I rolled my eyes. “Brune clan workedwithViktor, so you didn’t have a very reliable clan with them.”
“Yeah, well, you stole our reliable clan,” Titan mentioned, making Gabriel tense even more.
“I couldn’t help myself.” I glanced their way.
Each of them made me a better person. Thaddeus kept me centered, focused. Blaise kept me on my toes, ready for anything that could come my way. Kai kept me sane, calming me when I couldn’t calm myself.
“A harem, really?” Gabriel’s face tilted in disgust.
“Don’t be an asshole because you’re jealous.” Titan growled the insult his way.
“Jealous?” His halo lightly flickered above his head, and my muscles stiffened.
I’d only ever seen his halo once, and that was in the last moment I’d been alive. Icy tendrils slid through me as I remembered the delight on his face as his lightning zapped through my body.
His face blanched when his gaze met mine, and the halo faded as he took a deep breath. “Disappointed, actually. But, I do believe what I saw in my vision could be you sending your demons to earth to take out Viktor and his followers.”
I blinked away the memory and nodded. It was going to be quite literal Hell working alongside fucking Gabriel, and I didn’t like it one bit—but I’d have to set aside my hatred and get along with him for now.
“I agree,” Dad said with a yawn. “That would be the best course of action. Viktor has upset the balance, and we need to restore it as soon as possible.”
“The natural disasters in all the realms are increasing in frequency and in power,” Kalyke added.
Thaddeus turned toward Dad. “If that’s the case, then the realms—”
“The realms are closer than they ever have been to collapsing on each other, yes. The last part of the prophecy. Existence implodes,” Gabriel cut him off. “All because of Viktor and his presence. Since he’s technically an abandoned, he shouldn’t be in the living realm. It’s offsetting balance.”
“I thought I’d seen the last of him when you killed him.” Dad shot a glare at the members of the Order. “I told you to obliterate him.”
“I’m sorry.” Carmilla bowed her head. “I thought making him suffer in the heart of Hell would be more fitting.”
“That wasn’t your call to make,” Dad growled. “Not only has he crawled out ofmyjurisdiction of Hell, he’s back with even more sinister plans!”
“No doubt to attempt to overthrow my father again,” I threw in there for good measure.
She nodded. “I know.”
“Dismissed.” Hellfire made his eyes glow as he stared at Carmilla.
I had only seen that level of hatred in his eyes once, and that was when he was staring at Viktor, when he was still a royal vampire.Why is she still on the Order if he hates her that much?
They all vanished as Dad moved his hand to teleport them out. His blazing eyes met mine, and I nodded.
“Hey, guys,” I turned toward them. “I need a little time to talk to my dad. Could you head back to the room?”
Thaddeus set his jaw but nodded, and they all went toward the portal. Aziel smacked his hand on the crystal, and they filed through it. Each of them glanced my way before walking through.
“That’s a lively bunch you have there,” Dad grumbled.
I turned on my throne, pulling my feet into the chair to face him. “They are.”
“I never thought you’d take a harem, Lilith.” He adjusted his crown. “I’d tried to get you to take one in the past, but you were never interested.”
“I never thought I’d want one.” I shrugged, pressing my chin onto my knees. “But I met the Draven clan, and I couldn’t imagine not being with them.”
“And Aziel?”
“I love Aziel. You know that.”
