“Everything all right?” Gadreel asked, from where he sat in an armchair. He’d been alternating between eating and idly playing on his phone while I’d been in here. Not a fan of books, it seemed.
“Just a bit stiff.” I stood and stretched some more, then crossed the room to sink into the armchair beside him. Sitting on the floor had been a terrible idea, but it was the only way to see all my books. “I’ve been trying to research angels and demons, but it’s such a big topic. I’m not sure why I thought I’d be able to learn everything in a few hours.”
Gad chuckled softly. “It’s probably easier to just ask one of us. We’ll tell you whatever you want to know.”
“I appreciate that.” I sat up straighter and tucked my feet under me. “How did you come to work for Lucifer?”
“I’m one of the younger Fallen, which means I’m only a few centuries old and was born in Hell as a Fallen, not an angel, unlike Azazel or Samael. I fought in Lucifer’s army in the Great War back in the 19th century, and since then I’ve worked my way up through the ranks and proved my loyalty, until Samael made me his assistant.”
It was something of a relief to hear he wasn’t as ancient as the others, even though I would definitely not consider a few centuries old to be young. “The Great War—the war against Heaven, right?”
He nodded, with a sad smile. “I knew you then. In one of your previous lives. Do you remember?”
I shook my head, but the feeling that he spoke truth lodged in my chest. “Can you tell me about that life?”
“I’d be happy to. You were a beautiful Fallen angel named Lenore with raven-black hair and wings, born around the same time as I was in the 18th century. We fought together, side by side, and you were a fearsome warrior.”
“A warrior?” My eyes slid to the sword on the wall again. Was that when I’d gotten my fighting skills?
He leaned his head against the high back of the chair and grinned. “Oh yes. You cut down so many angels in Lucifer’s name. But you were also kind and funny, and like now, you loved books. You would often go to Earth and hang out in London, talking to the gothic writers there like Lord Byron, Mary Shelley, and Edgar Allen Poe. You inspired a lot of their stories, actually.”
“Really?” My eyes widened at that. It was a relief to hear I’d done something in that life other than kill angels, and I’d always loved all those old gothic books—to hear I’d actually met the authors and inspired some of their stories was really incredible.
He chuckled at that. “Yes, and Lucifer encouraged it. He liked that they were writing about the creatures of the night.”
I let out a long sigh. “I wish I could remember it.”
“It might come back to you in time.” But then his smile dropped and he looked away. “Although maybe it’s better you don’t remember.”
“What do you mean?”
“You died on the battlefield of Hell. An angel in gold armor cut you down right in front of my eyes. You took your last breath in Lucifer’s arms, whispering his name, and many of the Fallen wept for days over your loss.” His face was a mask of regret, as he sucked in a deep breath. “For what it’s worth, I killed the angel who did it. I just wish I’d been a little faster and could have saved you instead.”
I’d scooted to the end of the chair as he talked, held captive by this glimpse into my own life and death. I wasn’t sure how to feel about this new information—sadness? Regret? Confusion? All I had was loss and emptiness. “I had no idea about any of this.”
Gadreel looked stricken as he leaned forward as if to comfort me. “I’m sorry. Did Lucifer not tell you about this?”
I shook my head. “No, he’s been very sparse with details about my past lives so far.”
He rested a hand on my shoulder and offered me a weak smile. “I’m sure he would have told you this eventually. He’s been very busy lately with the attacks and all that.”
“What’s going on here?” Lucifer’s dark voice made me jump.
Gadreel jerked his hand back as if he’d been burned. I took in our shifted positions as I’d moved closer to listen to his story. Our knees nearly touched, and we both sat on the edges of our seats. Too close.
“Gadreel was just telling me about how he knew me in a previous life,” I said, as I scooted back in my seat again.
Lucifer stood in the doorway, and he took my breath away with how handsome he was, even doing absolutely nothing except filling out a black three-piece suit. “Is that so?”
I gestured toward my pile of books on the floor. “I’ve been reading up on angels and demons and mythology all day, but I still had so many questions. Gadreel was kind enough to share what he knew.”
Lucifer crossed the room and bent down before me, sliding a hand behind my neck as he kissed me hard. Then his dark gaze shifted to Gadreel. “You’re dismissed.”
His kiss left me breathless, and he spoke in a low, threatening voice, but I couldn’t figure out why. There was no reason for him to be jealous. I didn’t have any feelings for Gadreel. That was even more obvious after such a hot kiss like that.
Gadreel brushed past us, back stiff, and strode from the room.
“That was rude,” I said to Lucifer, crossing my arms. Days ago, I would never have spoken to him that way. Now? I’d lost all my fear of him. “Gadreel guarded me all day per your orders, and was just answering my questions.”
Lucifer considered me with his fierce gaze, but then bowed his
