38. Bree

One moment, I was lying in my giant bed wearing one of Asmodeus' tees, my Beast playing in my hair as my body tries to recoup from the hours long sex marathon we just had. The next, extreme pain is flowing through my body. I blacked out for a second only to reappear in the middle of the throne room, disoriented and hurt, shaking my head to clear the fog. A hand wraps around my throat, lifting me onto my feet so that I can stare at Lucifer's purple eyes that have a golden ring around them.

They look like Rellick's eyes with the gold ring. How have I never noticed that? "What's happening?" I ask. His hand stays around my throat though he's not squeezing.

"It's time fore this to end." For what to end? What is he even talking about?

I look around at the rest of my Sins. Their faces are frozen in horror, skin paler than their usual vibrant colors. They are all standing in a circle around us, beating on an invisible wall. I can't hear any of them.

Starting to panic, I look to Lucifer for an explanation, but his eyes are blank. His face is a mask hiding away his emotions, giving me nothing to read. "Why can't I hear them?"

"We're locked in a shield. They can't get to you." Monotone. His eyes, his voice. Everything about him right now is blank.

Something happened. Something bad. "Why not? What do you want?"

A cruel smile forms on his lips, scaring me more than anything ever has before. "I want you to know the truth."

"About what?" I hedge. I don't think I want to know the truth about anything at this point. I just want to live in my bubble with my son and my Sins.

His fingers tightened around my throat for a second, long enough to cut off the airway before releasing. "Your precious demons have each branded you, bonded with you." I can feel the attitude on my face. He's choking me because his brothers branded me? Seriously? "Not a surprise?" I give a miniscule shake of my head. "Do you know what being bonded means? It means that you now have the ability to use each of their powers. It means that you hold half of their essence inside you at all times. It means that you are more powerful than them."

What? I only found out about the bonds today. A few hours ago. I haven't thought anything of it since…

Maybe I should have. Is this why they never told me about it? They didn't want me to know about the power? I don't care about power! I care about them, and it feels like every time I forgive, I learn something new that upsets me. So many secrets, and for what?!

"Guess they also failed to mention that if they break that bond, you die. Perks of being a human."

My body goes limp in his grasp. I would die if they took the bond away? I was branded that first night. I could have been dead if Belphegor decided he made a mistake. Who would take care of Rellick? I have no one. Only him.

"What do you want?" Defeated. That's how I feel, once again. Asmodeus tried so hard to lift me up and a couple words from Lucifer is all it takes for me to fall again.

His thumb rubs against my pulse. "I just wanted you to know the truth about what they've done to you."

Lucifer's voice was meant to console but there was no hiding the mocking undertone. That is what gets my back tensing. He's telling the truth. He's Pride. He wouldn't lie.

But he's not saying everything.

"No. You wanted to humiliate me. You want my pride shattered," I sneer. "Why? What do you get from it?" He stands there quietly. It's unnerving, not knowing why anything is happening.

Rather than answer me, he changes the subject. "Do you want another truth? I know who has been cleansing you of your sins."

Of all the subject changes, this is not what I thought it would be. "One of your brothers, I'm assuming, since it's not Jophiel."

Lucifer smiles at the mention of his sister, pride glowing in his eyes. "You know she's my sister? Good. That makes this information a little easier." He uses his other hand to push my hair behind my ear. "One of my brothers did cleanse you. Originally. Gave you the greatest gift, actually." His irises turn completely gold for a second. "Where is Rellick? With my sister?"

I won't answer him. He's out of control right now. High on Pride. "Let's just ask her, shall we?"

He spins me, pulling my back against his chest as a portal appears in the middle of the room. He forces me through it, not closing it until I can see the shield fall and my Sins run towards me.

None of them are quick enough.

The portal closes before they can reach me. "And because of our punishment, they can't bother us." I take in my surroundings, noticing I'm in a stylish living room.

"Big brother?" Lucifer and I both spin, his hold on my throat not wavering. Jophiel stands in a yellow sundress, rainbow hair flowing behind her. She takes in the two of us, her gaze focusing on his hand around my throat. "Samael! What are you doing? Let her go!" She runs towards us only to stop when I gasp for breath as Pride's hand squeezes my neck. "What has gotten into you?!"

His hand loosens when Josie stops moving. "Where's Rellick?" She looks at me, and I attempt to shake my head. Lucifer holds me in place. Please, no! I try to convey with my eyes that I don't want Rellick out here. "No answer, dear sister?"

"Sammy… What's going on?"

He ignores her. "Let's call another sibling, shall we?" He drags me along so that he's next to a wall filled with symbols. Placing his hand over one of them, he says a word I don't understand.

The symbol glows white against his palm for a second before dying down again, back to normal.

"You rang?" Lucifer gives me a malicious smile as I freeze in place. I know that voice. I've imagined it in my head repeatedly for the last four years. Slowly, he slides behind me so that I can see who has just entered the room.

A man stands in front of Josie in a perfect white suit. His blond hair messy on his head, like he just ran his hands through it. "Hello, Raphael," Lucifer calls out.

The man turns his head towards us, and my suspicions are confirmed. He looks exactly as I remember him. Perfect.

Raphael's smile lights up at the sight of his brother, only to drop once he sees me. "Brianna?"

"Hello, Rafe." He takes a step towards me, causing Lucifer to bring me back against his chest.

"What's the meaning of this?" Rafe looks around the room frantically, relaxing a little when he doesn't see what he seems to be looking for. "Let her go!"

"No." Lucifer's tone screams finality. "I think it's time some of us told some secrets. Darling, meet Raphael. My brother."

An angel. Rafe is an angel. Of course, he is. I knew he was too perfect. "Luc, let her go. Please." He holds out his hand in a stop motion, as though that will help anything.

"Darling, I just thought you should know who saved you from Hell that first time." The words are said against my hair, pretending to be a whisper. "That was the only time he cleansed you, however. He's had help since then."

"Brother, please." His tone is on the verge of begging. "Stop!"

In the distance, a door opens and closes and new voices can be heard. I can hear my son's tiny giggles and for once it hurts my heart. "I think it's time for a family reunion."

Lucifer throws me to the ground in front of Rafe. He kneels before me, cradling my face in his hands. "I'm so sorry," he whispers.

Why is he sorry? None of this is his fault.

Daemera and Rellick walk into the living room from the kitchen and freeze, taking in the commotion. Mera's eyes instantly find Josie who is no doubt giving her a rundown through telepathy if their bond is anything like my mate bonds with the Sins.

I don't focus on them, though. I focus on my son who is running straight for me.

Only…

It's not my arms he throws himself into…

And it's not my name that he yells out in surprise…

"Daddy! You're here!"