Unchained

Chapter Thirty

The first thought Lily had upon waking was Luke. The sorrow and anguish that settled over her was the worst thing she had ever felt. A part of her went forever cold, forever gone with the end of her friend.

Tender flesh pulled as she turned slightly. Julian lay beside her, eyes closed and lips parted. Dark shadows bloomed under his eyes. All she remembered was his hands and bright light that seemed to sear the skin right off her bones. He’d healed her…again. But to reverse the damage the blade had done must have been exhausting. She hadn’t known it could be possible.

Her body ached, and her face felt like it had been pummeled with a sledgehammer. There wasn’t a part of her that didn’t throb. She cautiously raised her arm, surprised to find the flesh bruised but manageable. He had healed the bones there as he had in her face. However, the emotional anguish was something even his angelic power couldn’t heal.

Lily squeezed her eyes shut, though it hurt to do so. All she could think of was Luke. She should’ve seen what his love for Anna had done to him. This whole time she’d believed it was Micah, believed there was some grand purpose behind betraying the Sanctuary. Instead, it had been a potent mixture of love and hate that had driven Luke to do all that he had. The moment he’d killed Anna, something in him had warped, turning everything good about him into something twisted. And all his hate had centered on Nathaniel and the Sanctuary.

Never would she understand how she hadn’t seen this coming. Looking back, there’d been so many warnings. The things Luke had said to her about Anna, about her own relationship with Julian. Sorrow cut through her as sharply as any Sanctuary blade. She inhaled but the breath seemed to get stuck.

“Lily?” Julian rose onto one arm, his voice soft. “Are you in pain?”

She opened her eyes. Strands of sandy-colored hair fell over half of his face. “I’m okay,” she said. “Are you? You look…off.”

He ran a hand down the side of her face that wasn’t currently chopped liver. “I’ll be fine.” His sapphire eyes searched hers intently. “Lily, I’m so sorry for what has happened. If I could take that pain from you, I would. I would take it all away.”

She blinked back tears, telling herself Luke didn’t deserve them. Not after everything he’d done. “It was…Luke.”

Pain flickered over his face. “I know, love. I know how much he meant to you.”

She closed her eyes again. “I should…have seen it.”

“No.” He came to his knees, leaning over her. “There was nothing you could have done, Lily. It wasn’t him anymore.”

She grasped his arm, needing to feel something solid. “I want to hate him. What he did to Anna and to Micah.” She paused, swallowing thickly. “He tried to bring down the Sanctuary, Julian. And he was like a brother to me. I loved him. I would’ve done anything for him.”

“I know.” He eased down beside her, finding her hand and threading his fingers through hers. He then brought her hand to his mouth, kissing her palm. “You can’t forget him, love. Remember him for who he was to you for all those years. Keep those memories of who Luke was close to you. It’s okay to hate him. And it’s okay to not hate him.”

Unshed tears filled her eyes as he placed her hand above his heart. “Julian, I’m sorry…I didn’t give you a chance.”

“You don’t need to apologize to me, Lily. I understand.” He pressed his lips against her temple and then inhaled slowly. “I thought I was going to lose you. I swear my heart stopped.”

Their eyes locked as she squeezed his fingers. There was so much she wanted to say, but for the first time, she knew there would be time to say it all. And right now, as he smiled tenderly at her, she felt some of the aching in her soul ease.

“I love you,” she whispered.

His eyes drifted shut, and when they reopened, they were intense and brilliant. “You have no idea how long I’ve waited to hear you say that and not run away from me afterward.”

Lily did something she thought she’d never do again. She smiled, although it ached to do so. “Eight years, give or take an attempted stabbing?”

He laughed. “Sounds about right. I’ve never doubted your love, Lily. It has redeemed me in a way nothing else could.”

“How so?” she asked.

“You’ve made me a better man,” he said simply.

Her heart swelled in her chest, and there was a flutter deep in her stomach. Like Julian had said the night in Rock Creek Park, things weren’t going to be easy for them. But as he lowered his head and brushed his lips across hers carefully, she knew he was worth it—they were worth it.

