“We’re okay,” I said, trying to comfort her.
“You’re okay,” Bex echoed me in a whisper. That near silence was what gained the attention of everyone he didn’t want to hear.
“Who is this?” Cassia asked with a wicked grin, nodding toward Allison.
Allison trembled uncontrollably in Bex’s arms.
“I won’t let anything happen to you. I promise,” Bex whispered. His eyes closed in regret. In his attempt to comfort his niece, he’d drawn Hell’s focus to the woman he loved. We could all see the determination in his eyes, but that commitment to protect Allison only excited my father more.
“If you’ll not hand over the One, and not my Judas son, then who?” Lucifer snarled. His question was only theatrics. He knew who he wanted before he’d asked.
Satan’s gaze fell on Bex and Allison. “Someone to teach the Ryels a lesson. Someone to satisfy me. A sweet, tender little lamb. Their pet lamb.”
“I’ll kill you, first,” Bex said. “She’s an innocent.”
Lucifer smiled. “Well, then. Eden is special. Allison is human. Both untouchable. This sounds very much like a fair trade, Eli. Something Heaven would allow no doubt.”
Bex met Lucifer’s eyes without hesitation. “Heaven will burn before I let you touch her.”
“Bex,” Eli warned. He wasn’t angry, but the youngest Ryel sibling was dangerously close to blasphemy.
“Eli didn’t say no,” Cassia said. She leapt from where she stood, aiming her knives at Allison as she came dangerously close to the human’s throat. Cassia’s feet hit the floor, and Allison leaned back unnaturally far to avoid the blade suddenly at her throat.
Bex had the attention of the room, holding a cutlass against the flawless, rich skin of Cassia’s throat.
“Where the hell did you get that?” Claire shrieked.
I couldn’t contain the grin spreading across my face.
The short, broad sabre sword was Gehenna. One of only two weapons could exist in all three realms. The small but efficient weapon was what my father used the day he turned on God. Its perpetually sharp edges had slayed angels in the thousands, and it in turn could also kill demons; definitely a creature like Cassia. Recognition erased the smug grin usually residing on Cassia’s face—and my father’s—the same time it hit me. Gehenna was confiscated when Lucifer and his legions surrendered. It had been hidden away for eons, and now it was in Bex’s hand.
My father screamed for his slave. Besides my mother, Cassia was the closest he’d ever come to loving something more than himself. She put away her knives, sliding them into the holsters at the back of her leather vest, and without a word, she backed away from Bex’s human slowly until she achieved safety next to my father.
“I’m going to throw you into the Oubliette, and you’ll rot there for eternity,” Lucifer hissed. He stared at Bex, and then Allison. “But first I’ll make you watch as I torture her until she begs for death. She’ll scream out your name until she has no lips or tongue to form it.”
Bex lunged at the Devil, but his brother stopped him.
“Bex spared her life!” Jared said, pleading to Eli while struggling to hold back his little brother. “Cassia attempted to disturb The Balance. Bex could’ve slit her throat, but he restrained himself. She should fall under our protection.”
“Enough,” Eli said. Bex stopped fighting. “Jared makes a good point. Regardless of what rules have or haven’t been broken—because, let’s face it, you’re both famous for skirting the rules—” he said under his breath, “the Ryels are protected, Lucifer. You know this.”
My father backed away as he spoke. “The woman isn’t a Ryel.”
Bex grabbed Allison's left hand and held it up, showing her engagement ring to the room. “She will be.”
“Then I have until then,” my father snarled before he left, and he took Cassia and my brothers back the way they came.
Bex lunged at where Lucifer stood, but was stopped midair by Claire. He kicked and tore at his sister, trying to get to the one demon who had killed his niece. It was clear now who and what Allison was to him.
“Bex, stop!” Claire yelled, dodging his fists while somehow managing to keep hold. “Bex, please!”
Despite Claire’s begging, Bex continued to thrash until Allison stepped in.
“Bex,” she said, her voice calm. Just holding her palm to his cheek was all it took to render him helpless.
Claire grabbed his collar in both fists, ripping it when she yanked his face to hers. “What the hell is wrong with you?” she said, yanking again. “Where did you get the blade?”
Bex never took his eyes off Allison, breathing hard from fighting his sister.
Eden wore the same frown as her uncle.
“You okay?” I asked.
“Don’t do that again,” she said, stern. “Don’t you ever offer yourself in my place, or anyone’s place, do you hear me?”
“I—”
“If we’re apart, this was all pointless,” she said, exasperated. “I won’t live another lifetime, another day without you. Got it?”
“I get it. I’m sorry, I just… I couldn’t watch him take you again.” I cleared my throat, feeling it tighten at the memory.
She gestured to Eli. “You heard him! My family was given protection, and I’m off limits. I understand a sacrificial death is the only way for you to get into Heaven, but your father would’ve kept you alive just enough to torture you.”
“Okay!” I said, squeezing the arm that was around her neck. I pulled her face to me and kissed her cheek. “I panicked. Won’t happen again.”
“Thank you,” she said, still frowning.
Eli stared at the blade in Bex’s hand. “Well? Are we going to talk about this?”
“I can’t,” Bex said, lowering Gehenna to his side.
Eden reached her hand toward her uncle, palm up. “Hand it over.”
Bex frowned.
Eden wiggled her fingers a few times, impatient. “You know why.”
Bex rolled his eyes and tossed her the sword. The thick grip landed in her palm.
“You didn’t know he had it,” Jared said to Eli, more a statement than a question. “How could you not know?”
Ryan scratched his head. “I thought he knew everything.”
“No one knew,” Bex said. “It was the only way.”
“How did you get it?” Eli asked.
Bex shook his head. “It was a gift.”
“From who?” Jared asked.
“Someone who knew I’d need it. That’s all I can say.”
“Eden?” Jared asked.
“I don’t know how he got it. I just know as the Keeper of The Balance it makes sense for me to hang on to it.”
“Well,” Eli said, checking his buttons. “That could change, Eden. I’ll let you know. And, Bex, whoever gave it to you stole it. Not only is that one of the Big Ten of no-no’s, it also happens to disturb The Balance. The punishment for that is death via your niece. I’m afraid you’re going to have to tell me.”