Nina had to hold Jared back this time.
Eden caught my gaze and shook her head once, warning me not to react.
Eli held up his hand. “Now, now. We can all agree that all belong to the Creator,” he scanned Lucifer, “even when we misbehave.”
A sword appeared in my father’s hand, and before anyone could react, Lucifer buried it deep in Eli’s chest. Eli’s torso concaved, and he looked down at the enormous sword protruding from his body.
Jared’s eyes bulged; his mouth fell open. Claire sprang into action, and Bex used his body to shield Allison before the humans even knew what had happened.
“Children misbehave,” Lucifer hissed, yanking the sword from Eli’s rib cage. “I am no child.” He caught Claire midair, holding her by the throat, her feet dangling several feet from the ground. Lucifer looked up at her. “This feels familiar somehow. Shall we open your skull again?”
“No!” Ryan said so loud his veins bulged from his forehead and neck. He shook while he spoke, his skin bright red. The volume was impressive for a human.
Nina cried out and covered her mouth, but her hand fell away when she realized there was no blood saturating Eli’s shirt where the sword had entered. Eden watched it play out as if she were watching television, interested but unfazed.
Eli righted himself, fixing his torn Oxford. He wasn’t hurt, but he was annoyed, rare for the highest-ranking liaison of Heaven. He pointed at Claire, pulling her without touch from Lucifer’s grip and setting her gently on her feet next to Ryan.
“Lucifer, Satan, Abaddon, Beelzebub, Belial, Apollyon…” Eli listed slowly. My father winced with each. “Prince of Darkness, Fallen Star, Morning Star, Tempter, Beast, Dragon.” Eli spoke louder with each name. He walked toward Lucifer, who recoiled. “In the name of the Most High,” Eli quieted, “you will listen.”
A beautiful echo followed his words, but it was also fearsome, as if they had come straight from God.
Lucifer’s breath was labored, his shoulders sagged. He dropped the sword. The heavy iron fell through the wooden floor, disappearing as quickly as it had materialized.
Jared’s hands were perched on his knees as his head fell forward. “I thought,” he said, breathing hard, “I thought you were gone forever. I thought it was…”
“The sword? You mean Gehenna,” Eli said, flattening his ruffled, torn shirt with his palms. “If it were, I’d be ashes, and by the hand of the Creator so would Lucifer.”
“Thank God,” Jared said, standing.
“Gehenna?” I said, the word feeling familiar on my lips. My memory returned. It was a fabled sword that could kill immortals. “It was destroyed on the last day of the war, wasn’t it?”
Jared began to answer but was interrupted.
“Twice now Heaven has spared her life,” Satan spoke. “The Balance has been broken. Over and over you…” his neck stretched, and his eyes rolled in their sockets as another moan ripped through him, “…lie.”
Eli arched a brow. “Did you just call the Almighty a liar, Lucifer?”
Lucifer groaned again, his body bending in ways that would break a human’s every bone.
“What’s happening to him?” Ryan asked.
“He’s being punished, and he’s fighting it. Elsewhere,” Claire said.
“Elsewhere?” Ryan asked.
“It’s making his existence on this plane weaker,” Eden said.
“So let’s kill him,” Ryan said, pulling his sidearm and pointing it at my father’s head. His thumb pulled down the hammer, and it clicked.
“No,” Eden commanded. “No.” Her voice was softer this time.
“She’s right,” Eli said. “Put it away.”
Ryan did as he was told, not that he had another choice.
Lucifer took a step forward, tired but refocused. “If not her, then who? She must be punished!”
Eli nodded. “Very well.”
“No!” Eden said, covering my body with hers. She looked up at Eli. “Not Levi. I’ll go.”
“Eden, stop!” I said, grabbing her wrist. “You’re not doing this to me again. To us again.” I gestured to her family, and her gaze panned to everyone staring at her in horror.
Tear-glazed eyes stared into mine. “Levi, I’m not losing you again, either. There has to be another way. Think of another way.”
