Sweet Temptation

It’s absolutely beautiful. And so is she. My warrior.

Screams and shouts erupt as the Dukes and whisperers knock into each other, clamoring to distance themselves from the Sword of Righteousness.

Belial, Marek, Blake, the twins, Zania, Kopano, and his brothers all join me as we stand behind A

I’m still expecting, hoping, the angels will come at any moment. How will A

I bloody hate it that I ca

It’s Patti. They bring her in through the hidden door I’d noticed. They captured poor Patti and dragged her here, to torture her in front of A

I have witnessed my share of heartbreaking events, but none has affected me like this. When A

My eyes burn. She’s been like a mum to me—to all of us.

A

Thamuz cuts Patti across the face, but Belial grabs my arm before I can throw my knife. His eyes are pained as he shakes his head. How can he stand there and let this happen? I know it’s some bloody test of faith for A

I could ignore Belial and kill Thamuz now. I can see A

I understand all of this, but I hate it. Two seconds ago we were gaining an upper hand, and now it’s like we’re powerless all over again. They’ve got one of ours for leverage. One of our most beloved.

When Thamuz attacks Patti, stabbing her, I grasp A

“Bastards,” I say through gritted teeth.

Thamuz raises the knife again, but I ca

With pleasure.

Thamuz is turned away from us, facing Patti with his arm raised, and I hurl my knife into the back of his thick neck. When his feral spirit heaves itself from its body and comes racing jaggedly toward us, A

Belial scoops up Patti and brings her to A

“I’m not scared, honey,” Patti says to A

Pandemonium arises as Neph, fed up from years of abuse, stampede toward the Dukes. Other Neph, who’re loyal to their fathers, try to shield them, and the fighting begins.

“Work to disarm them!” Belial shouts.

Belial is right. Several of the Dukes have guns. They have to be dealt with first. I stand in front of A

Fighting back, rebelling, is far more exhilarating than I ever expected. The fear is still there, but when it blends with all the other feelings, the need for revenge, for freedom, it adds to the ripe recklessness within. I grasp this feeling, holding tight.

To the left, Duke Kobal tries to aim at A

“Get Kobal!” I yell, and point at him.

Marna kicks him in the leg just before she’s yanked back by the hair by the small but substantial Neph Caterina. Kobal jerks when he’s kicked, shooting Duke Jezebet in the arm. She screams. Kobal aims again, but Kopano bursts through the crowd and takes him down. They wrestle on the ground. An enemy Neph runs past me, toward them, but I snatch him by the back of his shirt, spi

I want to dive into the fight, but I refuse to leave A

As spirits swoop down, trying to overpower A

Our allies work together to take down Dukes and enemy Neph. Marek retrieves my knife from Thamuz’s dead body and corners one of the enemy Neph. I can only assume we’re rounding up the Dukes in order to fulfill the prophecy, but as the battle rages on I’m begi

In the middle of the fighting I see one of the sons of Thamuz crawling forward, grabbing for a small handgun that’s been knocked to the ground.

I shout to one of Kopano’s brothers, who’s standing closest, and he rushes for the Neph, but it’s too late. The son of Thamuz has made it to his knees and shoots half a second before he’s knocked down violently by Kope’s brother. Zania cries out as Kopano curls in on himself, shot in the chest, and falls to the ground.

Oh, fuck.

“No!” A

Zania is at Kopano’s side, trying to stop the bleeding with her hands. From the corner of my eye I see someone rushing our other side and hear Belial yell. I turn just as Belial and Blake are grabbing Duke Sonellion’s arms. He thrashes, pushing toward A

Good riddance, Duke of Hate.

We look back over at Kopano, who’s now surrounded by Zania, his brothers, and his father. He’s so still. It makes something in my chest twist in agony.

“It’s not his time!” Duke Alocer cries out. My eyes are glued to the scene as Alocer’s spirit begins to rise from his skin, and his body slumps to the floor.

A

Alocer, in spirit form, floats above Kope for a mysterious moment, and then sinks, disappearing into Kope’s body. My mouth drops. My God . . . his father is possessing him. He’s healing him. Saving him. Zania lets out a sob as Kopano’s body lurches. When his chest rises and falls in a pattern of regular breathing, his body heaves to dispense the invasive spirit. Alocer pulls himself from Kope’s form and looks down at his son. A few people cheer. Zania looks at his father’s spirit with open gratitude. Kope blinks up at him.