Page 67 of Anarchy
I could see their heads flung back as a large ball of magical light exploded from their chest and into the sky. I didn’t look directly at it because I wasn’t an idiot, but it went straight into our sun.
Ever since I had been alive, Hell’s sun differed from that of Earth. It warmed us, and it wasn’t dark out, but it was always a redder color than the sun on Earth. I let my gaze travel up in the general direction of our sun. The sickly red color was gone, and it was now a healthy ball of fire.
They did it! Holy shit, they just healed an entire realm. Even the young pups knew how amazing this was. They started jumping up and down, howling. The adult Hellhounds weren’t about to let them feel left out. They flung back their heads and joined them. I did too.
The demons weren’t even judging us. They didn’t try to silence them like they would have when the Hellhounds were their property. Instead, they were clapping, hooting, and even the wealthiest Hellhounds out there weren’t worried about manners and decorum right now.
Ripley spun in my lap and flung me on my back. She didn’t want sex in front of all these people, right? I was okay with putting on a show in front of everyone at the library, but Talvath was kind of like my dad, and two of these Hellhounds might be my parents. And there were kids out there.
She kissed me, then snuggled into my side.
“That was fucking amazing, and I don’t even live here.”
I squeezed her. All this entire group had seen so far were the bad parts of Hell. They saw the rich neighborhoods and people abusing their Hellhounds. They didn’t see all the good things about my home.
“I know we need to get you back to your library, but Lilith made it possible for you to come back. Everyone knows your face and that this wouldn’t be possible without you. No one will attack you if you come back. You do get weekends off. We could come back here as a vacation, and I could show you around.”
Did she even want that? Would any of them? I had always intended to come back and visit with Talvath, but would they want to come?
“Definitely,” she said. “You and Talvath are close, and Lucifer and Gabriel have a whole thing now. So we’ll be back here often.”
“You’d better visit me too,” Lilith said.
I didn’t know she had left the stage, but she was standing right on top of us.
“All of you. I’m out of retirement now, and I want you to keep me up to date on my witches on Earth. None of this would be possible without you. I consider you friends now. Iwantto hear from you. Bram, I expect updates on your new life at the library. I want to know if anyone gives you problems because you’re the only Hellhound there. I’ll make a visit and set them straight.”
Did Lilith just threaten any supernatural bully that had a problem with me? That was certainly interesting. I was used to fighting my own battles, but having two gods at your back was never a bad idea.
Lilith waved her hand, and another one of her doors opened.
“I’m not clueless about Earth, even though I haven’t lived there in a very long time. I know the twins have important jobs that a substitute can’t really do. It’s time to go back because I know people are missing you. I do, however, expect you back here for visits, and I may turn up for a visit myself.”
All the witches and warlocks had eyes the size of saucers that Lilith might just pop up and visit them. I thought it was pretty fucking cool too. There were plenty of times I doubted her because of how my people were treated down here, but she’d just been biding her time waiting for the right moment.
She was pretty damned cool.
Reyson scooped Ripley up.
“Let’s get back to your library, my witch. I’m sure whoever they have running it while you were gone did something you didn’t like. We’ll help you fix it.”
“The sentient books are probably having a total meltdown because no one has gone in there to talk to them,” Ripley moaned. “Iknowwhoever they had fill in for me didn’t because they get violent if you don’t do it right.”
Lilith looked amused as Reyson carried Ripley through. I turned around, and Talvath and Anod were standing there with tears in their eyes.
“I knew this day would come, eventually. Go, Bram. I’ll bring your things to you once I’ve packed them up.”
I grabbed Talvath and pulled him into a bear hug. My life would have been totally different if it weren’t for him. I felt bad leaving him behind, but hewantedme to go.
I hugged Anod and stepped into my new life at the library.
47
Ripley
Lilith’s door brought us straight to my desk at the library. It was mostly dark except for the safety lights. I closed my eyes and inhaled the comforting scent of ritual incense and old books. I was home. That lasted about two seconds. Felix turned the lights on, and I saw what they had done to my library.
I threw back my head and screamed. I scared Balthazar, and he shrieked too. I hadn’t been gonethatlong, and my library was a hot mess. Whoever had filled in for me hadn’t even attempted to re shelve anything. Instead, they pulled every book cart in the library over to my desk and just shoved ancient tomes on it.
