that made me think they were repressing it. I hadn’t really understood their religious fervor until I’d been ripped through time and space for myself.
Who wouldn’t pay worship to something that powerful? I kept thinking of the glistening web I’d seen that had linked everything. Nothing was untouched by its strands, from the pinnacle of Heaven to the depths of Hell.
Everything was connected. And now that I’d finally touched it for myself, I would be able to find the ones I loved.
I stood up shakily and managed to bow in return to the Chainlings without falling over. “Thank you. I appreciate everything you’ve shown me.”
The leader led me back through the temple, parting the crowds for me. I was trying to keep my breathing steady, not to jump out through my skin at the news. Fortunately, the Chainling didn’t try to hold me up or coddle me. I needed to walk on my own; now that my path was clear, it was time to finish healing and prepare to go out into Hell. I couldn’t afford to rely on anyone else.
For the entire duration of the upwards climb into the arena, I kept playing the visions in my head over and over, committing every last detail to memory. The drifts of ash, the jagged peaks, the endless chasms.
And the look of complete emptiness on Lucifer’s face. I hoped he was fighting it, but his tattoos had been so viciously red, wrapped around his body like a prison.
As soon as I climbed the uppermost step into the familiar halls overhead, I gave the Chainling my goodbyes and managed to walk to the end of the corridor. But the moment I hit the end, I broke into a run, uncaring of the slight ache in my wing and wounded shoulder.
I needed all three of them. Azazel was sleeping, Belial and Tascius were still in the Ninth Circle-
Or at least one of them was still in the Circle below. The eclipse on my wrist was warmer than the sigil on my palm, the chain between us strong and bright. I held up my arm, watching as the chain connected to Tascius brightened and faded. The harder I thought about him, the bright the connection was.
No matter how much distance was between us, I’d always be able to see and follow the chains now.
I ran down the stairs and through the empty stands to the rest of my fortress. The faint sound of metal on metal tinkled in the distance, catching my ear.
They were in the training rooms, of course. I skidded to a halt in the doorway as Tascius leveled an attack at Michael with a broadsword, just missing the older archangel’s abdomen.
Silver against gold, they fought like tigers, hacking and slashing in a flurry of white wings. Haru leaned against the back wall with one foot propped up behind him, arms crossed over his chest and smirking as he watched the fight.
Tascius and Michael were absorbed in attempting to kill each other, but Haru’s smirk faded when he saw me.
“What is it?” His voice was as sharp as the canines that flashed when he spoke. One luxurious tail flicked behind him in agitation.
I tried to calm my heart rate. “I need Belial if you know where he is.”
Tascius faltered at the sound of my voice, and Michael drove the butt of his sword into his solar plexus.
I winced, but Tascius didn’t go down. He pulled a face and shot Michael a dirty look, but the golden archangel just let out a booming laugh.
“We need to meet up right now,” I added, stressing the now. “I think I know where Lucifer and Vyra are.”
Haru had pushed off the wall. He shrugged his arms into the sleeves of his kimono and was at my shoulder before I blinked, looming over me. “Where?” he asked, his tone dangerously silky.
“I don’t know where, which is why we need Belial.” Did they not understand the urgency? I pulled the sword out of Tascius’s hands and tossed it aside. “Let’s go, now.”
Azazel was sleeping upstairs. I could go get him… or I could practice calling them.
I turned my back on the lot of them, squeezing my eyes shut for concentration. We were all connected by the Chain, and it seemed like mate marks were a special sort of chain. If I could feel their emotions, surely I could reach out to them.
My fingertips brushed over the violet star on the nape of my neck, and I felt for