“I take it ‘were’ is the key term here?”
I pressed the button to call the elevator and smoothed my jacket’s lapel. “Indeed. I have no doubt our imprisonment brought shame to the palace, and the seer showed me the unrest amongst Lucifer’s subjects when he lost his top three men. It has taken him centuries to right the balance.”
“Who did he replace you with?” The elevator doors slid open, and she stepped inside.
I followed and pressed the button for the ground floor. “I do not know. What happens inside the palace is shielded from prying eyes…now even from mine, it seems.”
“Why didn’t he set you and your brothers free? Isabel was just a witch, and he’s the King of Hell. If he’s the most powerful man in all the realms, couldn’t he have yanked you out and returned you to your posts?”
The doors opened, and I strode into the lobby, stopping a few feet from the exit. “Lucifer has never been one to stand between consequence and a fool.”
Her boot squeaked on the obsidian floor as she approached. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. Isabel was a woman scorned, and I wouldn’t wish that kind of wrath on anyone.”
“Where are the shoes Belira gave you?” I eyed the ankle-high combat boots she wore.
She lifted her dress and rotated her ankle. “If we’re in as much danger as you say we are, I’m not about to face it in platform stilettos. I’d break a leg before we even made it to the palace if I wore those things.”
I wanted to argue her footwear could be taken as an insult, but I had a feeling shoes were the least of my worries with her. If only I had thought to purchase a silencing spell from the seer when I was there.
“Come,” I said instead and exited the building.
“You said I’m here illegally. What does that mean?” She hurried to catch up and walked by my side.
I glanced at her sideways before focusing on the palace in the distance, a sickening feeling growing stronger in my stomach with each step. “Your soul is unclaimed. You’re here neither by Death’s hand nor by a demon’s bargain. Unclaimed souls find their way to Hell for one of two reasons. Either they wish to resurrect a claimed soul, or they intend to infiltrate and start a war.”
“Well, I’m definitely not here to start a war.” She eyed the palace in the distance. “What usually happens to unclaimed souls when Lucifer discovers them?”
“If he’s feeling merciful, obliteration. Otherwise, an eternity of torture in the deepest circle of Hell.”
“Hold up.” She stopped and rested her hands on her hips. “So…what? You got me all dressed up as an offering? You’re planning to turn me over to save yourself?”
“If it were that simple, I would.” I continued walking. “Your blood bond has complicated the matter.”
“Because if I get obliterated…” She strode toward me.
“I do too.”
“So I’m not unclaimed, then.” She jerked up her sleeve. “This means you claimed me. I’m with you, so I’m not illegal.”
I stopped and clutched her hand, tugging the sleeve down. Several demons had gathered in the street to watch us pass, and a group crowded around a window in the café to our right. I straightened my spine and turned around to address them.
“As you were. This is none of your concern.” I tilted my head slightly, widening my stance when no one moved. The sourness in my stomach rose upward, solidifying in my chest and making my voice rumble. “As you were.”
They cut their gazes toward each other, mumbling amongst themselves as if confused. Anger sparked in my gut, the heat rolling outward, consuming me. I refused to tolerate their insolence.
Magic gathered in the core of my being, and my vision sharpened, my demonic form simmering just beneath the surface. If I’d had the time, I’d have torn a few limb from limb for their disobedience. Then, the rest would cower at my feet as they should.
Instead, I focused on their minds, sowing discord into their masses.
“You sorry sack of shedim shit!” A capras demon shoved an incubus before landing a punch on his jaw. “You seduced my wives.”
“I’d never touch anything that ugly.” The incubus spat blood and barreled into the capras, tackling him.
A goblin snickered, and a chasm demon whirled toward her with malice in her eyes. “Oh, you think it’s funny? I bet you thought those rumors you spread about me were funny too.”
The crowd’s mumbling turned into shouts. They shoved, punched, and kicked, wrestling each other and casting blame for things that never happened.
“What in Hecate’s name?” Cinder’s lips parted as she took in the disarray.
