Page 30 of How to Accidentally Become the Devil

“It’s settled then. Fireball comes. Hell, maybe he can help with Luc. He pulled him out of his depression once.” I scratch behind his ears and he licks my face, clearly thrilled to be going back to the palace.

“Fine. He can come. Are we ready now?”

“Don’t be grumpy, Belz. That’s Oz’s job, remember?” I chuckle as he opens the door and I walk through with Fireball hot on my tail.

I shouldn’t be surprised by their office, yet somehow I was expecting something… else. It looks just like what I would expect a security room on Earth to look like, dark sound dampening walls with monitors covering most of one wall and extending a bit onto a second, cables ran around the room in tidy organized bundles and a few desks lined the walls all cluttered in paperwork and typical desk tchotchkes.

“You have cameras everywhere?” I stare at the wall of monitors. There’s demons crying in the streets on one screen, there’s a chef crying as he mixes a bowl on another, and demons stamping Soul Stories while tears fall down their faces on another. The ward is failing. Luc’s powers are spreading, touching demons all over Hell.

“We have to stop this. It’s getting worse.”

“We will. Everything gets worse before it gets better, Princess. We’ll heal Luc and everything will go back to normal.”

“I hope so,” I murmur, not sure I believe it.

“Come on, Sweetheart. Let’s check on Luc,” Zar encourages, rubbing small circles on my back, calming me with his touch.

Nodding, I allow him to lead me out of the security room, trying not to let the dismal thoughts overcome me. I have to stay strong.

We don’t get ten feet down the hall before Georgym appears out of breath like he’s been running all over the palace.

“Oh, thank the devil you’re back! I’ve been looking all over for you! I don’t know what’s happening, but servants all over the palace have been falling into weird crying spells. It’s freaking me the fuck out. I haven’t seen Lucifer in days. I don’t know what to do, and Zofina is…” he rambles.

“Georgym. Take a breath,” I order, pausing until he inhales and slowly lets it out. “Good. We know what’s happening, and we’re working on it. I understand it’s distressing, but we have everything under control and things should return to normal soon. Now tell me what’s going on with Zofina?”

Moments ago, I was freaking out just like him, but seeing his anxiety forced me to pull up my big girl panties and step into the role of leader. Saying those words not only soothes his worries, but my own as well. My resolve strengthens with each reassuring word I speak.

“She's in some sort of strange trance, I went to drop off her morning meal as I always do and she didn’t come to the door, so I entered her room and she was just there in her chair with a haunted expression and unseeing eyes flooded with tears, I couldn't wake her, I tried.” Georgym's anxiety is rising again, making his words speed up as he speaks.

“Okay, Georgym, we’ll handle Zo and Luc, I need you to get to the kitchens and see if you can assist with anything considering the chef looks like he’s about to drop.”

“Thank you, Your Highness, right away, Your Highness.” He bows his head before scurrying off down the hall in the opposite direction we’re going.

“That was veryRuler of Hell, Princess,” Oz smirks.

“Shut up,” I grumble as my mates laugh. “Looks like we need to go check on Mom after we deal with Luc.”

Not wanting to waste time walking, I send us to Luc’s closet. Fireball whines and whimpers, clearly not a fan of my preferred method of transportation. I drop to my knees and give him some loving.

“I’m sorry, buddy.” Behind Fireball, Snowball perks up at our arrival. “Come on, sweet boy, I have a friend I want you to meet.” I kiss Fireball’s head before standing to make my introductions.

He turns around and sees Snow standing by Luc. She’s his complete opposite in every way. One black as a shadow, the other white as fresh snow. But they both size each other up with perked-up ears and tongues lolling from their mouths.

“Snow, this is Fireball. Fireball, this is Snowball.”

Fireball rushes to Snow’s side and I swear, I’ve never seen a cuter couple. At least something good has come of this day. Sadly, Luc appears the same and I really just don’t know what to do.

“Yes, you idiot. Why didn’t you think of that before?” Zar snaps at Zeph.

“What? Think of what?” I spin to face them. Maybe I was a little hasty in turning off the mind-reading power.

Zar smirks at me. “Regretting shutting us out yet, Sweetheart?”

I roll my eyes and sigh. “Just tell me what you know and maybe I’ll tell you how to block his thoughts.”

“I read this book in the library,” Zeph cuts in before his twin can tell his story. Can’t blame him. I hate it when people beat me to telling my own fucking news. It’s rude as hell. “It was about mate bonds…” At Belz’s raised brow he huffs. “What? I wasn’t finding anything helpful, I figured it couldn’t hurt to learn more about our bond.

“You’re right. I would love to know more about our bond and stop having new shit pop up. What’d you find? And why does Zar think it could help Luc?”

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