Page 70 of The Road to Hell

Heat spread through my chest and down my arms, sparking to life in the palms of my hands. “Let them try.”

Levi sighed. “It would be in our best interest if you didn’t kill any of them.”

I levelled him with a droll look. Killing hellspawn was something I did quite well. And something other hellspawn respected.

“Not only because they’re supposed to be your people now,” he went on, his tone dry, “but also because we need as many bodies as possible if we’re going to take down your father.”

Levi and his damn logic.

I let out a huff and extinguished my flames. “Fine. But if someone takes the first swing, I’m finishing it.”

“Of course you are.” He rubbed his temple like he was already regretting every choice that had led to this moment. Then, after a pause, “Perhaps it would be best if I did all the talking.”

I gestured toward the camp with a lazy flick of my hand. “By all means. Let’s see if your diplomatic skills can keep me from getting skewered.”

Levi didn’t dignify that with a response. Instead, he straightened his shoulders, stretched his neck like he was preparing for battle—which, honestly, wasn’t far from the truth—and took the first step forward.

I followed, Mephisar and Sable slithering behind me like overgrown shadows.

We didn’t even make it halfway to the entrance before the rebellion noticed.

The shift was instant.

One moment, the camp was bustling with movement—hellspawn sharpening weapons, trading supplies, and talking in hushed voices around makeshift fires. The next, everything stopped. Awareness rippled through the ranks like a shockwave. Heads snapped toward us. Bodies tensed like drawn bows. Conversations cut off mid-sentence. The air itself seemed to tighten, charged with something volatile.

The momentary shock passed, and suddenly, hellspawn from all across the camp drew their weapons. They bared their fangs, their low growls rolling through the camp. Yup, they were ready to spill some blood. Specifically, mine. Well, too bad. I liked my blood exactly where it was—inside me.

A netheron stepped forward, gripping a spear so tightly his scarred knuckles went bone-white.

“What in the name of all things unholy isshedoing here?” the netheron rasped around a mouth full of fanged teeth.

“The fuck does it matter?” a brimlord demanded, spittle flying from his lips. “Kill her now and be done with it!”

Lovely.

I kept my expression neutral, though my fingers twitched with the urge to summon hellfire just to remind them I wasn’t exactly defenseless. But I wasn’t here to pick a fight either. Not yet anyway.

Levi raised a hand, the picture of calm in the middle of a brewing storm. “Stand down,” he commanded, his voice like a crack of thunder through the tense silence. “She’s not your enemy.”

That got him a bark of laughter from somewhere in the crowd.

“She’s not ourenemy?” The netheron sneered, his gaze snapping to me like he was already calculating the fastest way to take my head off. “She’s Lucifer’s fuckingdaughter! She killed one of our patrols not a month ago.”

Levi glanced my way and I gave an unapologetic shrug. “And it was fun too.”

The crowd roared their displeasure, the hostility thick enough to cut through.

“Lily,” Levi groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“Sorry.” I patted Levi’s shoulder. “You’re doing great, buddy. Keep going.”

He ignored me.

“I know what she is,” Levi said. “But she is nothim. And if you’ll shut up for five seconds, you’ll hear what she has to say.”

WhatIhad to say? Levi never told me I had to give a speech.

The hellspawn didn’t look pleased by the notion either. In fact, I was pretty sure half of them were still deciding if killing me would be worth whatever consequences Levi might rain down on them.

---