Chapter Eleven #2
The rest came in a rush. Rathgor, all bulk and blunt force, was another brimlord.
He shoved his way to the front of the army with the enthusiasm of a battering ram.
The seams in his arms glowed like banked fire as he bared his teeth in a grin.
Drek’thar slipped in at his side—thin, wiry, with eyes as sharp as glass.
Sareth darted forward next, her grin all teeth, and the bone ridges on her arms catching the oh, so lovely hellish light.
She clasped my free arm hard enough to bruise, but I didn’t shake her off. “You actually did it!”
Rathiel straightened beside me, his overwhelming presence enough to make her ease back a step without realizing it.
As though Sareth’s exuberance gave them permission, the rest of the soldiers suddenly swarmed us. Before I knew it, they ripped me from Rathiel’s grip and started passing me around—sans my guardian demon at my side—eager to greet me and thank me for bringing them back.
If I thought I was exhausted before, it was nothing compared to now.
My head swam as I spun from soldier to soldier, my muscles trembling as they struggled to keep me on my feet.
Soon, the familiar sound of my army surrounded me.
Cheers rose from the back. Laughter swelled.
They shouted each other’s names and clapped shoulders.
Brimlords slammed their forearms together hard enough to echo through the field.
Netherons snapped and shoved at each other just for fun.
Ravagers ran in circles, their guttural growls enough to frighten any who might pass by.
Gorr quickly joined them, his tail whipping back and forth with happiness.
Everyone here had fought and bled together. Died together. And I’d brought them back.
I watched, awestruck by what I’d accomplished.
I had done this. Me. God, it felt good.
Pride blossomed within me as I watched every grin, heard every cheer, and saw every soldier turn my way and raise their hand in thanks. I nodded in reply, eager to celebrate with them. But part of me also desperately needed a nap. I almost laughed at myself. I was starting to sound like Calyx.
I couldn’t leave, though. Not yet.
I wanted to take everything in. The sight of Korrak grinning like he’d just punched Lucifer in the face. Varz and Jorek chatting like old buddies. Calder already leaning toward Eliza, trying to weasel his way into her heart—or more likely, her pants.
They were here. All of them. This was real.
After a few minutes of back-patting and head bobbing, Rathiel and Levi cut away from the crowd and wove through the press of bodies until they stood in front of me.
Rathiel reached me first. He placed a steady hand at the small of my back, offering me his support.
“Are you okay?” he murmured quietly, too quiet for the soldiers to overhear. Levi, however, clocked the question, his eyes sharp as he stared at me.
I gave them both a reassuring nod. I was tired, yes, but thankfully uninjured. “I’m good. Really.” I looked past them both and stared at my army again, still struck with disbelief. “That was…”
“Absolutely incredible,” Levi said. “You truly outdid yourself, Lilith.”
I blinked. Levi never called me that. But I rolled with it. He was likely just as excited as I was.
Levi turned and regarded me with something close to awe. “I wasn’t sure you could do it.”
I frowned. “You were the one who suggested I bring them back.”
“I know,” he said quickly, then smiled. “I just mean—you succeeded. You were so unsure of yourself. But look at what you’ve accomplished.” He swept an arm out and gestured toward my army. “And without drawing on a fallen’s essence. Impressive.”
My gaze instantly darted to Rathiel’s. “It wasn’t easy,” I admitted.
“But I realized if I wanted my army back the way it was, the way it’d once been, I couldn’t use either of their essences.
Rathiel can only make vampires. And my army was more diverse than that.
Without Lucifer’s other fallen angels, I couldn’t make them exactly as they were.
But I started to wonder if my essence could substitute for Rath and Calyx’s.
You all keep saying I have this connection with Hell, so I figured, time to explore that. ”
I still didn’t mention the darkness. Why taint this moment? And why worry them when I had everything under control? Even if the darkness was pulsing a little louder and harder now. Well, it could pulse all it wanted. I’d earned this win and I would celebrate it.
Levi’s gaze lingered on me, assessing. “Perhaps we should explore your powers more. I would be interested in seeing what else you can do.” Then he added after a momentary pause, “It seems Hell truly does recognize its own.”
When I didn’t respond, he cleared his throat and gestured to my army. “Take a moment, enjoy this victory. Then we’ll start planning our next move.”
I nodded and quietly thanked him, but he was already striding away to rejoin the others. A chorus of cheers followed, and soon, the crowd swallowed him, dragging him into their reverie.
Which left Rathiel and me in a rare bubble of space.
I turned toward him. “Don’t be mad.”
One dark brow lifted. “Why would I be mad?”
I hesitated, then exhaled. “Because I didn’t use your power. Or Calyx’s. I only used mine.”
His eyes searched mine, his thumb brushing once against my knuckles. “And why would that make me angry?”
“Because…” I gestured vaguely toward the crowd, toward the sheer size of what I’d accomplished. “It’s risky. It could’ve drained me, hurt me. I didn’t know if it would work.”
“Lily,” he said, his expression clearing.
“I’m not mad. Was I scared? You bet. But then, I always am when it comes to you.
You scare the hell out of me, but in a good way.
Look at what you accomplished.” He stopped and slowly exhaled.
“You did what you set out to do. You brought them back. Once again, you’ve proven yourself. And not just to them. To everyone.”
Heat pooled in my chest.
“You just showed every soul here,” he continued gently, “that you are powerful enough to command them. That you don’t need my magic, or anyone’s, to lead them. Not even Lucifer can say that.” His fingers tightened around mine. “You are absolutely incredible. Though, I’ve always thought that.”
I tried to look away, but he caught my chin with his free hand and tilted my face back toward his.
“I love you,” he said simply, without hesitation.
“And nothing you could do—least of all this—would make me feel anything less than that.” Then he shrugged.
“Plus, I’m relieved you didn’t need to siphon any of my essence. ”
That made me chuckle.
I leaned in and kissed him, but the sound of Korrak’s booming laugh quickly interrupted us as he and Rathgor got into a shoving match.
I laughed as I drank in the sight of reunited friends.
Rathiel squeezed my hand, then released it. “Go on,” he said. “You should be celebrating with them.”
Grinning, I stepped away from him and approached my army.
My legs still felt heavy, every step slower than I wanted, but pride carried me forward.
The second I reached them, a singular cheer rose from the crowd, rippling outward until every single soldier joined in.
They chanted my name, and I couldn’t stop the smile that curled my mouth.
I had my army back. My friends. My allies.
Nothing—absolutely nothing—could ruin this moment. Not even the darkness creeping through me.