“My power,” she murmured, “it’s weak, like the faintest breeze. But I can feel it again.”
I grinned, and she threw her arms around me. “Thank you.”
She pulled back, brow creasing as she shoved her shoulders back. “Form some lines, people, let’s take back our freedom.”
It took a long time. Someone came up with the bright idea to pour the spell into several empty buckets, and fifty or so of the other demons helped press the spell onto the metal cuffs. Finally, when everyone was free, the sick and weak were lifted onto the backs of those who could carry them, and they slowly began to trudge out of the mine.
I took a deep breath. “The closest portal—”
“We know where it is,” the demon I’d watched lose his wings told me, lifting his face to the breeze. “Several of our people have attempted to escape over the years. For some, it is their last choice. The only option left to them.”
I swallowed. Suicide. That’s what he was talking about. “I don’t know where the portal will take you—which part of my realm.”
He smiled, his dusty hand coming up to cup my cheek. “We will be okay. Thank you.”
“Do you mind if I ask… what’s your name?”
“My name is Kazbiel. And you are Danica. Our savior.”
I took a deep breath, my eyes hot. “I wouldn’t go that far. It’s nice to finally meet you, Kazbiel. And I’m sorry I didn’t do anything when the guard cut off your wings.”
He slowly shook his head. “I knew who held you in his arms, could tell from the sick smile on his face. But watching you gave me hope.”
The prisoners had begun burning the mine. Some of them had found chemicals, which they lit on fire. Others were slowly getting their powers back. One of the stronger demons held up his hand, and the barracks exploded with demon fire.
Pischiel dropped in front of me. “Time to go.”
I nodded and he lifted me off my feet. We shot into the sky as the mine burned.
I would never get to meet my grandmother. Lucifer didn’t even have a painting of her in the palace. But in this moment, it felt like she was watching over me. And I knew she was proud.
Pischiel’s voice was tight. “Are you happy now, Danica?”
“I’ll be happy when Lucifer is burning too.”
“You know, I never thought I’d say this, but if anyone can make sure the underking ends up dead, it’s you.”
“You’re damn right.” I studied his face as the palace came into view in the distance. I’d had him burn my cloak, which had been covered in blood and ash.
“Why did you do it, princess?”
“Don’t call me that.”
“Lucifer isn’t stupid. He’ll know. He may not be able to prove it, but he’ll know it’s no coincidence that his mine burned while you were in the underworld. He’ll make you pay.”
He was right. I swallowed around the lump in my throat. Truthfully, Lucifer terrified me on such a deep level that I lived in continual fight-or-flight mode, waiting for him to grow bored and end the so-called threat I presented.
Not for the first time, I cursed the stupid prophecy. But it was the sheer unpredictability of my grandfather that worried me the most. Now that I was allowed at court, I got to see that instability first-hand. Some days, he was jovial, laughing with his subjects. And yesterday he’d made me watch as he whipped a young slave so hard he’d fallen to the floor unconscious.
My grandfather had been livid that the slave had passed out, ordering the healers to rouse the young boy so he could whip him some more.
“Danica?”
I blinked, pushing Lucifer’s brutality out of my mind. “Because… because if I die here, which isn’tunlikely, I want to know I did something. Something more important than wandering around the palace in ridiculous dresses. So before you go running to Lucifer—”
“I gave you my word.”
I turned my head and showed him my teeth. “Excuse the hell out of me if I don’t trust the word of the man Lucifer is grooming to replace him.”
