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“But you don’t have immortal artifacts that can turn a man into a deity-killer!” Zarion’s voice echoed off the walls. “And now that we’ve gathered enough Nectar and Venom to activate those immortal artifacts, we have an endless supply of powerful soldiers. It takes years, even centuries, to make a new angel—and many, many doses of Nectar or Venom. It takes only a single dose to activate one of these immortal artifacts, and then all we have to do is hand it to a human willing to wield it.”

“But are these humans willing to die for you?” I countered.

“Of course!” Zarion brushed off his robe again. “We are their gods.”

“Uh, so that’s exactly the kind of arrogant thinking and total disregard for human life that made those people turn against their old gods in the first place,” I told him. “Just wait until they figure out you’re exactly the same. Then you won’t have an army to wield your weapons and die for you anymore.”

Zarion’s smile soured.

“It’s ok,” I said. “It’s easy to lose sight of the big picture when you’re only thinking about yourself.”

Zarion’s gaze slid to Faris. “I’m surprised by your restraint, brother. Were she my daughter, I would have cut out her tongue by now.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but Faris got there first. “You underestimate her, Zarion. She is more powerful than you.”

And to prove his point, I clapped my hands together, setting off a potent burst of telekinetic energy that threw Zarion against the wall. He slid to the floor, unconscious.

“Well, now that that’s settled, how about we deal with the rest of Regin’s crazy order?” I suggested. “I am so ready to wipe the floor with the self-professed new rulers of the known universe.”

Faris watched me, his face guarded. “You’re in a good mood. You must have really enjoyed hitting him.”

“Yeah, but that’s not why I’m smiling,” I told him. “Bella didn’t kill Zarion. It was all just a show. So maybe Stash didn’t kill Grace either.”

“I’ve already considered the idea.” Faris sighed.

“And?”

“Regin only spared Zarion because he was on board with his insurrection,” Faris said. “Which means if Grace is still alive, she is one of them. And that makes her our enemy.”

30

BETRAYALS

We didn’t have time to drop off Zarion in the gods’ dungeon, so we relieved him of his immortal artifacts and left him tied up in the office. Then we made our way down to the party. The voices grew louder, more boisterous.

“Regin and his allies are definitely celebrating something,” I commented to Faris.

“Their celebration is premature,” he replied coolly. “They have not won yet.”

We moved through the dark forest, toward the light. A large banquet table straddled the border between forest and beach. And it was Regin who sat at its head, a goblet of Nectar in his hand, a big smirk on his lips.

“She’s here,” Faris said darkly, peering through the curtain of vines that hid us from view. “Ava.”

The demon sat to Regin’s right side, sipping from a goblet of Venom. She turned to speak to another demon.

“I was so sure Ava’s ally on the demons’ council was Sonja,” I muttered.

But it was not the Demon of the Dark Force who sat beside Ava. It was Alessandro, head of the council and the King Demon.

“Sonja’s not here at all.” I looked around just to be sure. “She’s not one of Regin’s allies.”

“Even so, she is hardly an ally,” Faris replied.

“But why is Alessandro here?” I wondered. “He is already head of the demons’ council. So what does he have to gain by allying himself with Regin’s forces?”

“Alessandro must have sensed the wind changing, and so he decided to change with it.” Faris’s eyes hardened. “He’s always been as pragmatic as he is foolish. Regin will not win.”

“No one wins when they make a deal with the Guardians,” I added. “But if Alessandro and Ava are working together, then why would he vote in favor of hunting her down? That doesn’t make any sense.”