Page 17

Chapter Seventeen

LILY

My mind spun in a dozen directions, yet not a single thought was coherent. So much had happened in the past few hours alone and I didn’t know how to deal with any of it, other than replaying everything over and over in my head.

Levi had revealed his celestial nature. Then asked me to lead the rebellion. Deidre had betrayed me. My father had nearly killed me, then sentenced me to a decade of torture at the hands of his favorite pet, Belial. Rathiel had betrayed Lucifer to save me. Then kissed me. But the one that hurt the most was Rathiel forcing me to leave the palace. To leave him.

I thought I hated him. No—I did hate him. So, why then did my lips still burn? For the first time ever, I was free from my father—yet I wanted to go back? For Rathiel? That made no sense!

But emotions rarely made sense. It was why my father had done everything he could to beat them out of me.

My mind replayed the last few weeks. The changes I’d sensed between Rathiel and me. The tension, the heat, the—dare I say it—yearning. Our last few sessions had felt more like foreplay than swordplay. And while it confused me, it hadn’t disgusted me. If anything, I’d wanted more.

And he’d given it to me. My first kiss.

If my father ever found out, he’d kill us both. Father . Ha. The word was laughable, considering he’d just tried to kill me. I could still feel him squeezing the air from my lungs, feel his strength cracking my damn bones. He’d poured his power into me like a poison, seeking every little weakness to exploit. And he’d done it to remind me that I belonged to him. That I was nothing more than his weapon. His tool.

He’d only released me because he still had use for me. Because he believed breaking me would accomplish something.

But Rathiel?

Rathiel had no such value to him anymore.

Lucifer wouldn’t let this betrayal stand. He wouldn’t just punish Rathiel—he would destroy him. Slowly. Thoroughly.

And I had left him behind to endure that alone.

I growled under my breath, forcing that thought away before it could root too deeply. If I let myself dwell on Rathiel, I’d spiral, and I couldn’t afford that right now. I couldn’t go back for him. I couldn’t save him. Lucifer would massacre us both if I did. And what would that accomplish? A grand, bloody execution and nothing more. No rebellion. No justice. No future.

I had to move forward. Because moving forward was the only way I could help Rathiel.

And that meant finding Levi.

He was the only one who could help me. The only one who had any real plan to fight back against Lucifer. He had resources. Knowledge. Allies. But he also had one massive stipulation—that I lead the rebellion.

Good thing I was feeling a little rebellious right now.

No.

I was feeling revolutionary .

I wanted to raze my father’s kingdom. Burn it to the ground. Watch his empire of pain and fear crumble into nothing but ash.

For the first time in my life, I wasn’t afraid of him. More like enraged. The fire in my veins had nothing to do with my celestial nature and everything to do with him . With everything he’d taken from me. With everything he’d done to me.

I wanted to be the one who broke him.

But wanting something and making it happen were two very different things.

Which was why I needed Levi.

Exhaling, I pressed a hand to Mephisar’s neck as I considered my next move. At present, I had no idea where Levi was. For all I knew, he’d slithered off into some deep, dark corner of Hell. Or perhaps he was still at the cave. I’d only left him there a few hours prior. It was the best lead I had.

“Take us down,” I called to Mephisar, my hand stroking his scales.

His wings shifted and he banked to the left. The hellscape stretched beneath us, vast and endless, its molten rivers like veins of fire cutting through the land. From up here, I’d always felt like I had a connection to the realm. The fire that ran through it coursed through me as well. We were one and the same.

The rocky outcropping that housed Levi’s cave loomed ahead, a dark scar against the crimson horizon. I bent over Mephisar and pointed at our destination. He descended smoothly, his powerful wings kicking up thick, red dust as he touched down.

Before he had even fully settled, I slid off his back and landed in a crouch. I straightened slowly, stretching out the stiffness in my limbs. I rolled out my shoulders and extended my wings for a moment before retracting them against my back.

Sable landed next to us a heartbeat later. She huffed at my shoulder as I strode up to her, the low grumble in her throat more greeting than threat. I paused to give her a pat as well, grateful to have the two of them at my side.

“Stay close?” I said to them.

