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Tiago watched the conflicted look on Evan’s face, and misunderstood it as Evan recalling the things Tiago had put him through all these years. More than enough reasons to not help Tiago. His shoulders tensed, quite convinced that Evan was going to turn him down.

Then with a deep sigh, he held up his white flag. “Find Robbie, and I’ll waive off the rest of your debt.”

Evan’s head snapped up, confusion warring with shock for a moment. “What?”

“All of it.”

That’s when Evan found it. The “solid reason” why he should find the missing people. To finally get this leech off his neck and forever out of his and his sister’s life.

Could it be that luck was on his side today? Evan hadn’t even thought about asking for something in return, but sigh, there was nothing quite as motivating as monetary benefits.

Or, in his case, cutting monetary losses.

“Done,” Evan turned his head, glancing at Xen over his shoulder. “What day is it today?”

“Tuesday.”

The Bloodbath would happen on the Reaping Moon, which was on Friday. They had a couple of days to plan how to stop the ritual and bring back the people. There was no guarantee the captives were in the Enclave Passage where Evan had seen those cult members. After all, it would be risky to keep all the captives in the same place lest they fought back together and escaped.

And after Xen’s fury shook up the Enclave Passage while Evan was trapped there, they surely would have heightened their security.

The only day they’d possibly bring everyone together would be on the day of the Bloodbath, to sacrifice them at the foot of the Dark Spirit they worshipped. And that would be the most advantageous moment to ambush them.

But still, they were greater in number if just one Enclave Passage hosted over a hundred disciples. And Evan was…

He glanced at Xen, and those two light-consuming eyes drew to him like magnets. “What do you need?”

He was doing it again. Offering his aid with a tone that suggested he would do whatever Evan needed, and eyes that guaranteed it would be a piece of cake.

Of course it would be.

For a few minutes, Evan had forgotten what Xen was. But now, seeing himself reflected in the dark void of those eyes, he remembered.

Forget a hundred, even if there were thousands standing against Evan, all he needed was one person on his side. Preferably someone tall and strong with red eyes. A demon royalty.

An Eternal.

Xen was born of Hellfire. He possessed the demonic energy of tens of thousands of demons who sacrificed themselves for his birth. Handling a few pesky humans would be nothing to him.

Evan quirked a smirk. “I hope Zeev wasn’t overestimating you.”

The Hellguard had surely introduced Xen like he was a god rather than a demon. Evan had forgotten half of what he’d said due to the shock of the revelation and the rest of it while fleeing for his life from the two demons. But the words “unparalleledpowers” and “commands fear” still lingered somewhere in his broken memories.

For now, that was more than enough.

Xen’s eyebrows furrowed slightly, a competitive glint flashing across his eyes as he grinned. “You’ll have to see that for yourself.”

Tiago, whose presence was forgotten—or perhaps intentionally ignored—cleared his throat, and Evan’s smirk faded as he turned back.

“Robbie…”

“I can’t guarantee anything,” Evan said. “But I will do my best.”

That reassured Tiago greatly. Anyone who knew Evan knew the depth of those words,Iwill do my best. Those were words he had always lived up to.

When the crowd exited the kitchen with Aaron in tow, the sweet aroma of fresh cookies and hot choco flooded the living room. Celie’s face dimmed when she noticed Tiago’s absence. But she didn’t probe why he’d left so suddenly without saying bye.

Everyone gathered around the small coffee table, filling the once empty room with smiling faces and merry laughter. Evan sat leaning against the couch, Elysia rubbing his shoulders even after he’d continuously assured her that he wasn’t tired.