and squeeze, the realization flowing over me and singing to my soul as my heart leaps in victory.
We did it.
37
I thought the actual battle was bloody and ugly, but the aftermath is much, much worse. Death is bleak and heavy, and it’s all around us in shades of gray and red.
Once my sisters and I toss down our cuffs in grim satisfaction and fly out of the small crater we created, we get a look at the tail end of the fight of restoring balance.
We watch in grim awe as most of Morax’s followers—the ones under compulsion—kneel and tremble in pleading subjugation to the Seven Sins and Lucifer. They beg for mercy, and surprisingly, Lucifer grants it.
But the others, the ones who followed the Ophidian willingly, they don’t stop. They continue to fight, but it’s a desperate, nothing-to-lose fight, all snarling screams and resigned swings of power and weapons.
Wrath and Lucifer easily cut them down, and within minutes, the world around us becomes eerily quiet. Deathly quiet. I thought that this place resembled a graveyard before, but now that it’s littered with ash and bodies, it’s more like an open tomb.
My eyes quickly find the glowing portal, but instead of my mates, I find a large group of angels, easily discernible by their glowing white souls and wings. I’m completely surprised by their presence here in Hell. Their armor matches Nefta’s, and even though they don’t mix with Lucifer’s demons to celebrate the victory, they came to help, proving to me that they all really do believe in their mission to defend the balance.
I take one last look at the still open gateway between Heaven and Hell, and it’s comforting to know that the portal that Toreon made, the one that almost killed him, was used against Morax in the end. It seems even if Morax had made it to the portal, the Legion was right there waiting for him. For once, we were a step ahead of Morax.
The Sins and Lucifer are busy ridding Hell of dead bodies. It’s all very efficient as they guide demons who somewhat resemble Delta’s mate Jerif to burn the bodies and clear away the ash. It’s obvious that Hell has fought many wars and battles since they’re so good at cleaning up the aftermath. It makes me wonder what else has transpired on this land.
That’s all my eyes can take in though, because three groups converge on my sisters and me all at once, and I find myself suddenly surrounded by nine demons.
Medley’s mates get to her, squeezing her between them, like they have no intention of letting her out of their sight ever again. Delta’s mates also cocoon her between them. They take their turns talking, kissing, and touching, and it warms me to see my sisters so thoroughly loved and cherished.
I’m a little surprised when I’m immediately enveloped by strong arms and worried gazes. Maybe I shouldn’t be, I know there are intense feelings on both sides with all my new guys, but I’m not prepared for the shower of affection and the desperate need each of them has to know and feel that I’m okay. By the time I’m set back down on my feet, still reassuring them that I’m fine, I’m crying.
Everything that’s happened, everything I’ve survived, sort of just hits me like a ton of bricks. The last of my adrenaline drains away, and relief floods me, spilling out in a deluge of tears. I’m free. Not just from Morax, but from the life I lived and the loneliness that haunted my every step. It’s done, and as I blink through the steady stream of tears and look around, I know I’ll never feel like that again. I’m no longer alone.
Toreon cups my face in his strong green palms. He silently kisses my tears away with a gentle skim of his lips, his mere presence soothing all that I’ve lost and reassuring me of all that I’ve gained. Vudu is at my back, one large arm banded around my waist. He supports my exhausted body against his, wordlessly taking the weight from my shoulders as he lets me lean against him, his strength holding me up.
Ire glances between the two of them before his blue gaze falls to mine, his temper showing through in the frown marring his plush lips. I can tell he’s frustrated because he’s not sure where he fits in this dynamic. He wants to help things feel better too, but he’s not sure how.