Ash was still reeling from the kindness of the King and Queen, the sense of being truly seen in a way she hadn’t felt before. For the first time since she had run away from Heaven, there was a small flicker of peace within her heart. It was a peace she had never thought she could find in Hell, of all places. Still, it didn’t erase the nagging feeling in the back of her mind—the knowledge that her escape had consequences, and those consequences were now on their way to find her.

It started quietly, like a whisper in the air. A disturbance. A presence she could feel, even from deep within the castle walls. She had been in the library, her hands curled around an old leather-bound book when she heard the faintest sound of footsteps echoing in the hall. The air around her seemed to grow thicker, heavier.

A sense of foreboding washed over her.

She looked up, her heart pounding in her chest. A soft, cold breeze wafted through the air, and she could feel it—like an omen, the kind she’d felt many times before in Heaven. The wings of the Heaven-bound guards were near. They were here for her.

She stood up slowly, moving to the window. Her breath caught in her throat as she spotted them—angels, dressed in shimmering armor, their wings outstretched and glowing with that unnatural brilliance that only those from Heaven possessed. They were gathered in the courtyard, their eyes searching, scanning the castle grounds.

Ash’s chest tightened. They had found her.

The Queen had been in the chamber with her moments ago, but now the room was silent. Ash turned quickly, her heart racing, only to be greeted by the cool, imposing presence of the King and Queen. They had sensed it too.

“You know why they’re here,” the Queen said softly, her voice tinged with a hint of sadness. There was no accusation in her tone, only understanding. “They’re coming for you, Ash.”

Ash swallowed, trying to calm the panic rising within her. She had hoped to escape, to live her life far from the responsibilities of her heritage, far from the expectations of Heaven. But this—this was the price she paid. The guards would never stop searching for her. Heaven would never let her go.

The King stepped forward, his dark eyes piercing. "Do not fear," he said, his voice deep, commanding. "They will not take you from us. Not while we stand here."

But even as the words left his mouth, Ash knew the reality. Heaven’s guards would not take kindly to being defied. They would force their way through, if need be. Heaven’s law was relentless.

Just as the sound of boots on stone grew louder, a figure appeared from the shadows. Ash looked up and found herself face-to-face with Asmodeus, the Prince of Hell.

His gaze locked onto hers, a knowing look in his eyes. His presence alone was enough to comfort her, even if only for a moment. There was something different about him—something strong, something protective. She had trusted him ever since their first meeting, and she could see that trust reflected in his face now.

“You need to leave,” he said urgently, taking her by the wrist and pulling her toward the side door. His voice was firm, but there was a hint of worry in his eyes. “Quickly.”

Ash didn’t need to be told twice. Her heart hammered in her chest as she followed him, the sound of the guards growing louder with every passing second. They had come for her, and the only option left was to hide or be caught.

Asmodeus led her through the labyrinth of the castle’s underbelly, down into the deeper, hidden passages that Ash had never even known existed. The stone walls seemed to close in around them as they descended, the air growing colder and damper with each step.

“They’ll never find you down here,” Asmodeus said, his voice low and calm despite the urgency of the situation. “I know every inch of this castle. I’ve hidden far worse things than angels down here.”

Ash couldn’t help but feel a flicker of relief. For once, someone cared enough to protect her. She trusted him more than anyone else in Hell, and she could feel the sincerity of his words. But the fear of being caught, of being taken back to Heaven, still gnawed at her. Heaven would punish her. She knew that. They didn’t forgive disobedience.

“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice barely audible in the silence of the hidden corridor. “Thank you for helping me.”

Asmodeus didn’t answer immediately, but she could feel the tension in his shoulders, the tightness in his jaw. He was worried, but he wasn’t showing it. His calm demeanor was a comforting presence in the chaos.

They continued down the winding tunnel until they reached a small, inconspicuous door. Asmodeus pushed it open, revealing a dimly lit chamber filled with ancient relics. Ash recognized some of the artifacts as belonging to Hell’s ancient past, but none of it mattered now. All that mattered was escaping the wrath of Heaven.

“Stay here,” Asmodeus said, turning to face her. “I’ll make sure they don’t find you. No one will.”

Ash nodded, fear still knotting her stomach. “What if they do? What if they force their way through?”

“They won’t,” he said firmly, stepping toward her. “You’re under my protection now. I’ll make sure they never take you from this place.”

For a moment, Ash allowed herself to believe him. She couldn’t think about what would happen if things went wrong. Not now. Not when she was so close to having a moment of peace, however brief it might be.

She watched him leave, the door closing softly behind him. Alone, Ash sank down onto a nearby chair, trying to steady her breath. The sound of her own heartbeat thudded in her ears as she waited, each passing second stretching into eternity.

Outside, the commotion of Heaven’s guards was unmistakable. They had entered the castle, their voices raised as they called for her. But Asmodeus’s words echoed in her mind. They won’t find you. She had to trust that he was right, that he would keep his promise.

And then, as though by some miracle, the door to the chamber creaked open again. Asmodeus’s figure appeared in the doorway, his expression both relieved and serious.

“They’re gone,” he said softly, stepping inside. “I made sure they didn’t see you. You’re safe—for now.”

Ash exhaled sharply, the tension in her chest finally starting to ease. “Thank you,” she whispered again, the words not nearly enough to express the gratitude she felt.

Asmodeus gave her a small, reassuring smile. “You don’t have to thank me. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

In that moment, for the first time since she had fled Heaven, Ash felt something she hadn’t known she needed: safety. It wasn’t a promise of a life free of danger, but it was a promise that, at least for now, she was protected. And that was enough.