Hell was a dangerous place even with allies, and right now, I had exactly two of those in the form of carnivorous reptiles. I didn’t even have my swords—I hadn’t been armed when Lucifer summoned me to his throne room. The absence of their weight left me feeling exposed, vulnerable in a way I wasn’t used to. But it wasn’t like I’d had time to grab them while fleeing for my life.

Mephisar let out a deep rumble and shoved me forward, pushing me toward the cave.

I sighed. “I’m going, I’m going.”

The entrance loomed ahead, shrouded in darkness, its gaping mouth nothing but a yawning void. I half-expected to see the fire still burning inside and to find Levi seated next to it.

But the entrance was empty.

Caves were prime real estate here. The chances of this one being empty were slim to none. And waltzing in like I owned the place wasn’t the wisest move.

But I couldn’t leave without checking.

So. Guess I was going in.

My hands instinctively fell to my waist to adjust my daggers—only to remember, once again, that they weren’t there. Great. No swords, no daggers, no weapons of any kind. Well, save for my own two fists, my celestial powers, and the two protective hellwyrms at my back. Maybe I wasn’t as bad off as I’d thought.

I took a deep breath then entered the cave. The shift in temperature was instant. Hell’s sweltering heat faded, replaced by a damp chill that settled in my bones. Shadows stretched deep into the cavern, their inky tendrils licking at the edges of my vision. My footsteps echoed faintly, swallowed by the stillness.

I slowed my pace, every nerve on high alert as I adjusted to the dim lighting. The deeper I moved into the cave, the more I could make out—the rocky walls, and the stalactites looming overhead like fangs. My boots scraped against the uneven stone, each step echoing back at me in a way that made the space feel impossibly vast. Or maybe that was just my paranoia kicking in.

“Levi?” I called out, voice hushed.

But no one answered.

I braced myself, then stepped farther inside. If he wasn’t here, I’d have to come up with a new plan, and fast.

A faint sound whispered through the cave—a rustle of movement just ahead.

I stopped short, pulse spiking.

“Levi,” I tried again, this time more insistently.

Another rustle—movement from the shadows.

Then, just as I was about to take another step, something cold and smooth slithered over my foot.

I yelped and stumbled back, heart lurching into my throat. My wings instinctively flared to keep me from falling, and I glanced down at the long, sinuous form coiling lazily around my foot.

Levi.

I let out a breath, half relief, half exasperation. “You’re going to give me a heart attack one of these days.”

The serpent lifted his head, his slitted pupils locking with mine. A moment later, his body shimmered, twisting, shifting, stretching into the form of an angel.

Levi unfolded himself before me, tall and impossibly graceful, his blue eyes gleaming in the dim light. He looked like he’d just woken from a long nap. Which, knowing him, he probably had.

“You came back,” he noted, his voice smooth and unhurried.

“Yeah, well. Plans changed.”

Levi’s gaze strayed behind me, his expression sharpening slightly as he took in Mephisar and Sable, their hulking forms silhouetted against the mouth of the cave.

His voice was softer when he spoke next. “What happened?”

Oh boy. Where to even begin? Unsure of what to say, I settled for the only thing that mattered.

“I’ll do it,” I said. “I’ll lead the rebellion.”

* * *

Mephisar descended into a hidden valley, tucking his wings in tight as he maneuvered between two towering peaks that looked less like mountains and more like the snapped-off teeth of some long-dead behemoth.

As soon as we touched down, I slid off his back, and gave his head a soft pat. Sable landed a second later, followed quickly by Levi—who had refused to fly on her. He had his own wings, thank you very much. I’d chuckled at his indignation. I supposed the hellwyrms were rather imposing to those who hadn’t grown up alongside the beasts, but to me, they were my buddies. I didn’t see the slithering nightmares with dagger-sized teeth that everyone else saw.

Together, the four of us studied the camp. Some with curiosity—me. Some with mild concern—Levi. And some—specifically the two scaly ones—with what looked distinctly like hunger. Hellwyrms were known to dine on hellspawn now and then. I made a mental note to remind them that eating potential allies wasn’t great for morale.

