Page 32 of Dead End

“You’ve won, Lorelei. You’ve beaten him. Let me handle the rest,” he said in a soothing voice. “Just come back to me before you go so far that it changes you. I know what that’s like, and it isn’t you.”

What constituted too far? Lucifer was still alive, after what he’d done to the demon I loved. After what he’d unleashed upon the town I loved.

He deserved so much worse than this; I couldn’t leave it unfinished.

“Lorelei, please.”

The tenderness in his voice soothed whatever savagery I had left. Kane was right. I was nothing like Lucifer; if I stooped to his level, to endless torment, I would be forever altered.

The contours of the familiar room returned as we were reunited with reality. I looked down to see Lucifer on his knees, trembling and unable to stand.

“This is your last chance to leave this place and never, ever return. Go back to your miserable circle of hell and boltthe door behind you. Should you choose to be foolish and seek vengeance yet again, you’d better come back with a whole-ass demon army because that’s what it’ll take to even come close to what I am capable of.” I leaned forward and whispered, “I am your living, breathing nightmare, and don’t you ever forget it.”

Lucifer lifted his chin; his face was impassive. “Even now, you won’t kill me? After all I’ve done? So weak and pathetic. I don’t know what The Corporation sees in you. You don’t deserve to live.”

“Neither do you,” Kane rumbled as he struggled to his feet. Fire licked his arm as he channeled what strength he possessed to produce his flaming sword.

“Kane…” I began, uncertain. Lucifer had said the next time Kane pointed a weapon at him, Kane had best be able to kill him with it.

Lucifer smirked. “I told you before, that mythical sword can’t hurt me.”

Kane staggered forward. “Only because you knew I’d intended to strike you through the heart, or at least the spot where your heart would be if you had one.” Kane lifted the flaming sword, now burning as hot and bright as ever. “Like Belphegor, you do, however, possess a head.”

The supreme leader of hell gazed at Kane with fresh eyes. “After all this time, old friend, you still manage to surprise me.”

“I’d watch the light fade from your eyes, but even now, I see only darkness reflected there.”

Lucifer nodded to himself. “As it should be,” he whispered.

With one swift and powerful strike, Kane removed his head.

Josie nudged the demon’s crumpled body with the toe ofher boot. “This might seem like a ridiculous question, but are you sure he’s dead?”

Kane stared down at the remains of his lifelong nemesis. “Yes.”

“I’m sorry,” I said quietly.

His gaze swung to mine, raw and vulnerable. Unshed tears glistened in his whisky-colored eyes. “Thank you for saying that.”

I knew Kane well enough to know that while vanquishing his enemy brought him relief, it also brought him pain. Once upon a time, he and Lucifer had been as close as brothers. All these years, he hadn’t allowed himself to mourn that loss until the threat of reprisal no longer loomed over him.

Now, finally, Kane was free to grieve.

CHAPTER SIX

Nobody stoppedJosie from sticking Lucifer’s head on a pool cue. She marched through the Devil’s Playground, declaring victory. Dantalion accompanied her to clear out the remaining demons.

I helped Kane pack a couple bags to take to the Castle. Unsurprisingly he had no desire to stay put. All the bleach in the world wouldn’t be enough to scrub recent events from his memory.

I hefted the strap of a duffel bag over my shoulder. “Want me to drive?”

“I can manage.” He limped toward the doorway.

“Do you want me to call Sage and ask her to meet us at the Castle?”

“No need for a healer. I’ll be fine.”

I didn’t push the issue. “What will happen to hell?”

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