So, I waved a dismissive hand.
“Just a slight hiccup during the resurrection process,” I said. “I must have done something wrong. Maybe I used a little too much magic. It’s really not a big deal. In fact, I’m ready to try again. And believe me, this time I won’t fail.”
Silence settled across the group, but I didn’t turn away from the sight of my army to see what was bothering them.
“How about we try again tomorrow instead?” Levi finally said. “You should probably rest. You used a lot of magic, and whatever happened?—”
“I said I’m fine,” I cut in, my tone a little sharper than I’d intended.
I wasn’t angry. I was just…getting a little tired of their overprotectiveness. They were all hovering as if I would shatter at any moment. I said I could do it again, and I meant it. I was actuallyeagerto try again. I wanted to explore the limitations of my power—if there even were any. I was desperate to see if I could actually resurrect my soldiers without using Rathiel and Calyx’s essences.
Imagine what my father would say if I succeeded?
Oh, I could just picture his face now.
He’d always used his fallen’s essences. But had he done it out of necessity or cowardice? Lucifer never offered his own power when he could use others. It was his gift in life: to use anything and everything available to him. Why deplete and weaken himself if he didn’t have to?
But I wasn’t so close-minded. I didn’t mind using my power to see what I could accomplish. I’d tasted how it felt to shape reality. To build something from nothing. To bend Hell itself to my will. No one could take that away from me.
I stared at my army, and my blood began to pump. Soon, they wouldn’t be standing silent and lifeless. Soon, they would bestanding at my side, and they would help me conquer this realm. Soon, we would be unstoppable.
That word echoed in my head—but not in a bad way. I liked the sound of it.Unstoppable. It filled me with strength and confidence. Suddenly, I believed I could accomplish anything I set my mind to. And deep inside me, something stirred in agreement. I liked the taste of this power and wanted more. Power was a good thing. It meant strength and protection. It meant I could win this war.
Before I could summon my magic and prove I was, in fact, ready to try again, a different set of boots crunched over the ashy dirt. Eliza stepped up beside me, arms crossed, and said lightly, “Hell of a first attempt.”
I tilted my head just enough to glance at her, my first earnest smile coming to my lips. She always knew how to diffuse a situation. “Thanks.”
She studied the rows of soldiers standing in front of us. “Guess it’s time we start calling you Supreme Overlord, huh?”
I burst out laughing, a sound that seemed to loosen her tight shoulders.
Amusement touched her lips, and her tone softened when she said, “Seriously, though, Lil. What happened to you?”
I sighed. They just wouldn’t give up, would they? “Like I said. It was just a hiccup?—”
“Nuh-uh,” she said. “We need more than that.”
“Like what?” I asked. “Do you want to hear all the gory details? About what I saw, felt?—”
“Yes,” she said blatantly. “That’s exactly what I want.”
I sighed, then glanced behind her to see the others had fanned out, their expectant gazes all on me.
And just like that, my mood soured. “Why are you all acting like this?”
“Us?” Eliza asked. “Why areyouacting like this? Just tell us what happened.”
Rathiel’s eyes narrowed, like he was trying to peer right into my soul. And I didn’t like that, not one bit.
I lifted my chin. “We accomplished most of what we set out to do, didn’t we? You all stood here and watched me build my soldiers. Isn’t that good enough?”
“No one is saying it isn’t,” Eliza said gently. “It’s just…you’re being quite secretive about what happened. What hurt you? Everything was going so well, until it wasn’t anymore. You scared the hell out of us.”
I shrugged. “It’s Hell. Everyone should be a little scared.”
“Stop being evasive.”
My jaw tightened. “What do you want me to say? That it hurt? It did. It hurt like hell. It took more out of me than expected. But I’m still standing here. And we’re farther ahead now than we’ve ever been. So, maybe instead of hovering around me like vultures, you could all try being a little more optimistic.”