…

Michael eased himself down on the bed, unscrewing the lid to the balm that smelled of peppermint and a dozen mystery herbs. Whatever the hell it was, it worked on all his previous aches and bruises.

He didn’t have much time to dwell on what had happened in the last twenty-four hours. Adrian had left him only a few minutes ago, and now Nathaniel stood at his door. He threw his shirt to the side, glancing up long enough to acknowledge the elder Nephilim’s presence. “Have you heard from Lily?”

Nathaniel leaned against the door. “No.”

He spread the balm over his bruised chest, wincing as it burned. “Will he…fix her?”

“I believe Julian will do anything to help her,” replied Nathaniel. “I don’t like what he is or what their relationship means, but I know Julian will take care of her.”

Michael set the jar aside. “You seem to know Julian more than you’ve let on.”

A corner of Nathaniel’s mouth tipped up. “I was one of the first Nephilim ever born. Back when we were considered abominations and acted as such.”

“You’re a first-generation Nephilim?”

He nodded. “Someone has been doing their research. Julian was still an angel then. He was sent here along with the first wave of angels to eradicate the Nephilim children. I was a baby. Somehow Julian couldn’t raise his hand against a defenseless child. His act of disobedience led to his fall.” He ran a weary hand over his forehead. “It doesn’t change what he is, but…”

Michael wasn’t sure what to make of that, so he remained silent as Nathaniel pulled himself away from the door. “You haven’t asked what you are, Michael.”

“I’m trying not to think about that, what I felt when the light came from me. It didn’t hurt…but it felt like lightning.” He paused and considered, confusing himself. “It felt right.”

“Your name was never in the Book because your father wasn’t a fallen angel.”

He stared at him for a moment. “What? Wait.” It struck him then. “No shit.”

“I suspected as much when your name never appeared. A first-generation Nephilim never does. And then with the Fallen and the minions never finding you until the night in the alley, I knew you had to have been protected by a celestial shield.” Nathaniel folded his arms. “All first-generation Nephilim are because of their powers.”

His laugh came out short and harsh. “Celestial shield?”

Nathaniel nodded. “You can imagine what would happen if the Fallen were able to capture you. And it looks like Luke was working with Asmodeus. I’m not sure if Luke suspected what you were, but I know Asmodeus did. He sent Baal to retrieve you.”

Michael’s head was spinning. “What…what happened back there with the fire and the sword?”

“Your father is an angel—one that has not fallen. Contrary to what many believe and what is written, lying with a woman does not always result in an angel losing its grace. Sometimes the act is a calculated decision, as it was in your case. Like a business decision to tip the scales in one direction or another,” Nathaniel explained. “You called upon the Sword of Michael—of divine justice—which means I now know who your father is, as does the Fallen.”

The irony didn’t pass him by. He stared at Nathaniel, wanting to laugh and punch something. “My father is the Archangel Michael?”

“Yes,” he confirmed.

Now he couldn’t even laugh at that. “This is…fucking insane.” Michael took a deep breath. There were too many questions, but one needed answered more than anything else. “Do you know who killed my mother? Was it the Fallen?”

“I don’t know. If it was, they would’ve suspected what you are and wouldn’t have needed to go through humans or Luke to get to you.” Nathaniel closed his eyes, and Michael could see the weight settling on his shoulders. “What Luke has done is inconceivable. The Sanctuary will suffer from his actions for years to come.”

Michael didn’t doubt that. All the young Nephilim Luke had sold out would eventually turn minion and corrupt more souls. And he wasn’t stupid. Michael knew why Asmodeus was after him. The kind of power he felt, if only briefly, would tip the ongoing battle one way or another. There would be no going back to the life he had before Lily had coldcocked him in the alley in Anacostia.

Nathaniel left after that. It was much later before Michael even moved. Falling onto his back, he stared at the ceiling. It was a long time before he could set his mind at ease and find any sort of rest.

…

The shock of Luke’s death had imposed a layer of silence throughout the halls of the Sanctuary. None of the Nephilim spoke, and not even the smallest child laughed. The sorrow and grief had saturated every nook and cranny within the organization.

