Page 115 of The Road to Hell

“Incoming!” Vol shouted. He barely managed to grip my hair before Gorr’s massive body collided with mine. The impact was instantaneous, and I hit the ground hard, the air emptying from my lungs with a heavyoof.

“Oh, hell no,” Vol growled in my ear. He released my hair and scurried away from me. “I’m not getting flattened by these beasts!”

Gorr stood over me, his massive legs braced on either side of my body as he loomed over me, growling deep in his chest. But there was no menace in it, just fierce, unrelenting adoration and affection.

He lowered his giant head, his blunt snout pressed against my neck as he breathed me in, sniffing every inch of me. Then he nuzzled me, his bony plating rough but familiar, his tail swishing behind him like an overgrown, deadly hellhound.

I groaned under his weight. “Okay, okay, you’re happy to see me. Gorr, you’re crushing me.”

A second later, two larger shadows loomed over us.

Mephisar and Sable.

They closed in, their huge forms blocking out the sky, their heads lowering in tandem.

Mephisar sniffed at me first, his nostrils flaring before he let out a deep, chuffing sound, something almost approving. Sable followed a second later, her razor-toothed grin still stretched across her snout.

Then came the tongues.

Massive, bisected, warm, wet, and entirely too much as both wyrms licked me in unison.

I sputtered, shoving at Gorr, who was still nuzzling me with enough force to bruise ribs.

“Oh, yuck!” I shouted. “Stop!”

From a safe distance came a smattering of chuckles. Glad we were amusing everyone.

Mephisar’s massive head bumped against my shoulder, almost knocking me back down.

“Look, I’m happy to see you guys too, but I can’t breathe!” I said.

Mephisar gave a low, amused huff and backed away, but Gorr refused to move.

Sable tilted her head, then simply curled her massive tail around Gorr’s shoulders and dragged him off me like he weighed nothing.

The second the pressure lifted, I sucked in a full breath, rolling onto my side to regain some semblance of composure.

Gorr protested his displeasure, his thick tail flicking once before he shoved his head back into my side, more careful this time, but still clearly unwilling to let me out of his reach.

I dug my fingers into his hide, feeling the warmth beneath the thick plating, and the deep, steady rise and fall of his breath.

“I know, I know,” I said, wrapping my arms around his thick neck. “I’m happy to see you too.”

Bracing my hands against Gorr’s thick side, I pushed up onto my knees, and stared at Mephisar and Sable’s massive forms. I had so many questions. Like, how were they even here? The last time I’d seen them, they’d been falling from the sky. I could have sworn Lucifer had killed them. Yet, here they stood, strong and proud. All those questions would have to wait, though. Because there, standing a short distance away, were Levi and Rathiel.

I was happy to see Levi—truly—but he wasn’t the one I couldn’t stop staring at.

No, that was Rathiel.

My breath caught at the sight of him. His dark hair was still damp with sweat and blood, strands clinging to his forehead. Blood stained his ripped clothes, but he stood tall and strong.

And the best part? Irememberedeverything. Not just fragments or glimpses—buteverything. I rememberedus. From every kiss to every fight. All the confusion I’d felt, the war raging inside my heart, the tangled mess of emotions I’d been struggling with since he re-entered my life—all of it was gone.

I loved him. Truly.

But I also wanted to punch him for everything he’d put me through.

I stood and marched forward, unsure of what I wanted to say or do.

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