Eli grinned. “Levi is right. You’re off limits, toots. The Lord God won’t allow that gaffe again.”
Eden looked down at me, her mind traveling through every variable and avenue. Her eyes closed tight, and I realized it wasn’t alternate outcomes she was thinking of. She had sensed my brothers coming full speed to our plane before I did.
Eden’s face turned severe. “Send them back, Lucifer!” she demanded. She looked at Eli. “There are humans here! Send them back!”
The walls rattled, and an orange glow warmed the windows. The back door cracked, and then something from the other side blew through it, sending splintered wood into the dining room.
Cassia stood, looking particularly gruesome and intimidating in as mundane a setting as the Greys' dining room.
Lucifer smiled in satisfaction, drunk from the growing fear in the room.
“Eden,” Eli warned.
She looked down at me, her breathing faster than before. “I won’t let them take you.”
“Eden,” I said, shaking my head once. “Let me do this.”
“They’ll kill you, or worse—let you live.” Her voice broke.
“This is from the top,” Eli said. He held up one finger, pausing for a moment before nodding and speaking again. “Levi stays. He is Bex’s Taleh. To hand him over would be to also give you Bex’s life, and both would be at your disposal.”
I looked up at Eden, who breathed out a sigh of relief. Tears spilled over her cheeks. She wiped them quickly, glaring at Cassia.
“We’re okay,” I said, trying to comfort her.
“You’re okay,” Bex echoed me in a whisper. That near silence was what gained the attention of everyone he didn’t want to hear.
“Who is this?” Cassia asked with a wicked grin, nodding toward Allison.
Allison trembled uncontrollably in Bex’s arms.
“I won’t let anything happen to you. I promise,” Bex whispered. His eyes closed in regret. In his attempt to comfort his niece, he’d drawn Hell’s focus to the woman he loved. We could all see the determination in his eyes, but that commitment to protect Allison only excited my father more.
“If you’ll not hand over the One, and not my Judas son, then who?” Lucifer snarled. His question was only theatrics. He knew who he wanted before he’d asked.
Satan’s gaze fell on Bex and Allison. “Someone to teach the Ryels a lesson. Someone to satisfy me. A sweet, tender little lamb. Their pet lamb.”
“I’ll kill you, first,” Bex said. “She’s an innocent.”
Lucifer smiled. “Well, then. Eden is special. Allison is human. Both untouchable. This sounds very much like a fair trade, Eli. Something Heaven would allow no doubt.”
Bex met Lucifer’s eyes without hesitation. “Heaven will burn before I let you touch her.”
“Bex,” Eli warned. He wasn’t angry, but the youngest Ryel sibling was dangerously close to blasphemy.
“Eli didn’t say no,” Cassia said. She leapt from where she stood, aiming her knives at Allison as she came dangerously close to the human’s throat. Cassia’s feet hit the floor, and Allison leaned back unnaturally far to avoid the blade suddenly at her throat.
Bex had the attention of the room, holding a cutlass against the flawless, rich skin of Cassia’s throat.
“Where the hell did you get that?” Claire shrieked.
I couldn’t contain the grin spreading across my face.
The short, broad sabre sword was Gehenna. One of only two weapons could exist in all three realms. The small but efficient weapon was what my father used the day he turned on God. Its perpetual
ly sharp edges had slayed angels in the thousands, and it in turn could also kill demons; definitely a creature like Cassia. Recognition erased the smug grin usually residing on Cassia’s face—and my father’s—the same time it hit me. Gehenna was confiscated when Lucifer and his legions surrendered. It had been hidden away for eons, and now it was in Bex’s hand.
My father screamed for his slave. Besides my mother, Cassia was the closest he’d ever come to loving something more than himself. She put away her knives, sliding them into the holsters at the back of her leather vest, and without a word, she backed away from Bex’s human slowly until she achieved safety next to my father.
“I’m going to throw you into the Oubliette, and you’ll rot there for eternity,” Lucifer hissed. He stared at Bex, and then Allison. “But first I’ll make you watch as I torture her until she begs for death. She’ll scream out your name until she has no lips or tongue to form it.”
