We followed Raphael, but before we reached the study, I felt Dad’s aura. An instant later, I sensed Michael’s as well. “Show time,” I whispered.
“Dad’s gonna rip them a new one,” Vicky said. “Especially Uriel. I can’t wait to see that happen.”
Vicky might end up very disappointed. According to my father, the last time Michael and Uriel clashed, it didn’t go well for Michael.
A powerful surge of energy disrupted the protections around the house. Nick must’ve felt it too because he flinched andsqueezed my hand the moment it happened. The incursion only lasted a second, but it announced Michael’s arrival.
“This is going to get out of hand,” Zeke said. “That wasn’t the least bit subtle.”
“Gabriel will be the voice of reason,” Orion said. “And I’ll be there to help him if needed.”
Seeing Orion with Zeke, it was hard to equate the doting boyfriend with the legendary warrior. I really hoped things didn’t get to that point.
My father entered first, his expression grave but controlled. Michael was like a tornado. Power rolled off him in waves and made the air crackle. The moment he set foot in the room, he fixed his stare on his brother.
“Uriel.” Michael's voice could have frozen an ocean. “I assumed you’d show up.”
“Hello, Michael.” Uriel's shifted his weight as if preparing for battle. “It’s been a while.”
Michael ignored the barb and shifted his gaze to Raphael. “Your betrayal, however, is difficult to reconcile.”
Raphael remained impassive. “I did what was needed.”
“Needed?” The air around Michael stirred. “Uriel has defied me at every turn, and now I learn you helped him. You had no right to?—”
“No right to what, Michael?” Uriel cut in, his voice sharp. “You practically walked her to her grave to serve your purposes. I was never going to let you do the same to her son.”
“Despite your accusations, I didn’t make her do anything.” Michael was charged with energy. “Ariel had the same gift as you, just not as strong. I loved her too, but she did whatshethought was needed.”
It didn’t take a scorecard to know who ‘her son’ was, and Nick’s body unconsciously reached out for energy.
“You don’t get to absolve yourself that easily, Michael,” Uriel said. “Ariel would’ve never had a child if you hadn’t put the idea in her head it was necessary.”
A sudden rush of energy flowed toward Nick, and I barely had time to divert the majority before it reached him. “Nick, stop! Your body is injured. Doing it again might kill you.”
“What are you talking about?” Nick asked. “Who’s Ariel?”
Michael's gaze fell on Nick as if he just realized there were others in the room beside his brothers. His expression shifted from recognition, to calculation, and then an interest that felt like desire.
“So this is the child you sought to keep from me,” Michael said softly.
I squeezed Nick’s hand tighter, ready to act if needed. My father caught my eye, and his expression was clear:Be careful.
“No, Michael,” Uriel said without anger. “I hid him because if I hadn’t, you’d have killed him.”
“That’s absurd!” There was genuine shock on his face. “I’ve never killed another angel.”
“Stop!” Nick used some of the power he’d collected and pushed it into his scream. It was enough to rattle the house. “Stop talking about me like I’m not here.”
The tension in the room thickened, the air itself seeming to grow heavy with the weight of ancient rivalries and long-buried secrets. Michael's gaze never left his brother, but Uriel turned to Nick, his expression full of a sorrow I’d never seen before.
“I’m so sorry, Nick,” Uriel said, sparing a glance at Michael. “You deserve the truth.”
A hush fell over the room. Other than possibly Raphael, everyone was in the dark about so many things.
“Ariel is my twin sister, and she was your mother.”
Mom and Dad said the bond between Uriel and Ariel was tighter than mostHKarlin.When he learned she was pregnant, only Dad and Raphael prevented Uriel from killing Michael.