Nathaniel had insisted the truth surrounding Luke’s death and the events that had led up to it be kept secret. He believed that all of his years of duty and loyalty could not be forgotten, that his reputation alone had contributed to the success of the Sanctuary, and the truth could ultimately lead to its failure.

Torn between wanting to hate Luke and somehow forgive him, Lily had agreed. Only the circle and Michael knew that Luke had turned and the devastating deeds he had committed.

Strangely, once the shock wore off and the construed events of the battle started to drift through the halls, Julian’s involvement hadn’t been left out. Word quickly spread that a Fallen had fought side by side with the Nephilim, saving Lily’s life. No one really knew what to think of that or what it meant. All they knew was that act signaled a great change was coming; for the better or worse was yet unseen.

Lily wasn’t sure where any of this left Michael. Nathaniel insisted he needed additional training, and once Lily was up to par, she was to resume his lessons. The Sword of Michael bit was astonishing—and even a little frightening. The kind of power he had inside him could be catastrophic in the wrong hands. But no one was really talking about Michael and what he meant for the future of the Sanctuary. Nor was anyone speaking of Asmodeus and what he would try next to get his hands on Michael. Not yet. For today was a day of mourning.

The memorial service for Luke had been held three days after his death and two days after Lily’s return to the Sanctuary. All the Nephilim and humans who worked at the Sanctuary attended the service. Luke had somehow touched them all. He had been that important.

And even though Lily couldn’t figure out how to really come to grips with his betrayal, she knew his memory needed to serve a purpose.

Held deep within Rock Creek Park, the memorial service was assembled with the help of local law enforcement and government officials—those who were aware of what the Sanctuary truly was. The more heavily wooded section of the grounds had been blocked off to the public. Not even park rangers were allowed to go within seeing distance.

There the group of humans and half angels gathered together to remember Luke. Adrian stood behind Nathaniel, seemingly untouched by Luke’s death. It was an act. Lily knew there would come a time when he would possibly accept it and maybe even forgive Luke. This was not the time. Micah had been unable to attend. The injuries Luke had inflicted on him would take months to heal, and she doubted he’d ever be the same.

Lily stood between Nathaniel and Michael, their tall and imposing figures dwarfing her slight form. They had not spoken during their trip to the site, and now they were slightly apart from the rest, but together.

The elderly priest led the prayer and issuance of remembrance. As he spoke about Luke’s transcendence into Heaven due to his unwavering faith and loyalty, Lily shuddered. His soul—if his soul had still been present—would not have gotten past those pearly gates.

When the priest spoke of Luke’s rewards in Heaven, she had enough. She quietly ducked out when the ceremonial pyres were lit. Other Nephilim and the human employees would now share stories about him. Memories meant to lift them up and carry on his name. There was no way she could remain there while this happened. No one would think her abrupt disappearance to be strange. They knew how close she and Luke had been. If anything, the eyes that followed her would be filled with pity.

As soon as she passed the line of parked cruisers that ensured the service wouldn’t be interrupted, she felt Julian. He had come as far as he could. In the shadows of the oak trees, he joined her, wrapping her in his strong embrace and soothing the bundle of emotions in her heart.

He smiled down at her upturned face, smoothing his thumb around the fading bruise on her jaw. “I love you, Lily.”

Nothing could prevent the smile from spreading across her face. Julian had saved her life three times now, but most importantly he loved her in a way that would eventually overshadow the dark spaces in her heart and soul. His love was more than that, though. It was something powerful, breaking the chains that tethered her to the Sanctuary and to her duty. With him, she wasn’t just a Nephilim. She was Lily, just like he’d always seen her.

It had just taken her eight years to figure that out.

Feeling a little bit like her old self, she pressed against him. “I think we can spare a few hours before we knock some minions’ heads around, can’t we?”

His eyes assumed a hooded quality. “What do you have in mind?”

With an impish sort of smile, she slipped her hand between them as she watched his face, loving how the hue of his eyes flared.

His arms tightened around her. “I think I got the idea.”

Lily’s laugh died when his lips captured hers. It would take more than a few hours before they would have enough of one another. It may even take an eternity for that to happen. And Lily was willing to find out.