“I wanted a change.” I gave him a blinding smile. “After you complimented the red, I suddenly hated it. Funny that.”
We’d decided to leave my hair as is. At least until this was over. It helped solidify our story. Az had decided to go with Lucifer because I’d disguised myself and run off. Kind of like what actually had happened. Only in our fake version, he’d decided to leave earth so that I could stay.
It was close enough to the truth that Lucifer might actually buy it.
Fingers crossed.
“No, you’re hiding something.” Lucifer waggled his finger and sniffed the air. “You changed your scent, too.” His eyes slightly widened. “You were trying to hide fromhim.”
My mouth dropped open as I faked surprise. “But how did you...?”
Lucifer laughed. “You’re far too easy to read, Mia. That’s why you never stood a chance against me. You’re like an open book. I’ve seen all your moves coming a mile away.”
I bit back the urge to say something snarky. Az stepped up to my side, placing a firm hand on my shoulder. “Which is why I’m not going to let her give up her life when there’s a better option. I’ve decided to go back to Hell with you.”
Lucifer’s smile stretched wide. “Good. You’ve finally come to your senses. It’s where you belong, Asmodeus. Not here with all these mortals and weak supernaturals like fae and wolves. Hell is your home.”
“It is my home. However...” Az released his grip on my shoulder and edged in front of me. “You made an offer. The demons in my Legion are to go free, as well as Mia.”
Lucifer’s smile vanished, and his gaze went hard. “Hell is the Legion’s home, too, Asmodeus. One might wonder why they’d wish to stay here in a world full of mortals.”
Az folded his arms and stared down his King. “You made an offer. If they wish to stay here, it’s their decision to make. If you back out of this now, I walk away.”
An animalistic growl rumbled in Lucifer’s throat, and his eyes sharpened like twin knives. Anger rippled off him, and I swore I could feel the heat of it slam against my skin.
His eyes cut my way, and for a moment, I felt like I could read his thoughts. Lucifer had hoped Az would never give in to his demands. He wanted to see me suffer. He wanted to rip me apart and watch me burn.
So why hadn’t he killed me? Was it because it hadn’t worked the first time? If he tried again, I’d only come back. Next time, he might not be able to find me.
What he wanted most was to keep me away from Az.
But why? It made no sense. Sure, he was the King of Hell, and I knew I could never fully understood the motivations for what he did. He was in the midst of a celestial game for souls, and humans were nothing but pawns to him. How could I ever understand the actions of someone like that?
There still had to be an explanation. One he kept close to his chest.
“Fine.” Lucifer relaxed, shuttering his vicious anger. “I will stick to my end of the bargain if it means that you will never have contact with Mia McNally again. You must remain in Hell until she is gone from this world.”
Az’s hands fisted. “Agreed. Now where is my Legion?”
Lucifer laughed. “Oh, Asmodeus. Sometimes I forget how single-minded you can get. Your Legion has been here the entire time.”
I straightened, my gaze darting around the silent club. There was no sign of the Legion anywhere. They couldn’t be here unless...
Dropping back my head, I stared up at the elevated birdcages. Four of the six held prisoners, each with a sock in his mouth. Phenex, Valac, Bael, and Stolas. They were all there. And based on the flashes of anger in their eyes, they were fine. Just a little pissed off.
Okay, alotpissed off.
And they’d been here the whole time. At any point, we could have easily found them. Lucifer had put them right under our noses, and we hadn’t even thought to check. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get to them. The ladder leading up to the ceiling was gone. So freaking annoying. I kind of wanted to punch the demon king to make a point, but I didn’t think that would go over very well.
I’d get my chance to hit him where it hurt soon enough. Just had to play Little Miss Nice Human a little longer. As soon as Caim gave me the signal, I’d blast him with the ring.
“Caim,” Az barked. “Get them down from there.”
“No,” Lucifer said, his voice full of steel. “You will come with me through the gate, and then Caim can release them.”
Even though Lucifer had said the very thing we’d feared the most, my ears pricked up a little. The gate? What was that all about? My memories of my previous life as a fallen angel didn’t extend past anything that didn’t involve Az. So, I still didn’t know how all this worked. I knew demons and fallen angels could travel to the underworld, but I didn’t know how.
“Where’s the gate?” I couldn’t help but ask.
