Grace and Glory (The Harbinger 3)

“You were?” I winced, hoping it wasn’t because Lucifer had already done something to catch their attention.

“Yeah, got good news. We’re able to get the stones from Yellowstone.”

“Stones?” Roth murmured.

“Really?” That was great news. “So that just leaves...?”

“The onyx and tourmaline. Hopefully we’ll hear something soon about them,” he said. “So, what’s up?”

“Well,” I said, drawing the word out. “You got a moment?”

“I’m on the phone with you, so yes.”

“I just wanted to make sure you weren’t busy,” I said, and Roth raised an eyebrow at me. Flipping him off, I turned away from him. “So, I’m just going to say it.” I cleared my throat. “Roth and Layla were successful—well, I guess successful would be considered subjective and would depend on whether or not you were on board with the idea of bringing Lucifer into the fold.”

“I still haven’t made my mind up when it comes to that,” he replied flatly.

I doubted what I was about to tell him was going to push him toward Team On Board. “So, Lucifer did come topside, and good news is he did agree to help. Was actually pretty enthusiastic about it.”

There was a pause and then Nicolai said, “Okay?”

“But we, uh...” My entire body and brain cringed. “We sort of lost Lucifer.”

“What?”

“Don’t freak out—”

“Don’t freak out? Are you kidding me? You lost Lucifer, and you’re telling me not to freak out?” Nicolai shouted from the phone. “How in the world do you even lose Lucifer?”

“Well, it’s easier than you’d think. He did that really annoying demon thing and popped out of existence.”

“Don’t be a hater,” said Roth.

Nicolai sounded like he was trying to take several deep breaths. “Are you legitimately telling me that Lucifer—the Lucifer—is out there, roaming around because you all lost him?”

“I wouldn’t say we lost him—”

“You just said you lost him!”

“Okay. Bad word choice. We just misplaced him, but we’re going to find him.” I hoped we found him. “And he seemed pretty calm for, you know, being Lucifer, and all, so I don’t think he’s going to cause much trouble.”

“You seriously think Lucifer, who hasn’t walked Earth in how many years, isn’t going to cause trouble?” Nicolai asked. “Are you high? Am I high?”

The corners of my lips turned down. “I’m not high, and hey, at least I’m not calling to tell you that we’ve jump-started the biblical end times.”

“Yet,” he growled. “You’re not calling to tell me that yet.”

He kind of had a point there. “Look, we’re going to find him. I just wanted to give you all a heads-up in case you happen to run into a hopefully fully clothed Lucifer to not engage. Okay? So, I’ve got to go and find him now.”

“Trinity—”

“Got to go. Going to be very busy,” I rushed on. “Stay safe!” I hung up, barely resisting the urge to throw the phone across the room. Instead, I silenced it and placed it facedown on the counter before Nicolai could call back, because if I couldn’t see that he was calling me, then I could pretend that he wasn’t.

“That went well,” Roth commented.

I turned to him. “How long would it take for us to know if we jump-started the apocalypse?”

His brows rose as he scrunched his hand through his hair. “Hard to say. I doubt there’s an exact time limit, but we’ll know if it happens.”

“Do I even want to know how we’ll know?”

He snorted. “You know you do.”

I sighed. I did.

“If we’ve kicked off the big end times, you’ll know because they’ll show up.”

A shiver tiptoed down my spine. “And who exactly is ‘they’?”

“The Horsemen.” Roth smiled tightly. “They’ll ride. That’s how you know.”

“Oh.” I almost sat down on the floor. “Okay. I’ll keep an eye out for some dude on a white horse.”

“Actually, what you’ll be keeping an eye out for is the opening of the Seven Seals. War isn’t riding the white horse. He comes with the second Seal. Then Famine with the third. The fourth Seal is the real fun one,” he explained. “That brings out Pestilence and Death. A two-for-one special. Then things really get fun.”

I stared at him.

“We’re talking judgments, mark of the beast, tribulations, fiery pits and general chaos.”

I blinked slowly.

“Then, you know, God will be like ‘Daddy’s home,’ and kick ass or something.” Roth shrugged. “Or so they say.”

“Well, this has made me feel so much better about things. Thanks for that.”

“You’re welcome.” Roth looked over his shoulder, into the sunroom. “I’m glad they’re talking.”

“So am I,” I agreed softly. “For a moment there, when you first showed up, I thought you would go at Zayne.”

“I didn’t know what he’d become. He didn’t feel right.” Roth faced me. “Now I know.”

“Now I know why you made your snarky little comments about Wardens,” I said.

A quick grin appeared. “I haven’t seen an angel Fall. Ever. And the only ones I ever knew were the ones who’d already been stripped of their wings, and sure as Hell didn’t have their grace.” A certain sense of knowing filled his amber gaze. “How was he when he first came back?”