And the wound began to close.
Light filled the throne room, spearing from every inch of my skin. I was pulled into the air, and Samael reached for me, only to be knocked back by whatever strange power was playing with me.
I had a feeling I knew what that power was.
The underworld was no longer tied to Lucifer. Would likely never make such a deal again. I had a feeling it had learned its lesson.
Something shot out of my back as I continued to rise into the air, before the underworld gently placed me on my feet.
I caught a flicker at the corner of my eye and turned, but the flicker moved with me.
I turned again.
“She’s like a cat chasing her tail,” Bael said, and several people laughed.
I froze. The light and colorwasmoving with me, because those were my wings tucked close to my back.
My… wings.
The underworld had embraced me as one of its rulers and decided I needed wings of my own.
They weren’t feathered like the high demons, or even made of membrane like the lesser demons. No, my wings they were made of light and power and color and…
It took me a moment to figure out how to spread them experimentally.
And every demon in the room dropped to one knee.
Even Samael, who reached for my hand, brought my palm to his lips. “My queen,” he murmured.
“Don’t even think about handing this off to me,” I hissed at him. “I’m not doing this by myself, so sit your ass on that throne.”
He threw his head back and roared with laughter. Then, as our people watched, he lifted me into his arms and strode toward the throne, sitting down with me on his lap.
His mouth slammed down on mine, and time stopped. Slowly, he drew away, his eyes smiling down at me.
“Together, little witch. Always together.”
* * *
DANICA
We sat on the throne for about thirty seconds, just long enough for our people to see that we had claimed it.
Then we stood up and got back to work.
Nathaniel was already in the dungeons, Finvarra lurking a few steps behind him. Both men studied Kyla, who was still in her cage. I still had the keys Pischiel had given me, but from the way Kyla was growling, lips peeled back to expose sharp white teeth, it wasn’t exactly safe to free her.
“We take the cuff off from around her neck,” I said. No one argued.
I stepped forward, and a hand clamped onto my shoulder. “I don’t think so,” Samael murmured, gently pushing me aside as he strode toward the cage.
I didn’t bother arguing. Both of us were now the rulers of the underworld, which meant both of us could use our blood to set the prisoners free. No spell needed.
Samael held Kyla in place with his power. She let out an enraged howl that made the hair on my arms stand up, her eerie pale blue eyes promising death to anyone who came closer.
Unfortunately for her, Samael was back at full strength. He held her close to the bars and sliced his dagger down one palm, pressing it to the metal encircling her neck.
The metal fell away, hitting the ground with a thunk.
