Lucca (41 page)

Zaiden’s hand grazed the gold trim collar of
his formal Guard of Judgment jacket. Sarice’s bite marks were not
visible, but perhaps guilt made Zaiden fidget in his seat.

Michael continued, not missing a beat. “You
must resist indulgences that are not pure of heart. It will only
end badly. The two hundred of my brethren came to earth to Watch
the humans, but they did not just observe. They let their passions
overrule what was right. They were damned for just reasons. Do not
follow their lead.” Michael lifted his hands as if he meant to
recite a prayer, but his words were for everyone gathered. “To find
our soul mate is a blessing and our love for them will be eternal.”
He glanced at Eli and then to Lucca as if he sensed the truth of
their relationships and was not displeased.

He lowered his hands then, leveling his gaze
at Raziel once more. “Satisfying the flesh proved a selfish act
when you knew the female felt more for you. The act of taking the
female to your bed should never have been, but seeing as we cannot
undo the events you’ve set in motion, Owen will remain with Juliet
Romeo as long as the Nephilim, Lucca will instruct the boy in
controlling his angelic side.” Michael’s gaze met Lucca’s, waiting
to hear the commitment from him.

Lucca stepped forward. “I will do right by
the child.”

Michael nodded with approval. “It is done
then.” He turned his attention back to Raziel. “Though you meant
well in wanting to save the child, you broke the rules of time
travel, sending not one but two humans through the portal. You’ve
altered the timeline. For these crimes against humanity that I have
stated, you cannot expect leniency.”

Raziel nodded. His shoulders sagged a little
from the weight of his guilt, but he was holding up better than
Lucca would have thought. Perhaps the Archangel was tired of
running and no matter the consequences he knew now his flight was
over.

“As your leader among Archangels, it is my
call to pass judgment. Raziel, keeper of the
Book of Magic
and secrets of the universe, I sentence you to live a human
existence as one of the truly Fallen. You are forbidden to have
contact with your son before he reaches maturity. Then it will be
Owen’s call to seek you out for counsel.”

Raziel inhaled sharply as if he’d been run
through, but he remained where he stood as Gabriel and Raphael
approached him, each Archangel taking hold of his arms, but at the
last moment Raziel jerked away.

“I’ll do this with honor,” he proclaimed,
standing tall, his gaze shifting to Owen one last time. His bravery
was meant for his son, the last act as a father.

“Father,” Owen sobbed his name. He broke
free from Juliet.

“Stop,” Lucca called to him, but it was too
late.

The boy ran to Raziel. Owen’s small boney
arms went around Raziel’s waist in a fierce hug. Raziel’s hand lay
on the boy’s head. “It is all right. You must let me go…son. You
must.”

Owen looked up at his father with tear
stained cheeks. “I love you.”

Raziel’s eyes glistened like pools and he
swallowed hard. “As do I love you.” Raziel looked toward Lucca with
a nod.

Lucca moved forward then, gripping Owen’s
shoulder. “Come away now.”

Owen looked up at Raziel as if asking
permission. Raziel’s hand cupped Owen’s face with a tender caress
before his hand fell away. He straightened his back and stared
straight ahead. “I am ready.” The words were meant for Michael.

Lucca guided Owen away. “Your father needs
you to be brave for him, Owen,” he whispered to the child.

Owen sniffled back the tears and nodded as
he entered the pew. He slipped into Juliet’s embrace, letting her
hold him close. Juliet glanced over his head at Lucca. Her eyes
green pools of sadness. She grieved for Raziel, too, but remained
strong for Owen’s sake.

Gabriel and Raphael stood like statues as
they waited for Michael’s order to hold down Raziel, but Michael
held up his hand for them to stand down. He addressed Raziel then.
“Kneel before me.”

Raziel took the steps separating them and
knelt before Michael with his head bent as he waited for his
superior to exact punishment.

Michael touched his head with a whispered
prayer. Then he walked behind Raziel and withdrew his sword. With a
swift movement, the sword struck Raziel’s wings, slicing them off
his back. The movement so swift blue fire blazed, searing the stubs
before the Archangel could bleed out.

Raziel lifted his head in an agonizing
scream that shook the pillars.