Bex lunged at the Devil, but his brother stopped him.
“Bex spared her life!” Jared said, pleading to Eli while struggling to hold back his little brother. “Cassia attempted to disturb The Balance. Bex could’ve slit her throat, but he restrained himself. She should fall under our protection.”
“Enough,” Eli said. Bex stopped fighting. “Jared makes a good point. Regardless of what rules have or haven’t been broken—because, let’s face it, you’re both famous for skirting the rules—” he said under his breath, “the Ryels are protected, Lucifer. You know this.”
My father backed away as he spoke. “The woman isn’t a Ryel.”
Bex grabbed Allison's left hand and held it up, showing her engagement ring to the room. “She will be.”
“Then I have until then,” my father snarled before he left, and he took Cassia and my brothers back the way they came.
Bex lunged at where Lucifer stood, but was stopped midair by Claire. He kicked and tore at his sister, trying to get to the one demon who had killed his niece. It was clear now who and what Allison was to him.
“Bex, stop!” Claire yelled, dodging his fists while somehow managing to keep hold. “Bex, please!”
Despite Claire’s begging, Bex continued to thrash until Allison stepped in.
“Bex,” she said, her voice calm. Just holding her palm to his cheek was all it took to render him helpless.
Claire grabbed his collar in both fists, ripping it when she yanked his face to hers. “What the hell is wrong with you?” she said, yanking again. “Where did you get the blade?”
Bex never took his eyes off Allison, breathing hard from fighting his sister.
Eden wore the same frown as her uncle.
“You okay?” I asked.
“Don’t do that again,” she said, stern. “Don’t you ever offer yourself in my place, or anyone’s place, do you hear me?”
“I—”
“If we’re apart, this was all pointless,” she said, exasperated. “I won’t live another lifetime, another day without you. Got it?”
“I get it. I’m sorry, I just… I couldn’t watch him take you again.” I cleared my throat, feeling it tighten at the memory.
She gestured to Eli. “You heard him! My family was given protection, and I’m off limits. I understand a sacrificial death is the only way for you to get into Heaven, but your father would’ve kept you alive just enough to torture you.”
“Okay!” I said, squeezing the arm that was around her neck. I pulled her face to me and kissed her cheek. “I panicked. Won’t happen again.”
“Thank you,” she said, still frowning.
Eli stared at the blade in Bex’s hand. “Well? Are we going to talk about this?”
“I can’t,” Bex said, lowering Gehenna to his side.
Eden reached her hand toward her uncle, palm up. “Hand it over.”
Bex frowned.
Eden wiggled her fingers a few times, impatient. “You know why.”
Bex rolled his eyes and tossed her the sword. The thick grip landed in her palm.
“You didn’t know he had it,” Jared said to Eli, more a statement than a question. “How could you not know?”
Ryan scratched his head. “I thought he knew everything.”
“No one knew,” Bex said. “It was the only way.”
“How did you get it?” Eli asked.
Bex shook his head. “It was a gift.”
“From who?” Jared asked.
“Someone who knew I’d need it. That’s all I can say.”
“Eden?” Jared asked.
“I don’t know how he got it. I just know as the Keeper of The Balance it makes sense for me to hang on to it.”
“Well,” Eli said, checking his buttons. “That could change, Eden. I’ll let you know. And, Bex, whoever gave it to you stole it. Not only is that one of the Big Ten of no-no’s, it also happens to disturb The Balance. The punishment for that is death via your niece. I’m afraid you’re going to have to tell me.”
“I’m afraid we’re at an impasse, Eli,” Bex said.
Eli’s brows pulled together, but he still managed a smile. “I’m hearing you say you won’t tell me.”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying. I’m sorry, Eli,” Bex said, genuinely apologetic.
Eli was certainly out of his element. It seemed, very possibly for the first time, that Eli didn’t know what to do.
Chapter Seven
Eden
Levi leaned against the wall to keep himself upright while I turned the squeaky doorknob of my bedroom. Once the door was open, he held his breath from the pain, even as I supported his full weight.
