Chapter 1

Abby

I 'm filled with the sense of nothing as flashes of every moment I spent with Zed race through my mind.

I'm free-falling as I stare blankly up at the sky. The wind hisses in my ears as I blink away the rain before closing my eyes and accepting my fate.

All I can think about—hope for—is that this kills me too. So that maybe I can be with Zed. That I'll be able to see him again, to hold his face in my hands, and tell him how sorry I am. How much I love him. That I'm not mad anymore.

It's an oddly peaceful feeling—falling, I mean—knowing that everything is about to end, hoping it does.

Only my body never hits the ground; that sweet relief never comes. Arms wrap around me, stopping my descent.

Slowly, I blink my eyes open to find Isaac's handsome face.

"You don't get to do that, Angel," he growls. "You don't get to choose to give up. He wasn't your only mate. We need you."

His angry face hovers above me. Black hair hangs over his face, raindrops dripping down the inky strands.

He looks so much like his brother.

Reaching up, I cup his face, slowly clawing my way out of the darkness within my mind.

Mates. I have mates. Five other mates.

The thought of causing them hurt or pain if I were to leave this earth sends a lightning bolt of pain to my heart.

"Isaac," his name sounds so broken on my lips.

"I know, baby," his words are just as devastated as he curls me into his arms and kisses my drenched hair. "I know."

Everything comes crashing back down around me, and I break in my mate's arms. He holds me as I cry, clinging to his shirt, deep heavy sobs making my whole body tremble.

We stay there for a while, his massive wings flapping behind him, holding us up and away from everyone else. He's giving me this moment, allowing me to break, knowing that when we get back down to the ground, I'm going to have to be strong.

I'm Abigail Morningstar, the daughter of the devil , and I will not be defeated.

When all the tears are gone, washed away from the rain, Isaac brings us down to solid ground.

Placing me on my feet, he shields me from everyone else around us, his wings creating a cocoon. "I love you," he tells me, intense emotions shining in his eyes.

"I love you too," I whisper, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath.

Sensing that I'm not going to lose it again, he lowers his wings and steps to the side.

Everyone is standing there. Zed's mom is sobbing in my father's arms while Libby does the same in Frankie's.

Leo, Noah, and Luke all watch me with gutted expressions, like maybe they've been crying too. I wouldn't be able to tell, not with this rain.

I'm not sure what to say, what to do, where do we go from here? Turn around and walk home? Have a funeral and accept the fact that he's gone?

No, I can't. I won't. Deep in my heart, I know his fate isn't final. It can't be. This isn't how our story is meant to end.

The fact is, it was never supposed to. We're archangels; I'm part demon. We live forever.

Then I think of Michael, how his head ripped from his body, and his body turned to ash, the rain dissolving it before it even made it to the ground.

He's dead. One of the most powerful archangels to ever exist. And it was by my hands.

My eyes fall to my hands, holding them out in front of me. If he could die, then so can I. But I'm not dead—I refuse to be.

I wouldn't be surprised if his precious God brought him back. He shouldn't, monsters like that deserve to stay gone.

Then it hits me. Fuck! How could I be so stupid? It must have slipped my mind through all the chaotic heartbreak. God can bring people back, both archangels and pure bloods. But Zed wasn't either of those. He had more dark angel in his blood.

That means... my eyes snap up, widening as I meet my father's.

His eyes harden, his head shaking as if he knows exactly what I'm thinking, what I'm about to ask him.

My feet move on their own accord, making their way across the muddy ground and over to my father.

"Abigail, no," he says firmly, already dismissing my question before I even get the chance to ask it.

Narrowing my eyes, I put my hands on my hips, not allowing that answer. "Yes."

"No." He shakes his head.

"You will, or I swear, I will disown you," I promise, and the flash of pain that takes over his face sends a pang of guilt through me. But I don't care right now. All that matters is Zed.

"What's going on?" Megan asks, moving her face from the crook of my father's neck to look up at him, then to me.

My eyes turn to hers. "Zed's not dead."

"What?" Her eyes widen with so much hope.

"Abigail. Enough," my father snaps.

"No," I snarl back, then bring my attention back to Megan. "He can bring Zed back. He has the power to do it."

Megan's eyes snap up to my father's, full of hope. "You can?"

"It's not that easy," he sounds almost helpless when he says it.

"But you can," I say it as a statement, not a question.

"Abby."

"You know you can!" I shout, my body vibrating with anger now. Why doesn't he want to help me? Why won't he bring him back?

"Yes," he grits out, and Megan gasps. He looks down at her with wide, panicked eyes. "You don't understand." He looks between the two of us. "I have the power to bring him back, yes, but he wouldn't come back as the Zed you know. Once a soul is in the pit of souls, something happens. I don't know what, but every time I've pulled one out and brought it back to its body, they never come back the same. There's a part of hell dedicated to the monsters that I've brought back."

"Zed isn't some demon who died and you brought back. He has humanity, goodness, in his soul. He loves hard."

"I've never successfully brought back a soul, Abigail," my father growls back. "He would just be a shell of his old self."

"I don't care," I grind out. "We have to try."

"I won't do it. I won't bring back some stranger—some... monster—causing you, Megan, and Libby more pain," he counters it as if that's his final answer.

"Yes, you will." My body stiffens, my hands clenching at my side as fire slowly spreads over my body. I feel my horns pop out, my tail extending. I'm going all demon princess right now as if I could take on the devil himself.

