“Lucas almost died,” I spit. “And I prayed so hard for you or my father to come help me. But you didn’t answer. You didn’t come. I felt so alone.” Tears well in my eyes, and I furiously blink them away.
“I am sorry,” Julian tells me, and I know he means it. “I’ve been following leads, killing demons who have even uttered the word ‘Nephilim.’ And I cannot hear prayers when I am in Hell. Only Lucifer can hear the cries of mortals from below.”
My eyes widen. What? I mean…I heard him, but…what?
“You were killing demons in Hell?”
“Yes, under your father’s orders. He has been, too. We hoped we could eliminate the rumors about you still being alive, but it seems they have spread too far.”
“You did that for me?”
“Of course.” Julian reaches forward and takes my hand. “Everything your father has done has been for you. I know it’s hard with him not being here, but he cares, Callie. He cares a lot.”
The tears I was wrestling with fall down my cheeks. Dammit.
Lucas sits next to me on the couch and puts his arm around my waist, instantly comforting me.
“So we all agree Ruth tried summoning a demon to try to get to Callie.”
“Yes,” Julian and I say at the same time.
“But what does Bael want with her?” Lucas asks.
“I imagine he wants what the other demons want: to make Callie the new ruler of Hell.”
“What?” I lean back, sure I misheard. “A new ruler?”
“That is what they want with you.”
I look at Lucas, not sure if I should laugh, cry, or dismiss this as something that’ll never happen.
“What?” I say again.
“Since they were created, demons have always been trying to overthrow Lucifer. Certain rules were set in place to prevent that from happening, and only someone with divinity in their veins can sit on the throne of Hell.”
I lean back, staring at Julian. All I wanted was to come home, shower, and snuggle under the heated blanket with my husband.
Not find out every demon wants me to be his bride.
“What about Lucifer?” I ask after a moment of stunned silence.
“I’m sure he’s aware of the demons’ plans.”
Lucas puts his arm around me. “You think he’ll kill Callie to keep his throne.”
“Perhaps.” Julian shakes his head. “But only if it goes that far. For now, I’ve been stopping the demons who seek out the Nephilim. It’s worked for the time being,” he says grimly. “Though the more demons seek you out, the more likely it will be the other angels start looking into it, too.”
“And then they’ll definitely want me dead.”
“Yes.”
I dig my nails into my palms. Fuck, I need wine. I bring my hand to my head and squeeze my eyes closed for a few seconds. Scarlet jumps up on the couch, snuggling up with Julian.
“A hellhound and an angel,” I mumble, shaking my head. My eyes go to the tear in Julian’s shirt. “Wait…how did you get stabbed?”
“I went to question Bael and was ambushed.”
“The blade,” Lucas starts. “It can hurt angels?”
“It can kill angels if pierced through the heart. Lucky for me, Bael has bad aim.”
Lucas turns, looking at the dagger on the fireplace. “And now we have a weapon that can kill angels.”
A chill goes down my spine, and I remember Tabatha warning me months ago that Lucas would do whatever he could to protect me, even if it meant crossing lines that couldn’t be uncrossed.
“Have you spoken to my dad recently?” I ask, desperately needing to think about something else right now.
“I have,” Julian answers but doesn’t elaborate.
“And?”
“And what?”
“How’s he doing? What does he do all day? Does he ever, uh, ask about me?”
“He’s the leader of God’s army against the forces of evil,” Julian replies calmly, as if he’s telling me there are thirty-one days in October. “And yes, he’s concerned you will be discovered.”
I play with the silver bracelet around my wrist, the one my father gave to my mother years ago. “Do you think he’d be able to come for a visit?” I ask, almost wincing at my own words. It feels so lame to be asking Daddy for a visit after being told he’s the fucking leader of God’s army.
“Perhaps. But it’s imperative now we don’t raise any more suspicions.”
“Is Callie in danger?” Lucas asks.
“No more than she usually is.”
“What about Bael?” Lucas motions to the tear in Julian’s shirt. “He seemed to get the best of you.”
“I don’t understand that phrase.” Julian’s brows furrow.
“He stabbed you,” Lucas says. “Obviously, there was a battle that you lost.”
“It would appear so, but when Bael came after me with that dagger—” Julian eyes it—“I knew what it was and knew if we got it in our possession, it would work in our favor. Michael has been wanting a dagger with the ability to…to…” He trails off.