"It's already done," I told her. "War is coming to this city, and then to the rest of the world, and then to every other one. There's nothing you can do to stop it."
"I can stop you." She walked toward me, and as she got closer, that ancient, all-consuming power radiated from her. A power I recognized as being akin to my own.
“Famine?” I asked. No, that wasn't right. The angel woman wasn’t Famine, yet Famine’s power radiated from her, both calling to and repelling War. They were old enemies, and War wanted me to destroy her. Kill, kill, kill, he told me over and over. But I couldn’t keep my gaze off the angel woman’s lips, or the fullness of her breasts and hips, or the slight swell of her stomach where she carried my child. My daughter. I breathed in without thinking, taking a fresh wave of her scent deep inside me.
"I released Famine and became her host, just like you did with War," she said. "But then I took control and I defeated her, claiming her power as my own. You can do this too, Lucifer."
I stared at her, trying to comprehend how this could be possible. I felt the briefest spark of hope, before War trampled it down and raged within me.
Kill her, he ordered.
"Get away from me," I managed to say through gritted teeth, as I glared at the woman. On the inside I was being torn in two, divided by my need to both kill and protect her. "Stay...back..."
"No, I won't do that." She rested a hand on my chest. "War wants to convince you that everything is conflict and anger, but that's not true. Reach deep inside yourself and try to find peace."
I gripped her hand tightly, but couldn't let it go. "There is no peace inside me."
"That's War talking. The man I love has fought for peace for years. He ended the war with the angels. He fought by their side when they were threatened from within."
"I am not this man you speak of."
"You are. You just don't remember because War took your memories of me, and of our children." She turned back to the three men. "Our sons. Belial. Damien. Kassiel."
I cast another glance at them, all looking as if they were ready to attack me and defend their mother should I make a move against her. I was suddenly struck by the sense that they were also my blood, and saw some of my features in their faces reflected back at me. There was no denying the child inside her either. The woman spoke the truth.
"I will kill you all," War forced me to say, as he tried to exert his control again.
"No, you won't," she said. "You’d never hurt them. You might not remember them, but you know them. After all, you became War to save our oldest son, Belial.”
I had no memory of what she spoke of, yet somehow I knew it was true. Inside me, War sent rage and hatred through my veins, trying to overwhelm me with bloodlust, but I fought him off. I had to know the truth of what had happened to me. But he was so strong, it seemed impossible to defeat him.
“Lucifer.” The woman's voice called me back to her, and she reached up to stroke my face. "You know I'm your mate, deep down, even if you can't remember me. Embrace that feeling. You’re not yourself right now. You sacrificed your memories for the good of all of us, but now you need to trust me. Believe in me and in our love. Believe in our family.”
I started to shake my head, denying her words. She was nothing to me. Nothing. I was Lucifer, and War, and love did not exist in my world. “No!”
She cupped my cheek and kissed me, her mouth soft and gentle but unrelenting. I gathered her in my arms and returned the pressure, my tongue probing against her mouth. There was something about this woman. I couldn’t get close enough.
She pulled back and took my face in her hands, staring into my eyes. “Fight War, Lucifer. You can defeat him. Let me help you.”
"I can't. He's too strong."
"You are stronger."
Then she kissed me again, opening her mouth and touching my tongue with hers. Heat sizzled between us and I drew her closer, until we were almost one body. At the same time, I felt some of my anger and rage leeching away from me, along with my life force. Famine's magic stole energy and power, and she took that away from me as her mouth moved across mine.
My hands moved down to cup her stomach, to feel the life growing inside her that I'd helped create. A small little kick answered me in return, like my daughter was reaching out to me, calling for her dad. She needed me, and it gave me all the strength I needed to keep fighting.
War raged inside me, but he was growing weaker as Hannah leeched his rageful energy away. I clung to her, but War wouldn't let this battle end so easily. He suddenly unleashed a wave of frenzied anger, and gargoyles and Fallen rushed into the penthouse to attack my sons. They even came for my woman. My daughter.
"No!" I roared, as I pushed War back down and made the attackers stop. He would not hurt my family. I'd been willing to sacrifice myself, but not them. Never them.
You need me, War said. I can make you great.
I'm already great, asshole.
"Focus on peace and love," Hannah's voice said, coming to me through the swirling rage inside my mind that I desperately tried to fight off. "I know you can do this."
I pushed my mate away as my knees buckled, and I clutched my head. “I can’t.”
She reached for me again
