“I will no doubt hear from you if things go awry,” I began, already backing away. “But if you would do me the courtesy of informing me either way, please. Now, I really must leave, I have … important places to be.”

“Who is taking charge of Heaven?” Hellen demanded, stepping down from the throne to toe at God, who clamped her mouth shut, her skin so pale it was almost translucent. “Don’t tell me you’re taking that on, Junior?” She guffawed. “We all know how little you relish the idea of ruling.”

“I think I will leave the decision up to the archangels. Although I think I know who they will choose.” I thought of Pete, of the way he hid a commanding façade behind a stuttering old man. The way he’d cared for Mr Bliss. The way he knew that what Heaven needed was someone who cared for the souls and not someone who only wanted the fame of it all.

“I promise you, no matter what happens in Heaven, I will ensure that Hell thrives on every soul that deserves this fate.”

“Why are you offering me this deal? We’ve been barely more than rivals our whole lives.” Hellen’s voice was thoughtful, and something in it made me lower my hand, pausing my portal conjuring.

“There is a very simple answer to that,” I murmured, giving her a half-smile. “I’d rather the ruler of Hell be the devil I know. And, for the record, I never wanted to be your rival. I only ever wanted to be your brother.” I turned away, a portal morphing into existence in front of me. My anticipation thrummed headily in my blood.

“Going back to her, are you?” Hellen muttered. “You know, when she spat on a fully grown Pit demon we met in the tunnel, I almost understood what you see in her. Feisty little thing, isn’t she? She wouldn’t have broken as easily as I’d thought.”

She reached between her bosoms, pulling out a small, pulsing coin. I sucked in a breath.

Jemma’s Soul Token. How had I forgotten?

My fingers itched to snatch it from her, but for the sake of diplomacy, I held back. Hellen stepped towards me. “While I think you’re an utter fool, Junior, if you can pull off what you claim you can … well, it’s really all I’ve ever dreamed of. So, for the sake of diplomacy …” She thrust the token at me. “Here. But like I said before, if things go badly for me in the Pit, all bets are off. Including the safety of your little human.”

I suppressed the growl that threatened to rumble up my throat, instead snatching the Token from her grasp with a rough, “Thanks.”