The panic in her eyes made me happy, even if it was only short-lived.
Lothar turned to us, baring his fangs and rolling his shoulders. To anyone looking, it seemed like he was struggling with his control. He was faking it. I’d been up close and personal with the beast, and that wasn’t him.
“I know someone who’ll help us,” he said.
“Who? How?” Sera snapped out.
“Lucifer’s grandson.”
Holy shit. He had a plan.
Beelzebub growled. “His much beloved grandson? You’re fucking full of it, hound. Don’t fall for his tricks,” he said to Sera.
“How much time have you spent with Zenon?” Lothar growled at Beelzebub.
The big demon scowled. “I may not have spent time with him, but I know?—”
“You don’t know shit. Zenon hates Lucifer. He blames him for his father’s downfall. He plays nice, but if he had a chance to make him pay for what he did to Diemos, he’d take it.”
Every word Lothar had just said was a complete lie. Zenon had nothing but contempt for his father, a male who had descended so far into darkness, he was now locked up in Hell with no chance of ever getting out after the horrific shit he’d done. Zenon and Lucifer were tight, it had taken time, yes, but they were family.
“Bullshit,” Beelzebub said.
Lothar’s red gaze sliced to me. “Tell them.”
“What the hell are you doing?” I fired at him, playing my part. Whatever Lothar had planned, I trusted him, but they’d never believe I’d betray Luci willingly.
“I don’t owe Lucifer shit after what he did to me,” Lothar snarled. “Sera can fucking have that asshole’s throne. I’m done with him.”
“Tell me what you know,” Sera fired at me.
Lothar’s red eyes bored into me. He knew as well as I did, I’d have to get them to force me to speak. Torture hadn’t worked, but a threat to Lothar, my mate, could. My stomach churned. I had to get them to hurt him to make this believable. “Fuck off,” I bit out. “I’m not telling you anything.”
Right on cue, Sera gave Lothar what he wanted. Fisting her hand, she aimed it at him. He gasped, dropping to his knees, clawing at his throat, and blood instantly slid down his chest.
“Stop!” I yelled, and I didn’t have to pretend to be distressed. Seeing him like that was killing me. “Leave him alone.”
“Talk or he loses his head.”
I dropped to the ground beside him. I also knew firsthand how much pain he was in. “Fine!” I yelled at her.
“And, Roxy, you will tell me how to take Lucifer’s throne,” she said, now that she knew my weakness. “Or he’s dead.”
“Whatever you want. Just stop hurting him.”
Sera released Lothar and he fell to the ground, gasping for air. I pulled this head into my lap, holding his red gaze, and instantly got pulled deeper. I brushed his hair back, my hand shaking uncontrollably. “Are you okay?”
He swallowed thickly, then hardened his eyes and nodded.
“Talk!” Sera yelled.
“It’s the truth, okay,” I fired at her. “Zenon hates Luci…he was a knight of Hell before he knew of their connection.”
Seraphina stilled. “I’m listening.”
The knights were half demon, half angel, created long ago to control the first demons who escaped Hell and invaded Earth. “My granddaughters, they’re both mated to knights, they live in the same compound as Zenon, and they…they told me the truth. Zenon has never stopped hating Lucifer. I just never had the heart to tell Luci.” I let tears slide down my face, piling it on thick, though the tears came easily, like they’d been waiting for me to give in and let them fall for days. “The knights despise demons, obviously, add in Lucifer’s, at times, careless attitude and self-serving decisions, well, it only managed to push them farther away. Zenon formed a close relationship with the angel Silas and his brothers eventually did the same. They chose where their allegiance lies. Lucifer just doesn’t want to see it.”
“Silas lost his wings,” Sera said. “That angel certainly doesn’t align them with Heaven.”
