Infernal God (Claimed By Lucifer Book 3) by Elizabeth Briggs (summer reads TXT) 📕

my son truly mean that? Had he done all of this just so he could have a chance to grab an Elder God's power? Had I really been so wrong about him?

Death cackled. "I like you, grandson. Perhaps my pedigree merely skipped a generation. Yes, you will make a fine host, at least until the girl is older. But I require a sacrifice."

Belial closed his eyes briefly, and then he looked at his mother, his gaze lingering on her as his face remained stoic. Then he turned his eyes upon me, and I saw the truth there, as if I'd had a touch of Hannah's power. Belial didn't want Death's power. He was only doing this to save his sister. He was doing this for us.

He looked at Aurora next, still in Damien's arms, and his jaw clenched. "Anything," he told Death.

"I require the sacrifice of your soul," Death rasped.

"Belial, no!" Hannah yelled, rushing forward to try to stop this somehow, but I wrapped my arms around her, wishing there was some other way to defeat Death and save my son. If Hannah and I could defeat the Elder Gods inside us, I had to believe Belial could do the same. Somehow.

Belial cast one last glance at us, as if saying goodbye, before he nodded at his grandfather. “Done.”

Then I could only stare in horror as my son became Death, the destroyer of worlds.

35

Hannah

As the last of the purple essence disappeared into my son, my tortured cry rang loud and harsh over the landscape and then echoed back, like the whole of Hell shared my grief. Behind us, the battle was still going on, but none of that mattered. All I cared about was that I was about to lose my son to Death.

I gripped Lucifer’s hand, dragging him along with me as I crossed the distance between us and Belial, my wings bursting from my back when my legs didn’t move fast enough. Damn it all. An Elder God couldn’t have another one of my men. Death wouldn’t take my son.

“Belial!” His name ripped from my throat. “Belial, you have to fight!"

Belial was kneeling in the dirt, shuddering with the aftermath of becoming Death, but then his head snapped up and his glowing eyes met mine. A horrible cackle escaped from his mouth, as purple magic slithered up and down his body, making his veins and bones glow from the inside out in a most horrifying way.

Theo landed in front of me, trying to block me from getting to my son, but Lucifer grabbed the gargoyle by the throat. He reached out with a tendril of darkness and picked up Morningstar, which had fallen when Belial had become Death, and yanked it into his hand. Without hesitation, Lucifer used the glowing sword to slice Theo's head off. When it was done, Lucifer tossed the gargoyle's body aside like it was a doll, then handed Morningstar to Kassiel and wiped his hands.

I couldn't even take satisfaction in the traitor's death, because all I could see was Belial, spreading his purple-tinged wings as he gazed across the battlefield at his undead army. When Belial had been a kid, he'd had horrible nightmares, and I would stroke his head and tell him everything was okay until he fell asleep again—but this was one monster I couldn’t rid him of. If my sheer will had been enough, he would have returned to me immediately.

“Fight, Belial!" I called out. "Remember who you truly are!"

"Who I am?" He let out another horrible cackle. "I am Death. Belial is no more. He was weak, and now he is gone."

Lucifer clenched his fists. "No, he's not. You are Belial. Our first child. Our strongest son. I know you can fight this. Don't let him win."

Belial suddenly launched himself at Lucifer, wrapping his hands around my mate's neck. Lucifer's eyes went wide as Death sucked the life out of him, making him go pale. "I am Death, and you will die!"

Instead of fighting him, Lucifer wrapped his arms around his son in a hug. "If you need to kill me, then so be it. If I could give my life to save you, I'd do it. I'd gladly sacrifice anything for you."

Death roared and released Lucifer, retreating away from us. He shook his head like he was confused, and I knew it was Belial trying to fight him off. All he needed was a little help from his family.

I gestured for my other sons to come close as I moved toward Death. Just like with War, I had to trust that Belial wouldn't hurt me. With Lucifer at my side, Kassiel moved to stand on the left, and Damien on the right. Aurora launched herself away from Damien and flew over to me, and I caught her in my arms, kissing her on the face, so relieved to have her back again. My entire family, reunited once again—and now we had to save one of our own.

“Belial, we love you," I said to him as he glared at us. "Focus on that. Focus on your family."

“Don’t let past hurt dictate your actions, brother," Damien said.

“Please come back," Kassiel added. "We’re all here waiting for you.”

"Love is a lie," Belial said. "Love makes you weak. Love is nothing."

"That's Death talking," Lucifer said. "Not you."

"What would you know of love?" Belial asked, glaring at his father. "You neglected me as a child. You cast me out of Hell. You pretended I didn't exist for centuries. Now you speak to me of love? Where was your fucking love then?"

"I'm sorry." Lucifer's voice caught a little. "I've made many mistakes. I let my pride keep me from doing what was right. But I've always loved you, and I've always been proud of you, even if I was terrible at showing it. I promise I will do better going forward."

Belial responded by raising his arms, and his undead army charged toward us, plowing over our other soldiers to