and I recognized that spark in her smile.

“It’s interesting”—Athena touched Uriel’s skin—“that it took Lucifer’s lips to pull the evil out of her, and it barely affected his body. It was like you ultimately destroyed the evil inside her once you pulled from her.” Athena’s finger touched my arms, which did not hold the darkness that Uriel had on her body. “The God of Destruction can destroy the evil drawn into his mate.”

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