I had to admit, I hadn’t expected the camp to be so big. Rows upon rows of patchwork tents stretched across the valley floor, their canopies stitched together from what looked like hellbeast leather, and, if I wasn’t mistaken, hellspawn hide. Macabre? You bet. Resourceful? Also yes.

Encircling the camp was a wall made of sharpened bone, twisted metal, and bits of rock fused into the gaps. They’d done what they could with their limited materials. Suffice it to say—they’d impressed me. They hadn’t just built a wall, they’d built a warning. A defiant statement to anyone stupid enough to approach.

Which was exactly what we were about to do.

Awesome.

Levi let out a slow breath. “This isn’t going to be easy.”

I raised my brows. “Really? No welcome parade? No fruit basket?”

He turned his head just enough to shoot me a look—one that all but radiated exasperation. “They don’t just hate your father, Lily. They hate you, too.”

I thought back to the little meet-and-greet I’d had with a group of demons nearly a month ago. They’d been rather vocal about their opinion of me—specifically that they intended to send me back to my father in “itty bitty pieces.” Naturally, I’d disagreed with their assessment. Strongly. So, I killed them all—with Mephisar’s help, of course. But that sort of thing didn’t exactly foster a trusting relationship.

Levi faced the camp. “They see you as an extension of him. You might as well be wearing a crown when you walk in there.”

“Good thing I left all my crowns at home then,” I teased.

He didn’t smile. Didn’t so much as blink. “This isn’t a joke, Lily. Hellspawn aren’t exactly known for thinking rationally.”

No kidding.

“They won’t hesitate. They will try to kill you the second you step inside that camp,” he continued.

Heat spread through my chest and down my arms, sparking to life in the palms of my hands. “Let them try.”

Levi sighed. “It would be in our best interest if you didn’t kill any of them.”

I levelled him with a droll look. Killing hellspawn was something I did quite well. And something other hellspawn respected.

“Not only because they’re supposed to be your people now,” he went on, his tone dry, “but also because we need as many bodies as possible if we’re going to take down your father.”

Levi and his damn logic.

I let out a huff and extinguished my flames. “Fine. But if someone takes the first swing, I’m finishing it.”

“Of course you are.” He rubbed his temple like he was already regretting every choice that had led to this moment. Then, after a pause, “Perhaps it would be best if I did all the talking.”

I gestured toward the camp with a lazy flick of my hand. “By all means. Let’s see if your diplomatic skills can keep me from getting skewered.”

Levi didn’t dignify that with a response. Instead, he straightened his shoulders, stretched his neck like he was preparing for battle—which, honestly, wasn’t far from the truth—and took the first step forward.

I followed, Mephisar and Sable slithering behind me like overgrown shadows.

We didn’t even make it halfway to the entrance before the rebellion noticed.

The shift was instant.

One moment, the camp was bustling with movement—hellspawn sharpening weapons, trading supplies, and talking in hushed voices around makeshift fires. The next, everything stopped. Awareness rippled through the ranks like a shockwave. Heads snapped toward us. Bodies tensed like drawn bows. Conversations cut off mid-sentence. The air itself seemed to tighten, charged with something volatile.

The momentary shock passed, and suddenly, hellspawn from all across the camp drew their weapons. They bared their fangs, their low growls rolling through the camp. Yup, they were ready to spill some blood. Specifically, mine. Well, too bad. I liked my blood exactly where it was—inside me.

A netheron stepped forward, gripping a spear so tightly his scarred knuckles went bone-white.

“What in the name of all things unholy is she doing here?” the netheron rasped around a mouth full of fanged teeth.

“The fuck does it matter?” a brimlord demanded, spittle flying from his lips. “Kill her now and be done with it!”

Lovely.

I kept my expression neutral, though my fingers twitched with the urge to summon hellfire just to remind them I wasn’t exactly defenseless. But I wasn’t here to pick a fight either. Not yet anyway.

Levi raised a hand, the picture of calm in the middle of a brewing storm. “Stand down,” he commanded, his voice like a crack of thunder through the tense silence. “She’s not your enemy.”

That got him a bark of laughter from somewhere in the crowd.