“Still not healed?” I asked.
“It’s slower this time. I don’t know why.”
The color had already returned to his beautiful, albeit bruised and battered face. Those wounds were procured while trying to save me, and although I’d already loved him for an eternity, that made me want to love him for another one.
We paused at the end of my bed, and Levi leaned down to kiss me.
“Wait just a second.” I chuckled.
“Are they still talking downstairs?”
I nodded. Allison had a minor mental breakdown when Eli blinked from our plane, and only Mom was patient enough to wait for Dad to explain things his way. So Ryan offered a human’s perspective, while Bex and Claire explained everything to Allison.
“What do you mean I can’t leave?” Allison asked. I could hear her weight leave the chair she sat on and transfer to the boards of the floor beneath her feet.
“It’s not safe for you to go anywhere alone now,” Bex said.
“Unless I’m a Ryel,” she said. “Eli said… He said Ryels are protected.”
“Everything okay?” Levi asked.
I nodded again. “She mentioned that if she’s a Ryel, she’s protected.” I listened more and frowned.
“Uh oh,” Levi said.
“Bex just told her he doesn’t want this life for her. Stupid,” I hissed under my breath. I smiled. “She’s stubborn. She just said it was too late now.”
Allison began to pace, and Bex waited, allowing her a moment to be human. I felt bad for her, and I could feel that my mother did, too. Taking a crash course in Heaven and Hell and the creatures and laws that came with it would be frightening for anyone, and now the man she loved just said he didn’t want to marry her. That would be a shitty day for anyone.
“We all understand, Allie. It’s okay,” Mom said.
Ryan stood, and Allison paused in front of him.
“How … how did you feel?” Allison asked. “When they told you?”
Claire sighed. “Don’t ask him. He’s a mutant.”
Allison took a step back, her heart rate rising.
Bex couldn’t hold in the chuckle that rose up in him. “She’s not being literal,” he said.
“You think this is funny? I just had a run-in with Satan himself. This isn’t a joke, Bex,” Allison said, irritated.
“You’re right,” Bex said, clearing his throat. “You’re right. It’s just that … I haven’t seen you for what feels like an eternity, and you’re here, and it’s … surreal. You’re still beautiful and as feisty as I remember.”
I smiled. Bex had women throwing themselves at him since he was fifteen. He’d looked like a full-grown man since he was even younger than that, but it wasn’t until he saw Allison for the first time in Titan Shipping’s lobby did he even hope to have a normal relationship. He’d been waiting to learn who his Taleh was and was devastated to learn she wasn’t it. My father’s Taleh was my mother; Claire’s Taleh was Ryan. Bex knew how hard it was for his father Gabe, an Arch, to love a human who wasn’t his Taleh—to be away almost all the time from his wife, his family. Bex didn’t want that for Allison, and so he'd let her go.
Allison spoke again. “I know you said to stay away, but when you called … your voice… I knew something horrible had happened, and I couldn’t not come.”
We’d all gotten to know Allison while they were together. She’d always possessed a quiet strength, very different from her uncertainty in that moment. I knew it was hard for Bex to see. “C’mere. Alli, please? C’mere.” His voice was softer the second time, begging her to trust him.
Allison’s heart stopped pounding, and she relaxed, sitting next to him.
Bex explained himself yet again. “No, I don’t think this is funny. Ryan is human like you. He was unfazed when Claire told him. Other than thinking she was messing with him at first, Ryan just wanted to know her secret so it would be one less thing standing in his way. He doesn’t get rattled by much, which is probably why my sister married him.”
“And you?” Allison asked.
“Me?” Mom said. She’d stayed relatively quiet during Allison’s education. “It was so long ago.”
“As if you don’t remember,” Dad said.
She paused, her mind fully submerged in the memories. “He was very thorough when he told me the truth. It was overwhelming, but I’d already had an idea something was … amiss.”
“You were very patient,” Dad said. “And I was terrified.”
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