Juliet hid her face in Lucca’s embrace,
bringing Owen closer to her, shielding him too.

Michael knelt down next to Raziel, who lay
in a heap of agony, his breathing labored, his face sweat soaked.
The air smelled of burnt flesh. “Once your wings grow back, your
sentence will be complete.”

Raziel blanched. “But you used angel fire.
It will take close to a century for my wings to grow back to full
use.”

“Yes. It will give you time to think about
your sins, will it not?” Michael stood to his full height. He
leveled his gaze on Elder Chaz and Elder Lielal. “I thank you for
your hospitality and your help in exacting justice.”

Chaz bowed and Lielal gave a slight nod of
her head.

Michael strode over to Lucca. “I’ve been
told you have Raziel’s book.”

“I know where it is.” Eli had told him. It
rested in the library with the other tomes of history.

Michael nodded. “Do not say more. Keep it
hidden. Kasadya must not get his hands on it.”

Lucca nodded. “As you wish.”

Michael nodded his head toward the other two
Archangels. A bright light encased them then they were gone, taking
Raziel with them.

The elders stepped down from the throne and
the others filed out behind them, leaving Lucca, Juliet and Owen
time alone.

“Where will they take Raziel?” Juliet asked
moving away from Lucca’s embrace.

Lucca shook his head. “Away from here.”

“Away from Owen, you mean.”

Lucca pursed his lips together and gave a
curt nod. Raziel lost his right to father the boy.

“They left his wings behind.” Owen ran over
to where Raziel’s once beautiful wings lay in a heap of discarded
feathers.

Lucca and Juliet walked over to him. The
child rubbed his hand over the feathers like a caress. The
iridescent colors revealed all the colors of the rainbow in a
sparkling array. “They’re so soft.” Owen’s voice held a reverence
of respect.

Lucca crouched down beside Owen. “If you’d
like to take a feather or two with you, I believe it would be all
right.” It would be all Owen would ever know of his father until he
reached maturity. Lucca had no doubt Raziel would seek his son out
if only to see what kind of male Owen turned out to be. Lucca
placed a heavy hand on Owen’s shoulder and gave him a quick
squeeze, hoping to comfort the lad.

“Yes, I want something of my father.” He
looked up at Lucca, his eyes glistening like pools of cool
silver.

Lucca withdrew his dagger, knowing the
Archangel’s wings would be like steel and couldn’t be plucked
easily. Leaning forward, he dug two feathers out, one from each
wing, being careful not to damage the fine structure. Once he had
both in his hand, he offered them to Owen. “Keep them safe.
Archangel feathers are not given lightly.”

Owen nodded, holding the feathers close to
his heart.

Lucca met Juliet’s gaze as he stood. “We
should take him home.”

Chapter Fifty

As the last lines of Hamlet were spoken, a
roar of clapping and whistling began. Granted most of it came from
the third row up where Zaiden, Gideon, and Eli carried on with
enthusiasm. Having their support signified a new beginning with the
brethren, a bonding Lucca had not had before he met Juliet.

Ryden had been there too and the lovely
female volunteered to take Owen home for the night. For a human,
Ryden’s intuition proved far superior than most. Juliet and he
would have some time alone.

Once Lucca changed out of his costume, he
joined Juliet, draping an arm around her shoulders as they walked
out the gates of the theatre.

“I enjoyed the play,” a man stopped them to
pay a compliment to Lucca. “You captured the essence that
Shakespeare intended.” The man was neither old nor young. His hair
the color of almonds and his eyes the shade of rich dark
coffee.

“Thank you,” Lucca said. “I hope you’ll
return in a couple of weeks. The company will be performing the
Scottish
play.”

“Ah, it is the one no one will say the name
of, less they suffer the curse.”

McBeth had the reputation to cause the
superstitious ones to take pause and he wasn’t going to take a
chance either. “Yes.” Lucca nodded.

“Don’t worry. I’ll not breathe the word.” He
tilted his head as he stared at them with interest. “
There's a
few things I've learned in life: always throw salt over your left
shoulder, keep rosemary by your garden gate, plant lavender for
good luck, and fall in love whenever you can.
Shakespeare was
spot on, don’t you agree?”

