Shem roared the last line of his speech, and the demons that had already been cheering exploded in excitement. They began throwing themselves to the ground, bowing before us.
For a long moment, the angels remained still, clearly unsure of how to proceed. Then, to my shock, an angel dressed all in black with auburn hair got to his knees and bowed his head along with the rest of the demons. Several other angels followed suit, and my heart skipped a beat in my chest.
What did that mean?
“Do you see that, Lilith?” Ramel’s hot breath against my ear sent a roll of pleasure through my core. “Do you see how they bow for you? Even Heaven’s angels get on their knees for the Queen of Hell.” He bit intomy neck again. I felt my nipples peak beneath my dress, and he ran his fingers lightly over my breasts, growling against me in approval.
“Does the sight of them groveling before you excite you?” he asked, nipping the side of my neck gently. I glanced over at Shem to find him watching us, his eyes shining with amusement.
“I think it does. Tell us, Lilith. Tell us how much you enjoy the sight of them crawling at your feet.”
Ramel’s grip tightened on my hips, and he slid his fingers over my dress, tracing lazy circles over my midriff. “Tell me you like it.”
I couldn’t deny it. I liked it. I was burning with a rush of possessiveness and power. I had never felt powerful before, and now, watching all these immortal beings debase themselves before me made me suddenly feel invincible. It made me feel for the first time like I mattered.
“I like it,” I whispered, and both Shem’s and Ramel’s lips curled at my words.
“We knew you would, deathtrap.” Ramel kissed the side of my cheek from behind as we looked out together over the hall filled with our people.
“Welcome home,” he whispered, and I felt an unfamiliar rush of happiness swell in my chest at his words.
Home.
This was myhome.
Reality flickered again, and the outline of the man I had seen standing by Yahweh’s Sorter of Souls seemed to be staring at me. I couldn’t make out his face in the sudden blinding white of Heaven that bore through the fabric of reality. It took a moment for me to realize that I couldn’t make out the man’s face because it always seemed to be changing.
Was that Yahweh?
I could feel God’s wrath through the thin veil that separated our two worlds and shivered.
Something about the way His unearthly eyes bore into me told me that this night would be the end of life as I knew it.
I just wasn’t sure if the ending would be a happy one.
“In a cat’s eyes, all things belong to cats.”
—ENGLISH PROVERB
After my coronation, the feast began. The dance floor was cleared, and tables with black tablecloths and ornate gourd-inspired centerpieces appeared.
The long table where we normally sat for breakfast reappeared. Much like the first morning I had breakfast in Hell, Ramel perched me on his lap in what I had come to realize was our throne. Shem sat in his usual place to our right, and I asked Jezebel to sit on my left. She looked surprised but pleased by my invitation and settled in next to me.
Before my eyes, charcuterie boards appeared, filled with every cheese you could imagine. Fruit, nuts, and little pots filled with jams and honey manifested on the tables, making my mouth water. I immediately leaned forward to make myself a cracker. Ramel pinched my hip playfully, causing me to jump.
“Are you going to make me one of those?” he asked, looking pointedly at the little cracker I had spread with a soft gorgonzola. I grinned and rolled my eyes, stuffing the cheesy snack into his mouth.
“Happy?” I asked, and he grinned at me devilishly while he chewed, his hazel eyes glinting in the green light.
‘Very,’he purred into my mind, pulling my hips more firmly intohis lap.
I was twisting around to prepare another cracker when the angel with the auburn hair approached.
“What do you want, Gabriel?” Ramel asked the angel, sounding bored. I frowned. I had come to learn that when Ramel sounded bored, it really meant he had his guard up and considered the person he was speaking to as a threat. I glanced over at Shem to find him sprawled back in his chair. He was watching the angel with an amused look on his face.
The angel straightened from his bow and slid his hands into his pockets. He answered Ramel, though he was looking at Shem while he spoke.
“I came to request a seat with the General.” A small but sinister smile curled on the angel’s lips. “Considering I was personally invited by Shemhazai, I was hoping to be granted an audience.”
