chance.
Thoughts of carnal pleasure swirled in my mind, igniting my blood, and my shaft lifted, confirming this mortal was indeed meant for me. I sipped what was left of my coffee, only then seeing “Commandhole” written on my cup.
“Did you come up with the name, or did the barista write it?” I swallowed the unsweetened brew and pointed at the name.
Julia ignored me. Instead, she asked, “What happened to those people?”
“They drowned.”
Her breath hitched.
I lost her. I knew I lost her, and I had to remedy it immediately or she’d run away and straight into Lucifer’s arms, where he would own her mind. If he owned my soul mate, he owned the world. It was that simple. Before I made the decision to descend, I swore that in my Court and the new mortal realm, eventually, mortals would thrive. I knew of temptation, I’d dealt with many, but mating a mortal whom I should kill proved more complicated than most challenges I’d conquered during my lifetime.
Should this mortal die, I would destroy the world and surely fall from grace, failing the mortal world and the worlds beyond. The war over power in this realm was bigger than me and her and Lucifer. Nevertheless, I would win.
With a palm at the small of her back, I pinned her against me. She struggled and screamed for me to let her go, but I wouldn’t. Holding her thrashing body, I walked across the landing post and entered my private chambers, on the other side of the House just opposite her room. I took control of all the exit points. Doors and windows slammed shut.
Julia looked up at me as I released her. “Are you sure you’re good?”
“No. I am the executioner of good. Note the difference.”
“Duly noted.”
I willed the liquid away from my hands, effectively washing them while Julia walked to the window, her back to me.
“You’re supposed to heal and comfort and bring internal peace,” she said.
I sat on the lone chair I kept in the middle of the vast space and tucked my wings tightly so they’d lift while folded and not wipe the floor. “I heal, comfort, and I definitely intend to bring peace.”
“By slaughtering people?” Julia spun around and set her coffee cup down at the window. She crossed her arms over her chest.
“The mortal realm was collapsing. Negative energies attracted power-hungry angels, the fallen, the ones we war with in the Heavens,” I began.
“I didn’t even know there were wars in the Heavens.”
“Mortals aren’t privy to the information I’m imparting to you.” I anticipated a grateful mortal response. Maybe something like Thank you, Michael, my wonderful warrior, for slaying my enemies and imparting godly goodness onto me. When none came, I continued, “When an order for your annihilation got issued, nobody objected. Nobody dared come to your aid. I rounded up my fleet, and here we are.” I spread my arms.
“Why did you do it?”
“Because I felt it was something I was meant to do.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You don’t have to. I understand.”
“You wiped our memories. People go around thinking this is how they’ve always existed.”
“Be grateful. I assure you, the alternative for the mortal realm would’ve been much worse. Approach,” I said and extended a hand.
Julia snorted and made no move toward me.
I wiggled my fingers. “I am unaccustomed to repeating myself. You may approach.”
Julia kept ignoring my invitation. I showed her my teeth.
She fisted her hands. “So what if they remember the Before? You spared me.”
“Do you want to die?”
Julia’s mouth pinched shut. I saw the moment she folded on this argument. Her shoulders slumped, and she ran a hand through her hair. “I don’t know what I want anymore. I… This world is so brutal. You speak of peace, and I associate it with happiness. All I see in this world is doom.” Her gaze drifted up as if seeking help from the Heavens. Strange when I was right here.
“Come.” I extended a hand again.
Wearily, she took my hand, and I pulled her onto my lap, my hands firmly wrapped around her. If she hoped I would charm her, she had mistaken me for another. Charm wasn’t my forte. Truth and loyalty were.
When she tensed as if sitting on needles and not on my warm lap, I reached for the knife in her pocket and dropped it on the floor, then spread my wings around her and purred softly from my chest, sometimes brushing her face with a few of the soft baby feathers growing on