The forest was vast and, with the help of the hellhounds and the Silver Claw wolf pack, we were collectively working to clear out the forest.Which is where I was supposed to be right now.I spotted my keys, snatched them up, and headed out.
When I finally reached Oldwood, I texted Zen for their coordinates.I got a pin a moment later.“Great,” I muttered.They were half an hour’s walk away, which meant I needed to start running if I was going to catch up.Taking off, I sprinted through the trees, jumping over fallen logs and dodging low branches.I didn’t mind running, it felt good to push myself hard, to focus on my footing and not the thoughts trying to invade my mind whenever it was quiet.
I’d been running for about five minutes when a sense of anticipation filled me.It wasn’t a negative sensation, not completely, but something was up.There was a wariness in the esthesis washing through me.I searched the trees, scanning my surroundings.Nothing jumped out at me, unpleasant or otherwise.
Before my wings and my gift of sight had been ripped from me, I would’ve known what was about to happen.Now, I occasionally experienced what I called “knowings”—a surety or sense of something.It had taken a while to get used to it, but when the feeling came, I listened.
My phone vibrated in my pocket.The feeling lighting up my senses was probably just a warning that Roc was about to tell me they were now half an hour in the opposite direction.
I yanked my phone from my pocket as I slowed.
Not Roc.
It was a video call—from Lucifer.The anticipation spiked.The best way to describe it was wary excitement.
Why the hell would he be calling me, of all people, and why would it invoke this kind of response inside me?
I’d had plenty of dealings with him over the thousands of years I’d known him, but we didn’t call each other to chitchat.
Lucifer also wasn’t one to be ignored.If I did, he’d just keep calling until I answered, or he’d find some other, probably disturbing way of getting my attention.Cursing under my breath, I tapped the screen.“What do you want?”
Lucifer was standing in a cavern, firelight dancing on the wall behind him.Blood splattered his tattooed neck and chest and someone’s pained groans echoed in the background.“Don’t pretend your dick didn’t get a little hard when you saw my name,” he said and grinned, flashing his white teeth.
“How did you get my number?”
“My grandson.”
Zenon wouldn’t give it to him unless he thought I’d be interested in whatever Lucifer had to say.Still, the king of Hell was an asshole who loved to talk shit and I wasn’t in the mood to deal with him.“Why on earth do you want to talk to me?”I bit out, and he didn’t miss the impatient growl in my voice.
His gaze sharpened.“All right, Si, no need to get all hot under the collar.I’ll get to the gosh-darned point.”
Prick.“I’d appreciate it.”
“The Tartarean is coming up, and I’d like you to represent Hell.”
My head jerked back.
“I’ve surprised you.”
Major understatement.“Why would I want to do that?”
Lucifer shrugged.“Why wouldn’t you?I hear the angels are sending Nathaniel to represent them.That male will stop at nothing to win, and I need someone just as ruthless representing me.”
Nathaniel was a duplicitous agitator who’d made it his mission to destroy me.The wannabe despot had been angling for a promotion for centuries and thought betraying his brethren, or spying on them and reporting to certain archangels, was the fastest way of accomplishing that goal.He was also a sick and depraved narcissist with a penchant for mutilation.I’d love the chance to take that fucker down and Lucifer knew it, too.“Why me?”
“We both know you would have been their first choice if you hadn’t been cast out.You would’ve been taking part anyway, only now you’ll be playing for the other team.”
“I have no interest in risking my neck for you.I don’t owe you shit.”
“Correct, you do not,” he said.“But the angels are up to something, and since you’ve lost your ability of foresight, trust me when I say that it won’t only affect me—and all signs are pointing to it being my head on the chopping block—but a whole lot of other not good stuff is coming.”
Was he lying to get me on side?I had no fucking idea.“What do they have planned?”
“That isn’t clear yet, things are still…unraveling, but believe me, those fucks are up to no good.”
“Okay, but I’m still not sure what that has to do with me or why you want me in this tournament?”
He ignored my questions and carried on talking.“The male who runs The Tartarean, Felditch, has powers like nothing you’ve seen before, and I’ll need the prize that weird motherfucker is offering to ensure the angels don’t have an advantage when the shit eventually hits the fan.”