Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CORMAL
A amon and Madoc are covered in bruises, welts, and blood when I arrive. Madoc flicks a glance at me, then continues to bloody his fists against his opponent. Neither of them are using magic, only brute force. Aamon pauses every once in a while, but Madoc refuses to let him stop, snarling at him to get back in the fight. This goes on for at least another hour.
Aamon finally folds his arms and shakes his head. “No more.”
Madoc flips him off and stalks away. “Fine. I’m going to grab a shower.”
I conjure a couple of chairs for Aamon and me. For several minutes, we sit in silence.
“Has he been like this since he returned?” I ask nonchalantly, as if I’m not too invested in his answer.
Aamon eyes me with suspicion but nods. “Upset.” He moves restlessly on the chair.
“Here,” I say, offering him an orange.
His large hand takes it, but he gives me a confused glance.
Grabbing the other one in my pocket, I peel it, then slip a slice into my mouth. “It’s good.”
One of his claws slices across the orange, cutting through the peel into the fruit, and juice runs into his hand. He wrinkles his nose and hands it back to me.
Patiently, I peel it and hand him a slice.
Zesty orange flavor hits his tongue, and his face lights up. “More.”
Handing him the rest of the slices, I watch him dump them all in his mouth at once. “Good.”
“What is he upset about?” I murmur, not wanting Madoc to overhear.
Aamon lifts a shoulder. “Ice. Cold. Leandra.” He leans closer. “Meri.”
I chuckle. “Good.” Aamon’s downcast face tells me there’s more. “What are you upset about?”
“Want to be free,” he says with a sad look on his face. “Madoc say no.”
“It’s not safe for you to be out there,” Madoc spits out as he stalks over to where we’re sitting. “What have you been saying to him?” He folds his massive arms across his chest, but it only makes me laugh.
“Intimidation doesn’t work on me,” I tell him, popping another slice in my mouth. Rancid breath blows across my nose, and I rear back and look at Aamon.
He turns hopeful eyes on me. “More?”
This time, I hold the entire orange out to him. “Carefully peel it. Then eat the inside.” Madoc moves to take it from him, but I wave him off. “He can do it.”
Aamon’s tongue slides out as he concentrates on not squashing the fruit in his hand. Claws slowly peel off the outer layer. Once it’s gone, he turns to me, and I show him how to open it up and take one slice, which he does.
Aamon flashes his gruesome grin at me, then Madoc. “Good. Want?” He offers a piece to Madoc, who takes it and pops it into his mouth.
“What’s the point of all this?” he asks me, his voice even as he flashes a quick glance at Aamon.
“How much has he learned since you became friends? Quite a lot, I imagine,” I muse. “The traits he’s exhibited in the last few minutes tell me everything. He’s careful with his strength. He’s capable of displaying more complex emotions like empathy and understanding, especially when you’re trying to work something out of your system. He learns quickly. Why keep him here?”
Madoc scoffs. “It’s not safe for him out there.”
“Because he’s a danger to those around him?” I deliberately state.
He stalks forward in a cold fury. “Meri’s more likely to kill someone than he is. Aamon only wants to live. Enjoy life. He doesn’t want to fight.” His pointer finger stabs into my chest. “But he would if they provoked him. Then where would he be? Back in The Below. This time forever.”
“Or we can help him find his path. Come with me to Lucifer’s. Plead his case. Let him assess Aamon himself before Callyx finds him or something bad happens,” I urge him. “You know it’s the only way.”
He jerks away. “No, he’ll send him away.”
Aamon raises his hand. “Want to.”
“You don’t understand,” Madoc tells him. “What if he sends you back?”
Aamon looks at the cave above us and shrugs one of his large shoulders. “Prison.”
Madoc searches his friend’s face for several minutes. Whatever he sees makes his shoulders drop in defeat. “We’ll give it a try, but if I don’t like what I see, I’m sending you somewhere safe.”
Aamon flashes his sharp teeth in a semblance of a grin, and it sends a shiver down my back.
“Make sure he doesn’t smile when he stands before Lucifer,” I snap at Madoc before turning toward the exit. “No time like the present.”
Following me, Madoc hisses in a furious voice, “If this doesn’t work, I’m adding you to my list.”
“There’s a long line ahead of you,” I jeer. “Although, unlike most of my enemies, you might actually have a chance.”
His scowl slips for a second, and the corners of his mouth twitches, but he quickly pastes it back on. “But then I’d have to contend with Meri.”
Her name brings me back to the other reason I came to see him. “You left in a hurry. Meri was concerned.” She wasn’t—this time—but he needs to understand his actions affect her even if she never says anything.
At the reminder, his fists clench and he looks away. “I… her life. That shack. If that was her idea of heaven, hell might kill me.” There’s a tortured look in his eyes that wasn’t there this morning, and it thrills me to see it. He cares for her more than he even realizes.
Stopping before we get to the portal, I turn and level him with one of my darkest looks. “It’s going to get worse. Bury those feelings deep inside. Don’t let Meri see your pity or disgust. She knows most of the places were shitholes. Hell, a shithole would have been a step up. But in her eyes, this was the life she was dealt, and she’s proud of overcoming it.”
He inhales, nostrils flaring at the thought, but jerks his head in agreement. “Fine. Let’s go see a man about a monster.”
Satisfied, I take us to the palace and the meeting I’d already set up with Lucifer. The man doesn’t like surprises, and given he’s ruler of The Underworld, he isn’t someone you want to piss off. Friend or no friend.
