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Even though he knew the answer, he asked, “Aaron?”

Zeev gave a firm nod.

Ugh.

One more thing that Evan had to apologize for on behalf of his friend. He just hoped to bring Aaron back before he did something that an apology couldn’t cover. Like draining blood from innocent people to satiate some imaginary Dark Spirit.

As if sensing his distress, Xen spoke from up ahead, steps never faltering. “He is under an influence. That thing led him to Reth.”

That was hardly reassuring, but Evan appreciated the effort. “But it’s still bad, right? Reth is important to you.”

Something so precious to an Eternal must be powerful, and something powerful in the wrong hands was…catastrophic.

What if Aaron used that relic to do something unforgivable? Even if everyone else dismissed it, saying he was under the influence, Aaron would surely be traumatized for the rest of his life.

“It is certainly a minor hiccup,” Zeev said.

“Minor hiccup?” Evan glanced at his white-masked face. “Do you mean you have a way of recovering the relic?”

“I believe so, sir.”

“What is it?”

“Quite simple, truly. Eradicate the one hoarding the relic.”

Evan tripped in his steps before coming to an abrupt halt. He slowly turned to Zeev. “Eradicate? Are you suggesting we…we kill Aaron?”

That white mask on Zeev’s face didn’t give much away, but his voice was flat as he spoke. “It’s the most efficient way of recovering Reth.”

It should not have been a surprise to get such a crude suggestion from a demon. But it still pulled a nerve in Evan’sbrain that made him snap. “I mean this with utmost disrespect, but I thinkthe fucknot.”

“At this point, sir, his mind might be too far gone to recover,” Zeev said, in a matter-of-fact tone. “Even if we manage to take Reth forcefully, he might never return to the man you once knew. Wouldn’t it be better to put him out of his misery?”

“He is my friend!” Evan exploded.

“He is a threat.”

“Enough,” Xen had stopped in his tracks ahead, his deep voice cutting through the tension and effectively shutting them up.

After glaring at Zeev for a few long seconds, Evan stormed over to Xen and grabbed his hand to turn him around. He had the same impassive expression on his face, neither tense nor irritated.

“You cannot kill Aaron. Youwill notkill him,” Evan’s chest heaved with the effort it took to keep his trembling fist from colliding into Zeev’s mask and shattering it. “He is… Aaron is a good man and a good friend. My friend. He has helped me through shitty situations more times than I could count. I won’t abandon him now when he needs my help. He didn’tmeanto get kidnapped by the Nightshade freaks or get his brain fried by some spell. What he needs is help, notdeath!”

Xen stared at him silently, letting him scream his lungs out. Then slowly reached up and brushed an overgrown strand of hair out of Evan’s narrowed eyes. The gesture seemed to be an attempt at placating Evan’s fury, and it almost worked.

Almost.

Trying to even out his breath, Evan spoke. “Give me your word that you will not kill Aaron, nor will your damned servant.”

The warm finger lingered as it tucked that strand of hair behind Evan’s ear, then traced the shape of his jaw before falling away. “You have my word.”

Only then did Evan relax. His grip on Xen’s arm tightened. “I promise, I’ll do everything in my power to bring back Reth. Trust me.”

Xen’s eyes softened ever so slightly, his long hair blowing in a gentle breeze over his shoulder. “I do.”

“Good.”

After a moment of hesitation, Evan let go of his arm and pocketed his hands. Inside his left hand, the ball of black smoke curled into his palm. On his right shoulder, the Shadow Hand kneaded his muscle with gentle pressure. The soothing gesture from both the fluffy creatures eased the tension from Evan’s body bit by bit.