Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 98961 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 495(@200wpm)___ 396(@250wpm)___ 330(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98961 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 495(@200wpm)___ 396(@250wpm)___ 330(@300wpm)
I open my eyes and look at everyone’s stunned face. “He took the Horsemen to the Underworld.”
“That…that’s a good thing, isn’t it?” Ruby asks, turning and eyeing Tabatha and Evander.
“It would appear so,” Evander replies slowly. “Though things are rarely as they seem. Where…where is Lucas?”
My throat tightens and I blink back more tears before inhaling, holding onto my rage. The lights flicker and I want nothing more than to summon hellfire in one hand and pure white light in the other. I want to feel their power and then use it to kill every single demonic horse and get my husband back.
“The deal,” I start. “Was for four Horsemen. Famine came first and I…I…knocked him off his horse and then Lucas killed him.” It plays out before me in my mind, and everything starts to feel numb. Am I going into shock? I don’t know. I don’t care. “But Osiris would only take four since the Three Horsemen of the Apocalypse doesn’t have the same ring to it, I guess.” I turn my hands over, summoning a small flame. It burns blue and the sight of it reminds me of the flames that took Lucas. “That’s when Lucifer came. To…to finish the deal or whatever but he did jack shit and Lucas got on the horse and became Famine.” I close my fist, putting out the flame and summoning white light instead as a collective silence falls over the room.
“Lucas became Famine?” Tabatha echoes.
“The power comes from the horse. When he got on, he…he…” I can’t bring myself to say it. He changed.
And I won’t say it because he didn’t change. He’s still Lucas. Still my husband. The one person in the world who believes me in more than anyone else. And he’s waiting for me to figure all this out so we can get back to being a family again.
“So, I need to get down to the Underworld and get Lucas back.” I push my hair behind my shoulders and take a deep breath. I’m still wearing the black dress I had on from before and a wardrobe change is necessary. I should load up on weapons too and nurse my daughter before leaving just in case I’m gone for a long time. “Anyone up for a field trip?” I ask.
“Where are we going?” Evander asks, shooting his mother a concerned look.
“The Underworld. I’m getting Lucas back.”
“Callie, darling.” Tabatha shakes her head. “You can’t just go to the Underworld.”
“I can, and I will.”
“We don’t know where it is,” Ruby tries, taking a logical approach that’s lost on me right now. I’m not thinking straight, and I won’t until the love of my life is back at my side.
“Yeah, I do. It’s in the Underworld. I’ve been to Hell and back. I can go, I just…I just need to figure out how.” Swallowing hard, I close my eyes and fling my hands out at my sides, trying to get the wings to appear at my back so I can fly myself out of here. Not that I know how to do that, but I’m willing to risk it.
Nothing happens. Inhaling, I feel the fire inside me start to rise. I roll my shoulders and jerk forward but, again, nothing.
“What…what are you doing?” Evander asks.
“Nothing,” I sigh. “Nothing but wasting time.”
“Callie,” Tabatha says a little sternly this time. “Lucifer made it quite clear it’s not safe for you to leave the Covenstead. You need to remain hidden while he deals with others. If there are more demons—”
“He’s not dealing with demons,” I interrupt. “He’s dealing with our murderous asshole relatives.”
“The other archangels,” Ruby whispers.
“Yeah,” I say and realize how bad this actually is. The others will know for sure now that Lucifer isn’t in Hell if they blame him for the surge in angel-energy. And if they don’t blame him, will they blame my dad? Uriel is already trying to get everyone against them.
But the alternative isn’t any better. Because it means they’ll know that the nephilim child is alive and well—and powerful.
And now a mother…with a child who has divinity running through her veins as well.
There’s a soft knock at the door and Eliza steps in only a second later. Her usual resting bitch face is strained with worry. Juliet is in her arms, wearing the pajamas Lucas and I dressed her in only hours ago.
“She’s hungry,” Eliza says and silently crosses the room. My heart jumps into my throat the second I take my baby from Eliza’s arms. Juliet turns her head, nuzzling against my breasts. Swallowing hard, I sit back down on the couch and situate Juliet so she can nurse.
I’m going to get him back, I mentally promise our daughter, stroking her wispy dark hair with one hand. No matter what. I will bring your father back to you.