Calyx’s jaw tightened, and he laid a hand on her back.
I caught his eye. “Come on,” I said quietly. “Let’s give them some space.”
For once, Calyx didn’t argue. He gave Eliza’s shoulder the barest squeeze, then rose in one smooth motion. I stepped back with him, the two of us retreating a few paces down the corridor, far enough to give the women a sliver of privacy.
I paused and glanced over my shoulder to find Lily watching me, Purrgatory still draped on her shoulder. She gave me a soft smile before sitting beside Eliza and spilling Purrgy into her lap. Eliza immediately gathered the cat up and buried her face in his fur.
I turned away, letting their voices—soft, too low to catch—fade to a murmur. Whatever words passed between them weren’t ours to hear. But maybe together they could begin to heal.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
LILY
I satdown beside Eliza without a word. Her shoulders trembled beneath my arm the moment I wrapped it around her. I just held her. There was nothing clever to say. Nothing that would make the hurt stop. So I simply sat there and let her sob.
Purrgatory squirmed until she released him, but he didn’t jump down. Instead, he tucked himself into her lap, as though he knew his little body could provide herallthe comfort.
When the worst of her sobs passed, she drew a shuddering breath and lowered her hands. Her eyes were red and her lashes damp. She looked younger, stripped of the sharp confidence she wore like armour.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, voice raw.
“For what?” I brushed a lock of hair from her damp cheek.
She gave a watery laugh. “For crying about this. For being so upset. I lost Levi, but you lost your father?—”
“Don’t,” I said softly. “Don’t apologize for grieving the loss of someone you cared about. And don’t downplay your grief because my father is dead. I’m not sad about his death, and Idon’t want you to be either. He had to die. But I am sorry you’re hurting. And I’m sorry my father deceived you in such a cruel way.” I swallowed, the words forming a lump in my throat. “You didn’t deserve that.”
Her chin trembled. “It’s just…you’ve been through so much?—”
“So have you,” I said. “Lucifer fooled everyone. He’d been playing this game for thousands of years. He knew what he was doing. You cared about the person you thought was Levi. Nothing to be ashamed of.”
Her mouth twisted. “It feels like I should be. I feel so stupid for thinking I could findlovein Hell.” She immediately winced. “Okay, I definitely need to apologize for that remark. You found love in Hell.”
I smiled faintly, the corners of my mouth tugging upward. “Rathiel would likely agree with your assessment.”
That made Eliza laugh. She sat straight and wiped her face, then blew out a shuddering breath. “I feel so foolish. So stupid. And so very betrayed.”
I nodded while rubbing her back in small, slow circles. “Those feelings will fade over time. And then…you’ll start to get mad. So mad. And then livid that he isn’t here for you to punish.”
“Speaking from experience?” she asked, chuckling.
“Very much so. My father didn’t exactly win awards for being supportive. The only time he ever praised me was when I let the darkness take control.” I snorted softly. “That says everything, doesn’t it?”
“It says he was a wretched thing,” she murmured, stroking Purrgy’s back.
“An incredibly wretched thing. And I hope he’s burning in the deepest pits of Hell.”
Eliza winced.
“What?” I asked.
“I keep forgetting he’s still…somewhere. Or at least, his soul is. Assuming he had one.”
Ah, yes. That did sour the mood. “Let’s hope there’s a pit deep enough for us both to forget him.”
“Let him rot,” Eliza muttered, but she glanced away, her thoughts clearly still torn.
“What is it?” I asked.
