Page 76 of Hell Bound

Instead, I slowly climbed to my feet and studiously stared ahead as I headed to the exit.

Walvor held the door for me, shutting it firmly behind us as I started the climb up the winding staircase. He stayed close behind but didn’t say a word, which I appreciated.

Talking only got me in trouble here, and I intended to learn my lesson for once in my life.

Tension built as we neared the door to my bedroom. I half-expected Asmodeus to be there waiting, prepared to gloat over finally having broken me.

And he wouldn’t be wrong. There was no chance of me remaining the same woman I’d been before the graveyard.

He’d won.

I couldn’t even work up righteous anger at his victory.

Walvor opened the door to reveal an empty room, and a small wave of relief washed over me. All I wanted was to be alone, and some of my tension leaked away when the door shut behind me.

I should have known I wouldn’t get off that easy.

The curtain at the balcony shifted slightly, my only warning before it was shoved open and Lucifer stormed into the room.

“Are you alright?” He snatched me to him, tucking my head under his chin as he clutched me tight. “I’m so sorry, Lily. I wanted to take you from there, but Walvor is loyal to Asmodeus.”

“Lucifer, I—”

“That fucking bastard. When I gut him, I will lay his head at your feet, I swear it. He’ll suffer first, just like he’s made you suffer.”

“You don’t—”

“I’ll find a way to get you away from here. You just have to wait for me, Lilith, and stay strong. I’m working on getting—”

“Lucifer!” I planted my hands on his chest and shoved free of his embrace.

“Lily? What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”

“I… I think you should go.”

He looked like I’d struck him. “What?”

“You can’t be in here. Lucifer, we’re playing with fire, and I can’t… I can’t do it anymore.”

“I know, love, I just want—”

“Please.” I couldn’t listen to him tell me how much he wanted to protect me. I couldn’t stand to see him so desperate to achieve the impossible. “Please, just leave, Lucifer.”

It looked like it ripped him apart to do it, but he stepped away with a nod. I couldn’t watch that pain on his face any longer, so I turned away, listening to the sounds of him disappearing off the balcony.

He wasn’t the only one who’d reached a breaking point.

Unable to contain the deluge of emotions roiling inside me, I did something I hated more than anything.

I flung myself onto the bed and wept.

My throat burned with the strength of my sobs, worsened by the gasping breaths as I hyperventilated.

All of this was too fucking much. No one person could handle this without falling apart, and I was no exception, regardless of how much I wanted to be.

It wasn’t fair, damn it. I didn’t deserve any of this, and yet I was stuck with no hope of escape.

Lucifer claimed he was going to make it happen, but if he could have, I wouldn’t be back in Hell in the first place.

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