It was like watching a movie. An older woman lay in a hospital bed, struggling to speak. “Take care of Kayley,” she said in a weak, trembling voice.
“Mom.” Morrigan’s voice broke, and a lone tear trickled down her cheek.
Maccus’s list of reasons why the devil deserved to die was long and detailed, but making her cry was now at the top.
Lucifer closed his hand, and the image disappeared. “I fear you’re something of a disappointment to your mother. Such a shame.”
“What do you want?” Maccus demanded, tired of the games.
“World domination,” he quickly replied. “But I’ll settle for you gone.” The smile he gave was chilling. “And she’s going to give it to me.”
“Why are you so threatened by me?” It puzzled him. “You’re the undisputed leader of Hell. I’ve been gone from your realm for a very long time. And trust me when I tell you I have no plans on returning.”
Lucifer hissed, his eyes turning blood red, his facial features shimmering until his devil’s face appeared. Morrigan gasped, Kayley whimpered, but Maccus didn’t turn away.
The image faded, and his human mask returned. “I don’t like loose ends. Plus, it encourages bad behavior among the demons. Kill him, bounty hunter.”
Morrigan crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head. “No.”
Maccus didn’t take any solace from her reply. This was just getting started.
“Wouldn’t you like to free your sister?” A contract appeared in the devil’s hand, and he waved it in the air. She stared at the thing, unblinking, her gaze intense. “Wouldn’t you like to free yourself? Think about it.”
“I can’t kill Maccus.”
That wasn’t saying she didn’t want to, only an acknowledgment that she wasn’t skilled enough to defeat him. His heart hardened even further. The tiny sliver of light in his soul flickered. The beast that had lived inside him for tens of thousands of years stirred. He wasn’t sure he wanted to suppress it this time.
“You’ve got me there. Just attack him. I’ll accept it as a show of good faith.”
What was Lucifer doing? He had to know Maccus would kill her. And that was the goal of both he and Gabriel.
Patience waning, the devil stomped over to the wall and reached for Kayley. Morrigan jumped in front of her sister. “Leave her alone.”
“You dare to try to stop me?” The utter disbelief was amusing.
“Yes.” Her voice was flat. “You can’t have both of us. It’s in the contract. I’ve actually read the thing, at length.” She pointed her dagger at Lucifer.
While he admired her courage, the urge to shove her behind him grew.
“I signed on to take Kayley’s place, but if you’ve taken her to Hell, my contract is null and void.”
It was a brilliant and dangerous deduction.
The devil threw back his head and screamed in fury. The ground shook, windows shattered.
Gabriel stepped into the light and held up his hand. The falling glass stopped in midair. With a twist of his hand, the shards reversed their course, realigning as though they’d never been broken. He’d turned back time by several seconds, something not easily done.
“I should have known better than to leave things to you.” The archangel sneered at his brother. “Such a temper.”
“Stay out of this,” Lucifer warned. “If this contract is null and void, I no longer need it.” The parchment disappeared into thin air. Then he smiled. “Want to trade your soul to get your sister out of Hell?”
…
Shit. Shit. Shit. She’d lost her temper and played her only card too soon. While she was elated she was no longer contracted to Hell, Kayley was still in trouble. And yes, her sister might have gotten them into his situation from the beginning, but that didn’t mean Morrigan could just leave her there.
She was in the same damn position she’d been in ten years ago.
Maccus was silent and unmoving. His bare chest gleamed in the dim light, the inked weapons a stark reminder he was ready and able to fight. He was so stoic. So