Page 84 of Lucifer's Redemption

She clearly didn’t rest while she dreamt. Instead, she was running for her life and fighting the darkness that tried to eat her alive.

“Have either of you seen Hera or Michael recently?”

Uriel’s eyebrow raised, but she swiftly shook her head.

“Why? Are they not at home?”

Hermes sighed, pinching his nose. He was typically a playful god. There were too many stories I heard of him playing tricks on Father and Mother, especially one involving a red bathing suit. That one had Father cursing him for months afterward.

“Uriel, they are missing,” I whispered. “Zeus has summoned them for a trial for…” I paused, unsure how to explain that she was drugged most of her life. My mate was unfortunately still in the dark on that note. If she was told at the same time as I was, we both would have been too upset to console one another.

“Your parents have been using the plants in the house to keep your powers hidden, and they stunted your growth.” Pushing her hair behind her ear, she stared across the room at the bookcase.

“She wouldn’t,” she whispered. “Mom and Dad wouldn’t do that.” Standing up, she escaped my embrace, but I didn’t release her hand.

“You know I’m not lying, bunny. That’s why Athena came to the beach, to tell me.”

Uriel’s mind had to be running a mile a minute. She had a look of anguish on her beautiful face and had a firm grip on her dress.

“No.” She shook her head again. “Mom has only lied once.” Uriel held up her index finger in emphasis.

Standing up and pulling her to my chest, I rocked her gently. The room stood still—Hermes went back to writing on the parchment, and my parents observed our interaction.

“Those plants,” I whispered, “held your power inside you. You wouldn’t have known if she was lying or not.”

“But why would she do that?” Her head brushed my chest, pulling at my shirt.

“To keep you safe, Uriel.” I gritted my teeth.

Hera was a bitch for doing it this way. In her own sick and twisted mind, she thought she was helping, even though it was in the worst way possible.

“Your parents thought they could hide you from the evil threatening you all on their own. She took things into her own hands, trying to help you.” Uriel gripped me tighter, her tears wetting my shirt. “Now that he knows, Zeus is furious.”

“Your parents broke laws, Uriel.” Hermes stood up, straightening his tan suit jacket. “First, they kept you hidden from all the other gods. Zeus is supposed to be presented with each new god or goddess’ birth to put it on record. You were never brought before him to be blessed. Your parents also poisoned you, well until you were twenty-five years old. Poisoning a god is prohibited. They have committed serious crimes.” Hermes came closer, too close for my liking.

Glaring at him in warning, he stepped away, putting his hands up.

“And now they are missing,” I uttered to her. “If they do not report to Zeus in”—I checked the time—“twenty hours, they will never leave the Celestial Prison. In fact, they may even have to be held in Tartarus.” Uriel gasped, holding her hand over her mouth.

“No, that can’t happen. I disagree. I don’t want to press charges!” Uriel’s voice echoed in Father’s study.

Hermes shook his head, capping his quill. “Doesn’t work like that with the gods, Little One. These laws are put in place for a reason. After the Demeter fiasco, I thought your mother would be smarter than that.”

Uriel continued to shake her head in disbelief. She backed away from me, her glittered tears pouring down her cheeks.

“Bunny, it’s alright.”

Her head whipped back to my parents and then to Hermes. “I wish to be alone right now.”

My mate ran to the door. I went to follow, only for Mother to grab my hand to pull me back.

“Let her be, Lucifer. She needs time.”

My heart broke for my mate. She was feeling an overwhelming collection of emotions. I felt her sadness and her distress; I could feel her crying on the other side of the bond, and there was nothing I could do to make things better.

“This is her parents’ fault,” I growled, looking at Hermes. “What is the plan once they arrive for trial?”

Hermes shook his head, sitting back down on the couch. “Zeus is furious. He is tired of the gods thinking of him as nothing but a joke. He plans to carry this trial out seriously, and with the overwhelming evidence, there is a great chance both of them will be locked up in Tartarus.”

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