Chapter 21 The Eighth Attack
Lilith woke to sunlight streaming through her windows and instant regret. Every muscle ached. Her head throbbed. Her throat felt like she’d swallowed sand.
“Infernal wine hangover,” Sera said from the doorway, holding a glass of something green. “Drink.”
“What is it?”
“Does it matter? Drink.”
Lilith drank. It tasted like mint and regret, but her headache eased. “Better?” Sera asked.
“Marginally. What time is it?”
“Breakfast. And you’re going.”
“I don’t think…”
“You’re going. You told them you’re not a prize. Now you face them.”
Lilith groaned. “Can’t I face them after breakfast?”
“No.”
The dining hall felt different the moment she entered. Tight and brittle, like everyone was pretending they weren’t still bruised from last night.
All seven brothers were already seated.
Azrael sat at the head of the table, eyes fixed on his plate. A dark bruise marked his jaw, slow to fade. His knuckles were scraped raw. Cain’s lip was split, dried blood under her nose. Beelzebub’s black eye kept trying to heal, but kept failing. Mammon wore no jewellery at all, just simple clothes and a scabbed cut above his eyebrow. Lucian looked perfect except for a thin slice along his collarbone. Asmodeus had finger-shaped bruises around his throat. Belphegor alone looked untouched.
The conversation stopped when Lilith approached. Seven pairs of eyes flickered to her, then quickly away.
She sat. A servant placed food in front of her. Silence thickened.
“So,” Lilith said lightly. “Nice weather we’re having.”
Asmodeus choked on his drink, possibly laughing. Azrael didn’t move.
“The courtyard looks terrible,” she added. “Crater, broken pillars, scorch marks. Very dramatic.”
Mammon muttered, “We’ll fix it.”
“When?”
Very soon
Silence stretched until Cain suddenly spoke. “I’m sorry,” she said, eyes meeting Lilith’s. “I grabbed you. I shouldn’t have. I was scared. That doesn’t excuse it.”
Lilith nodded. “Thank you.”
Beelzebub cleared his throat. “I’m sorry too. I yelled. Treated you like you’d done something wrong. You didn’t. You were right. You’re not ours to track.”
Mammon shifted in his chair. “I offered my entire treasury as a reward for finding you. That was… excessive. I panicked. I don’t panic.” He swallowed. “Sorry.”
Three apologies.
Lilith turned to Azrael. “Azrael?”
He didn’t respond.
“Azrael.”
His golden eyes lifted, raw and torn open, but he said nothing.
Lilith waited. Nothing came.
“Okay,” she said quietly, returning to her food.
Lucian let out a sharp breath. “This is painful to watch.”
“Then look away,” Cain snapped.
“I can’t. My eyes are mirrors. I see everything, including Pride trying not to apologise.”
“Shut up, Lucian,” Azrael said.
“Make me.”
Beelzebub groaned. “Please, not again. My eye still hasn’t healed.”
“That’s because you keep blinking,” Asmodeus rasped.
“I can’t NOT blink!”
“Then suffer.”
Lilith bit back a smile. Somehow, this chaos felt more normal than the silence.
Belphegor finally opened his eyes fully. “You used power last night.”
The room stilled.
Lilith blinked. “What?”
“The golden light. It pushed them apart. Where did you learn that?”
“I didn’t. It just happened.”
“Interesting.”
“Why?” Cain asked.
“Because Seraphs don’t usually manifest force abilities that young,” Belphegor said. “Defensive, yes. Healing, sometimes. But force? That takes training. Or trauma.”
Lilith’s hands tensed. “I was angry and scared. That’s all.”
He hummed, unconvinced. “Strong motivators.”
“You weren’t at the fight,” she said. “Why not?”
“Wasn’t invited.”
“Everyone else panicked.”
“I don’t panic,” Belphegor said. “I watch. And learn.”
“Learn what?”
“That you’re more interesting than they realise.”
Before she could answer, a servant burst in, pale and shaking. “My lords, the eastern border. There’s been another attack.”
Azrael stood instantly. “How bad?”
“Bad. Three outposts destroyed. Many casualties.”
Cain was already running for the door. The others followed. Azrael, Mammon, Beelzebub, Lucian.
Asmodeus paused. “Stay here,” he told Lilith softly. “Please.”
Then he was gone.
Only Belphegor remained.
“You’re not going?” Lilith asked.
“They have it handled.” He stood lazily, stretching. “Besides, someone should stay with you.”
“I don’t need…”
“Yes, you do.” His tone was calm, confident. “Come on. Let’s go somewhere comfortable. We need to talk.”
“About what?”
His smile was slow, knowing. “About what you’re actually capable of. And why that terrifies them more than any enemy at the border.”