Page 54 of The Road to Hell

I crossed my arms, levelling Calyx with a glare.

He rolled his eyes but didn’t argue. Instead, he turned back to Rathiel, his expression shifting—less amusement, more calculation. He studied him for a beat, then finally asked, “How did you do it?”

Rathiel’s expression didn’t change. “Do what?”

“Break free.” Calyx’s voice dropped slightly. “How did you sever your vow to Lucifer?”

I blinked.Thatwas what this little visit was about?

Rathiel didn’t answer right away. He just watched Calyx, his expression hard. Assessing. Measuring. Deciding how much truth to give. I recognized the look—had been on the receiving end of it enough times.

Calyx’s jaw tensed. “You said we could walk away from this. That we could break the vow. I want to know how.”

“It’s not that simple.”

Calyx let out a bitter laugh. “When is it ever?”

Something passed between them then, something grim and unspoken. Then Rathiel said, “Lucifer released me.”

Calyx’s expression blanked. “What?”

“I didn’t break the vow by myself,” Rathiel admitted. “Lucifer did it.”

Calyx’s whole body went rigid, his hands flexing at his sides. “And how, exactly, did that happen?”

Rathiel didn’t answer.

Calyx cursed, then shook his head. “Look, Lucifer never told us what really happened between the two of you. He simply said that you betrayed us. That you left us for her.” He shot me a hateful look before turning back to Rathiel. “When we asked how that was even possible, he lost it. Punished us just for questioning it.” His voice dropped lower, almost a growl. “It wasn’t until a few years ago that we learned you weren’t bound to him anymore. And I need to know how. Because I don’t care what it takes. I. Want. Out.”

Silence thickened around us. Heavy. Unyielding. Even the distant wails of Hell’s infernal winds seemed to dull, like the realm itself had paused to listen.

I stared at Calyx, trying to reconcile the words that had just left his mouth with the person I’d always known him to be.

Calyx wasn’t like Rathiel. From all that Ididremember, Calyx had never wavered, never questioned, never hesitated when it came to doing Lucifer’s bidding. He had revelled in his power, in the fear he could instill, in the way he could break people without ever lifting a blade.

And now he was standing in front of us, claiming he wanted to leave?

A cold knot formed in my stomach.

Was this some kind of trick? Another mind game? Some new, twisted way of getting inside our heads? I stole another quick glance around to ensure the other fallen weren’t surrounding us while Calyx and Rathiel chatted. When I didn’t see anyone else, I turned back to the others.

Eliza let out a low whistle. “Damn. And here I thought Rathiel was the only traitor in your ranks.”

Calyx’s eyes snapped to her.

She offered him an imitation of his lazy smile, twirling a dagger between her fingers. “Relax, demon boy. I’m not judging. If I were stuck under Lucifer’s thumb, I’d be looking for the nearest exit, too.”

Calyx turned his attention back to Rathiel, his body wound tight. “Tell me how he did it.”

Rathiel dragged a hand through his hair. “It wasn’t a negotiation. He let me go so I could infiltrate Lily’s rebellion. He knew I’d need to prove myself to her. That I couldn’t gain her trust if I wasn’t acting of my own free will.”

Calyx’s expression twisted. “So he expected you to betray her.”

“He expected me to stay loyal to him,” Rathiel corrected. “He thought that no matter what, I’d choose his side in the end.” He flashed a rare grin. “He was wrong.”

Calyx muttered a curse, and his hands flexed at his sides. Yes, I’d imagine that wasn’t the answer he’d been hoping for.

Finally, he said, “So that’s it? That’s the only way?”

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