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"There is always soret e accept that love has moved away from us" The even voice came from the Throne "But I will take your response as a small display of mercy and acquiescence, which offers the universe some hope Lucinda and Daniel have made their choice clear and I hold us both to our vows made at the Roll Call Their love is out of our hands So be it

But it will coaze back to Luce and Daniel "Are you prepared to pay the ultimate sacrifice for your love?"

Daniel shook his head "If I have Lucinda, and Lucinda hasas sacrifice" Lucifer cackled, soaring off his feet and hovering in the air above Luce and Daniel "So, we could rob everything froth, your immortality? And still you’d choose your love?" Frolis were folded behind her Her hands were stuffed inside the pockets of her overalls She nodded sly, lips pursed in satisfaction, as if to say, Hell yeah, they would

"Yes" Luce and Daniel spoke as one

"Fine," the Throne responded "But understand:

There is a price Youelse If you choose love once and for all, you ain, made anew as el, reborn as aould become of her and Daniel’s love at the end of these nine days Now the Throne’s decision reestion that Luce kill her reincarnating soul in Egypt

Even then, she’d considered living out herDaniel to his own There would be no more pain from another lost love She’d alht of losing Daniel But this time

She could have hi would be different He would be at her side

"If you accept"--the Throne’s voice rose above Lucifer’s raspy chortle--"you won’t reuarantee that you willyour lifetime on Earth You will live and you will die, just as any other mortal in creation The powers of Heaven that have always drawn you to each other will pull away No angel will cross your path" She gave a warning look to the angels, Luce and Daniel’s friends

"No friendly hand will appear in darkest night to guide you You will be truly on your own"

A soft sound escaped Daniel’s lips She turned to hi the Earth in search of their other half, just like everyone else It sounded like a beautiful proposition

From just behind them Cam said, "Mortality is the most ro you should Then, ically, you move on" But Daniel looked crestfallen

"What is it?" Luce whispered "You don’t want to?"

"You only just got back your wings"

"Which is exactly why I know I can be happy without theiving them up Are you sure it’s what you want?"

Daniel lowered his face to hers, his lips close, soft

"Always"

Tears welled in Luce’s eyes as Daniel turned back to face the Throne

"We accept"

Around theht, until the whole field huels--their dear and precious friends--move from wild anticipation into shock

"Very well," the Throne almost whispered, her expression inscrutable

"Wait!" Luce shouted There was one

"We--we accept on one condition"

Daniel stirred beside her, watching Luce from the corner of his eye, but he didn’t interrupt

"What is your condition?" the Throne boootiation

"Take the Outcasts back into the fold of Heaven," she said before her confidence failed "They have proven theh to take h for the Outcasts"

The Throne looked at the Outcasts, ere silent and glowing dimly "This is unorthodox but, at its core, a selfless request You shall have it" Slowly, she extended one of her arain"

The four Outcasts strode to stand before the Throne, with more purpose than Luce had ever before seen thele nod, the Throne restored their wings

They lengthened

Thickened

Their tattered brown color drained into a brilliant white

And then the Outcasts smiled Luce had never seen one smile before, and they were beautiful

At the end of their ed as their irises blooain

Even Lucifer looked impressed He muttered, "Only Lucinda could pull that off"

"It is a s around her body to admire them

"That’s her job," Luce said

The Outcasts returned to their old positions of adoration around the Throne

"Yes" The Throne closed her eyes to accept their adoration "I believe that’s better after all" Finally, the Throne raised her staff in the air and pointed it at Luce and Daniel "It is tioodbye"

"Already?" Luce didn’t mean to let the word slip

"Make your farewells"

The for her and Daniel in their arms When they pulled away, Francesca and Steven stood before the

"We always knew you could do it" Steven winked at Luce "Didn’t we, Francesca?"

Francesca nodded "I was hard on you, but you proved yourself to be one of the most i You are an enigma, Luce Keep it up"