The jungle lay quiet around him, and he sent his senses out to detect any demons. There was nothing around, and he unleashed his wings. It occurred to him that he was relying on Wrath’s goodwill not to have him shot out of the sky as he crossed into that demesne. For all he knew, Wrath’s horde could still be instructed to shoot him from the sky.

By air, he could take a direct route, and it was about half of those hours that Eddie counted so obsessively before he crossed into Wrath’s demesne.

No demon rose to challenge him. No bolts shot from the ground to bring him down.

All good thus far.

Part of him had to laugh at what he was doing. He was willingly entering the territory of his archenemy to make sure said enemy was okay because the Nephilim he loved to distraction had asked it of him. The truth was humbling. He would do this and so much more just to make her smile.

Hell felt wrong, like an uncomfortable grating against his senses. There were also far fewer demons going about their lives as he flew over than there should be. He cursed his inattention. An entire rebellion had been spawned and executed beneath the noses of all the hell princes, and not one of the seven had noticed.

All-powerful beings tasked with a sacred duty, and they’d all fucked it up.

Wrath’s demesne felt more stable, probably because of the repair Eddie had done to Wrath’s seal. It wouldn’t hold, but it seemed to be sounder than his seal. The heaven component had been missing from Eddie’s fix, and in all the excitement, he hadn’t given that much thought. Did that mean an archangel needed to help fix the seals? It would be lucky if it was that simple, but nothing about recent events suggested luck was with them. The archangels were researching solutions and he hoped they were doing better than they’d thus far managed in their research into ending war on earth.

Vexia was waiting for him in the forecourt as he backwinged into Wrath’s fortress.

“My lord.” She clasped her hands to her chest and bowed. “We were not expecting you.”

He nearly laughed. No, they absolutely wouldn’t have been. He and Wrath had never popped in on each other for a beer and a chat. “I mean no harm by my visit.”

“I am aware.” She bowed again and motioned him to follow her.

Wrath’s demons eyed him suspiciously as they milled about the courtyard. According to Wrath and Haziel, his own palace was virtually deserted.

“How many have you lost?” He jerked his head at a cluster of demons staring at him with their hands on their sword hilts.

Vexia glanced at them and made a motion for them to stand down. “Too many.”

He followed her up the stone stairs and through the door to the inner courtyard. The two central fountains sparkled and gurgled beneath the clear sky. Vexia had been Wrath’s second for centuries now. When she took off those gowns and donned fighting leathers, he knew from personal experience, she was a magnificent fighter. The demon could make magic happen with a sword and a pair of daggers. “There’s something that’s bothering me.”

She stopped and tilted her head as she waited for him to speak.

“Did you know?” He stepped closer to her.

She was a beautiful demon with her ivory skin and gleaming red hair.

Her golden eyes flashed as she considered her answer. “You are asking if I had any knowledge of the rebellion before it became noticeable?”

“Yes.” Apassionata had said nothing to him, and he had to believe his second would have informed him if he’d known. Lucifer must have thought the same thing, only to be betrayed by his second. They all needed to be a lot more alert to what was happening around them.

“A fair question.” Vexia inclined her head. “And one that I have asked myself repeatedly.”

“And?”

“Hindsight is so exacting, isn’t it?” A small smile teased at the corners of her mouth. “I was aware of groups of our horde speaking amongst themselves. I can even recall a conversation I had with an under demon, which given where we are now, would seem to suggest they were trying to ascertain the depth of my loyalty.” She sighed and shrugged one shoulder. “But demons are demons, and it is in their nature to be malcontent.”

That was true, and he nodded.

Vexia turned and led them into the foyer. She stopped suddenly and took a breath. “But it is good that you have come.”

“Why?”

“My lord is not himself.” Vexia’s elegant hands twisted together. “He is…angry.”

Shade had to laugh at that. It was a bit like calling the sky a sky. “Is he not always?”

“Indeed.” Vexia almost smiled, but then concern clouded her features. “But this time, it is different. Always before his rage was a living thing.”

As he’d seen evidence of that aimed against him, Shade nodded and motioned for her to continue.

“And now it is silent and…tortured.”

That didn’t sound good. “Eddie sent me to check on him.”

“I thought as much.” Vexia nodded. “Or else I would have had you brought to ground the moment you crossed the border.”

The moment Shade entered his throne room, Wrath shot to his feet. His heart beat uncomfortably in his chest. “Is it Eddie? Is she safe?”

“Eddie is well.” Shade sauntered around the fire pit and approached him. He cocked his head and studied Wrath. “She is concerned about you.”

That ignited a warm spark in his chest, but also guilt. Eddie should not be worried about him. He was the sire, and he was the one who should be worried about her. His voice was brusque as he said, “There is no need for her to worry. I am fine.”

“But are you?” Shade stopped at the bottom of the three stairs leading up to the dais on which his throne sat. He put one foot on the bottom stair and stared up at him. “Because you look like shit.”

Even his familiar need to wipe the smirk off Shade’s face failed him. “Thanks.”

“Eddie is worried about you,” he said. “And we all know I’m a pushover for your daughter, so I’m here to check on you.”

He hated the idea that Eddie might fret. “Tell her I’m fine.”

Vexia cleared her throat as she came closer.

He sent her a glare to let her know exactly what he thought of her opinion on the matter. She’d been uncharacteristically verbal with him since his return, always checking on him, questioning his state of mind, daring to suggest that all was not well. She was right, but fuck that anyway.

“Let’s pretend for a minute that I believe you.” Shade looked around him. “And maybe we can sit and chat about what’s going on down here.”

Vexia compelled a large chair toward him, and Shade took a seat.

Talking about the situation in hell felt safer, and the knot in his chest unraveled enough for him to speak freely.

“Your palace remains deserted.” It felt wrong to perch above Shade in this manner, so he motioned Vexia for another chair for him.

She placed it beside Shade’s.

Wrath took a seat and ignored Shade’s raised eyebrow. “There are still members of your horde in the villages, but there has been some definite thinning. Those that remain are fearful.”