“His name is Levi,” I said. Though, now that I came to think of it, it likely wasn’t his real name. Angels had more, well, angelic names. Huh—apparently there was much I didn’t know about my friend.
Cael’s smile softened. “After order is restored, Levi, you are welcome to return home to the heavens.”
Levi sucked in a breath so sharp I thought he might choke on it. His hands clenched at his sides, but he didn’t answer. His jaw worked as though a hundred words wanted to pour out, but none could.
And then—just like that—Cael stepped backward. His wings spread, white feathers catching the warped air around the gate, light pouring from him like it couldn’t be contained. He looked at me one final time. “Do not falter, Lilith. Everything depends on you.”
Then he was gone.
The gate rippled once, twice, and sealed shut as though it had never been there at all.
I dragged in a shaky breath, trying to get a grip. My head was spinning. Defeat Lucifer. Defeat the crown. Fight the darkest battle within myself. Oh, sure. Totally manageable. No big deal.
Then my gaze slid sideways—straight to Eliza.
Her face said everything. Wide eyes. Tight jaw. The kind of pain that made my own chest squeeze in sympathy. She was looking at Levi. And at that moment, it hit me. Whatever Levi chose next, whatever his future held if we somehow pulled this off, it was going to break her. Either he went home, leaving her. Or he stayed, and she’d know he’d given up Heaven for her.
Eliza didn’t say a word. She didn’t have to. The way her stare clung to Levi, the way her throat bobbed when she swallowed—it was heartbreak written in real time.
And it gutted me.
A muscle pulled tight in my chest. I wanted to tell her it would be fine, that Levi would never abandon her, that Cael’s radiant promises didn’t change the bond they’d forged. But the words died before they made it out of my mouth. I couldn’t lie to her. Not about this.
So instead, I did what I do best. I shoved it all down and focused on the one thing I could control.
I turned back to the empty space where the gate had been, my lips pressed tight. Defeat my father. Defeat the crown—whatever that meant. And prepare for the darkest battle, within myself.
Seriously, would it have killed Cael to hand me a manual? A pamphlet? A sticky note? Anything?Step one: stab Dad. Step two: destroy crown. Step three: don’t die. Done.But no. Were all angels so dramatic?
We returned to my army and ordered them to continue their march. Meanwhile, my thoughts spun in circles.
Two battles then? Or was it three now? Time to count. One with Lucifer. One with myself. And one with a damn crown, apparently. Did that even count as a battle? Was it going to bite me or something? Burst into song? Smite me with “royalty energy”?
Was it even a real crown? I’d never seen my father wear anything close to a crown, but that didn’t mean it didn’t exist. Or were we talking more metaphorical? As in, destroy my father’s reign? If the latter, then why bother sending such a message? I was already planning to do exactly that.
It had to be a literal crown then. Maybe my father had one hidden away somewhere. Except, that didn’t make sense either. If there was a crown, an actual object that represented his reign, why not wear it? Why not broadcast to all that he, and only he, controlled this realm?
My grip tightened on Inferno’s Kiss until the hilt bit into my palm. Guess there was only one way to find out. Time to end all this.
Chapter Twenty-Four
RATHIEL
We crested the last rise,and there it sat.
The palace.
It rose from the ground like a dark spire, the towers piercing the hazy sky. And standing in front of it, stretched across the scorched plains, were countless hellspawn. They stood in perfect formation, silently watching our approach, clearly waiting for their orders. But curiously, Lucifer didn’t stand at the front of the army. Gavrel did.
Our ranks slowed, then stopped when Lily gave the silent command. We held our position a few hundred feet from Lucifer’s army, both sides watching, but neither advancing. The soldiers wouldn’t move until someone gave the order—and Lily wouldn’t give hers until Lucifer showed his ugly face.
Which raised the most important question. Where was the bastard? He clearly knew we were coming and had sent whatever he could think of to delay our arrival and attempt to diminish our numbers, giving him time to gather his forces and prepare for battle.
So, why wasn’t he here?
The general in me took in the developing situation, gauging their numbers. At first count, Lucifer’s forces doubled ours. A weaker being might have let that deter him. But I’d fought enough battles to know numbers weren’t the only thing needed to win. Spirit and dedication mattered as well. And Lily’s people were undyingly loyal to her. Not to mention we had Mephisar, Dragon, an actual angel, and two fallen. I’d take that over a faceless, nameless horde any day.
Unbidden, my gaze took in the palace. It looked exactly the same as the last time I’d laid eyes on it, escaping the dungeons. Not a damn thing had changed. Fitting, I supposed. It stood as eternal, unyielding, and foreboding as its master.
