“You’re the palace?”
Impatience, annoyance. Then it seemed to zoom out, and I saw Samael’s kingdom spread out in front of me like a blanket. There was the mine, still smoldering away. Towns and cities and a river that sparkled like a jewel. To the east, ships waited at a dock, ready to cross an ocean.
I blinked.“You’re the underworld.”
It seemed to nod. Speaking with it was trippy. It could understand me, but it seemed almost childlike, yet infinitely wise, ancient and old in a way nothing else was.
"You just saved Kyla’s life.” Lucifer hadn’t enjoyed that little earthquake.
I got the feeling the underworld was preening. I focused on it.
“You’re the reason Samael doesn’t have his powers down here.”
It sent me an image of a child, curled up, pulling blankets over its head. Was the underworld attempting to tell me it felt shame?
“So do something about it. Please. I’mbeggingyou.”
Another image. This time of a person with their hands out in a “what are you gonna do” gesture.
Was it telling me it couldn’t do anything? Or that itwouldn’t?
I took a deep, steadying breath, and the underworld sent me an image of Lucifer walking through a portal. That’s right. The deal he’d made with the underworld meant that he had to stay here as long as Samael was powerless. If Samael got his powers back…
Lucifer would be free to stroll through the portals and go wherever he liked.
I ground my teeth. If the underking had his way, he’d be able to do that, anyway. I had no doubt that my days—perhaps hours—were numbered. Lucifer was planning to level up by taking my powers before he faced Samael. And according to that fucking prophecy, he’d be unstoppable.
“Do it,” I demanded.“Give Samael his powers back.”
The underworld retreated, as if it was a teenager stomping away from me.
Fuck.
* * *
DANICA
I paced my cell, running through our plan, over and over. That plan required me to be in Lucifer’s palace, not in his dungeon. Despite the freezing temperatures down here, I broke out in a cold sweat. Time had no meaning, but I was guessing it had been at least ten hours since I’d been thrown in here, likely longer. I was so thirsty I was almost shaking with the need for water.
Lucifer would have to come for me to take my power. But I’d counted on having a chance to—
Footsteps on the stone. I froze, took a deep breath, and turned.
Pischiel appeared. For a moment, we simply stared at each other.
“Are you okay?”
“Fine. What’s happening?”
“We’re under attack,” he said.
I swallowed. They were here. Samael was here, fighting for our people, and I was in this fucking cell.
Keys rattled as Pischiel pulled them from his pocket and opened the cage door.
“You’re free,” he told me. “But you have to move now. Lucifer will know I’m the only one who had access to these keys.”
I was shaking as I wrapped my arms around him. He stiffened, but stroked his hand down my back.
