Calder was next, clearing his throat to draw my attention. My gaze snapped to him, and if possible, my grin broadened. The vampire pushed off a rock with deliberate laziness, as though he’d posed there specifically for this moment. His dark eyes twinkled with amusement, and he flashed his fangs at me in a welcoming smile that was equal parts charm and trouble.
“Been a long time,” he said, winking. Then his gaze slid past me to land on Eliza, and his eyes widened. “And you’ve brought us a lovely new companion to befriend.”
“Good lord,” Eliza muttered.
I laughed. “You’ll get used to him.”
“No, thanks,” she said.
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 hisarms 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 gesturedtoward 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 wantedmyarmy 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 ifmyessence 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 darknesswaspulsing 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.”