He steps out of Megan's hold and gets in my face, matching my power. His eyes go black, but he doesn't need all the extra things to show he's more powerful than me and could easily crush me if I wasn't his daughter.

"No. I. Won't." It comes out deep, chilling. If he were talking to anyone else, they would be on their knees begging for forgiveness. Not me.

"You will lose me."

My chest heaves, nostrils flaring, and I feel ready to rain down my hellfire on the entire world right now. Maybe my words are harsh, but right now, I can't find it in me to care.

"I'd rather lose you and have you be happy with your other mates than watch you be devastated when I bring back some monster wearing Zed's body." It's then I know he's not going to do this. He won't bring back my mate for me.

He has the power, but he's not going to do it. Not even for his daughter. Megan looks at him, heartbroken and in disbelief.

Fine. If he wants to play that game, go for it. But I'm not playing by his rules. If he won't bring Zed back for me, I guess I'll just have to go to Hell and do it myself.

"Fine." Eyes locked on his, I take a few steps back.

He doesn't buy my easy acceptance. Smart man. Too smart for this moment.

"Abigail. Don't you fucking dare," he warns.

I keep walking, body still trembling, engulfed in my hellfire.

My eyes flick over to my mates, and I could almost cry when my gaze lands on each of theirs. Understanding. Love. Support. They can feel my pain and know that I will not stop fighting for my mate. They know I'd do anything to get them back if it were one of them who was taken from me.

I take their acceptance as it wraps around my heart, solidifying my plan. "I love you all," I state, then I take off into the sky.

"Abigail!" my father bellows, his booming voice filling the air around us.

I ignore him, wings pumping, working hard with every flap as I race towards the portals.

If he wanted to, he could come after me and stop me. But he won't, of that much, I'm sure. Because as much as he made it seem like he accepted me hating him, he loves me too much to allow that. He might not want to risk more heartache, and I get it. But I won't accept it.

Guards spill out of the building, hands on their weapons, ready to attack at any moment.

I understand they're just doing their job, but right now, they're just pissing me off.

As I walk towards them, they pull their weapons free and aim them at me. I cock a brow as if to say, really?

They're not allowed to shoot to kill, just to incapacitate. Unless given other orders. And there's no way my father would order them to kill me. Sadly for them.

"How about we make this easy on everyone, and you let me pass," I tell them, but none of them lower their weapons. They do, however, look at each other with conflicted faces.

Using their momentary distraction, I run towards the door. They all start to fire their guns. Shot after shot is fired, but not a single bullet hits me. My hellfire melts them upon contact.

I'm kind of disappointed with the lack of fighting. I was hoping someone might tackle me or something. It's too easy. But then again their fates would be the same as the bullets if they tried. No one can survive hellfire unless those who wield it choose that to be the case. No one but the Devil and his daughter can withstand and control it.

Right now, I don't seem to care if they die, not when they're trying to keep me from saving my mate. And none of them are willing to take the risk, wondering if I'm more merciful than my father.

I walk through the building, my body fueled by love, anger, and determination.

More guards find me in the lobby, but one looks at me, and they're backing down. Smart.

Paying them no mind, I head down to the portal to Hell. With no hesitation, I step through.

Unlike on earth, the guards on this side pay me no mind. They take one look at me and back away, turning around like they saw nothing.

Grinning widely, I take off to find the one person who can tell me where the pit of souls is located.

I find him just where I expect him to be.

Moans and grunts fill the air as I step into his bedroom. I grimace at the sight before me. He groans, thrusting into the guy underneath him as a woman rides that same man's cock.

Sadly, this isn't the first time I've found him in this position. But every time I do, I pray it's my last. Sadly, it never is.

"Hey, manwhore. Put your cock away. I need your help."

His head snaps over his shoulder, eyes widening. "Fucking hell!" he curses, scrambling to cover himself up. "What the hell, Abby!"

"It's not like I haven't seen it before." I roll my eyes. "Now, get your dick out of that guy's ass and help me, Beelzebub, or, I swear, I'll find a way to kill you."

He must see the look on my face and know I'm not joking.

Cursing again, he goes to move, but glares at me. "Could you like, turn around or something?"

Huffing with gritted teeth, I do. I wait as my father's right hand man—someone I used to have an unhealthy crush on as a preteen—gets dressed.

He grabs my arm and pulls me out of his room and into the hall. "Damn it, Abby. What the fuck is all this about? Why did you interrupt me just before I was about to finish," he snarls.

"Don't worry, you can get your rocks off in a moment. But I need your help with something first."

"And what might that be?" he asks, crossing his arms over his ripped body. He's good looking, bright red hair, toned, and looks like he's forever going to be twenty-five. But as I look him over now, I don't get any of those fuzzy feelings I used to. Just annoyance and anger.

"I need you to tell me how to get to the pit of souls."

His face drops. "Abby."

"Tell me. Or I will burn your fucking house to the ground," I snarl.

He groans, closing his eyes as he sighs heavily. "Your father will kill me."

"No, he won't, and you know it," I scoff.

"Fine," he snaps. "Only if you don't tell him I told you."

With a nod, I agree. "Fine."

He's barely done telling me directions on how to get there when I'm taking off, a new wave of determination filling my every cell.

"I'm coming, Zed," I murmur to myself. "Just hold on."