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“It’s cold in here,” Michael said from the other side of the mattress. He had folded his knees in and crossed his arms to try to find some body heat in the frigid space.
I checked the time on my phone and glanced at him in the dim light. We had only been in the truck for a couple of hours and while I was just as chilled as he was, I wasn’t about to admit it. Instead, I climbed to my feet and crossed to the duffel bags.
The light was dim but enough for me to make out the meager pickings and I wondered why I hadn’t had the forethought to grab a few sweatshirts while I was at it. I found a couple of thick work shirts that would help us deal for the next few hours. Stripping my coat, I slipped one on before tossing the other one to Michael. I slid my coat on just as my phone decided to drop into sleep mode.
My eyes took a few minutes to adjust to the dark while I repacked the bag and then I grabbed the phone and pressed the button to brighten the space. Michael had followed my lead and zipped up his down vest over the layers.
“I guess you’re not used to being human,” I mumbled and settled back on the mattress with my back propped against the wall. I pulled the backpack over and unzipped it, finding the mural stuffed into the space. I pulled it out of the bag along with my computer. “This might help as well,” I said and tossed the fabric to him.
His expression bordered on grateful and I rubbed my face before opening my laptop. The light illuminated the space and I plugged my phone in and started the web browser. Typing commands, I pulled up the same email address that Lucifer sent the note to yesterday and gritted my teeth. Another unopened email sat in my inbox and I put the laptop aside, ignoring it for the time being.
“Come lunch time, I’m sure Naomi will let you out,” I said and Michael met my gaze.
“It’s been a very long time since I took human form,” he said. “I tend to forget how fragile the human body is along with all the other needs that go along with it.”
“I’m sure,” I said and sent a text to Naomi so she wouldn’t forget that Michael needed to eat and use the facilities just like she did, so she would be wise to remember that at the next rest area. I didn’t want to deal with a mess back here if I could help it. I raised my gaze and studied him.
He had the same physique as I did, along with the dark curls that matched mine and my limited recollection of my father carried the same qualities.
“I gather you and Gabriel looked a lot alike,” I said and he nodded. “So, what happened with your other brother?” Lucifer was the polar opposite, with the more traditional Viking complexion as opposed to the decidedly Greek aura of Michael.
“God only knows,” he sighed. “He’s always been different, rebelling in heaven long before he was cast out.” He shivered and brought the mural together around his shoulders. “Gabriel was the musician and much more sensitive than either of us were. He used to disappear for months on end, and finally, when he had made the decision to be with your mother, he came back to share the news. As I said before, by that time, our brother was no longer welcome in heaven and had already turned bitter, so I suggested Gabriel keep his decision to himself for now and I wouldn’t say anything either.”
“You mean, keep me a secret?”
Michael nodded. “I didn’t know just how important that decision was until after my brother killed my son.” He paused and blew on his hands to warm them. “I should have known Greece wasn’t far enough away from his wrath, but I knew you were there and because of the family bond, you would be compelled to protect Athena.”
“I still can’t get past the fact that she was my cousin and you never said a word. You just gave us your blessing and let us live as man and wife,” I said, finally voicing my distain.
“Things were very different back then and yes, I allowed it because it was my best option of protecting my daughter.”
“But I failed,” I said and he met my gaze with a shake of his head.
“No, you didn’t. I was the one who failed both of you. I didn’t make it back in time to stop my brother from slaughtering Athena, but I did get there in time to pull you from that pit before you were too far gone to survive. I let you drink from my veins and the double infusion of angel blood made you into what you are instead of a raving mad killing machine.”
I stared at him for a long time before my gaze dropped to the computer.
“Is that why Naomi turned out the way she did?”
“I don’t know. She’s so far removed from Zoe that I can’t be sure. It could be a combination of my bloodline along with her Indian heritage, which has its own unique qualities that are just as rich as my bloodline. Or it could be a wild fluke, but she’s just as unique as you are.” He offered a shrug. “It could also be because she bit me as well.”
“You know, she was stronger than I’ve ever been,” I said.
Michael smiled at me. “She’s a descendant of multiple warrior bloodlines. You, on the other hand, are a musician’s son.”
“Fuck you,” I said at the condescending tone in his voice.
“Considering your bloodline, you aren’t as lame at fighting as I expected,” he said and rubbed his shoulder, offering up a grin.
“I’m a mixed breed, what’d you expect,” I sent back, opting for humor instead of letting the aggravation eat away at me. Besides, my head was starting to throb and my arm was itching up a storm. I shifted and forced myself not to scratch my mending arm. I knew from experience, once I started, I’d only succeed in the tearing welts in my skin. “So do I start calling you Uncle Mike?” I asked and sent a tired grin in his direction.
He just laughed and wrapped the mural tighter around his shoulders. “This truce doesn’t mean you have free rein to kill innocents though.”
The beginnings of good humor vanished and I sent a glare in his direction. “I know.”
With the irritation already forming over me, I reached for the computer and opened the email, sucking wind through my teeth at the words spilling over the page. Lucifer’s plans were far worse than I ever imagined and I turned the computer toward Michael, sliding it along the mattress until he took it from me.
Michael’s expression morphed into guarded fury and he glanced up at me.
“This cannot happen,” he said and slid the computer back to me. There was no leeway in his statement and absolutely no argument from me.