Page 27 of Underworld
“I’ve got reasons,” Dante said, his furious gaze landing on me.
I met his rage with some of my own. I wasn’t going to back down this time.
Orion pushed his chair back, fury on his face.
“We’re getting side-tracked,” the Dean said, her voice cracking like a whip through the silence. “Dante is our liaison with Cole and he’s offered early warning on attacks more than once. It’s why he’s been a valuable asset despite his… downsides.” Her gaze slid to me, silently explaining why Dante was part of this meeting.
They needed him.
“We didn’t get one today,” Orion said, his golden eyes cutting into Dante. “Cole showed up and broke the barrier. Might have been nice to knowthatattack was coming.”
“Blameher.” Dante stared at me as if I had caused every bad thing that had ever happened to him. “I had no idea anything was going down until the horde cornered me. Luckily for me, I wasn’t their intended target or I would have been shredded to pieces.”
He’d been battered, clothes torn when I’d seen him earlier. Now I knew why. Guilt twisted through me. He’d been alone when Cole sensed me and launched his attack.
Orion touched my shoulder. His warmth sank into me and I wanted to lean against him, let that warmth battle back the cold, but with Dante’s glare scorching me from across the room, I couldn’t let my guard down for even a moment.
Whether he knew it or not, he needed me, too. If only he’d let me in and stop treating me like the enemy.
“Lily is back,” Olivia said coolly, her tone as effective as a slap. “We should call Sonya. She’ll want to know that Lily has returned. Perhaps she’ll finally send the reinforcements she’s been promising.” Lifting a brow, she looked at Hendrik and Dante before adding, “Unlike some, she always knew Lily would return. She had faith.”
Yuri slurped up the last of her drink. “Maybe we should save Sonya for when we really need her. Keep her in reserve, you know?”
The temperature plummeted as a dark, rasping voice replied to Yuri’s suggestion. “Oh, what an excellent idea.”
I froze.
Cole emerged from the corner—a corner that had beenemptyjust seconds ago and came to stand at the edge of the table.
“Oh, don’t mind me,” he said with a smug grin. “Carry on with your plans. I’m sure they’ll be a smashing success.” His wings flexed behind him, the talons on the arches glinting in the blood moon’s red light. “Or… you could listen to my proposal.”
“How did you get in here?” Hendrik asked, launching to his feet.
Cole shrugged. “I could always intercept your little barriers. No one knows Hell better than I do, even if this layer has had a few… redecorations. I just never had a reason until now.” He stalked us in a slow circle as the Dean drew an orb from her pocket. I recognized it as a device that would be filled with witch spirits.
Dante noticed it too and stiffened. He and witches didn’t have the best history.
“Would you like to hear what I think?” the demon asked.
“Shove it up your ass, Cole,” Logan said, a growl underscoring the words.
“Sit, puppy. Good boy.” He laughed as Orion grabbed Logan’s arm before the shifter could attack. “Now, my proposal.” His ruby eyes held laughter as he surveyed the room. “It’s more of a trade, really. I tried to offer it earlier, but Lily wouldn’t listen.”
“Offer what?” Dean asked, her voice sharp. “Deals with you never pay off.”
Cole laughed. “Oh, but they do, Guinevere. I gave you what you asked for, did I not? And so I would do again. If Lily comes with me, I’ll negotiate a temporary truce, and your little Academy will be free from attack.” He swiped his thumb over his lower lip, his eyes on me. “This fight is between Sonya and my brother. It doesn’t need to concern you.”
“Lucifer isn’t going to stop attacking us.” Yuri snorted. “You can’t speak for him and it’s not like he’s going to listen toyou.”
“I know him better than anybody else,” Cole said. “I know his weaknesses.”
Kaito stood up, his silver tattoo blazing with blue heat. “This isn’t just about Hell’s throne. This is about Calamity. If Lucifer wins, he’ll unleash untold chaos on the realms.”
Cole shrugged. “Maybe, or maybe not. Either way, it’s a gamble and you won’t be able to do much about it if you’re decimated in the next attack.”
My skin ran cold at the thought. Cole had a point. Calamity was a power beyond all of us and if I couldn’t get my Virtues to heel, then what chance did I have against Hell’s army? Maybe if I went with him, I could get him on my side. I had called Cole as my Virtue for a reason, even if I didn’t understand it yet, he had to be the key to all of this.
Or, I could finally just kill him and get it over with. Both sounded like plausible solutions.
