Page 123 of The Road to Hell

“Think they made it through the night without bloodshed?” Rathiel asked.

“If they didn’t, I know who I’m blaming.”

He huffed a quiet laugh and stepped behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist as he lifted us into the air.

We touched down near the heart of the encampment, the thud of our landing stirring movement among the others. Eliza was the first to spot us, her eyes sweeping over us before landing on me with something dangerously close to relief.

“Oh, good,” she drawled. “Alive and clothed. Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to expect.”

I glanced at her, then asked, “Where’s Levi?”

Eliza jerked her chin toward the back of the encampment where our leaders had once set up the war tent. A new tent stood in its place, one far smaller, but it was better than nothing. “Trying not to murder Calyx.”

Rathiel muttered something under his breath that sounded suspiciously likewhata shame. But I ignored him and moved toward the tent, following the faint murmurs of a conversation I already knew was more tense than cordial.

As soon as I stepped into the tent, I saw them.

Levi stood on one end, his arms crossed and expression carved from stone, while Calyx stood on the other end, a picture of ease. The tension between them was thick, crackling like lightning in the air, but at least neither of them was actively trying to stab the other. Small victories.

“Did you two play nice while we were gone?” I asked.

Levi’s face softened when he spotted me, but his displeasure didn’t wane. “Define nice.”

Calyx grinned. “I think we had a rather enlightening conversation, actually.”

Levi’s jaw flexed. “That’s one word for it.”

I sighed, rubbing at my temple. “Should I even ask?”

“No. It doesn’t matter right now,” Levi said. “Did Rathiel tell you the good news?”

Rathiel told me many things, but there was likely only one thing Levi had in mind. “About Gremory and Raelia?” I met his eyes, the satisfaction still curling warm and deep in my chest. A slow grin spread across my lips. “Yeah. He told me.”

Calyx let out a scoff, crossing his arms. “Glad the death of my brethren brings you so much joy, princess.” His scowl deepened, the usual glint of amusement absent from his eyes.

I shifted my weight, considering him. Honestly, it did make me happy. Gremory and Raelia had been dangerous, cruel, and entirely too loyal to Lucifer. Their deaths were a blessing. But Calyx had once been one of them, had fought alongside them for millennia, even if he’d switched allegiances now.

I wasn’t going to apologize. He knew exactly what he was getting into when he threw his lot in with us. But I could at least keep from rubbing it in his face.

“Welcome to war,” I said instead. “You’re with us now. Or are you rethinking your choice?”

Calyx’s lips curled, but he didn’t answer. Levi’s gaze lingered on him for a moment longer before turning back to me.

Before anyone could respond, the tent flaps rustled, and Eliza stepped inside, Rathiel following close behind.

“Ah, everyone’s still alive,” Rathiel commented. Though he didn’t say whether that was good or bad.

Eliza rolled her eyes. “I’d say we’re all getting along splendidly.”

Levi huffed, but didn’t argue. Clearly there was no love lost between him and Calyx, but at the moment, there wasn’t anything I could do—norwantedto do—about that. If Calyx wanted Levi’s trust, he had to earn it, simple as that.

I straightened and let my gaze sweep over everyone who had gathered in the tent. “All right,” I said. “Time to lay this plan out so that we’re all on board here.” I paused on Calyx. “And I do meanall of us.”

He rolled his eyes in response.

“Levi, since you’ve just joined us, I’m not sure how much you know. Our plan is currently to kill all the remaining fallen. Without the fallen, my father won’t have his strongest soldiers, and he won’t be able to replenish his hellspawn forces, giving us a leg up on him.”

Levi gave a slow nod, his gaze moving to Eliza and lingering there. “Yes, your charming siren friend, Miss Eliza, was kind enough to share your plan with me. I agree with the assessment—it won’t weaken Lucifer himself, but it will weaken his power structure. But I must advise you, while this move will make him more vulnerable than ever, it will also make him more dangerous. Lucifer relies on his flunkies to do most things. He rarely lifts his own hand. And the one time he did?—”

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