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Chapter Twenty-Nine

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“I can change that.” Ronnie hadn’t called on the knowledge since she was just Metatron. She hadn’t named any cherubs since her return. But in the early days, before there were tens of thousands of angels and demons, it was common for one of the originals to name someone and have that agent serve their purpose and then move on. Back when being an original was more than a numbers game. God, how much things deteriorated after she died.

Michael studied her. “One foot in heaven, one in hell. Good point.”

Hesitation worked its way through Ronnie. What they were talking about wasn’t a big deal.

This wasn’t the same, for so many reasons. Lucifer had always been the only original in hell, so this didn’t happen with demons. Which, Irdu and Tia weren’t the typical demon. And there was how she felt about Irdu. This changed their relationship. If she did this, in a way she’d own him.

Then again, he owned her heart, but that wasn’t a literal magic bond. She met his gaze. “Can I talk to you? I’ll give Tia the details too, but I need to speak with you first.”

“Sure.” Irdu shrugged.

Michael gave her a nod of understanding and agreement. She grasped Irdu’s hand and tugged him into the kitchen, letting the door swing shut behind them.

He dropped onto a stool. “You got so serious. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong.” She paced as she searched for the right words. “We don’t have much time, but I have to do this right with you.”

He swung her to a stop, and cupped her face between his palms. “I know things are rough right now. Something tells me it’s going to be that way for a while. And sometimes you and I clash. That goes with the passion, I think. But I love you, and I can’t imagine not loving you. Whatever this is, you can tell me.”

His words smoothed over her tattered nerves, and calmed her racing thoughts. She didn’t know any way to say this other than just spit it out. “You know that when a cherub is named, that agent serves the original who did the naming. But there’s a way to change that affiliation. For instance, an angel that Michael named, if they wanted, could serve me instead. I can do the same for you and Tia. I can make it so you belong”—she didn’t like that word—“to me instead of Lucifer.”

“You’re binding me to you.” He didn’t look upset.

“It’s not that simple. When it comes to you and me, I feel like it changes the meaning.”

“This would mean I’m not Lucifer’s anymore?”

She nodded. “He can’t steal you back. He’d need your permission, just like I do.”

Irdu kissed her hard, stealing her breath and lingering while her heart soared. “Of course I want that,” he said.

“It doesn’t bother you that in a way, I’ll own you?” Relief spilled inside.

“You already do. I understand why you’re hesitating, but we already belong to each other. If you can take Tia and me out from under Lucifer’s thumb... I mean, I guess you have to ask her too, but there are few things I want more in this life than to be free of him.” Irdu rested his forehead against hers. “Make it happen.”

“I wish we had more time.” To ensure this was the right thing. To physically seal the commitment—

“We’ll get out of this, and then we’ll have time,” he said. “We’re free of Ubiquity. You’re in charge. We’ll go see the world when this is over.”

“We just have to get out of this.”

“And we will.”

His confidence and affection helped boost her mood. She nodded toward the living room. “I need to ask Tia, too. And then we can do this.”

They rejoined Michael and Tia. Ronnie explained again what she was planning to do, if Tia agreed.

“If I do this, can I call you Mommy?” Tia asked.

Ronnie stalled. “Uh... Awkward.”

Tia laughed. “I’m joking. Completely. But, sister?”

“I like the sound of that.” Ronnie summoned a mental image of a ledger. Not because she needed to, but visualizing always helped her think through things, and adjusted their report-to paths. “Done.”

“Just like that?” Irdu patted himself. “Are you sure you did it right? I feel the same.”

“I’m certain. This will be a little more jarring.” She took Irdu’s hand first and summoned the knowledge she had about how to bind a demon to hell, so they couldn’t be released without her authority. Sparks of black flowed between them in her mind’s eye, crackling through her veins and passing into his mind, sizzling with the impact of shared knowledge. He tugged, but she didn’t loosen her grasp.

When she let go of his hand, he jerked away. “Holy fuck. I usually want sex to go with pain like that.”

Ronnie laughed. So was so glad he was making this easier.

“My turn?” Tia held out her hand with hesitation. When the transfer ended, she shook her head several times, as if trying to rattle something loose. “No wonder they usually do that while we’re cherubs. Ow, my brain.”

“I apologize if this doesn’t make any sense, but what did I just see?” Michael asked.

Ronnie looked at him, surprised. “Same thing that always happens when we do something like this.”

“No. These two, they’re different from other demons. Their auras are linked, and what you did just now... Something flared.” Michael was studying Irdu.

“They’re—” Ronnie stalled. She looked at Irdu and Tia. “This isn’t my secret to tell.”

“Were siblings,” Tia said. “And we used to be human, and Lucifer made us swear to never tell anyone, but now that we don’t belong to him, fuck that guy.”

Irdu filled in more details about what had happened, and Michael listened, shock on his face.

“Do the two of you share power? Draw it from Lucifer? Something else?” Michael asked.

