Saint Petersburg

By Tiffany Aaron

Being the most feared fallen angel makes for a lonely existence.

Lucifer has spent millennia alone, despised by angels and mortals alike. He's developed a tough outer skin to deal with the fear and rage he seems to inspire in everyone he encounters. Then in 1914, in Saint Petersburg—or Petrograd as it was known then—he meets a woman that steals the heart he'd thought he'd lost long ago.

Vera Turnick meets Lord Luka Kolwochak and finds herself instantly attracted to the mysterious stranger. When world events force them to part, she realises just how much she loved him.

Is there a way for love to last centuries? When visiting Saint Petersburg again after a century away, Lucifer finds a familiar face standing in the middle of the ballroom in the Winter Palace. How is it possible? Is Vera's return a sign that God has finally forgiven Lucifer? Does he have enough faith to hope?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Totally Bound Publishing
• Release date: Jun 27, 2014
• ISBN: 9781784300562

Tiffany Aaron

I've been writing for most of my life, but was first published in 2004. I believe everyone deserves love in all its forms. I write about women and men who find strength in loving each other. I live in the Midwest with my two cats, and when I'm not writing (which isn't very often) I read and watch movies.

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A Totally Bound Publication

Saint Petersburg

ISBN # 978-1-78430-056-2

©Copyright Tiffany Aaron 2014

Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright May 2014

Edited by Rebecca Douglas

Totally Bound Publishing

This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Totally Bound Publishing.

Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Totally Bound Publishing. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

Published in 2014 by Totally Bound Publishing, Newland House, The Point, Weaver Road, Lincoln, LN6 3QN

Warning:

This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has a heat rating of Totally Simmering and a Sexometer of 2.

Fallen

SAINT PETERSBURG

Tiffany Aaron

Book eight in the Fallen series

Being the most feared fallen angel makes for a lonely existence.

Lucifer has spent millennia alone, despised by angels and mortals alike. He’s developed a tough outer skin to deal with the fear and rage he seems to inspire in everyone he encounters. Then in 1914, in Saint Petersburg—or Petrograd as it was known then—he meets a woman that steals the heart he’d thought he’d lost long ago.

Vera Turnick meets Lord Luka Kolwochak and finds herself instantly attracted to the mysterious stranger. When world events force them to part, she realizes just how much she loved him.

Is there a way for love to last centuries? When visiting Saint Petersburg again after a century away, Lucifer finds a familiar face standing in the middle of the ballroom in the Winter Palace. How is it possible? Is Vera’s return a sign that God has finally forgiven Lucifer? Does he have enough faith to hope?

Dedication

This is for all those people who are misunderstood because they can’t explain why they do things. There is no such thing as pure evil or pure good. There are only flawed people doing their best to survive.

Trademarks Acknowledgement

The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

The Hermitage Museum: State Hermitage Museum

Louvre: The Louvre

Zyr Vodka: Zyr Vodka

Fabergé: House of Fabergé

Chapter One

Lucifer sat at a table outside the café in Saint Petersburg, Russia, studying the mortals scurrying from building to building. They’re always in such a hurry. Rushing everywhere. Why don’t they take the time to appreciate their lives?

Because they don’t live forever like we do.

He glanced up to see Mika’il standing next to him. Lucifer blinked, but managed not to show any other sign of surprise. He could count on one hand the number of times the archangel had sought him out. Usually he went in search of Mika’il, since irritating him was the only way Lucifer could get the angel to acknowledge him.

May I sit? Mika’il gestured to the chair across from Lucifer.

He inclined his head. Certainly. Would you like some coffee? They have some exquisite blends.

Mika’il pursed his lips while he seemed to contemplate the decision. Why not? I’m not busy at the moment.

Really? I thought there was always some mortal you needed to rescue from themselves. He caught the waitress’s attention, holding up one finger before pointing at Mika’il. Plus I would’ve thought you’d be spending any free time you might have with Bridget—considering you just found each other again.

Amazingly, Bridget doesn’t want to spend all of her time with me. She told me to leave her alone so she could do some painting. Mika’il chuckled as he leaned back to let the girl set his mug on the table. Why are you here?

Crossing his legs, Lucifer met Mika’il’s questioning gaze. Am I awake or imagining this? You’re asking me why I’m here. Shouldn’t I be asking you that? I’ve never known you to come looking for me.