“She’s not our enemy ?” The netheron sneered, his gaze snapping to me like he was already calculating the fastest way to take my head off. “She’s Lucifer’s fucking daughter ! She killed one of our patrols not a month ago.”

Levi glanced my way and I gave an unapologetic shrug. “And it was fun too.”

The crowd roared their displeasure, the hostility thick enough to cut through.

“Lily,” Levi groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“Sorry.” I patted Levi’s shoulder. “You’re doing great, buddy. Keep going.”

He ignored me.

“I know what she is,” Levi said. “But she is not him . And if you’ll shut up for five seconds, you’ll hear what she has to say.”

What I had to say? Levi never told me I had to give a speech.

The hellspawn didn’t look pleased by the notion either. In fact, I was pretty sure half of them were still deciding if killing me would be worth whatever consequences Levi might rain down on them.

A plaguebearer stepped forward, its eyes burning with cold fury and sickness dripping from its fangs. Its voice was quiet, but lethal. “Why should we listen to the devil’s daughter?”

I met its stare head-on, tilting my chin up just slightly. “Because I plan to kill him.”

Well, that got their attention. The plaguebearer didn’t move, its gaze locked onto mine, as though trying to decide if I was lying.

A bitter laugh rose from the middle of the crowd. “You?” A netheron, broad and scarred, stepped forward, his twisted horns gleaming in the dim light. “Lucifer’s own flesh and blood, claiming she’s going to kill him? And you expect us to believe that?”

I arched a brow. “I don’t particularly care what you believe.”

A fresh wave of snarls rippled through the rebellion as their hands clenched their weapons. We were one wrong word away from combusting.

Levi sighed. “What she means to say is?—”

“I meant what I said,” I cut in, my voice sharp enough to draw blood. I swept my gaze across the gathered hellspawn. “You want me dead? Go ahead and try. But ask yourself—how many of you will die in the process?”

The crowd grumbled, shifting uneasily.

I smirked. “Exactly.”

The netheron’s grip on his spear tightened. “Arrogance won’t save you here.”

“No,” I agreed. “But neither will killing the only person who has a real chance at putting Lucifer in the ground.”

That earned me a moment of hesitation. Small, but there. I pressed forward.

“I know exactly who my father is,” I said. “Far better than any of you. If you think he’s made your life a living hell, try living my reality.” I paused and cast a glance around the camp. “You can waste your time fighting me, the one person who wants him dead more than you, or you can use me. He had his best generals train me. I know their weaknesses. I know his weaknesses. I am your best shot—your only shot. But I can’t do this alone. Help me, and we can end him. For good.”

Their bitter grumbles morphed into something else—something more contemplative and considering. The hate in their eyes dimmed, giving way to something I could work with. Curiosity.

The netheron spoke, addressing Levi. “You vouch for her?”

Levi didn’t hesitate. “I do.”

The netheron shook his head, his lips peeling back to reveal a mouthful of snaggly teeth. “Then you’re either a fool or a traitor.”

Levi met his glare without flinching. “Or I’m the only one here who understand that we need her. If we don’t start making smart choices, we’re dead.”

The crowd shifted uneasily. They loosened their grip on their weapons, but tension still sang in their muscles. Levi had made progress, but one wrong word, and they’d attack.

A moment later, the crowd split in two and a brimlord stepped forward, towering over the others, his presence alone commanding the space between us. He was massive, easily over ten feet tall, his skin a shifting expanse of dark volcanic rock, pulsing faintly with the molten heat that coursed beneath the surface. Every movement sent tiny fractures glowing along his body, his veins filled with liquid fire instead of blood. His horns curved back in wicked arcs, their surface ridged and battle-worn.

The other hellspawn gave way at his approach, their heads dipping in wary respect. This wasn’t just any soldier. This was someone who had earned his place in the rebellion through sheer brutality.

When he spoke, his voice was a low rumble, like distant thunder rolling through the deep. “You want to stand with us? Then prove you deserve it.”

I arched a brow, keeping my stance loose but ready. “And how, exactly, do you expect me to do that?”

His lips peeled back in a slow, deliberate grin, his fangs glinting like ivory daggers.

“Oh,” he said, his molten eyes burning into mine. “You’ll see.”