Irdu shrugged. “Don’t know. We’ve never thought to explore it, but as far as I know, we’re enough like any other demons that no one’s called us on it before you.”

“All right. Cool.” Michael didn’t have anything else to add. It was fascinating, and he’d love to explore the concept, but now wasn’t the time.

Ronnie turned to Michael. “Now that we have that out of the way, how about that list?”

They worked through names, separating them into angels, demons, and unknowns, and adding last known locations whenever possible. The TV ran in the background. Michael protested, but Ronnie argued that, if a media war was launched against them, they needed to either counter attack or avoid public notice.

“Ubiquity is offering its full cooperation to law enforcement, having denounced any knowledge of or affiliation with the suspects.” The voice drilled into Ronnie’s thoughts, like a familiar nagging she couldn’t grasp—a sound she swore she never wanted to hear again, and not only because the woman was delivering news Ronnie didn’t like.

They each took their first assignments. The objective was simple. Four hours to survey the area, find the angel or demon in question, and determine if they had a cherub. If so, extraction and deportation. If not, leave them alone.

“We can’t do that,” Michael said. “If the names are on this list, they have to be detained until you or I can confirm where their loyalties lie.”

Ronnie wanted to agree. Every inch of her said to listen, except that teeny tiny bit reminding her of the flaws in his logic. “We haven’t vetted the list. Some of these agents are doing good things. Besides, Abbie told you Gabe is careless with the knowledge. Odds are high we won’t encounter anyone without.”

“If we do? If we see a trend of angels without?” Michael asked.

“Then we reevaluate.”

The news never stopped. Every time they touched base, they absorbed more media attention. “The individuals in question are terrorists; there’s no doubt. We don’t know where they come from, and they’ve made a campaign of destroying lives, directly and otherwise.” Ronnie stared at the man on screen, trying to figure out why he looked familiar. Sure, she’d seen him on the station, but there was more to it. Something she couldn’t place.

* * * *

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TWO DAYS LATER, WITH no sleep and forty-eight unsuccessful searches between them, Ronnie fought the urge to scream. “How are we at zero percent? Law of averages says... I don’t know. But even if there wasn’t an agent of Gabriel’s in any of those spots, one of us should have seen someone. A friendly demon. An unknown angel. Someone.”

“What now?” Tia scrubbed her face, but exhaustion hung in her eyes. For as much phasing as they were doing, spending little time in their mortal forms, they didn’t technically need sleep, but the process was mentally draining. Their spirits sank more with each failure.

Michael straightened, his face becoming a stony mask. “We go again.”

“Because that’s doing us so much good?” Ronnie wanted to slam her head into a brick wall. It would be more effective than this.

“It’s doing something. You said it. None of us have seen anyone with an aura, and the odds of that happening naturally, given how many of us are out there, are almost zero. That means we’re close. If we can grasp something. Keep your eyes open,” Michael said.

A sinking feeling formed in Ronnie’s gut, but she didn’t have an argument for his logic. “All right. We’ll go again.”

“Video footage willingly surrendered by U-View shows more evidence of both former executives involved in numerous attacks. Far more than originally suspected. Panic is growing in several parts of the world, after the implication that the terrorists seem to be capable of being multiple places at once. Past phone records and satellite tracking corroborate eye-witness reports.” Ronnie wanted to punch the annoyingly familiar on-the-scene reporter in the face to shut him up. Not that it was the poor guy’s fault, but it would give her anger focus.

“The FBI and CIA are working with authorities worldwide, comparing incidents previously thought unrelated. One disturbing development all the incidents have in common is the lack of forensic evidence. There’s no proof of explosives or other primer needed to cause this type of damage.”

Ronnie grabbed the next name from the list, and they all agreed they’d be back in four hours. She phased into a remote corner of Chicago. It was five in the morning, so it was easy to avoid eye witnesses. If she was lucky, the cameras would miss her too. Irdu had tried to pinpoint the least likely places they’d be spotted phasing, but there was no guarantee. She pulled up the hood on her sweatshirt, kept her head ducked low, and strolled onto the street.

Daniel had a public face for a long time, serving as a campaign manager for several locals running for public office in less publicized positions. Michael had heard he was working on a campaign for the head of city council. Daniel always kept ridiculously early hours, so Ronnie hoped to find him in the office with no one else around.

A chill blew down the street, and she hunched her shoulders against the wind. She didn’t like covering her wings, but at least she didn’t have to wear the bulky clothing in the middle of summer. A cat darted across her path, bolting between her legs and almost tripping her before it vanished into the pre-dawn. Ronnie kept her attention focused on the building across the street. A storefront in the middle of a block of faded awnings and worn signs had a poster in the window, requesting that people Vote Zeke.

The lights were on, but she didn’t see any movement through the expanse of glass. If Daniel was in there, he was in a back office. She’d wanted to phase inside the building, but suspected it had security cameras.

