Page 75 of Lucifer's Redemption

Pulling her chin back to me, I dipped my head lower, unable to speak the words that circled in my head. Unable to tell her, I fucking loved her.

Barely touching her lips as her nose tickled the side of mine, I pressed my lips firmly to hers. “That’s what I’ve always wanted too,” I confessed, “and now I’ve got you.”

Uriel, unable to keep a serious face, giggled, wrapping her arms around my neck. Her body swiftly sat on my lap, causing me to groan at the position of my dick.

“Easy, bunny,” I groaned as she planted kisses on my cheek.

“You think we have that too?” she cooed at me.

“We share a bond Uriel, but even without it, I would have made you mine.” Squeezing her hips tighter, I sensed a new presence behind me. They were in the tree line.

My opposing hand heated, forming a bright flame in my palm. “This better be good,” I growled into Uriel’s mouth making her shiver. Her legs tightened, causing the bottoms of her suit to lower.

Fates help me. I’m horny and ready for battle at the same time.

“Athena!” Uriel squealed, jumping from my lap.

Willing the fire to vanish, I stood up to watch my mate run into Athena’s arms. Athena was wearing the same pantsuit she always wore, and her hair was in a tidy bun.

Much better than the last time I saw her with Uriel and Ares.

“I’m glad you are okay.” Uriel’s voice was laced with concern. Athena patted her head and let her know she was just fine. I growled, interrupting the interaction.

The whole reason we came here was to get away from prying eyes and interruptions. I’m supposed to help Uriel and get us closer to completing the bond.

“Something we can help you with, Athena?” I gritted my teeth.

Unfortunately, my body had other plans and my hands charred within an instant. Uriel rushed back to me, holding my steaming hand like it was nothing.

Athena chuckled, looking down at her fingertips. “I needed to speak with you, Lucifer. It’s rather important, but I would like to do so privately.”

Uriel’s eyes had already looked down the beach. Beautiful shells had washed up on shore looking like the conch shells of Earth.

“Do you want to go gather those shells and bring them back?” Uriel pulled on my arm to make my body bend, kissing me on the cheek before gathering her bucket.

Watching her every step, Athena came forward and watched our interaction. “You are doing well,” she mused. “I hope I don’t have to teach her anything else?” Her eyebrow lifted in question.

“Of course not, because what you all did was a disaster,” I heaved out a breath. “Utter disaster,” I reiterated.

Humming, she crossed her arms as we watched my frantic mate gather shells from the surf.

“What do you want, Athena? This is my day with my mate.”

Scratching her nose, pushing her glasses up, she put a hand on my shoulder. “Zeus has summoned Hera and Michael for trial.”

My mouth opened, stepping away from her.

“It’s true.” She nodded her head. “Zeus wants to assert his power over the gods. He wants to make Hera and Michael pay for their crimes.”

“The hell for? Sure, Hera shouldn’t have kept things from her daughter all these years, and she should have come forward about the threat, but there is no law regarding this. It’s never happened in anyone’s lifetime.” Athena shifted her feet from side to side, still not letting go of her arms.

“I believe it is my fault,” she whispered. “I traveled to your mate’s home and found the most disturbing thing…” Athena’s eyes met mine, her brows furrowed in anger. “Hera has been keeping an assortment of plants in her house. While each plant has its use when the leaves, roots, or flowers have been crushed, keeping these plants alive and in proximity to gods or supernaturals…” Athena paused, “can stunt their growth and development.”

Dark clouds loomed on the horizon, and the waves crashing into the shore were now breaking well before they should. The sea's whitecaps over the darkened water crashed in on themselves.

“Athena,” I growled. She backed away as my tanned skin grew even darker. “Are you telling me that her parents poisoned her for most of her life?”

She continued to back away, holding her hands away from her in surrender. “I don’t know the real reason they were there, Lucifer. I walked in knowing some botany, but Persephone confirmed that the combined secretions of the plants created a toxic poison.”

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