Yes, in theory, this had been what we’d prepared for. I just hadn’t realized how terrifying it would be once it was actually here.
I sighed and stomped over to the table where my weapon sat. “Peachy.”
Malice was at my back, his hand a warm comfort on my shoulder. “We’re going to be right there with you, hellcat. You might have to hold the weapon, but you’re not going to face them alone.”
Grim surprised me by smiling, his presence pulling my attention to where he leaned against the wall.
“How can you be happy about this?”
He lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “I like our odds.” Then he strode forward and chucked me under the chin. “Don’t forget who you have on your side.”
My stomach clenched. He said that so confidently, but they had Death on their side just as much as we did. And she’d bested my men before. It’s like everyone had forgotten that’s how we got into this mess in the first place.
As though he’d read my thoughts, Lucifer came up to me and leaned in close. “Don’t look so downtrodden, crabapple. No one touches what’s mine and lives to tell the tale. That goes for those horsewomen too.”
It was nearly impossible, but I forced myself to smile. My mates were trying so hard to bolster my spirits. The least I could do was pretend it was working.
“Well, I guess we’re heading to Hawai‘i,” I muttered.
I’d always wanted to visit the islands. It was too bad the first time I was going was under such dire circumstances. Maybe we’d luck out and send that monster packing.
And unmake the horsewomen.
And stop the apocalypse.
And my unborn child wouldn’t be the antichrist.
And God would show up and say all of this was a test and we’d passed.
Hey, if we were wishing for impossible things, I might as well aim high. If anyone knew how to dream, it was a succubus.
Chapter
Thirty-Eight
ASHER
Idon’t know if you were aware, but Cthulhu was as fucking disgusting in reality as he was in fiction. Especially with the way he was vomiting out terrifying little floating eyeball tentacle creatures.
Honestly, the accuracy where he was concerned had me wondering if perhaps this wasn’t his first visit topside. Pop culture had to get its references from somewhere.
“Listen, I’ve enjoyed my fair share of tentacle porn, but this one is not doing it for me. Plus, he stinks,” Remi said, pinching his nose.
“That’s the sulfur from the hellmouth.”
Remi frowned at me. “Are you sure? How do you know?”
I pointed at the gaping volcano nearby.
“Oh! What if we wicked witch this one?” Remi was bouncing like an excited puppy. “You know, throw water on his stinky ass until he melts?”
Caleb let out a grumble, then sighed. “It’s raining right now, Remi. He isn’t going to melt. If we’re lucky, the precipitation won’t turn into acid from the sulfuric fumes rising out of the belly of that volcano.”
“Okay, fine. What are the odds an equally disgusting monster jumps up from the bowels of the ocean and just eats him?” Remi asked, head tilted like an inquisitive bird.
“You just don’t quit, do you?” Kai asked, his voice a mix of awe and exasperation.
“I’ll quit when I’m dead.”