Raphael nodded. “And no eggs benny either.”
Lucifer scowled at all of them. “Do you mind? This conversation doesn’t involve you, any of you.”
“Technically.” Raphael looked apologetic. “It does because Bianca called for us.”
There was a general murmur of agreement.
Eyes laughing, Eddie stepped closer to the bed. “How are you feeling?”
“I was about to ask.” Lucifer huffed.
“But you didn’t.” Shade smirked. “Another dick move.”
“The Tylenol helped.” Bianca kept her attention on Eddie, the only person she felt she could deal with. “Do you know anything more about whatever that was that trapped me?”
Eddie made a face. “Are you sure you’re up for this?”
After the conversation they’d had? “No.” Reliving those terrifying moments was never going to be something she was up for. “But let’s get this out of the way.”
“You’re going with the other witches to my demesne.” Sophia joined Eddie beside her bed. “Whatever that was, it scared us enough to know we need to get you safe.”
Nodding, Lucifer informed her as if the matter had already been decided, “And I’ll take you there.”
He could go right on deluding himself. She wouldn’t leave this room with him. “You all heard everything that being said?”
Eddie nodded. “We’ve been talking. Shade and I think the third is Emma, but we have no idea who the other two are of the three he referenced.”
“That’s not important right now.” Lucifer got his shoulder in front of Sophia. “The most important thing is getting you and the children safe.”
This dickhead never knew when to quit. She spoke to Sophia and Eddie. “You’re sending us to heaven?”
Who wouldn’t find that a little exciting? Especially considering she didn’t need to die to get there.
“I’d lower your expectations.” Sophia grinned. “It’s not all clouds and harps.” She got serious again. “My demesne is positioned between Michael’s and Ramiel’s, and they’d have to go through one of those to get to you.”
“As far as we know,” Raphael said. “There had been no incursion of this rebellion into the heavenly realm. You would have entire hosts to protect you.”
Bianca’s catechism classes as a girl made her ask, “But we’ll be able to come back, right? It’s not like a once you’re there, you’re there for eternity thing?”
Sophia smiled. “You’ll be coming back as soon as it’s safe for you to do so.”
Suspicion pinged. This seemed a lot like being gotten out of the way. “What about Leona?”
“We will be going to find Leona,” Lucifer said. “Raphael and I.”
Glances were exchanged.
Raphael cleared his throat and stared at the wall past her head.
The room reeked of what they weren’t telling her. She looked at Eddie. “How will you find her?”
More glances, and Shade whistled between his teeth.
“There was a gathering while you were sleeping,” Eddie said. “It’s been agreed that whoever is not needed on this plane, will return to their demesne.”
“Why?” After all she’d been through, Bianca wasn’t going to be sidelined.
“Whatever took you is powerful.” Shade joined the cover up. “Frankly, it scared the shit out of us.”
Bianca didn’t get it. “So, how is going back to your demesnes helping?”
“The seals are more unstable than ever,” Shade said. “We already know that the rebellion was undertaken to weaken them.” His face was grave. “We cannot risk them getting weaker or even being attacked.”
“And the best way to prevent that,” Sophia said, “is for the hell princes to be there to guard them.” She shrugged. “If Shade returns to lust, I can’t be here without him, so it frees me to take you with me and protect you and the children.”
“Michael is on this plane.” Raphael finally met her gaze. “Which means, so is Ava. We can’t have that many hell princes absent from hell.”
“Levi and Zeb are working to infiltrate the rebellion.” Shade took up the explanation. “And Belle is missing. We can’t leave Wrath all on his own to guard the seals.”
If Shade went back to hell, what did that mean for Eddie? Bianca looked at her. “And you?”
“Eddie is going with Shade.” Dee gave her granddaughter a stern look. “As she’s the only one who can partially repair at least Wrath’s seal, she needs to be there.”
Eddie frowned. “But—”
“Daniel and I will stay here,” Dee said. “All the hell gates need to be watched and closely guarded.”
“As soon as we find Leona, we will bring her to Sophia’s demesne.” Raphael gave Bianca a reassuring smile.
Nobody had answered her first question. In fact, they’d told her everything but that. “How will you find Leona without a tracking spell?”
Lucifer took her hand. “There is something we didn’t tell you.”
“Lucifer.” Raphael growled a warning.
Lucifer shot him a glare. “She’s a part of this. She deserves to know.”
He needn’t think he was winning any points with her for being transparent, however much she appreciated it.
Raphael threw his hands up. “She’s not coming with us.”
Now there were two assholes in the room. “You don’t get to decide that for me.”
“No, they don’t.” Sophia sat beside her. “But the gathering decided. We don’t know why that thing wants you. And we don’t know what the repercussions will be if it manages to get you.”
“Given the general shit show happening all around us, we can’t take any more risks.” Shade put his arm around Eddie’s shoulders.
“We need to know you’re safe.” Lucifer’s dark gaze bored into her. “I need to know you’re safe.”
