Infernal God (Claimed By Lucifer Book 3) by Elizabeth Briggs (good books for 7th graders .txt) 📗

and took my hands, holding them in hers as she watched me, her gaze gentle. Pale light began to surround her, something I recognized as the light of truth. An Erelim angel trick. “Remember who you are. Yes, you are the Demon King, but you're also my mate. My husband. My destiny. You're the man who searched for me in every lifetime. Who waited patiently for me to be reborn every time. Who broke the curse and sacrificed himself to save the people he loves. Remember me. Remember us."

Her light surrounded me, and it all came back to me like being struck by a lightning bolt. I remembered it all. Eve and Hannah and every other life. Our sons. Everything.

I'd stopped the war against angels and fought for peace because of Hannah. Because of my family. Remembering them gave me the final push I needed to fight back against War, to ground him into dust.

He tried to escape my body, probably to find another host, but I latched onto him with my power and kept him inside me. Then I pummeled him with everything I had, until his essence exploded within my body in a flash of angry red hatred.

And then he was gone.

War’s voice no longer echoed in my head, and his anger didn’t tense my muscles or drive my thoughts any longer. Yet something from him was still inside me, a permanent part of me now.

I was Lucifer, but I was War too.

“Hannah.” I captured my mate against me, as relief and love filled my chest. "I knew you would find a way to save me."

"I'm sorry it took so long."

"I'm sorry I tried to kill you."

She smiled up at me and shrugged. "You didn't put much effort into it."

"Is it done?" Belial asked, from behind us. "Are you free?"

I turned toward my sons, my heart swelling at the sight of all three of them together. My family—all here to save me. Including this new gift growing inside Hannah now. "Yes. I'm free."

13

Hannah

I wrapped my arms around Lucifer and pressed my face against his chest, so relieved to have him back I could barely breathe. I no longer sensed War's presence, and instead felt only the man I'd loved for thousands of years.

He touched my cheek and I looked up at him. Love shone in his eyes, and no trace of War's red, angry glow lingered. Except now he was War, just as I was Famine. We'd been many things during my numerous past lives, but this was most unbelievable.

Lucifer turned toward our sons again with a smile. "You're all here. It's been so long."

"I couldn't have saved you without their help," I said, my heart bursting with pride and love. I'd wanted our entire family together again, and now I had my wish. It wasn't going to be the last time it happened either. I'd fought too hard to save Lucifer and bring this family together again, and I was going to keep it intact.

"Thank you," he told them.

“Father, it's been too long.” Damien stepped forward and clasped Lucifer’s hand as I drew away to allow them to embrace. I’d reunited with my sons, and now it was Lucifer’s turn. Kassiel also moved to hug his father, and only Belial hung back, uncertainty in his eyes. But when Lucifer turned to our oldest son, it was with a hint of wry amusement playing at his lips and forgiveness in his gaze. Eventually, Belial stepped forward and shook Lucifer's hand. He said something low, something only meant for his father to hear, and Lucifer nodded.

Then Lucifer turned back to me and pulled me into his arms again. His hand crept lower between us until it rested against my swelling stomach, and his eyes looked at mine with awe. "Another child. I never imagined it might be possible."

I nodded and placed my hands over his. "A daughter, according to Marcus. She's strong too."

"I can tell. Strong like her mother." He looked so happy, but then he sighed. "I've missed so much of your pregnancy. I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault. I only had the first inkling that I might be pregnant when you became War, but I wasn't sure until after we left Heaven and I had Marcus examine me." I hesitated, debating whether to tell him about my sacrifice with War, but perhaps that was better saved for a private moment. Instead, I glanced around the penthouse, noting how it had been torn apart while I'd been gone. "What did you do to this place?"

He shrugged. "I destroyed it in a fit of rage when I came back and found you gone."

I sighed. "This poor penthouse. It's been through so much."

Lucifer nodded, his face thoughtful. "Yes, it has. Perhaps it's time to move on from it."

"My king," Samael said, behind us. I'd barely even noticed he was there during all of this.

Lucifer scowled and waved a hand, and Samael's shoulders slumped a little in relief. "There. Now you're no longer under War's—or my—control."

"That's what I wanted to talk to you about," Samael said. "The angels are coming to attack the city. They should be here any minute."

Lucifer swore under his breath. His wings, fully black again with only a slight red aura, unfurled as he turned to me. "It seems I've started a war with the angels, and now I need to put an end to it."

"Of course you did," I said, with a slight shake of my head. "I'm coming with you."

Lucifer took my hand and pressed a kiss to it. "I wouldn't expect anything less, my queen." He turned back to Samael. "Please have all the demons stand down, and try to undo anything else I did when I was War. Kassiel, I locked Olivia and her other men up when I was War, and I apologize for that. Perhaps you and your brothers can free them now."

"We're on it," Kassiel said.

While the others took care of things back at The Celestial,