July
I will not kill her, I repeat internally, trying to remain calm.
I know her game. She’s trying to get a reaction out of me. This is her desperate attempt to hold on to something that is no longer hers, and as much as I hate it, I understand too.
Lilith has had Lucifer’s attention for a very long time. She’s held on to some warped idea that eventually he would love her like she does him. There’s a part of me that actually feels sorry for her, because I know what it feels like to lose Luke. It’s soul-crushing.
So instead of strangling her like I want to, I perfect an unaffected face and simply cross my arms over my chest, cocking my head to the side, signaling she’d better wrap this charade up.
The entire scene lasts for only a few seconds, because Lucifer, being the smart man that he is, grabs her arms, extricating them from his person. He steps out of her grasp.
“What are you doing, Lilith?” he chastises, and she affects the whole what did I do facade.
“I missed you. That’s all. We’ve always been … affectionate.”
“We’ve fucked, Lil. There’s never been affection.”
Both Lilith and I flinch at his crass words. They’re harsh even for Satan.
“You’re putting on a show for Victoria’s sake, and I won’t allow it.”
“I didn’t realize I needed to. Last we spoke, she was simply a fallen angel you’d tricked into falling. Have things changed?”
My stomach flips at the mention of what was once my greatest fear. That Luke is still messing with me in some way. I smash it down, unwilling to doubt his love for me anymore. That’s all in the past. I know without a doubt that everything between us is real.
Luke looks over his shoulder at me. I raise an eyebrow, but otherwise remain still and silent. Deathly silent.
In truth, I’m kind of enjoying the horrified expression that he’s wearing. I would love to see how this plays out. He turns back to Lilith, clearing his throat.
“You and I both know that’s bullshit, but right now isn’t the time to hash out your insecurities. Where are the others?”
So it’s like that, then … avoid the topic.
I roll my eyes, but otherwise let it go, because he is right.
“They’re coming. They’ll be here any—”
She’s cut off by thumps from the other side of the rock.
At least a dozen demons pile through the wall, dressed in armor.
“Gang’s all here,” Lilith says dryly. “As promised.”
“How in the hell are we supposed to trust her, Luke?” I ask, no longer able to remain silent. “The entire time I was here, she was working with Nolda.”
“That’s not entirely true,” Lilith cuts in. “I had to give the appearance that I was, so that I could uncover his plans, and get Satan back and his army positioned without being noticed.”
“It appears you did so expertly. Nice work, Lilith,” Luke praises, but it lacks any warmth. It’s militant and direct, and based on Lilith’s crumbling expression, she noticed too.
Luke comes to me unexpectedly, grabbing my hand. “It’s necessary for me to work with Lilith. She’s a trusted advisor and an incredible strategist. I need you to work with me here.” His face scrunches and his eyes close as if anticipating a fight.
“Okay.”
It’s all I say, because I’m the bigger woman and there are greater things at stake. And at the end of the day, I could kick this concubine’s ass and we both know it.
A large smile spreads across his handsome face and he pulls me in, searing me with a kiss that’s so different from what was shared between him and Lilith.
Her whimper of distress isn’t lost on me, and I internally smile.
I’m trying to be the better woman, but a little petty is called for in this moment, considering her attempts to belittle what Luke and I share.
“I’m proud of you,” he says, placing a tender kiss on my nose. “And for the record, you’re right. You are the better woman,” he says so only I hear. “Now, we have a demon to kill.”
Hurrahs sound around the room as the demons stomp their feet and clang their battle axes and other weapons against the walls and floor.
If Nolda didn’t know they were here already, he does now.
“About that, Satan,” Lilith cuts in. “Nolda has escaped. Like the coward that he is, he ran, leaving behind his smaller army.”
“Damn it,” Luke roars. “I should’ve known he’d bail.”
“Where did he go?” I ask, drawing Luke’s attention.
He closes his eyes, appearing to concentrate, but his face quickly morphs into stony acceptance. “I can’t locate him.”
“Yvette,” Julian barks. “I know she’s behind this.”
Luke nods. “She’s here in Hell, masking him.”
“I have access to a witch just as powerful. One of her sisters, Shante,” Julian says.
“Zeke, Leeanna, and Michael, take Julian and Lawrence back to Earth. Prepare your angels for battle. Once we uncover where Nolda is hiding out with his army, we’ll attack.”
“I won’t leave until the matter of Victoria is settled,” Michael snaps. “The reapers must be made aware—”
“What about the reapers?” River asks, with narrowed eyes.
“Enough!” Luke roars. “My throne is the most pressing matter. We deal with the traitors in this castle before anything else.”
Luke’s outburst has more to do with him not wanting to alert an oblivious River to whom they believe me to be.
“Not yet, love. Not yet,” he says, proving that yet again, he can’t stay out of my head.
I want to chastise him, but now isn’t the time. Not in front of these demons and Lilith. They need to see that Lucifer is every bit the ruler he’s meant to be.
“I must insist,” Michael continues, not backing down despite Luke’s hostility.
“This is my domain, Michael, and it’s time for you to leave.”
Luke snaps his finger and Michael disappears.
“What did you do?” Leeanna seethes. “Where is Michael?”
“He’s on solid ground, back on Earth. You’ll be joining him shortly.”
Law pipes up. “I’m in search of a portal to the Fae world. If you’d allow me passage, I’ll happily join your cause.”
“The Fae kingdom isn’t somewhere you want to traipse around, Bellamy. You’ll find yourself dead if you set one foot there.”
“It’s a risk I must take,” Law says, resolutely.
