Chapter 18

Lucifer paced up and down his chambers, his mind racing with frustration. He had tried calling Mikhail several times, but the calls were not connecting. Each failed attempt only fueled his anger.

"Damn it, Mikhail," he muttered under his breath. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong, and in his mind, there was only one person to blame.

He stormed down to the basement, his anger a palpable force. April, chained and bruised, looked up as he entered, her eyes filled with a mixture of fear and defiance.

"This is all your fault," Lucifer snarled, his voice echoing off the cold, damp walls. "Because of you, my brother has abandoned me."

April flinched but didn't look away. "I didn't ask for any of this," she said, her voice trembling. "Your anger, your hatred—it's not my fault."

Lucifer's hand shot out, grabbing her by the throat. He squeezed just enough to make her gasp for breath. "You think you can talk back to me?" he hissed. "You have no idea what I've lost, w