Verrine and Beelz—envy and gluttony—exited the mansion. “What’s going on? Aeacus ran inside and shouted at Pop, which didn’t go well. Aeacus is currently regenerating. Where’s De Vil?”
“Jameson says the warlock went to Droh. He claims the Ferryman took him, and Jameson followed to the mouth of the path,” Bereth announced.
The growl from the mansion was akin to a rabid dog. “I think Dad heard us.”
Suddenly, the Ruler of Hell flew out of the mansion in all his deep-red glory, his wings blowing out the front doors.
“Shit. He’s Hellboy red. This will be bloody.” I turned to Beelz and saw his face filled with glee. That kind of scared me. Lycus’s eyes were black, and the vein in his neck throbbed as it pumped blood through his huge body. Apparently, wrath was ready to rumble.
Lucifer stopped when he saw all of us. “We fight! Now!I’m tired of this. The Council can fuck off. They’re not being threatened by Chaos and Nyx. That’s just me, and I’m done.”
So, like the good demon sons we were, we followed Lucifer into battle.
I had no idea what we’d be met with, nor how we would fight Nyx, but I quickly realized I was in the position to perhaps get myself back to Scotty. This was likely my only shot. Before we arrived at the path to Droh, I caught up to Lucifer. It was time to make another deal.
“Got a minute?”
Lucifer came to a grinding halt, and I almost crashed into him. Apparently, the other princes anticipated his move and screeched to a stop behind us. I was sure it was a sight, the eight of us hanging in the air over the River of Acheron.
“Where is Asmodeus?” Clearly, Lucifer was unhappy. The deep voice echoed off the walls of the endless cavern.
The thunderous flapping of wings caught everyone’s attention, and we all turned to the entrance to see Asmodeus flying from Droh. He stopped when he saw all of us waiting because in his arms was De Vil.
Lucifer roared again before shooting off toward the two of them. I’d missed the opportunity to make my deal. I was well and truly fucked.
Chapter Fourteen
Scotty
“Thank you, David. I can’t tell you how much it meant to me to see Jay. I have an idea I’d like to speak with Michael about when he returns, and I think perhaps you shouldn’t hear this. You might feel compelled to act, which could put you in a bad spot with the Council because you are in the neutral-being group.”
We were standing on Michael’s patio after returning from seeing Jay. Something had occurred to me when I was watching my love before David released my hand. Maybe there was something I could do to move things at a faster pace?
“You’re welcome, Scotty. I’m secretly pulling for you and Jay. I’ll be keeping tabs on you. Be safe, son.” David pulled up his hood, picked up the scythe he’d left at Michael’s, and he simply faded away.
Not long after David left, Michael returned to his condo. I’d gone inside and stretched out on the couch, zoning out andthinking about what kind of wedding Jay and I would have. Where should we hold the ceremony?
The only spot that made sense was to have the ceremony in Keir and Dash’s memory garden. It was where people who’d had no one in life could rest in peace and know they were remembered. The idea of solidifying our commitment there gave me a feeling of serenity I’d rarely experienced.
“How was your day? Did you find out anything?” I was anxious to know if Michael had come to the same conclusion as me, but I wouldn’t ask until I knew his mindset. I would use every weapon at my disposal to rectify being separated from Jay, but I wouldn’t tip off anyone in the process.
“I’ll be right back. Let’s go to the Human Realm and visit with Dash and Keir. I could use a beer or ten.” He left the living room, and I heard his bedroom door close. I sat up and shoved my feet into my motorcycle boots. It had been a long day.
A bit later, Michael came out in one of his vintage band T-shirts—Wings—and a pair of well-worn jeans, his long brown hair pulled back in a man-bun, the kind Dash was sporting these days, and a pair of Converse sneakers on his feet.
“Ready?”
I nodded and stood, following him out the door. I pulled off my shirt just as Michael did, and the two of us took off, heading toward the portal outside Heaven’s Gate so we arrived in the receiving bay at Dearly & Son. Once we were on the other side, I called the landline to the funeral home from my cell.
“Dearly & Son. Keir Dearly speaking.”
“Keir, it’s me. I’m here with Michael. Can we come up?”
“Oh, Scotty. Yeah. Come on up.”
We entered through the embalming suite into the mortuary. I walked over to the walk-in and opened the door to see the portal inside wasn’t glowing, which was a relief.
Michael stuck his head inside. “No weird glow. That’s a good thing.”