Callyx, Evren, and Lucifer are all waiting for us in the throne room. From the edges of the black marble floors, black obsidian walls rise high to the ceiling above, where they meet arches made of real gold encrusted with gems. Huge, elaborate chandeliers made of the same metal cast flickering candlelight across every surface. Nothing in the room is more intimidating though than the throne made of bones from Lucifer’s enemies.
Equally fierce is the look on his perfectly sculpted angelic face—the one that says he’s contemplating someone’s death. Probably mine. I didn’t exactly warn him I was dropping the monster he and Callyx have been searching for in his lap.
“Lucifer, this is Madoc,” I say, pointing first to the man. “And Aamon, his friend.” When I arranged this meeting, I only explained I thought there had been an injustice, and Lucifer should hear the case for himself.
Lucifer’s jaw clenches tightly, but he dips his head cordially toward them. Callyx flashes me his “are you fucking kidding me” glare, but I ignore it.
Aamon blinks at Lucifer. “You not devil.”
Lucifer tilts his head. “No, I’m not, but I rule this realm now.”
Madoc clears his throat and begins, “Aamon was sentenced to The Below by the devil for killing his brother, a prince of Hell. When I woke in that hellhole, I was weak, disoriented. I didn’t know where I was. He found me. Protected me from the others. Became my friend.” Madoc flashes a rueful grin toward Aamon.
“How did you end up there?” Lucifer questions, darting a look at me.
I hold up my hands. “Not my doing.”
“Leandra. She needed to keep me alive, but in a place I couldn’t escape. Beyond The Underworld, there are few places that could hold me indefinitely. The Below was the perfect solution for her,” Madoc arrogantly informs him.
I secretly smile. Lucifer likes arrogance.
Callyx glances at Lucifer, and he nods.
“You won’t find her. Evren’s amulet hides her well,” I interject before Callyx can leave.
Lucifer shifts in his seat to wink at his beautiful queen, then turns back to Madoc. “Of course it does. Continue.”
Madoc’s gaze darts between the two. “I heard quite a lot about Evren when Gabriel landed in our laps. It’s nice to meet you.”
Her mouth twists. “I’m sure whatever he said wasn’t the least bit flattering.”
Madoc shrugs. “He was an asshole.”
Evren smiles in agreement.
“Gabriel?” Lucifer asks, leaning forward. “He spoke to you?”
“More like ordered me to save him,” Madoc says derisively. “That was before he met the rest of the inhabitants. The monsters in the dark have a way of stripping you down to your soul. His must have been ugly. It didn’t take him long to start begging for our protection. When begging didn’t work, he resorted to bargaining. All he had to offer… was his wings.”
Lucifer stares at him in silence for a minute, then roars with laughter. “I wondered what happened to them. Hell of a bargain. I assume you used them to fly the two of you out.”
When Madoc nods, Lucifer turns to Aamon. “Are you sorry for killing the prince?”
Aamon slowly shakes his head. “He bad. Hurt my friend.”
Madoc steps in front of Aamon. “One person isn’t worth the sentencing they gave to him. I request that you release him with time served.”
Lucifer chuckles. “I agree, especially not that bastard. Aamon’s right. He was bad. Even for a demon.” His smile drops. “My concern is Aamon. The power to kill a prince isn’t something I take lightly. What if someone hurts you?”
Aamon growls, and Madoc places a hand on his arm. “What if he were to live with creatures stronger than him? Would that ease your fears?”
Intrigued, I tilt my head, wondering where that could possibly be.
Lucifer looks at Callyx and Evren, who both nod their approval. “Since he wears our brand, I’ll need to know his location at all times.”
Madoc takes a deep breath. “I believe The Wild Hunt will allow him to live with them. They’ll take care of him and teach him about the world in a way he’ll understand. I’ll be able to regularly visit and check up on him.”
It’s Lucifer’s turn to look intrigued. “That’s a pretty big assumption. How can you be sure The Wild Hunt will even listen to your request?”
“Right now, they won’t,” Madoc returns with a scowl. “But they will once I get back the power Leandra stole. I need time to set things straight. For now, Aamon can live in the outskirts of the Wilds, and nobody will bother him.” Back ramrod straight and jaw locked, he waits for Lucifer to decide Aamon’s fate.
Tension rises as Lucifer studies Madoc. Aamon moves restlessly, but Madoc only meets Lucifer’s probing look with one of his own, each taking the measure of the other. Suddenly, Lucifer’s demeanor changes to one of supreme satisfaction. He raises an eyebrow at me, but unsure of what he’s asking, I can’t answer his silent query. That surprises him.
“Remember this moment,” Lucifer tells Madoc with a chuckle. “I’ll consider Aamon’s term served, but I want regular updates.”
Madoc dips his chin in acknowledgement. “Understood. Thank you.”
I step forward. “One more thing… We need permission for Aamon to help us hunt Leandra.”
Lucifer narrows his eyes. “Fine. But, Cormal, he’ll be under your supervision during those times. Fuck up, and you’ll find yourself in one of my dungeons.”
Smiling broadly, I bow. “Thank you, oh so generous and benevolent leader.”
“Get out.” He waves a hand, and we find ourselves standing outside the forbidding, dark palace.
I slap Madoc on the back. “Well, that went well. Now we don’t have to worry about Callyx hunting down Aamon and taking our heads. Let’s return to my office, then we’ll drop Aamon off in the Wilds.”
It feels good to accomplish so many things in one day.
The news I get at the office brightens my day even more. Lot, the demon of greed, sent me an update. His contact, the shadow demon, is dead and all leads are going cold. He asks if I want him to return, but I’ve been at this game too long. If demons are dying, it means we’re close. I tap the desk, thinking of how to proceed.
Sending one of my shadow demons to you. Set him up as the contact. See who bites.