Page 82 of The Road to Hell

It didn’t escape my notice that Calyx and I agreed about something.

“Eliza,” I said, “think about this. I realize you don’t trust him?—”

“Youdon’t trust him,” she shot back. “So why should I? One slip, one ‘oops,’ and I’m free-falling to my death.”

Calyx grinned. “Oh,darling, I’d never let someone as stunning as you plummet to your demise. Just imagine the tragedy, your lovely face all?—”

“Calyx,” I snapped.

He held up his hands, amusement still dancing in his eyes. “I’m merely reassuring her.”

Eliza scoffed. “More like making me want to stab you. Hard. Multiple times.”

I rubbed a hand over my face. “We’re wasting time.”

She crossed her arms. “Then come up with another plan.”

I met her glare head-on and kept my voice level. “This is the fastest way. The cleanest. I can’t just stroll through Hell with Lily unconscious in my arms.”

Her eyes flashed. She clearly hated being forced into this situation. But she also wasn’t stupid.

Finally, she let out a breath. “Fine. But if he tries anything?—”

Calyx sighed. “Yes, yes, Iknow. You’ll carve out my ribs, pluck out my eyes, fashion my bones into a charming little necklace—I’ve heard it all. Frankly, I’m flattered by your violent attention.”

Eliza just scowled. “Let’s just get this over with.”

I reached for Lily and scooped her into my arms. “Let’s go.”

ChapterTwenty

LILY

Korrak was talking again.

I did my best to look interested, nodding at what seemed like appropriate moments, but honestly? I had lost track of the conversation somewhere between “hit them hard” and “let’s throw more bodies at the problem until something sticks.”

Classic hellspawn strategy.

It also gave me a clearer understanding as to how the outpost we’d raided a few weeks back had so many prisoners.

Gorr sat beside me—his location of choice ever since we’d raided the outpost—and his eyes occasionally drooped, like he too was struggling to stay engaged. Every so often, his ears would perk when someone raised their voice. But other than that, he didn’t move. Seemed I’d found myself a new friend. I didn’t mind. He could go places Mephisar and Sable couldn’t, and it made me feel secure having another set of eyes watching my back.

Across the crude war table, a massive slab of rough-hewn stone, Levi stood with his arms crossed. He looked as unimpressed as I felt. I shifted my weight and crossed my own arms as I listened to Korrak and his generals discuss war tactics. Well,tacticswas a strong word.

Rathgor—massive, mean, and apparently allergic to new ideas—slammed a clawed fist down on the table, his eyes narrowing. “We take the fight to Lucifer. Full force. Catch him before they expect us.”

Drek’thar, the wiry netheron beside him, shook his head. “And then what? Let him slaughter us like last time? We barely have enough fighters to hold the territory wedohave.”

“We take what we need,” Rathgor shot back.

“From where?” Drek’thar snapped. “Lucifer rules Hell and every damned soul living here. We can’t outnumber him. You’re notthinking!”

Rathgor’s lips peeled back to expose his lengthy fangs—as thoughthatwas frightening. I was the only one herewithoutfangs, so truly, the sight did not inspire any fear whatsoever.

Korrak let out a low growl and gripped the table so hard it cracked. Probably to keep himself from ripping apart his so-called “generals.” A title that, after listening to them bicker, I was using very loosely.

“Then what do you propose?” Korrak ground out. “Just sitting here and waiting for him to find us?”

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