to stay upright. No way was she having this confrontation while on her ass. Too bad she had nothing to lean on. And no one.
Maccus was keeping his distance. It hurt, but she understood. This wasn’t his battle.
“Why do you think I got into worshipping Lucifer? At first, it was to meet dear old dad. Then I wanted his power.”
Morrigan was dumbfounded. It was all true. She was half demon and half human, which was why she could be a bounty hunter and live in the human world indefinitely while still being able to travel to Hell.
“What have you done?” the demon asked Kayley.
Morrigan didn’t even know what to call him. “What’s your name?” she asked. It seemed important. He wasn’t some nameless creature. He was her father.
“Creb.”
“Creb.” She repeated it. God, how had her mother felt when she’d discovered the truth? Had she still loved him? Had she cursed him? One thing for sure, she’d loved her daughters. Morrigan would never doubt that.
“The family reunion is touching. Wait—no, it’s not. Take her,” Lucifer ordered once again.
Creb nodded. But it wasn’t her he reached for, but Kayley.
“Wait. Stop it.” Kayley beat at his arms and shoulders, but she was no match for the full-blooded demon. She turned pleading eyes to Lucifer. “You told me if I did as you asked, you’d leave me here.”
Shock rocked through Morrigan. “You haven’t been to Hell?” Which meant her contract was not null and void, after all. Lucifer couldn’t admit the truth earlier without exposing her sister’s duplicity. He’d been keeping that information in reserve, ready to hit her with it when she least expected it.
“Of course not,” Kayley snapped. “I’m not stupid like you. Tell him to put me down. You promised.”
“Put her down, Creb.”
Even more shocking than her sister ordering Lucifer to do anything was his compliance. Morrigan’s one shot at freedom was gone. With Kayley having never been to Hell, her contract was still active.
The portal still shimmered. Creb nodded and started to lower Kayley to her feet. A smug, satisfied smile tilted her lips upward. She’d won, yet again.
Morrigan was still responsible for the debt owed, her life belonging to Lucifer. Her father looked right at her. There was sorrow in his eyes. Regret.
Then he tightened his hold on Kayley and dove through the portal. It winked closed behind them.
What had just happened?
“Nooo!” Lucifer roared. “What have you done, you stupid demon?”
“He’s freed me.” The wonder of it left her breathless. Her father had defied Lucifer. He’d done it for her, even knowing he’d pay for eternity for his disobedience.
I’m free.
From everything she’d learned as a hunter, there was nothing the devil could do about it. The terms of her contract were quite clear. Her obligation existed only as long as Kayley stayed out of Hell.
It was finally over. The invisible shackles of hopelessness she’d worn for so long vanished, leaving her almost giddy.
She’d mourn her sister, eventually. Once she got past the anger and hurt, she’d remember Kayley as the bright child she’d been. That sister had died long ago.
“Is this really necessary?” Gabriel motioned to the blades still sticking out of him. “Bloodstains are so hard to remove, and this is my favorite shirt.”
The sarcasm was deep enough to cut.
She’d been so lost in her family drama she’d all but forgotten about the archangel.
Maccus held out his arms, and the blades flew to him, settling on his body once again. The angel’s wounds closed in the blink of an eye.
“That’s better.” The angel snapped his fingers, and his clothing was spotless once again. Then he pointed at her. “She no longer has the protection of Hell, does she?”
Lucifer shook his head, his smile icy cold, his dark eyes glittering with fury.
“Kill her,” Gabriel told Maccus, “and you can have anything you desire. I can get your wings back. Refuse, and I’ll send every angel in existence after you.”