“You will be rewarded for your loyalty,” he said, studying the stumps where the male’s wings had been. His face was blank, but I could feel his cold fury.
“We’re loyal to her majesty,” Kazbiel said. “We will swear to her.”
Samael shrugged. “My mate is loyal to me.” His expression was arrogant, his tone exceptionally smug. I shot him a look, battling the urge to do something that would remove some of that smugness. My demon gave me a slow, wicked smile that told me he knew what I was thinking, and I narrowed my eyes at him.
Samael still had zero people skills. If he was relying on me to be the voice of reason, we were screwed.
He turned his gaze back to Kazbiel.
“Swear to Danica, and I will accept.”
Kazbiel froze, and I caught the shocked gratitude in his eyes. He’d expected that Samael would kill him for the suggestion. But he’d said it anyway, still standing for his people.
Kazbiel knelt, and my mind flashed to the way he’d fallen to his knees, to the sharp edge of the blade as it had sliced through his wings. I opened my mouth to tell him to stand, but Samael reached out and squeezed my hand.
He was right. I could already tell that the demon was proud. Kazbiel wouldn’t appreciate me treating him as if he was broken.
“I swear my loyalty to Her Majesty Danica Amana, Queen of the Underworld. I pledge my allegiance and protection for all of my days.”
I felt it. A zing between us. A new bond. Thin but strong.
I cleared my throat. “Samael has mentioned that I will need my own advisors. It will take a long time to fix the damage that was done in this realm. I need someone I can trust to manage those advisors. Someone who will always tell me the truth.”
He stared at me for one fraught moment. Finally, he nodded, the ghost of a smile crossing his face as he bowed his head once more. “Yes,” he said. “I’ll take the job.”
I smiled at him. “Great. We’ll get started as soon as your people are settled.”
Because theywerehis people. I hadn’t known it at the time, but Kazbiel had led a good chunk of the resistance. When he’d been captured, Lucifer had wanted him killed, but one of his generals had convinced him that more damage would be done if his followers saw him toiling next to them in the mines.
Samael flicked me a glance, and I realized I’d zoned out. Now, Hera knelt in front of us on the black stone, her head bowed as she quaked. She held Samael’s bracelet in her hand, holding it up as if in offering, as if she could exchange it for her life.
I sighed. Then I got to my feet and stalked down the stairs, taking the bracelet back. I slid it onto my own wrist and smiled at Samael. “There,” I said. “No harm done.”
He narrowed his eyes at me. “You can’t be serious.”
Mercy for Lucifer’s concubine. It was unusual, that was for sure. But… I had no evidence that she’d been involved in any of Lucifer’s decisions. Everyone I’d talked to—including Pischiel—had told me she was seen as a beautiful trophy to hang on Lucifer’s arm. That was all.
“How did you get involved with Lucifer, Hera?”
She cleared her throat, her eyes darting between Samael and me, as if she couldn’t decide who was the greater threat.
“There was an… uprising in my village three decades ago. Lucifer decided to make an example of us.” A muscle jumped in her cheek. “My father was one of the leaders of the rebellion. Lucifer killed him in front of me. Then he decided I was beautiful enough to keep. I… bargained with him. I’d go with him willingly if he spared my mother’s life.”
And once here, she’d figured she would never leave this court. Decided she may as well embrace her future.
“Is your mother still alive?”
She shrugged. “I’m unsure. Lucifer swore he would leave her alone, but…”
But Lucifer couldn’t be trusted. “You may return to your village.”
Dull hope lit up her face, and then it went blank once more.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“It’s… it’s nothing.”
“Speak,” Samael drawled, obviously already bored with this conversation. I gave him a look, and he sighed.
