Valery watches them leave, then shuts the bedroom door. She sits back down. “What was he thinking? Do you know?”
I know she’s talking about Kraven. “I wanted him to teach me how to summon my wings quickly, so that I could leave sooner.”
Her eyes widen. “And did he?”
“No.” I don’t tell Red I went looking for the scroll. I’m sure she knows it’s hidden at the Hive and that there’s a decoy. I wonder how many liberators went searching for it and are walking around thinking they’re the Secret Carrier.
Valery folds her hands in her lap like a Southern belle. “Dante, I’ve been meaning to ask. Do you know how to return to hell?”
My stomach drops. “Of course I do. I worked for hell for two years, didn’t I?”
“So, how do you get there?”
Every muscle in my body tightens, reminding me there are still injuries to be healed. “That’s not something you need to know.”
Valery frowns.
“I don’t want you anywhere near there,” I clarify.
“I want to go with you.”
Her announcement is like being submerged in icy water. “Out of the question. I’m going alone.”
“But—”
“But nothing. I need you to stay here and help Kraven protect Charlie. This is my quest, Valery.” What I don’t tell her is how much it means to me that she’s willing to come along. She has to know how dangerous it would be.
Red sits back in the chair. “Kraven said there were more sirens out there this morning than there were a few days ago.”
My pulse quickens. “That isn’t good.” As Valery squirms, I decide to ask the question that’s haunted me ever since I found out sirens existed. “Do you think the sirens will try and kill her themselves? Before, they were trying to get her to harm herself, but what about now?”
Valery’s chest rises, and her boobs nearly make a full appearance. “I think Lucille is beginning to take more risks.”
I smile at her continued use of Max’s and my nickname for our ex–Boss Man. Maybe everyone will adopt the name. I’ll be famous. Hashtag Lucille.
“I think he understands that harming an innocent human will trigger war on earth between heaven and hell,” she continues. “But I also think he’s gained confidence. He already has her soul. And if he can collect her body, too—the body of Big Guy’s ordained human—then he may be ready to face the outcome.”
“So you think Lucille sees Charlie as a symbol,” I say, “and that by taking her body and soul, he’s welcoming war? Like he’s using her as an opening ceremony or something?” It’s a thought I’ve had before, but speaking it aloud invites a wave of nausea.
“It’s a war I think Big Guy would quickly accept.” Valery rubs a hand along her neck. “I heard he was tempted to declare war after Rector killed Blue. But I guess ultimately his death was ruled an accident by Big Guy.”
I think back and remember the surprise in Rector’s eyes when the gun fired. But I don’t believe his surprise meant he was remorseful. Not even for a second.
“And what about Aspen?” I ask. “Why is she so important? If you know, you need to tell me.”
Red pulls on her earlobe. “I don’t know, exactly, but I was told that liberating her soul was important to Charlie’s plight.”
“But how important?” I ask. “In a big way, or in a trivial way only Big Guy finds significant?”
“That I don’t know.” Valery meets my gaze and holds it, changes the subject. “Kraven wants three more days to train you. If he has really agreed to teach you how to summon your wings, it could be the difference between rescuing Charlie’s soul and being captured.”
Red wants the same thing I do, for Charlie to be safe, for me to liberate Aspen’s soul, so I know she wouldn’t push this if she didn’t think the extra three days would truly help our cause. Reluctantly, I nod. “Three days. But then I descend into hell and steal back her soul, and nothing, and no one, will stop me.”
A shadow appears from beneath the doorway seconds before it is flung open.
Valery gasps and releases my hand.
Aspen stands before us, green eyes blazing. She looks directly at me. “Take me with you.”
32 
Meant to Be
Aspen stands tall, awaiting an answer.
Valery rises from her chair. “What are you talking about, sweetie?”
“Cut the crap,” Aspen says. “I overheard what you said. Those people, the sirens, they might hurt Charlie. And Dante wants to get her soul back from hell so they’ll back off.”
“It’ll only buy us so much time,” I interject. “If they lose her soul, they’ll just regroup and form a new plan to collect it again. Or they may just give up and kill her for the fun of it.”
Valery shoots me a
I shrug. “She already heard everything.”
“I’m going with you,” Aspen says. “When you go down into hell to get her soul, I’m coming.”
“Not happening,” Valery says.
Aspen looks at me, and I open my hands. “You’ve been overruled.”
“You didn’t vote,” she says through clenched teeth.
“Fine. You’re not going.” I study the determined set of her shoulders. “Why do you even want to go?”
“What else have I got to do?”
I try to hide my smile. “Not good enough.”
Valery breaks in. “We’re not discussing this. Aspen, you can’t tell anyone what you heard here. Do you understand?”
Aspen ignores her and plunges on. “I want to go because I want to do something big with my life. Because I heard you say I was important and because I’ve always felt like I was
“Aspen, listen—”
“Also, I can fight,” she says, her voice rising. “Better than you can. I’ll do whatever you tell me to when we’re down there, and if something bad happens, then I can help you escape.” Aspen rushes to the bed and kicks the side of it. My head jerks up. Her face is flushed with fear and excitement, and I can almost smell the resolve rolling off her. “Because you said you wouldn’t leave me. So I won’t leave you. Or Charlie.” She looks at Valery. “Or even you.”
Valery meets my gaze, and it appears as if she’s considering this. The thought ignites in my stomach.
Looking at her now, at the fire in her stance, I see myself in her a thousand times over. She’s confident, stubborn. It’s why I can’t let her go with me. One Dante Walker sneaking into hell is enough.
I open my mouth to tell her this, but she cuts me off again.
“You can’t tell me no.” Aspen points a finger at me. Her gloves are orange today. I wonder where she got them. “This could be why you were sent you to liberate me.” She nods her head. “Maybe my mother was meant to leave. Maybe I was always meant to hate my father. Maybe I was supposed to befriend Lincoln and learn to fight
