Page 94 of Reluctant Rebel

“I think it’s about time we discussed what I did to you, don’t you?” Mikhail inquired softly.

“No. I do not,” Sabre spat. She looked incredulous. “And what do you mean whatyoudid tome?I’mthe one who hurtyou.”

He shook his head sadly. “We both know that isn’t the truth. I broke your heart that day.”

Sabre stared at him unblinkingly before she scoffed and paced away. Her movements were sharp and jagged, the air around her practically swirling with the intensity of her anger. She stopped abruptly, lifting her chin in his direction. “You want to do this? Fine. I’m game. Let’s do it. Yes. You broke my heart that day. You brokeme. So much so that I didn’t want to bring you back. I stood over your body and watched the blood puddle around you, and I wanted you to stay dead. I wanted you to reap what you had sowed.”

My poor Sabre,he thought. She spoke those words as if she were confessing her sins at the gates of Heaven. She sounded devastated and guilt-ridden, but there was no need. He wasn’t hearing anything he didn’t already know.

Her eyes narrowed, a potent mix of pain and fury in their depths. “You knew.” It sounded like an accusation.

Mikhail nodded his head, smiling sadly. “I knew. Before I asked you, I knew it was a real possibility. And I accepted it. Staying dead would have been well deserved.”

“Yet you still asked me,” Sabre stated.

“Ordered you,” he corrected sternly. “Yes. I did. I ordered you to do it for many reasons: for my kingdom, for my family, foryou.But mostly, I did it because I knew I could trust you to see it through. Nobody else could have let that bolt fly.”

Sabre’s laugh was sharp and brittle. “Of course not. Nobody but an angel assassin would stoop so low. Oh, and I can’t wait to hear how killing my charge wasfor me.”

Her words hung in the air, heavy and oppressive, and Mikhail took a deep breath to steady himself. He hoped he could find the words to make her understand. “You sacrificed so much for me, Sabre. Even as a child, you sacrificed for me. After finding me, you returned to The Blue Devil Den, knowing that you would be tortured and forced to do despicable things. Things in complete contradiction to the angelic blood running through your veins. But you did it. For me.”

“Exactly!” Sabre yelled angrily, causing the two hellhounds to whine. She shot them an apologetic look and lowered her voice. “And how do you repay me? I may have shot you through your heart, but you crushed mine, Mikhail.”

“I know. You’re my guardian. You were created and sent by the Heavens to protect me, to guide me, to be here for me no matter what. And you always have been. Sitting on the throne is a burden, but being a guardian is perhaps an even greater one. But don’t you see?” He took a step forward, pleading his case. “I had to make sure your sacrifices weren’t in vain. I had to ensure everything you went through wasn’t for nothing. I had to make it count. I couldn’t lose more family. I couldn’t loseyou. Who do you think Z would have gone for next? What obstacle would he have removed in order to get to me?”

“Let me get this straight,” Sabre said very quietly. Mikhail felt his butt clench. He knew that tone. “You orchestrated your own death and abandoned your people because you thought it would, what, stop me from being a target?”

He took a slow step back when Sabre took one forward. “I won’t lie. It wasn’t thewholereason. But yes. It was a factor. A key factor. All the guardians of my uncles and my father were killed before they were. Z was clearing a path, taking out his biggest threats.”

Sabre unsheathed a knife from her belt, pointing it at him with a shaking hand. “You’re a fucking moron, you know that?” She sprang at him, taking him to the floor. Straddling his chest, she pressed the knife to his throat. “Z had no idea I even existed.Nobodydid. I wasn’t in any danger. And even if I was …” she pushed the blade into his skin, drawing blood, “it is mydutyto die for you. It is myright. How dare you take that away from me.”

“It was only a matter of time before Z found out about you,” Mikhail pointed out rationally. “I wasn’t willing to wait around and watch that happen. Besides, you’re mine. I’m allowed to protect you if I want.”

Sabre sat back, glaring down at him. “You sound like a child.”

Mikhail shrugged before reaching up and swiping his palm over the tiny nick in his neck. “Most of my motives were totally kingly. I’m allowed to have one that was just for me.”

“You … what … I … you …” Sabre spluttered. She took a deep breath, visibly calming herself. “I was scared that my powers would fail and I wouldn’t be able to bring you back. It’s never happened before, but right after I killed you, I thought,this time, they won’t work.The one time it’s the most important, and they won’t work.I was terrified.”

Mikhail watched as she slowly unfurled her wings, the red and gold feathers stretching gracefully across his living room.He shouted in alarm when she reached over her shoulder and roughly yanked out a handful. “What are you doing? Stop that!”

Sabre thrust the feathers in his face. “I had a few golden feathers pop up over the years for variousacts of service. I could never pinpoint what I did to earn them. But when I resurrected you, I suddenly got dozens of these fuckers. Dozens!” Sabre yelled, tossing them in the air. “Killing you and bringing you back earned me golden fucking tickets. I felt sick. I wanted to rip the wings from my back.”

“I’m sorry,” he said sincerely from his prone position. “I’m so sorry.”

They both watched as Styx trotted over, picking up the feathers in his mouth before throwing his head back. Red and gold fluttered to the floor, making the hellhounds bark happily. Styx’s mate heaved herself from her nest, jumping down to play, too.

A single tear traced the curve of Sabre’s cheek. “Silly beasts,” she admonished. But she pulled out another handful of her precious feathers for them to chase.

“Why did you bring me back?” Mikhail asked. “You had a choice.”

Sabre nodded, her gaze staying fixed on the hounds. “The moment I laid eyes on you in that crib, I knew you were mine. I knew I’d finally discovered my charge and that our fates were intertwined.” She looked at him, her mauve eyes now clear and direct. “I chose you then. I didn’t have to. I could have walked away or told Maliq to go fuck himself. But I chose you. And I would choose you every day if I had to. Including when you’re dead.”

Mikhail inhaled, absorbing the weight of her words and the depth of her commitment. “Thank you. For choosing me.”

Sabre grunted, then picked up a gold feather, twirling it between her fingers. “I guess, given where I’ve ended up, you’re welcome.”

The silence stretched out, and Mikhail cleared his throat. “So, um, what now?”

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