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CHAMPAGNE PROBLEMS
When we make it to the bottom of the steps, raised voices cease whatever feud they were just entangled in. Every eye in the room is on my and Luke’s joined hands.
Zeke steps forward, but before he can say a word, Michael thwarts his advance. “Now isn’t the time, Ezekiel. You can discuss your part in this after Victoria has been debriefed.”
Leave it to Michael to minimize the fact that each of these angels played a role in my fall from Heaven. People who were supposed to be my friends, my brothers in arms, and they’ve all deceived me.
“So get on with it, Michael. What is it that all of you know that I don’t?” I can’t keep the bite from my tone as I land my scowl on Zeke.
Michael steps forward. “Victoria, you were always meant to fall.”
He stops talking as though that’s some huge revelation.
“Yeah, I figured that part out. Is that all?”
A deep frown mars his angelic face. “No, that’s only a small portion of it.” His head shakes in frustration. “You were needed on Earth, but more importantly, you needed to learn who you are so that you could fulfill your destiny.”
“My destiny? What exactly is that, Michael? Since you seem to know more about my damn life than I do.”
He looks down before finally raising his head and looking me in the eyes when he says, “You’re the only living heir to the reaper kingdom. Queen Camille is your mother.”
“That’s impossible.” It’s all I say, because this is also not a huge revelation, considering Luke has already told me this.
It’s clear from Michael’s narrowed eyes that he was expecting more of a reaction from me.
“Sorry to disappoint, asshole.”
He flinches at my crass words.
Several pairs of eyes roam the room, looking anywhere but at me.
“It’s not impossible, Victoria,” Michael continues, completely ignoring my threat. “You are most definitely Queen Camille’s daughter.”
“How exactly do you know this, Michael? Did God himself impart this truth unto you?”
His eyes close and his hands at his sides ball into fists. I’m not sure what it is about his current state, but it chills me to my bones. I know without a doubt that whatever is coming next will warrant the reaction that he’s been expecting.
“I know because you’re alsomydaughter.”
My breath hitches and mouth hangs agape. That was the last thing I was expecting.
Luke’s head snaps to Michael, and Leeanna’s gasp rings through my ears, causing an instantaneous headache.
I stand stock still, stunned and disbelieving.
“Heaven has kept you safe at the request of Camille. She wasn’t privy to your location for your safety and as a punishment to her.”
“Her punishment?” Luke asks.
“For our... affair,” Michael explains. “For her part in it, she was cast from Heaven and tasked with the job of reaping souls.”
Luke laughs, but it’s humorless. “Let me get this straight—you both engaged in an illicit situation, and she was the only one cast from Heaven? What kind of boys’ club is God running up there?”
“This isn’t the time for you to slander, God, Lucifer. This isn’t about your issues with Him.”
I hardly register the back and forth that ensues between Luke and Michael as I try to reconcile how deep the lies run. Michael is my father?
He treated me like garbage when I fell, and this whole time, he himself had betrayed Heaven’s laws? Was that why he’d gone to bat for me before turning his back on me entirely?
