Chapter 36
Ansley
My mates have fallen.
I can sense they’re still alive through the pack bond, but they’re dying.
All of them. Even Jaxton wasn’t a match for the Crimson Templars.
He fought valiantly and bravely, all the way to the end.
As did all of my mates, especially Hayden, who is still trying to get to me, even as blood gushes from his wounds.
“Grab the women!” a Templar yells. “The wolves can watch them burn at the stake while they bleed out.”
“Oh shit,” Daisy whimpers. “Ansley, I don’t think we’re going to make it. You can’t turn into the Viking Warrior Princess again?”
“No, I don’t think so,” I whisper, still trying to ignite my sword with sheer willpower. “I don’t know how I did it before. I panicked, and it happened, but I’m panicking a lot more right now and nothing is happening!”
“Drinking ancient vampire blood didn’t seem to do anything for me either,” Daisy is as weird and bold as ever, even facing death. “I guess that means I’ll fight them with my bare hands. I’d rather get shot than burned at the stake.”
I can’t say I disagree with Daisy’s logic. I grip my sword tightly in my hand as the Crimson Templars advance on us, guns drawn.
The Crimson Templars look like medieval warriors with space-age weapons. Their armor is blood-red, a mixture of chainmail and plate that is form fitting and emblazed with a large white cross on their chests. Their helmets are enclosed, with a thin opening so they can see.
Guns seem to be their primary weapon of choice. Crimson rifles with scopes that glow red when they’re fired, almost like a laser, but whatever ammunition they’re using cuts right through my Alpha mates’ tough hide.
“Charge or…” Daisy mutters.
“Wait,” I say, taking a step back as I notice something streaking across the sky.
I feel a warmth in my chest, just like I did before when my sword caught fire while we were fighting the vampires. The streak in the sky gets closer, and the Templars notice it. It seems to be headed straight for us.
“What in the heavens is that! Back, get back!” a Crimson Templar screams.
The streaks gets closer, and I realize it’s not a comet or a falling star. It’s a man. He has blond hair that is almost golden, and once he’s a little closer I realize I’ve seen him before. At York Financial.
“Mr. Lumen?” I ask as he lands on the grass in front of us, the earth tremoring as he does.
“Who the hell is that? I really hope he’s here to help!” Daisy squeaks.
“Stay behind me,” he says, turning to face the Crimson Templars.
“Some kind of Scion! Kill it!” a Templar yells, and they open fire.
“Ansley!” Hayden screams my name, and I can feel his love as he tries to get to me.
I cower as the shots ring out, but none of them hit me. A golden light sweeps across Mr. Lumen and he begins to shift, just like my mates do. Just like I did when the Viking Warrior Princess appeared.
Wings appear on Mr. Lumen’s back, then they extend outward until one is in front of me, and the other is in front of Daisy. Bullets bounce off them and a few feathers fall, one of them landing at my feet. It’s so white it reminds me of snow.
Then Mr. Lumen gets bigger. He rises until he’s well over seven feet, muscles expanding, golden armor that doesn’t look much different from what the Crimson Templars are wearing appears, replacing his expensive suit.
His hair lengthens, turning into gilded locks that hang midway down his back.
A shimmering halo appears over his head and seems to be suspended there. It moves when he does.
“It’s an angel! Run! Run!” a Templar screams.
I hear a few more gunshots, then the sound of their armored boots hitting the ground as they retreat. Mr. Lumen. The angel, or whatever he is, takes flight. His wings flap and he zooms towards the Crimson Templars.
A few more gunshots ring out, but then the Crimson Templars are fleeing for their lives. The angel keeps moving, a silver sword appearing in his hand that doesn’t look much different from the one I’m holding. It erupts in flames and he cuts a Crimson Templar in half.
“He’s got a sword like yours!” Daisy says. “Also, he’s kind of hot. You recognized him?”
“I met him at work. He’s an investor…” I mutter, watching as the angel continues to tear into the Crimson Templars, shifting from one to the other as he kills them. “Or at least I thought he was.”
Screams ring out as the angel finishes off the Crimson Templars. Dead bodies are everywhere, but things are quiet again. I start to rush to Hayden’s side, because I can sense he’s weak, but then the angel starts walking back towards us, so I freeze.
“Mr. Lumen?” I ask, taking a step back.
“We need to go,” the angel rumbles, his voice both terrifying and soothing at the same time. “I caught them by surprise, but more will come. They have weapons that can kill angels. They just didn’t think there were any of us left.”
I look around, taking in all the carnage. Both of the SUVs we arrived in are smoldering husks, fires still lighting up the night. The helicopters are in ruins, thanks to the angel.
“We don’t have a car,” I say, glancing over at Hayden. “And my mates are injured. Can you help them?”
“They are as important to you as the baby you’re carrying. I can sense it,” the angel sighs, turning to the fallen wolves. “Too many to transport in one trip. Wait here.”
The angel walks over to Remy first. He picks him up with one hand, then grabs Wyatt by the nape of the neck.
Wyatt yelps and I tense up, but I can tell the angel means us no harm.
It’s just a feeling inside me. Fire surrounds the angel’s feet, his wings flap, and he lifts into the sky.
A second later, he’s streaking across it, just like he did when he arrived.
“Really hope he comes back,” Daisy says nervously, looking around.
The angel returns, almost as quickly as he left. He lands next to Storm, the ground shaking as he does, and it makes Storm gasp, blood spewing out of his muzzle.
“Be careful with him!” I beg, watching as the angel disappears into the sky.