He watched as Mika’il tasted his coffee and smiled when Mika’il’s eyebrows shot up in surprise.

This is really rather good. Mika’il took another sip before relaxing as he reclined in his seat. Someone mentioned they had seen you hanging around Saint Petersburg for several months, and I got curious about why you would stay for so long. As far as I know, you don’t stay anywhere for more than a minute. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you have ADHD.

Lucifer rolled his eyes. I don’t have ADHD, my dear archangel. There is simply nothing in any city in the world that I haven’t seen or done already. There’s no reason to stay once I complete my mission.

Then why here? What is here that makes you stay? Mika’il waved his hand in a vague gesture to include the city around them. Don’t get me wrong. It’s a gorgeous city, but I don’t think it’s any more special than London or Berlin.

Reaching up to touch his cheek, Lucifer looked up at the bright blue sky, though he wasn’t seeing it. He was running through the centuries he’d called Saint Petersburg his home, and all the events he’d been a part of or had seen while standing in the shadows. I’ve been here almost from the beginning of the city when it was just a fortress to protect the maritime interests of Peter the Great. This is the place I’ve watched grow over the centuries, and I call it home. I don’t like leaving it even for a moment to go somewhere in the world to deal with a problem.

Mika’il frowned and Lucifer could almost see the wheels spinning in the angel’s head. I didn’t know you called this home.

Where did you think I lived? Lucifer snorted. Or did you think I didn’t sleep or rest at all and just wandered the earth, looking for mortals to trick and souls to steal? Sorry to disappoint you. I’m not as dedicated to my job as you are.

Shut up. I’m not commenting on your discipline for whatever you’re doing on earth. I think you’re far more dedicated than you should be. There are times when I would’ve loved for you to just hole up somewhere to keep the world from going to shit.

Lucifer picked up his cup to take a drink and swallowed before he said, You do realize that some of those major events I had nothing to do with? I think you’re giving me far more credit than I deserve. I’m not as involved in the world as you seem to believe.

The expression on Mika’il’s face told Lucifer his former friend didn’t believe him, but he didn’t care. Not anymore. He’d decided when he’d first returned to Saint Petersburg that he wasn’t going to waste his time on trying to get Mika’il to accept him as a friend again. Lucifer had reached a point when he realized it no longer mattered what anyone thought of him. He knew the truth of the situation and that was the only important thing.

You didn’t have anything to do with the Bolshevik Revolution here in 1917? Mika’il eyed him. You didn’t whisper words of encouragement into those unhappy people’s ears to convince them that killing the tsar and his family would make their lives better?

Lucifer winced. It wasn’t because Mika’il had accused him of inciting a coup, but because he had been in Saint Petersburg when the civil war had broken out. He’d watched as madness had swept the city and people had died for no reason other than who they’d been.

Everyone had always believed he enjoyed it when mortals were hurt or killed. Lucifer never could figure out why anyone would think that. Watching anyone suffer used to break his heart, until he’d hardened it so he could stay relatively sane. He didn’t want to become like the unrepentants who went into the abyss when God threw them out of Heaven.

It had ceased bothering him that people thought he was in charge of those crazies. He stayed out of their way and they avoided him like he had the bubonic plague. Yet when he heard Mika’il say things like that, Lucifer’s heart dropped because he was beginning to think there was never going to be a time when Mika’il treated him as a friend again.

I had nothing to do with the revolution, Lucifer said, clenching one hand in his lap while picking up his cup with the other. That came about from the discontent people were feeling. The tsar and his nobles treated them like serfs, and many of the lower classes were as poor as slaves. It was inevitable that they would come to resent the opulence of those who ruled.

Mika’il snorted. "There are ways they could’ve changed the status quo without starting a war to do it."

Do you really think the tsar would’ve given up his power if the Bolsheviks had asked him nicely? Lucifer shook his head. Nothing earth shattering has ever been done quietly. Changes come in the midst of flame and blood. We have seen it a million times throughout our lifetimes, Mika’il, and we also know that we can’t stop it from happening.

Maybe not, but it wouldn’t happen so often if there wasn’t unrepentants around, pushing for the hate and anger to explode, Mika’il pointed out. I don’t want to argue with you about this because we both know we’re not going to change our minds.

He was more than happy to talk about something else, though he wasn’t sure how that was going to happen. Whenever they were together, Mika’il would