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.
Acknowledgements
Unchained was the second book I ever wrote, all the way back in 2008. To see it finally hit the world is an amazing experience. A big thank-you to Kevan Lyon, the agent of awesome, and to Karen Grove for tackling the project. Thank you to Stacey Morgan for not only reading the book, but for creating an epic editorial key and for loving Julian. Two of the first readers were Lesa Rodrigues and Carissa Thomas, and I have to thank you guys for not thinking what is this crap?