Another blast of wind bore down on her, and something in the air sparked over her skin. It vanished in a flash, but not before she identified the sensation. Excitement and nausea surged in her gut, and she extended her senses for the source. Finally, something other than a dead-end lead.

“It’s true, then.” Daniel stepped in her path. He looked like the same as the picture on his website. Brown hair cut short. A sharp suit without a flake of dust or hair on it. He radiated wealth and affluence. Literally. The uncomfortable aura slid around Ronnie, clashing with hers and making her want to go home and take a shower. But he didn’t share the glow with a second source of power. He wasn’t hosting a cherub.

“Lots of things are true.” She kept her tone casual. “Caramel lattes are one of the best inventions of the modern day.”

He smiled, uncrossed his arms, and approached her, hand extended. “That’s an opinion, not a fact. I’m glad to see the rumors of your demise were exaggerated.”

“Me too. Possibly more than you are.” She laughed and shook his hand. The slimy power radiating from him set her nerves on edge, but she could keep her outward appearance friendly.

“Wow. Three thousand years. A lot of us missed you. It’s really great to see you’re back.”

She wanted to fall into the pleasantries. It was nice to run into an old colleague who didn’t call her names like impostor on sight. Her ego didn’t need that reassurance, though. The realization felt good. Something foreign danced across her, muted in the midst of his slippery power, but distinct. Did she misread him? Did he have a cherub after all?

“I’m loving it. Whoever figured out roasting and crushing coffee beans, and filtering hot water through them is a genius. I hope one of you inspired that,” she said.

“Maybe.”

The crackle burrowed deeper, making the hairs on her arm stand on end. Instinct flashed through her before she named the source, and she shifted to quasi-mortal milliseconds before a ball of fire hit the sidewalk beneath her feet. Concrete shattered, shrapnel flying up to strike the buildings and nearby cars.

Fuck. Ronnie whirled and stepped to the side at the same time so she could see whoever was behind her. Maalik. Like Vine, one of hell’s oldest.

“You’ve still got it. Seeing you move never fails to impress.” Daniel’s smile vanished into a sneer. The crater in the ground grew, rocks and gravel continuing to pelt their surroundings, leaving dents, smashing windows, and breaking streetlights. It was Daniel who shattered the sidewalk.

Maalik sent another ball of flame hurtling at her, but she was only half there. As the fire flew through her and exploded against a food truck behind her, she realized she wasn’t the target. Discretion didn’t matter anymore. The world knew she was out here, and these two were about to destroy the landscape and who knew what else. She blinked out of sight, appeared next to Maalik, and whispered the command needed to send him back to hell. She whirled on Daniel and grasped his wrist. As she met his gaze, knowledge snaked through her. How to do what Michael did. The information she needed to destroy.

“Gabriel read you ever step of the way,” Daniel said.

The command hovered on her lips, fueled by anger and the conformation they’d been manipulated this entire time. She tried to force out the words. To rip Daniel’s essence from him, destroy what he was or ever could be, and then incinerate his empty shell. When she met his gaze, fear stared back, as if he knew what was about to happen.

She couldn’t do it. Instead she issued the command to send him back to heaven, then vanished from the city street as sirens sang in the early morning.

Doubt and a million questions assaulted her as she appeared in Michael’s condo.

Why did she hesitate?

Because I’m not an executioner.

But he was blowing things up.

I didn’t know his motivation.

The arguments raged back and forth in her head until she wanted to scream.

When Michael appeared in the room seconds later, she grasped the excuse to ignore her mind. If he was back early, he found more than nothing. “Well?” She wasn’t sure she wanted to ask.

“He was waiting.” Anger and frustration filled Michael’s voice. “Flooded downtown Santa Fe in a flash. I nailed him, but the damage is done.”

“Anonymous tips and uploaded footage are spilling into our website—supposedly just taken—of the terrorists at it again.”

Why did they leave the news on?

“Irdu and Tia.” Concern clawed through Ronnie’s chest.

“Here.” Irdu sank to the couch the moment he appeared, looking battered, scorches marring his face and arms. “Where is she?”

“Alive.” Tia dropped in next to him, looking just as bad.

They should have both recovered and healed when they phased. That they didn’t meant they were too distracted to make it happen.

“The station urges everyone submitting information to us to please contact law enforcement instead. What we can tell you now is that we’re getting early reports of explosions in Santa Fe, Chicago, Detroit, and Evanston. Death tolls are unknown at this time. However, the terrorists have been identified at all places, and a new name has been added to the list. A former Ubiquity developer.”

Irdu’s picture flashed on the screen, and Ronnie clenched her jaw. “How did they get his name so fast?”

“They had it. They just needed an excuse to use it.” Michael raked his fingers through his hair. “Even when we think we’re a step ahead, they’re stomping us. What are we supposed to do? We’re the only ones who don’t know what’s actually happening.”

Ronnie didn’t have an answer or even a witty comeback. They were so fucked and out of their element, she was drowning in deception and conspiracy.