Page 140 of A Deal in Darkness
Elgios wants a fucking promotion. He’s tired of being a Duke of Hell and he wants to be a prince.
I smirk and walk toward the demon, who’s far too bold for his own good. Even my ambition has limits, and being a Prince of Hell is a curse that few endure long enough to reap any reward. I’m fucking sure that Lucifer tests the mettle of his most trusted underlings by giving them a poisoned chalice and seeing if they survive.
“If I’m going to risk everything, then I deserve a fucking reward when I pull it off and I’m not having you or any other fucker take it from me.” Elgios is ruthless enough to stand a chance and he stares at me with those ice-blue eyes, determined to make Hell freeze over. “I fucking mean it, Amaymon. I’ve waited too fucking long for this chance.”
“Mordecai is yours, Elgios, provided I’m not forced to act. If I am, then I’ll make sure Lucifer’s aware you need appropriate remuneration.”
We’re dividing the spoils of war and Adriana’s not got the time for this shit.
“I know,” I reply, grabbing his shoulder. “I get my girl and you get your throne. Seems like a fair arrangement.”
“Hardly,” Elgios sighs. “I’d rather have that girl of yours. We’d better go get her before Eva turns her into something that neither of us would want.”
41
NOT GOOD ENOUGH
ENZO
Demons line up behind, ready to charge to their death. This isn’t going to be pretty and it’s going to turn into a bloodbath. We’ve already lost a unit taking down a ward protecting the Temple of the Damned, and the loss of numbers is fucking inconvenient.
“You’re sure about this?” Morgana asks.
I send her a look that would make most shrivel up and die, and she rolls her eyes, unimpressed.
“He’s obsessed with her,” Elgios sighs.
“He’s not obsessed,” Morgana says, tapping the blackened nails of her long fingers against her arm. “It’s dangerous when a demon’s like this. Best to avoid them entirely. But here we are and when this is done, Amaymon, you will owe me for the blood spilled in your name.”
Technically, it’s Adriana’s.
But I’m not going to correct her. Especially when she’s this fucking irate. Morgana is a fury in all but name and the witches behind her hiss and spit, already thrashing against the bonds that hold them back.
“Let’s get this over with,” I roar.
It’s hardly the best rallying call I’ve ever used, but I don’t intend for it to be. It’s meant to give Elgios the chance to rise. He wants a seat at Lucifer’s table and the fucker’s going to have to earn it. Starting now. He’ll pay for it in blood and sweat and tears and cries of agony. His army will be depleted and he will need to rebuild it, but that’s his problem and one for another day.
Elgios roars and stamps the ground, beating out the sound of war. The demons behind us hear its thrum and their blood boils, and their rage is palpable. Elgios is summoning the carnage and chaos of battle, and it flows through him into those around us. The power is palpable and the anticipation of release is exquisite.
Demons roar and bang their chests, joining in with the rhythm that’s taking hold. War has no limits in Hell and this will be a bloodbath—and those standing with us are aware they may not survive the day. They’re in it for the pleasure of destruction and the reward they’ll receive if they survive.
Hell has few rewards, and the aftermath of battle is one of them.
My patience tires as Elgios rallies the army behind us. It’s taking too fucking long and I’m more concerned with what’s in front of us than behind. Adriana’s enduring fuck knows what, and I’m done wasting time with this shit.
Byron gathered some numbers, and a few Lords of Hell joined our ranks. They’ll look for a promotion when this is done and I’m sure my vaults will be slightly diminished. It’s a small price to pay for the girl who’s suffering in the fucking temple, and I glance at Elgios, silently asking him to hurry the fuck up.
All Hell breaks loose as we cry havoc and race towards the Temple of the Damned. Morgana’s magic flies ahead, pouring venom ahead as it sustains hit after hit. Explosions ricochet around us and I ignore them all, racing toward the entrance.
More witches push their magic forward and another ward sparks, lighting the battlefield with sparks of neon green and dayglow orange. Their heat bursts forward as the forces collide and the witches refuse to surrender, taking hit after hit until they take down the fucking barrier.
Just in goddamn time for me to charge through where it stood.
Demons rise from the barren soil beneath me and my wings open, slicing through those that dare to challenge me. Their numbers swell as they rise like a fucking rash and there’s no stopping their spread. Eva’s well prepared, and the army we’re facing is a swarm of disgusting and despicable violence.
And it will not stop me.
Not when Adriana’s inside that fucking temple.
