Gali huffed out a breath. “So I’m safe.” Even the words felt uncertain, like she was trying them on for size.
“We’ll see how their meeting goes, but I think this plan will protect you, Galilee. Michael doesn’t know that Deziel told us about his involvement. He still thinks that his sins are a secret, thatheis safe. We want him to keep thinking that.”
Dread was sludged at the bottom of Gali’s stomach. “He’d get desperate if he found out we knew.”
“Exactly. This way, he may not like that Hell has you, but it keeps his secret as far away from Heaven as it can get.”
Gali bit her lip. “This is all a big gamble.”
Leviathan laughed. “Would you prefer to give us your soul for safekeeping instead?”
“Fuckno.”
“Well then. Count your blessings, little demon, that an archangel won’t be taking your head today.”
Gali wanted to say something cutting in response, but she was too tired, and it all felt like a bit of madness. She looked away, then caught a whiff of herself and winced—she was still wearing Lucifer’s tunic, and she smelled exactly like someone who hadn’t showered in a few days. How long had Levi been watching her while her stink filled up the room?
“Why areyouhere?” she snapped.
Levi ignored her sudden hostility. “The other princes are incredibly pissed at how everything went down,” he answered. “Ironically, I’m the only one Lucifer trusts not to kill you right now.”
He gave her a genuine smile for the first time, soft and open with no edges or games, and Gali stared as it lit up his eyes like a pair of suns. He looked like a different person, like someone softer, even more of a stranger. She had a vague memory of him in the vault, standing withhis back to her and his sword bleeding out cold light, protecting her and Lucifer from the rest of the princes. Gali didn’t know how to think about that.
“Real tired of people wanting to kill me,” she said instead, sliding out of the bed.
Levi’s eyes drifted to her bare legs before he dragged his gaze away. “No one’s going to hurt you, Galilee.”
Gali thought about Deziel and it tasted sour. “It’s a little late for that.”
The prince’s shoulders tensed, but he didn’t say anything.
She ran her hands over her tangled hair and winced as she smelled herself again. “Man, I gotta take a shower and get out of these clothes.”
Levi leaned over and picked up a small duffel bag that was at his feet and tossed it to Gali. She caught it and slid the zipper open, then stared at the folded clothes inside.
“These are mine,” she said.
Leviathan shrugged. “We picked up some things from your apartment.”
Gali raised an eyebrow, trying to imagine the princes running errands for her.“We?”
To her surprise, a faint flush slid into Levi’s face, coloring the dappled patches of his skin. “I went to your apartment while Luci sat with you. I thought you might want something of your own.”
He’d gone to her loft.
She tried to imagine him stalking through the space, sliding drawers open, his hands sorting through her belongings. It was strange. “Thank you,” she said. “Where’s the bathroom?”
Leviathan jerked his head toward a door on the left. “I can run you a bath if you’d like.”
Gali felt her mouth twitch up. “Whoareyou, and what did you do with the prince who was gonna kill me?”
The prince narrowed his eyes. “I changed, Galilee Kincaid.” He saidit with a seriousness that Gali didn’t want to deal with, so she laughed briefly instead.
“Sure,” she said, heading to the bathroom. When she reached out for the doorknob, fear crept up her forearm and slowed her hand. They still had no idea where Deziel had gone after the vault. She could be in there. She could be anywhere, full of lies and promises and bloodlust. Deziel had been watching her even on Kincaid land, for years and years. It made Gali sick to her stomach to think about it.
Leviathan reached past her and swung the door open. The bathroom was empty. “We warded the house against angels this time,” he said.
Gali made a face at him. “How did you know?”
