Sweet Temptation

I can’t respond because my muscles are tensed against the shudder that Satan’s name elicits.

“We’ve got Legio

I nod. “I see you’re keeping several whisperers with you to keep an eye out. That’s good.”

He puffs his chest out and hmphs. “I’m not going to let that girl get in a sneak attack. The other Dukes and I are staying armed and ready. We’ll find her and hold an emergency summit to learn the truth and get rid of her once and for all. Angels be damned.”

And that is when the truth will be made known. Please, let this work.

“What can I do to help?” I ask.

“Search for her. If you find her, she becomes your prisoner, and you’ll notify me immediately. Do whatever is necessary to keep her with you and get her to the location we choose for the summit. And most important, disarm her. Under no circumstances should she be allowed access to the Sword of Righteousness.”

“Of course. I’ll begin immediately. I have a few ideas where she might be.”

“Good.” He steps closer and looks me dead in the eye. “It’s in your best interest not to fail me in this endeavor. Do you understand?”

Another death threat. How original. Thing is, I’m no longer scared for myself. My only concern is A

“I understand,” I answer.

His eyes are bright; he’s probably feeling the glorious weight of his power trip. “I’m going to Marissa’s tonight, and I leave in the morning. My new duty station will be in New York City, so it’s time for me to get settled there. Don’t waste any time getting to work on your task.”

“Yes, sir,” I say absently, still stuck on one tiny detail. “But you’re going to Marissa’s, you say?” Doesn’t she think he’s dead?

He chuckles and flashes that obnoxiously wide grin again. “Marissa is a special human. She knows about our kind. She’s expecting me, and can’t wait to get her claws into my new skin.”

His grin is still huge and I force a nod. Yeah, she’s special all right. An especially evil bitch. “She must be an exceptional woman if you’ve been able to trust her in such a way.”

Father pulls out his mobile and glances at it, then pockets it again. “Exceptional, yes. And I still expect you to be at her service if she calls on you, regardless of whether or not we live here.”

Like hell I will. “Of course, Father. Enjoy your evening. I’ll begin my search for the Neph straightaway.”

“If you need to involve the son of Melchom to help you, then do that. He has a lot of resources at his disposal on the West Coast.”

“Brilliant idea,” I say.

He turns from me, pulling out his mobile again as he walks out. I stand there alone and listen to him ascending the stairs to the upper floor.

Another heartwarming conversation with Father has ended.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

Ready or Not

“If love’s a fight, then I shall die,

With my heart on a trigger.”

—“Angel with a Shotgun” by The Cab

The full weight of our situation doesn’t hit me until I’m with A

A

Can anyone else see what a bad idea this is? I have a hard time believing this is how it must go down. There has to be another way. She is one being with one sword. There are 666 of them. Granted, we have a handful of Neph allies, but the odds are stacked against us.

Perhaps A

“We don’t have to do this. You can stay hidden, like Zania.” I could take A

“I can’t hide forever. And what would that mean for you? Your father will expect you to be working. Marissa will be calling you.”

No. None of that matters. “I’ll go into hiding with you.”

“That’s no way to live.”

Isn’t it? We’d be together. Her shoulders are set as she examines my face. I know she can’t understand my selfishness, but damn it, I can’t understand her selflessness either.

“Are you truly not afraid?” I ask. “At all?”

“Of course I am . . . but the chain of events has started, and we can’t stop the prophecy now.”

“We can try.” We can slow it down. We don’t have to rush straight into the burning fire. Why is she in such a rush to do this? I know the Dukes are evil and the whisperers are a bloody nuisance, but this prophecy could kill her. Could kill all of us. I can’t be left on this earth without her. And I can’t stand the thought of A

She shakes her head, and her eyes droop as if she feels sorry for me.

“I finally have you, A

She touches my hand. “And every second we’ve had together is a blessing I never thought we’d get.”

She takes my shoulder, but I’m so tense I can hardly feel her hands on me. A

This, I feel.

I kiss her back like her mouth offers sustenance. I pull her close and revel in the feel of her hands scratching through my hair. “God, A

I tear my mouth from hers and pant for air. “I can’t lose you.”

Her hands pull at me, and her voice is ragged with emotion. “Stop thinking that way. I can’t fight them if you’re not on board, Kai.”

I look at her, and I fucking hate myself. A

I try to pull away, disgusted with myself, but she takes my face in her firm grasp and puts us nose to nose. “You haven’t lost me, Kai. I’m right here with you. Hold me.”

I pull her to my lap and bury my face in her neck. She’s right here. In my arms. She knows I’m a selfish prick, but she’s still here. I breathe and swallow and hold on tight.

I hold her as the stars light the night sky and the crickets send up their cacophony of mating calls. I hold her as the hours pass and our bodies wind down and weariness catches up with us.

All the while I keep an eye out for whisperers, and I scan with my hearing. It’s eerily quiet.

A

“Kaidan, if anything happens to me—”

I jerk, and my eyes snap open, catching hers. “Don’t! Don’t you dare finish that sentence. Nothing is going to happen to you.”

The pit of dread opens up inside of me. I don’t want to talk about this, but she is persistent and u

“If we both, you know, end up down there . . . in hell. We can make it through together. We’ll keep each other strong until it’s time for our judgment.”

I’ve never heard anyone talk about hell in this way. As if it’s something that can be faced and endured. I swallow hard at A