He returns for Hayden. Then Jaxton. I say a prayer, hoping they’re okay, then wonder who I’m actually praying to. If an angel just appeared in front of us, there probably aren’t any prayers that are going to do more than he can.
“He’s coming back,” Daisy says, looking up at the sky.
The angel lands in front of us, wings spread, a golden spark in his eyes. He extends one hand to me, and the other to Daisy.
“Thank you! I really appreciate your help, but if you’re not Mr. Lumen, who are you?” I ask cautiously as Daisy takes his hand. “Why did you come to help us?”
“I came to help because I wasn’t about to allow the Crimson Templars to kill my daughter,” he says, grabbing my hand. “My name is Lucifer.”
I don’t get a chance to ask another question. Fire spins around Lucifer’s golden, armored boots, and his wings flap, sending dirt and debris flying as he lifts off the ground. Then we’re flying, so fast, that everything zooms by below in a blur.
He’s my father? Lucifer? Like… the Lucifer? From the Bible? A shudder sweeps through me as I remember all the stories I heard shouted from the pulpit at church when my grandmother used to drag me to the Sunday morning church service.
Chicago disappears rapidly behind us, too fast to comprehend.
I’m not sure where we’re going, but we’re moving like a rocket, and I see a mountain on the horizon.
Lucifer cuts towards it, and I squeeze his hand tighter, terrified of what would happen if I let go.
I’ve always been scared of flying, but the one time I was on a plane was nothing like this.
“Not much farther,” Lucifer rumbles, then he starts to descend.
The sun is starting to come up. I can see a castle carved into the side of the mountain, like the mountain itself is part of the design. That seems to be our destination. When we get closer to the ground, I see my mates. They’re all on the ground, still bleeding, but I detect life from all five.
Lucifer hits the ground with a thud, but he gently lowers the two of us down. I immediately rush over to Hayden, kneeling at his side. Daisy takes a few steps away, then turns to look at Lucifer. The look on her face says she’s enamored, again, but I’ve got bigger problems to worry about.
“They’re still hurt,” I cry, placing a hand on Hayden’s side. “He’s so weak.”
“I can heal them,” Lucifer’s tone is soothing. “Give me a moment.”
Lucifer closes his eyes and holds out his hands.
Golden light flows out of them, tendrils connecting to each of my mates.
A pulse of light causes them to shift from wolf to their true Human Forms, and the next pulse causes bullets to rise to the surface, pushing out of their skin and falling to the ground around them.
“Fuck!” Jaxton gasps, his eyes opening wide. He quickly spins to his feet and comes up in a fighting stance. “What the hell happened?” His eyes widen when he sees Lucifer. “And who the fuck are you?”
“He’s an angel! Lucifer!” Daisy calls out. “And apparently, he’s Ansley’s dad. Hey, I’m her best friend. Does that mean I get to call you Daddy, too?”
“Quiet little lamb,” Lucifer admonishes my overly enthusiastic friend. “I need to focus. Some of these injuries are severe.”
I move to Jaxton’s side, and we step away as the tendrils of light continue to heal the rest of our pack. Remy is the next one up, just as bewildered as Jaxton, but we fill in him. Daisy is oddly quiet, but she’s still staring at Lucifer like she can’t look away.
“Wyatt!” I say, gesturing for him as soon as he stands.
“What happened? We were fighting the…” he mutters, then he turns to look at Lucifer. “No way! An angel!?”
“Not just any angel, brother,” Jaxton is speaking quietly. “Our mate’s father.”
“You’re not a Scion,” Wyatt whispers. “You’re an… angel?”
“I don’t know,” I answer my gentle mate in a quiet voice, shaking my head. “I’m as confused as everyone else.”
Storm is the next one up. He spots us, walks over, and then freezes when he notices the enormous man with show-white wings.
“Um,” he says, glancing at Lucifer, then at us. He throws a thumb over his shoulder, gesturing toward the angel with a million questions written on his handsome face.
“That’s Daniel Lumen,” I say, as though that answers everything. “But his real name is Lucifer.”
“Like… Satan?” Storm questions. “The devil?”
“He’s healing us, so does it really matter?” Remy inquires in a hushed voice.
Hayden finally rises to his feet, shaking his head with confusion. The tendrils of light disappear and I run to him, wrapping my arms around his waist.
“You’re okay!” I cry, finally daring to exhale a sigh of relief now that all five of my mates are standing.
“An angel showed up,” Hayden says, wonder in his voice. Then he turns to Lucifer. “That angel…”
“My name is Lucifer. I’m Ansley’s father,” the golden giant rumbles, taking a step forward. “You fought bravely, but you were no match for the Crimson Templars. My kind weren’t either. That’s why I’m the last one left.”
“You’re Ansley’s father?” Hayden asks incredulously.
“I’ve always wondered who my dad was,” I feel like my words are so inadequate for the occasion and look down for a moment. “I guess now I know why my mom didn’t put you on the birth certificate.”
“Yeah, not sure how your mom could have explained that,” Remy mutters.
“I was not aware of you until your powers manifested,” Lucifer replies, his voice deep and melodic. “I’m sure you have questions, and I’ll answer them, but let’s get inside. You are all still weary from battle, even if your wounds are now healed.”
Lucifer glows for a moment, then his wings shrink until they disappear into his back. He gets shorter, as does his hair, until he looks just like Mr. Lumen again.
“Come,” he says, gesturing towards the castle.
I look around nervously at my mates before we start following him. Daisy doesn’t hesitate at all. She still seems to be enamored with him, even without the wings and halo.
Lucifer is my father.
But is he an angel, like we saw… or the devil himself?