Lucca’s brows furrowed, wondering why the
man seemed oddly familiar in the way he spoke to them.
“Indeed.”

The man’s lips curved and he winked. “I
shall let you go. You both have a good evening.” He gave a slight
nod of his head before turning away.

Juliet stared after the man for a moment
longer before she looked at Lucca with a smile. “Let’s go.” They
had only taken a step, when, the man’s parting words halted her
steps.

“An evening of Shakespeare is always as
good as rain
.”

Juliet swung around. “What did you say?” But
the man was no longer there, disappearing within the group of
college students that were leaving the theatre.

“What is it?” Lucca asked.

Juliet shook her head and smiled. “Good as
rain is what Leroy would say. Barachiel told us the Time Guardians
would take on a different human host.” She glanced at him. “Do you
think it could have been him?”

“Perhaps. Anything is possible.” He slipped
his arm around her again and used his glamour to hide them. There
would be no more interruptions. He headed for the park adjacent to
the Amphitheatre. There were trees but it also offered a wide-open
space. “You know, I thought maybe Leroy wanted us to meet. His last
message on my answering machine suggested as much.”

She tilted her head to look at him. “The
last conversation I had with him, he told me he wanted me to meet
someone, too. He was sure I would like him.”

Lucca chuckled. “You pulled a gun on me.
Doesn’t exactly shout love at first sight, but I’ll let you know,
you had me, right then and there. You were beautiful, lethal, and
darn right sexy.”

She nudged him gently with a sweet laugh
leaving her lips. “And here I thought it was my scent that drew
you.”

He leaned down, teasing her lips with a
promise of a kiss. “Ah yes, then there was that.”

She placed a hand on his chest, giving him a
gentle push. “Let’s not get sidetracked here. Let me see you shift.
I love watching you.” Her gaze slid over him with wanton
abandonment.

He shook a finger at her. “Keep that up and
you’ll pay for it,” he teased.

“Yeah, I’m going to hold you to it.” She
backed up, giving him room.

Lucca let the glamour pour over him like a
caress whispering over his skin. His wings spread wide and he
stretched the tendons that had been denied flight for far too long.
He glanced at Juliet. Her gaze spoke of how much she loved him. She
would never hold him back. She would let him spread his wings and
take to the heavens if it would please him, but what would please
him more was to have her with him. He held out his arm, his palm
face up. “Join me, Juliet.”

She came to him willingly. Her small hand
clasped his. “I don’t have wings, Lucca.” Her lips curved. “Go on,
you enjoy yourself. I’ll be here waiting for you.”

He pulled her into his arms, not giving her
a chance to refuse as he lifted her. He flapped his wings and rose
heavenward.

Her arms flew around his neck with a
squeal.

“I have you,” he told her. “I won’t let you
fall.”

She met his gaze, trust radiating in their
depths. “I won’t let you fall either.”

A familiar tenderness swept through him, a
sensation he learned to embrace. “I know.” He drew in the rich
scent of her as he leaned forward with a quick kiss. Then he soared
higher. Below them the pools of streetlights shimmered like candle
flames, and above them the pinpricks of stars and the wan sickle
moon drifted on the dark sky.

“So beautiful,” Juliet breathed, her breath
warm and comforting on his neck. He never felt more content with
the wind blowing gently through his hair as he shared his pleasure
of flying with Juliet. He’d been bound by hatred, but Juliet had
set him free, her love and patience the key.

“
Come live with me, and be my love, and
we will all the pleasures prove
,” he quoted Marlowe.

“Christopher Marlowe did have a way with
words.” Juliet kissed the side of his mouth. “But if you want me to
move in with you, you’ll have to marry me.”

He harrumphed. “We’re already mated.”

“Lucca,” she drew out his name.

“Oh, say no more. You have my heart, but if
it is a wedding you desire, you shall have it, too.”

He met Juliet’s gaze and his lips curved
into a smile. He saw the future so clearly within the depths of her
green-jeweled eyes. He was born with glamour, but it was Juliet who
enchanted him.

Author Note:

Raziel is a fictional character in Lucca’s
story, but his name has been mentioned as far back as in the Book
of Enoch. My research gave me the idea of how I wanted to portray
Raziel in my story.