Page 52 of Blood of Night (The Thorne Hill)

“Yes.”

“You wouldn’t try to use them?”

Osiris stops as well, one brow going up. “Unlike their previous keeper, I do not wish to see the world destroyed.”

“Lucifer doesn’t anymore,” I say, unable to help myself but defend my uncle.

“He doesn’t currently,” Osiris corrects, and dammit, I can’t disagree. Lucifer is definitely a loose cannon and I’ve let my guard down around him. I feel sorry for him in a sense now that I see his perspective.

Lucifer was cast to Hell as a punishment, forced to rule over demons and dark souls instead of residing with the rest of his family. He made bad choices but wasn’t born evil. Lucifer was treated as a monster until that’s what he became.

And Osiris…I don’t know how he came to be here. He doesn’t have the same resentment towards his role as God of the Underworld. He just might be telling the truth.

“How are you going to destroy them?” I ask, all jittery inside. I’m already thinking ahead, and of course, Lucas won’t be on the back of any fucking demonic horse for long.

“That, I haven’t decided yet. I’m in the process of dissecting their nature. Do you know how the Horsemen were created?”

“No,” I say simply and wait for him to explain. Then I realize he’s actually asking me because he doesn’t know. “All I know is that they were in Hell before Lucifer got there, and we’ve been able to figure out that the power comes from the horse, not the rider.”

“I was able to see that when you used magic to break the connection between the demon and the human in control.”

“Human?”

“The riders have dark souls, leading me to believe they were human at one point.”

“Oh.” Panic starts to rise up inside of me as the desperation to have my husband back consumes me. “We didn’t know Julian made a deal. He…he died before he could tell me.”

“I know. And I am so sorry, Callie,” he says and puts his hand on my shoulder.

Hearing Osiris say my name sends a chill down my spine. “Thank you.” There’s no warmth in his touch, reminding me of Lucas. “We, um…we wanted to destroy the Horsemen too. I saw the carnage they could bring if they were left to roam free on Earth.” I step back and his hand slides off my shoulder. “Which is why I find it hard to believe you won’t use them to your advantage.”

“I’m afraid I am not the villain you want to make me out to be,” he says slowly. “I understand why. Your vampire lover is technically a captive of mine, but it is not my wish to keep him from you.”

“Then let him go.”

“It’s not that simple,” he says apologetically. “The horses need a rider, so to speak. Eventually, they will bond and the only way to separate them is through death.”

His words once again jar me. “So, you’re saying Lucas isn’t bonded or whatever to the demon?”

“No.” Osiris’s lips curve into a half smile. “His love for you has kept him rather resilient. And being in a state of suspension has temporarily halted the demons’ grasp. The timing of it all was impeccable, though I know it wasn’t ideal for you.”

He starts walking again and I follow. “What happens if there are no riders?”

“The demons are much harder to contain. They’ll become noncorporeal and will bleed into the world, spreading like poison in a wound.”

“Oh, that’s, uh…that’s not good.”

“How long one can go without a rider is yet to be determined.” Osiris comes to a sudden halt and turns toward me. “You called yourself a nephilim, but you’re more than that.”

I shake my head, not following. “That’s what someone with one human parent and one angel parent is called.”

He holds out his hand again, fingertips brushing over the flesh on my hand. Goosebumps break out along my arms and he steps close, brown eyes zeroed in on mine. “It wasn’t any ordinary angel.”

“No,” I say, not seeing the point in denying it. “My father is an archangel.”

“A child born with archangel blood is unheard of, yet here you are.” He steps back and runs his fingers over his beard. “I wouldn’t call you a nephilim.”

“What would you call me then?” I hold up a finger. “If you say half-breed, I swear to god…” I shake my head and Osiris chuckles.

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