25. Jett

It took all of my energy to keep my hound at bay. I needed to be in my human form for Evangeline right now. There wasn’t anything my hound could do to help the situation, and crouching over her dying body and snapping at anyone who tried to touch her wasn’t going to fucking help. The strange light radiating across Evangeline’s skin stopped as God lifted her head.

“I did all I could,” she said simply as she rose to her feet.

“What the fuck do you mean you did all that you could?” Rylan snarled. “You’re God. You can do whatever the fuck you want!”

She turned to look down her nose at us. “I gave her a choice, and she chose you.”

“Can we touch her?” I asked. Her eyes shifted to mine, and I saw them soften slightly as she nodded. I scrambled forward, resting my forehead on her stomach. Instantly, my hound settled, and I breathed a sigh of relief. Now that he was under control, I could better focus on what was happening around me.

Lucifer laughed a humorless, harsh laugh. “Are you fucking kidding me? That’s bullshit, and you know it. You could save her, but your fucking ego can’t stand the fact that she chose her mates over you. We’re back to this, yet again. Get the fuck over yourself already!”

“Someone explain what is happening,” Kase growled as he cradled Evangeline’s head in his lap. Rylan held onto her leg like a lifeline as we waited.

“She gave Evangeline an ultimatum,” Lucifer explained. “She would save her life and make her an angel again as long as she no longer has anything to do with you. Evangeline chose you, so she’s going to let her die.”

“After everything she did for you?” Rylan roared. “She’s dying because of you! Because you couldn’t be bothered to take our warning about Zabiza seriously and launch a preemptive strike as a united front.”

God had the nerve to shrug, and Lucifer had to jump between them as Rylan snarled and launched himself at her. “She was the death angel and served her purpose. Her sacrifice will be celebrated for centuries to come.”

“What if we can convince her to change her mind?” Kase asked.

“It seemed pretty made up, but I’m willing to stick around a little longer for you to try,” God replied.

Kase bent his head over Evangeline’s. “Evangeline Faithe, baby, listen to me. Just live. We can survive knowing you’re alive, even if you’re out of reach, but we can’t live another day without your existence in this world. Please, baby, just live. Live.” As he continued to beg, Evangeline’s arm twitched, and he sat up suddenly. Her face twisted into a scowl, but she didn’t open her eyes as she mumbled a single word.

“No.”