Page 10 of All's Hell That Ends Well

I’d kill him. One day, I’d actually murder that cruel son of a bitch.

“Let that be your motivation,” Lucifer said, and for a second, I thought he meant my fantasy of killing him. But then he added, “The fact that, at any moment, I could order your father’s soul to be dragged back to Hell where he belongs and have him tortured right here in the palace for you to witness.”

Oh, yeah, there’d be a murder in my future. Involving this horrible bastard.

“During my week down here,” I said, stuffing my violent fantasies far down lest they show on my face, “will I be free to move around?”

If so, I’d ditch this place and hightail it to Azazel’s for the entire duration. If he wasn’t permitted to join me on my trips to Earth, then maybe I could at least see him for the whole week that I would be in Hell.

“That will depend on your conduct.”

Murrrrderrrrrr.

I clenched my jaw so hard I felt a muscle pop. I had to get out of here before I did act on those urges to attack the Devil. “Is there anything else, Your Grace?”

“As a matter of fact, yes.”

He stood and came over, depositing his drink on my table. My pulse skyrocketed, my limbs twitching with the instinctive urge to jump over the back of the sofa and put as much distance between us as possible. Whatever he intendedcouldn’tbe good.

“For your search on Earth,” he said, his power charging the air to an almost painful level, “you’ll need wings.”

I peered up at him, wary beyond measure. “They’re already regrowing.”

“Not fast enough.” He pushed the sleeves of his shirt up to his elbows, and my stomach made a dive for the ground. “You’ll find I have no patience for further delays.”

Before I could jerk back, he grabbed me by the shoulders, and the next second, his power punched into me. Pain erupted all along my nerve endings, shooting through my body like a tidal wave of agony, and my back bowed as I screamed.

Between my shoulder blades, it felt like someone pierced me with hot pokers. On and on, pain pumped through my blood, from the tips of my toes and the top of my head to my back, as if there was a network of paths of pain that all led to the spots where my wings would grow. Itburned.

I was awash in a sea of agony, lost in fiery waves that consumed me, my vision blinking in and out of focus. All thewhile, I screamed and convulsed, though Lucifer’s grip on my shoulders never wavered.

Eventually, the pain ebbed, until there was only a faint pulse of discomfort, a twinge between my shoulder blades, and the weight of new wings pulling at my back.

My face was all wet from crying, my throat raw from screaming, and I’d ripped the fabric of the sofa with my nails as I’d held on for dear life. Trembling all over, I sat there, weak beyond measure, when Lucifer released my shoulders and stepped back.

“There,” he said, casually pulling down his sleeves again. “I saved you at least four days of painfully slow regrowth.”

Sniffling, my sight still a bit blurred from my tears, I raised my gaze to him, rage simmering deep within me. “Like thiswasn’tpainful?”

His smile was pure malice. “You’re welcome.”

“I thought you couldn’t hurt me,” I bit out. “What with that precious spark inside me.”

His eyes glittered as he gave me a sly look. “Oh, but that wasn’tmeantto hurt. I touched you with the intent to heal.” He laid one hand over his heart, the picture of sincerity and innocence. “I wanted to make you whole. That the process of speed-healing happens to have extreme pain as a side effect is an unintended bonus.”

I fucking hated him.

“You may take one day to rest and recharge,” he said, returning to his armchair. “And then you’ll report to me for the start of your search. You are not to speak to anyone of your new purpose. The knowledge about the search is on a need-to-know basis, and there are only very few who do need to know.” He glared at me for a moment and then waved at the door, which opened to reveal a demon standing at attention who boweddeeply at the sight of his lord. “Gilarion will show you to your rooms. Do not leave them until called.”

I rose and bowed, spreading my wings in a sign of deference, the new muscles twinging slightly. When I straightened again, my smile at him might have shown too much teeth. “Thank you, Your Grace.”

Before I turned away, Lucifer pinned me with a look and quietly said, “I don’t understand what she saw in you.”

I paused, holding his stare. Then I curled my lip and snarled, “Likewise.”

Pivoting on the balls of my feet, I marched out of the room.

CHAPTER 4

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