“Please, Luke. They’ve been nothing but kind to me, and his reasons for seeking the Fae world could prove helpful to your war.”
Luke’s eyes narrow on Law, but he relents. “I’ll give you safe passage, if you’ll help with the small conflict ahead.”
“It would be my honor.”
Luke nods before turning back to Julian and the remaining angels. “Go find your witch. I’ll summon you all when it’s time.” He snaps his fingers and Zeke, Leanna, and Julian disappear.
“Demons, line up behind me. Take no prisoners. Any who sided with Nolda die. Understood?”
More hurrahs and stomping sound off, and Luke’s hand raises into the air to silence them.
Luke turns to me. “This shouldn’t be a hard battle. If Nolda left, he took all the higher demons with him. All that remain are low demons and easily killed. You don’t need to join this fight, Victoria.”
“I might not need to, but I’m going to.”
“They’re in the throne room, Satan. Abdiel and Bumalin are holding the traitors for disposal.”
“The two high demons who were with Nolda?”
He tips his chin down in acknowledgment. “They’re with us,” he assures, but it does anything but reassure me.
Those demons were extra evil, and the thought of them siding with Luke is yet another reminder that he is their lord. The man I love and the creature who rules this terrible place are one and the same.
“They’re waiting for us,” Lilith says. Her tone is dry and curt.
Good. She got the hint that her time with Luke is over.
“Let’s go,” Luke commands.
The demons file into a line behind Lucifer, and they begin their march to battle. As the line ends, more demons join from the hall.
Luke and I share a glance, and I read so much in the depths of his eyes.
Be careful.
I love you.
We walk in silence for several minutes, the tension thick and suffocating as demons prepare to take out the traitors who’ve lived amongst them.
We round the last corner and come to an open room that’s roughly ten times the size of my barn. It’s wide open, and at the front, the high demons sit perched like kings, watching the fray below.
Demons’ knives and swords clank together as the first of our army begins the battle. I push my way toward the front, ready to join the fight. I’m yanked back and swung around, coming face to face with Luke. He pulls me into his chest, slamming his lips to mine.
It’s a quick, desperate kiss. His forehead rests on mine. “Please be careful, Victoria. You’re my everything. I need you safe.”
I roll my eyes. “I was born for this.”
Luke smirks. “I love you.”
With that, he rushes off, joining his legion. Removing my dagger, I rush toward a gnarly demon with spikes sticking out from its head like a porcupine. The dagger’s hilt is much shorter than Solis’s, so I have to be closer than I prefer to strike my killing blow.
Unlike with Solis, the demon vanishes before the blade is fully seated. No ash, no fire … nothing but dead air.
“That’s … different,” I say out loud.
“Reaper rock,” River states, sliding up next to me, pushing his blade through the neck of a vampire. “Although, that shouldn’t have happened,” he says, swinging around and beheading a wolf-demon. “Only a baptized reaper should be able to vaporize a demon with that blade.”
I stiffen at his words.
“Have you ever seen an angel wield this reaper rock before?”
His eyes squint in thought. “Only one,” he admits. “I suppose you could be on to something.”
We each swing away from each other, taking out more demons. I spin around to find my next target and slam into River’s solid chest. A ripple of awareness soars through me as every hard inch of him is pressed against me.
“Careful, angel, you’ll get me into trouble with Satan.”
“Scared?” I taunt, looking up into his handsome face.
He grins down at me. “I’m not trying to find myself in a duel, princess.” He swings out of my way, thrusting his blade directly into the eye of a demon before turning back to me. “Although, for you, I might be willing to make an exception.”
I roll my eyes. “You wouldn’t win.”
His arm flies out, pulling my hip toward him so that we’re once again flush with each other. He lowers his face to mine, stopping a mere inch from my lips. “Care to wager?”
My chest heaves from the exertion of fighting mixed with the heady scent that is all River. His scent is all over me, flirting with my senses and begging me to lean in just slightly. He knows what he’s doing in a battle of wills as much as in true combat.
“Watch it,” River yells, pushing me out of the way as a horned demon nearly bulldozes into me. River expertly dislodges his head, and the body topples to the ground in a heap of gore.
I shake my head to clear it of the fog. What the hell is wrong with me?
My eyes land on Lilith, whose grin is a dead giveaway.
That bitch is messing with my mind.
“Rix, take Victoria to the parlor. I’ll be there soon,” Luke calls over the waning battle, as the last of the traitor demons are brought to their knees.
The demon dog, whom I specifically told Luke to keep away from me, moves toward the hallway, looking back to ensure I’m following him.
Needing to get out of this room, I push aside my hatred for the beast and follow him. We walk for several minutes until we come across an open door.
It’s a bare room, much like the one I was held in when I first arrived.
I walk inside and the door slams behind me. I pace the floor, concentrating on my breathing.
Damn Lilith and her games.
Does she know who River is to me? Or is she simply choosing the first pretty face just to drive a wedge between Luke and me?
The door opens and I spin around, ready to throw myself at Luke, but it’s River standing just inside the door.
“What are you doing here?” I hate how rude the words come out. River hasn’t done anything wrong. It’s my own conscience incorrectly placing the blame.
“I wanted to make sure you were all right. Satan might trust that mutt, but I don’t.”
I blow out a breath. “I’m fine. It’s just …”
“This place?” he cuts in.
“Yeah.”
“Listen, I didn’t mean to act inappropriately back there. If I made you uncomfortable, I apologize.”
“You didn’t. It’s not you. It’s just—”
The door crashes open, stopping my words.
“Get out,” Luke growls.
River grins and I fear more bloodshed.
God help me.