“It will already cost me to get those back,” Lucifer states. “There are always casualties in a war, Natia.”
I press my lips together and frown. Nathan darts out at the same time as Archan and they wrap their arms around their targets and drag them off the dancefloor. The rest of the demon mob throb towards us as one. Reaching into the dimension we call home, I retrieve my swords.
We move as a group, swiping through the infected. They are startlingly easy to kill as they stumble towards us. I barely break a sweat as we plow through them, blood splattering across our clothing and flesh. The fight lasts less than a minute. I spin to face The Duchess and Lawrence. The Duchess blinks at the carnage, glancing between me and a smug-looking Lawrence. He knew he couldn’t beat us, so he made us slaughter the innocent. It’s a message far more powerful than a beating from true demons; it’s a sign of what’s coming should Lawrence control Hell.
Emi stalks to the left of The Duchess, her midnight blue wings shimmering in the disco lights. Lucifer stalks to Lawrence’s right. It takes everything I have to remain upright as I take in the sight of the devil hunting his prey with his giant, pure white wings on display.
“Close your mouth, Natia,” Archan says.
“But they are so pretty,” I whisper.
Lucifer darts his gaze to me, his lips tilting in a smirk as he winks at me.
The Duchess grabs Lawrence and throws him at Lucifer. Lawrence collapses to his knees, a pleading look entering his otherwise evil gaze.
Lucifer grabs a handful of Lawrence’s hair, snaps his head back, then shoves his hand in his chest. Lawrence screams as Lucifer yanks it out, a black heart dripping in his fist. He raises it to his mouth and bites down, Lawrence’s scream ringing in my ears. My stomach rolls as saliva pools in my mouth. The Duchess leans towards Lucifer as her gaze turns hooded. Lucifer drops the half eaten heart to the floor with a plop, then wraps his hands around Lawrence’s head. Putting a booted foot on Lawrence’s knees to brace himself, he then tears his head clean off.
Emi reaches for The Duchess, who rolls her eyes and disappears without fanfare. Lucifer looks at me, his image a juxtaposition; black blood drips down his chin and a head swings in his hands against the backdrop of the purest of white feathers. He is the definition of an avenging angel, and he’s my ally.
27
Chapter Twenty Seven
Archan
Setting her free isn’t a declaration of my love, it is the end of the light that shields the world from my darkness.
She drives me crazy. Fucking crazy. Absolutely fucking crazy.
Michael stands in the middle of the dancefloor with a frown and his hands on his hips. “What happened?”
“Lawrence happened,” I state, pointing at the pile of body parts across the room. “Then Lucifer happened.”
“He was always prone to violent solutions. Where is he?”
“Hunting for Zee and Aaden’s souls,” I say with a sigh because there’s no way he’s retrieving them unscathed. He was dealing with the master of manipulative deals—Hades. Just ask Persephone. And it’s summer in Greece, so Persephone is above ground, meaning Hades will be in a foul mood.
“What would possess Lucifer to make a deal with Hades for two mortal souls?” Michael asks.
My eyes land on Natia as she fusses about a restrained Zee and Aaden who growl and grumble under her attention. The little badass goddess ignores them, trying to get them to drink some water. Michael follows my gaze and chuckles.
“Ah, the notorious Pandora. She could persuade a monk to sin. It is no surprise she has won the heart of the devil.”
A smirk pulls at my lips. “It’s hard not to fall for a woman who illuminates humanity’s purest qualities. She wields her emotions like a weapon, and being in her orbit is like basking in the light of heaven.”
“And she’s on the verge of being mortal once more, brother.”
I scowl. “It’s a temporary issue, and even if it’s not, once we are bonded she can share my life force and live an eternity by my side.”
He quirks a brow. “As a goddess, she could live at your side, and be your queen. As a mortal she will be your lesser, equivalent to a concubine. She will be envied by many, but respected by few. Being bonded to you will paint a target on her back, and as a mortal she will be weak, an easy way to strike at you.”
I fist my hands. “Are you suggesting I cannot protect her?”
He puts a hand on my shoulder. “No, brother, I’m telling you that girl won’t be satisfied with being under you. She isn’t the damsel in distress type. She will grow to resent you for the restraints on her freedom you will need to put in place to protect her.”
“Speak plainly, Michael.”
“If you cannot prevent her mortality, perhaps you should set her free.”
