“That’s a stupid system,” Zee huffs.
Lucifer’s head snaps towards him. “It’s a secure and sensible system. If we didn’t have it, Ty would have breached Tartarus in seconds. As it is, the seals on each level of Hell have to be broken to create a tunnel into Tartarus.”
“So we are about to journey through Hell?” I mutter.
“Yes, and face the trials each one of those levels throws at us. I still have a hold over most of the levels, making them straightforward to pass through. But there are two levels where he has gained a stronghold.”
“Which are?” I ask.
“The second level—Lust and the seventh, his own—Violence.”
I pull at my bottom lip with my teeth. “So that means your own level is holding them off?”
“The monsters haven’t got past my own legions.”
“Is there anything we can do?” Uncle Charlie asks.
I glance up at him, then Gramps. Archan tilts his head. “We need all the manpower we can get in Hell, but as humans, you would struggle to not be drawn into the evil surrounding you. However, we need people to guard the sorceress.”
“Consider it done,” Uncle Charlie says. Gramps nods in agreement.
“Aaden, you will be in charge of operations from topside.”
The door swings open and Michael walks in. He sweeps his hand down. “Gentlemen, if you come with me, I will take you to Marsha.”
Gramps stands and gives me a quick hug. “Stay safe,” he whispers before releasing me and walking towards Michael. Uncle Charlie pushes his chair back and goes to follow them. He diverts at the last second and strides over to me. He places a chaste kiss on my head. “Don’t die,” he mutters before sweeping out of the room and leaving us.
I push at Archan’s arms. “Move over,” I say to Jed. He chuckles and shifts his ass out of the seat.
“I need to be focused on the war we are trying to prevent and not squirming on your lap,” I mutter.
Several of the men laugh as Archan releases me with a sigh.
“Where’s Emi?” I ask, clambering off Archan and sliding into my chair. My mind settles into battle mode easier when I feel like I’m my own woman and not a trophy for a man. I know he doesn’t see me like that, but to have that sense of empowerment, I have to stand on my own two feet.
Duncan arches an eyebrow. “You want to see her?”
Well, shit, he knows. “Of course, we need all the godly power we can get to succeed.”
He nods as Aaden takes out his phone. “Can’t you just contact her telepathically?” I ask.
Aaden shrugs. “We agreed on certain boundaries. One of which is to stay out of each other’s heads.”
I glance at Archan. “Don’t even think about it,” he rumbles. “I will be inside you everywhere I can.”
I roll my eyes as Jed snorts. “The boardroom on the top of the tower,” Aaden says before flicking the phone off.
Emi materializes in the room, her gaze landing on me. She covers her mouth. “He made you a goddess. I should have seen that coming.”
Aaden cuts a sharp look at her. “But you aren’t surprised she even exists?”
She shakes her head and takes a step towards me. “Natia died by her own hand, not that of a vengeful god.”
Archan slams his fist on the table, just as Jed flies out of his seat and across the room; slamming Emi up against the wall. Aaden knocks his chair over and grabs Jed’s shoulder, trying to pull him off. “You knew!” Jed spits.
Emi smiles. “Of course, but if she was hiding, that was her choice. She shouldn’t be made to feel guilty for taking a minute after what she’s been through—she deserved that. Not being hassled by a bunch of asshole gods determined to blow apart the fabric of the universe in their search for her.”
I rise from my seat and stand next to Jed. I place a hand on his arm, his face twisted into a grimace. “She’s right, Jed, I needed time to heal, to rest, to say goodbye.”
