Page 31 of Indecent

“What does that have to do with us?” Daniel asked.

Lucifer gestured to the black pool. “I can help you transform into something far more powerful than a halfling. In doing so, you will become a target of the angel. Lead him to the nearest gate—your kalmach friend here knows where to find it—and lead him from Hell to Earth. There, he will have a physical body and can be killed.”

“No,” Chaol said immediately. “No, hell no, you’re not using Daniel as bait.”

Daniel’s heart lurched with fear for Chaol, but Lucifer didn’t even look at him. His gaze rested resolutely on Daniel. “You are a warrior. You know your fight on Earth isn’t over. Granting you more power will help you protect your loved ones in their upcoming war. They’ll need you, and they’ll need the power I am offering you.”

That was exactly what he wanted. It was why he’d come all this way. If he could make himself stronger to help his friends, it was a foregone conclusion. He didn’t know what kind of demon he would become, but it didn’t matter. He was Daniel Garcia. He would always do what he could to help.

Chaol tugged on his wrist. “Danny, no. No.”

Daniel sighed, meeting his eyes. “Chaol, that angel can’t be allowed to stay here.”

“Why does it have to be you?”

“Because it does,” Daniel said simply. “Because I’m the only one here who can make the transformation. Do you see any other humans lining up to become demons?”

Chaol shifted from foot to foot. “I just…”

Daniel gently removed Chaol’s hand from his wrist. “I’ll be okay.”

“You will be uniquely prepared for battle,” Lucifer added. “I will even gift you with a hellfire blade to help you along the way.”

“Will I be able to kill the angel with that?” Daniel could barely believe the words left his mouth. He was seriously talking about killing an angel. Up until a few days ago, he hadn’t even known for sure that angels existed.

A small, almost deprecating smile crossed Lucifer’s face. “No. Hellish weapons can’t kill an angel. But it should level the playing field.”

“What can kill an angel?” Chaol asked.

“If I knew that, I wouldn’t need you,” Lucifer replied with an arch look.

Chaol laughed humorlessly. “So you want us to throw ourselves in this rogue angel’s path and just hope for the best?”

Lucifer’s gaze cooled, and Daniel instinctively stepped in front of Chaol. “No. I want to give your human here a chance to lure him to the surface, where you can then find a method of killing him. As I understand it, this human already has some powerful demons in his company. You’ll have allies when you get to the surface.”

Daniel tilted his head. “You know about that?”

Lucifer’s smile was sharp. “I keep an eye on the surface.”

A little shiver rolled down Daniel’s spine. Lucifer had been watching them? For how long?

“Let’s just say I have a vested interest in what you and your allies have been doing.”

He couldn’t believe that. “Really? But—we hunt demons.”

“You hunt the animals who slip through the cracks to the surface,” Lucifer said, inclining his head. “They are inconsequential. Your quarrel with the paladins, however, will leave a lasting impression on multiple realms.”

Daniel goggled at that.

Lucifer waved a hand at the pool. “Well? What do you say?”

Swallowing hard, Daniel met Chaol’s glittering black eyes, a galaxy of concern just for him. “Guess I’ll see you on the other side.”

Chaol inhaled sharply. “Danny…”

Daniel tried to nod and shake his head both, bobbing it in an awkward circle. “I’ll be fine. I’ll be okay. Temporary pain in exchange for a whole eternity together, right?”

Chaol glanced at Lucifer, then back to Daniel. “I-I thought I could handle watching you do this, but…”