“That’s correct,” Lili said. “I didn’t tell him. He was not supposed to have this knowledge, but it was somehow leaked. The other demons who discovered this secret were very nervous and afraid of his wrath.”

“But if my presence here was supposed to ignite a war, why would the Prince think parading me around in front of the court was a good idea? Why not keep me locked up where no demon could see me? Keep it all under wraps and keep an eye on me?”

“He is prideful.” She shrugged. “And I may have told him… a few lies once he had me arrested.” She smirked. “He could not find the new Scriptures, because I had hidden them well, so he interrogated me as to what was in them—and I told him… some truths and some falsehoods.”

“So you basically made up enough stuff to make sure a war would indeed start,” I said. “And you took me through the Sholls, and everything else, to make sure we ended up where we needed to be? That seems risky on your part.”

“I took you through the Sholls because your only objective was to get to your brother. There was no other way. And if you remember, we did find him. I didn’t have an ultimate plan at the time, but I knew if we didn’t leave this plane immediately you would be apprehended sooner.” She shrugged again. “It didn’t really matter to me, because I believe wholeheartedly in the Scriptures. Whatever is meant to happen, will. It’s that simple.”

“Simple my ass.” I stood. “You could’ve told me what was at stake from the very beginning, especially if you wanted to earn my trust. You did no such thing.”

“I earned your trust by repeatedly by putting myself at risk,” she argued. “How else would I go about it? Everything I’ve done thus far has been for your betterment.” Her eyes pulsed in her anger.

“You stuck your neck out for your own cause, and nothing more,” I answered. “Don’t fool yourself.” I waved my hand in the air, dismissing the conversation. “We’re not getting anywhere with this and we need to move forward. I ignited a war, the damage is done, and now I want to prove that I don’t want anything more to do with Hell by helping the Princess ascend to the throne, and then I want to go home. In that order.”

“The only way to do that will be to convince the demon population that you seek no rule while the Princess announces the new Scriptures into law,” she said firmly.

Before I could question how we were supposed to do that, Ray’s voice floated into the room. Then he shouted. “What do you mean leaving? Where in the hell are you going to go?”

21

“Anywhere but here,” Selene replied in a haughty tone. “I have my soul back, but not my magic. I’m going to force them to give it back to me.”

I walked into the foyer, followed by Rourke and Tyler. Ray and Selene stood glaring at each other. “Selene,” I said patiently, interrupting them. “That’s not how things are going to work.” I gestured to the still-very-dead doppelganger lying on the floor. “She had your power and magic. I felt it. If it didn’t revert back to you, there’s a reason.”

When the Alpha or leader of a Sect dies, oftentimes their accumulated power seeks out the next in line, making the new Alpha or master the strongest of their kind. I had no idea what happened with true immortals—gods and goddesses were the very strongest of our kind, and if Selene’s power did not willingly go back to her there was likely no way she could reclaim it.

“As a goddess, it should’ve gone back to you,” Rourke said, mirroring my thoughts. “There’s nowhere else for it to go. So, like Jessica said, there must be a damn good reason why.”

“But it’s not fair. I need to heal and they need to pay for this,” she snipped.

“Marching back into the belly of the beast is not the way you want to handle this,” I told her. “You’re still their property, lest you forget. They will toss you into a cell and keep trying to kill you. Or make a new clone. Or something equally hideous.” I couldn’t believe I was arguing with Selene about keeping her safe. It was like my worlds had collided. My wolf growled.

Selene threw up her arms. “I don’t believe this. I can’t be an immortal with no power, such a thing doesn’t exist. I’d rather die than be left as an undying human until the end of time.”

“Well,” Ray snorted. “We could’ve easily arranged that about fifteen minutes ago.”

“Selene,” I said in the most patient tone I could possibly muster. “If you were back to full power and magic we’d be forced to act—and do something drastic, like throw you into the Sholls or have Ray suck your soul out. Be thankful for once in your sorry life that you are no threat to us, especially after everything you’ve done.”

I watched as emotion fluttered across her features, and just as quickly it was gone. “I did what I had to do,” she accused. “You all had it coming.”

“You don’t really believe that.” I squinted at her, assessing. “I think you might actually be gaining some empathy from this ordeal. I just saw a flicker of it now. Are you starting to care, Selene? I know it’s hard for you to feel anything, but I promise you it will be a welcome addition to your former power-hungry vanity-filled world.”

“I have empathy! Just not for fools who don’t deserve it.”

I strode up to her quickly, backing her into the wall. It was immensely satisfying to see her shrink before me. “This is how this is going to work,” I said through a clenched jaw. “Listen carefully, because I’m only going to explain it once. You will help us escape with every fiber of your being, and if you cooperate, we will take you with us. When we get home you will be put under arrest and kept by the witches. You will answer for every single crime you’ve committed against us, and you will do your time. And there won’t be a single dissent on your part. If at any moment you retaliate, from here on out, we either leave you behind or have Ray kill you. Do you understand me, Selene?” She opened her mouth and started to speak, but I shut her down. “Before you even think about answering, I’d suggest you mull it over. We’re giving you something you would never allow us in return.” I leaned forward until there was no more personal space left. “We are giving you a chance. And for that, I want you grateful. If you so much as snicker at me, I will toss your ass out the front door before you’re finished speaking. The demons can tear at your flesh for an eternity, because this is it from me.” I bared my teeth just to be sure she got the message. My wolf was close to the surface, snarling her warning in tandem.