Page 45 of Chaos Carnival

Lilith shrugged, a smirk playing at the corners of her mouth. “As you wish. You're much more polite than my brother described you.” With a wink, she vanished in a puff of smoke, leaving behind the faint scent of brimstone.

As soon as she was gone, the full weight of what we'd done crashed down on me. The alley seemed to close in, the inkiness deepening as I looked at the faces before me. Stone's jaw clenched so tight a muscle jumped under his skin. Lux's usual calm facade smoldered around the edges, revealing a deep-seated worry I'd never seen on him. And Maverick—my heart ached at the conflict written across his features.

“I didn't know,” I whispered, wrapping my arms around myself. “About the debt, about how careful you had to be all these years. I never meant to make things worse.”

Stone ran a hand through his dark hair, his movements sharp with frustration. “No, you didn't. Because we never told you. Never told anyone.” He shot Maverick an accusing look.

“What choice did we have?” Maverick's voice came out rough. “We've got Ivan's wraithshade in the way of saving Addie. The hunters closing in. And Tess—” He broke off, his fingers curling around mine.

I squeezed Maverick's trembling hand. Centuries of careful planning and hidden sacrifices all potentially undone by our desperate choices.

We fell into an uneasy silence, the air thick with unspoken questions and simmering tensions. This was more than just another challenge—this was reopening old wounds, doubling down on a bargain that had already cost them so much.

Chapter 19: Demonic Alliance

Maverick

IwatchedStonepacethe length of the living room in the short-term rental he’d acquired, for what felt like the hundredth time, his agitation radiating off him in waves. The clock in the corner ticked away, marking each tense moment as we rehashed the events of the evening.

“Of all the reckless, idiotic things you've done, Maverick,” Stone growled, running a hand through his hair. “Making deals with Baphomet? Bringing Lilith into our lives?”

I sank deeper into the leather armchair, Tess perched on its arm beside me. Her presence was both a comfort and a reminder of what had driven us to this point. “What would you have had me do? Tell Baphomet to fuck off?”

“We could have figured something out,” Stone shot back. “We always do.”

Lux, who'd been quiet for most of the discussion, cleared his throat. “The deal is done now. The question is how we handle it moving forward.”

“We can't have her here,” Stone said firmly. “It's too dangerous. She's Baphomet's eyes and ears.”

I nodded slowly, my hand finding Tess's and squeezing gently. “I know. That's why we'll stay at my place in Crimson City. Keep her away from here.”

“Your apartment?” Tess said. “Is that safe?”

“Safer than bringing her here,” I replied. “And it gives us some distance if things go south.”

Stone finally stopped pacing, fixing me with a hard stare. “Watch what you tell her, Maverick. Everything you say goes straight back to Baphomet.”

“I know.” I sighed. The truth of our situation pressed down on me like a boulder. We'd spent centuries being careful, staying under the radar. Now we had not one but two influential demons taking an interest in us.

“What about the pocket realm?” Tess asked. “Should we tell her about it?”

“No,” Stone and I said simultaneously.

Lux leaned forward, his expression serious. “The less she knows about our resources, the better. Let her think you're just living in Crimson City.”

“And be careful what you let her teach you,” Stone added, his gaze shifting to Tess. “Demon magic isn't something to mess around with.”

I felt Tess tense beside me. “We can handle it.”

“Can you?” Stone's voice was sharp. “Because from where I'm standing, you two have already made one monumentally bad decision on this.”

“Stone,” Lux warned, but I was already on my feet.

“That's enough,” I snapped. “You think I don't know how fucked this is? You think I wanted this?” I ran a hand through my hair in frustration. “We deal with it and move forward. That's what we've always done.”

The room fell silent except for the steady ticking of the clock. Finally, Stone's shoulders slumped slightly. “Just… be careful,” he said, his voice quieter now. “Lilith isn't some rogue seraph or angry witch. She's ancient, powerful, and completely unpredictable.”

“I know,” I said again, the responsibility settling over me. “We'll be careful. Keep our guard up.”

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