Slowly, he outlined his plan to draw Lucifer into a battle.
CHAPTER 14
Kobal
I kept River close by my side when we returned to the main cavern to join with the other demons. They didn’t go to one knee again, but they all bowed their heads and stepped aside to create an aisle for us to walk through.
Looking at her, no one would know that her hand briefly trembled against the small of my back as she kept her chin high. She held the gaze of every demon whose eyes she met, and she stopped to speak with those who offered their hands to her.
A tree nymph dashed through the crowd to stand at the front of the gathering. Her blonde hair framed her pretty face and emphasized her green eyes. She practically bounced on her toes while she waved enthusiastically at River. A beautiful smile lit River’s face as she stopped before the nymph.
“Lena,” she greeted and clasped the nymph’s hand in hers. “I’m glad to see you here, and safe.”
“You also, my queen. Your highness,” Lena said with a bow of her head to me before focusing on River again. “I’m glad you are both well. My queen, we have a bathing area and some fresh clothes for you. If you would like.”
“I would,” River breathed.
“I will escort them to the bathing area,” Verin said as she stepped forward. “I could use a bath myself.”
“So could I,” Bale said.
River rose onto her toes to place a chaste kiss against my lips. My arm locked around her waist, holding her in place as I deepened the kiss until she became breathless. Reluctantly, I released her and stepped away. I almost pulled her back to me when she gave me a sultry smile.
“Come, my queen,” Lena said and tugged on River’s hand. “Our king will still be here when you are done.”
“Make sure no one else goes anywhere near her and that they all steer clear of the bathing area,” I said to Bale as I watched River walk away with the nymph and Verin. “I will send the hounds with you.”
“I’ll keep her safe,” Bale vowed.
The hounds followed at Bale’s heels as she stalked away to catch up with River. A few seconds later, demons filtered out of the side tunnel River entered.
“I will be taking my leave to find some mjéod and some tree nymphs.Manytree nymphs,” Lix said to me before vanishing into the crowd.
“You should go with him,” I said to Hawk as he gazed after Lix with a look of longing on his face. “You need to feed, and we need you at your best for this fight.”
“I think I would like some more leisurely activities myself before we go to war.” Corson slapped Hawk on his shoulder. “Come, canagh demon, let’s make some nymphs happy.”
“I bet I make mine far happier than you make yours,” Hawk retorted.
“I’m game for a challenge,” Corson said, and the two of them broke away to stride through the crowd.
Morax and Magnus stepped closer to me as Lopan and Calah walked with us to the end of the chamber while I greeted everyone within. Before the humans opened the gateway into Hell, Lopan and Calah had been two of my strongest allies and fighters against Lucifer. I’d ordered them to remain behind to continue the fight when I went above with the others.
As we walked, Calah filled me in on the events that occurred since my last trip into Hell. “Things had been quiet since you were last here,” Calah said. “There were skirmishes between the two sides, but nothing major, until recently.”
I contemplated his words as I left the chamber and started down the tunnel River had entered with the others. “It probably started to change around the same time Lucifer realized we had River.”
“From what I’ve gathered, it does seem that way,” Morax said as we walked down the empty tunnel. “He’s been preparing for us to enter Hell.”
Stopping, I leaned against the wall. I glanced back at the main cavern, but no one had followed us. “And we’ve brought River to him,” I said.
Not only that, but I planned to use her as bait to lure the bastard out. Every instinct I had screamed against following the plan I’d laid out. Everything within me said to get her out of Hell before it was too late, but she’d never know a second of peace, never be completely safe, if we returned to Earth with Lucifer still alive. He would never stop hunting her.
“From what Morax has told us about her, our queen can handle herself,” Calah said.
“She can,” I agreed. “We received a visit from the fallen angel, Caim, when we traveled through the oracle.”
“Truly!” Lopan blurted and set his caultin down to lift his hat and push his hair back. “Did you kill him?”
