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Yep, this was just getting creepier and creepier.

“And how do you get to these worlds inside the Veil?” I asked.

“Each of the Immortal graveyards inside the Veil is linked to a specific world outside the Veil,” he told me. “You can get to the graveyards if you know where the passages are. The Immortals used these passages to send their bodies to the Veil when they were made into Immortal artifacts.”

“These specific worlds linked to the graveyards, they’re the ones Regin and his allies took from the gods and demons, aren’t they?” I asked. “And that’s why Nectar and Venom were stored on them.”

So that’s how all the seemingly random worlds Regin’s order had targeted were connected.

“Yes,” Faris confirmed. “Regin’s unholy alliance wanted to gain control of all Nectar and Venom out there, and they intended to block our access to the Veil, so we couldn’t replenish our supply. They were powering up themselves while weakening us.”

“There’s a larger issue, one independent of Regin’s plans but certainly made worse by it,” Grace said. “The universe’s supply of Venom and Nectar is finite. And for some time now, our mining sites have been going dry. We haven’t found any new ones in many years.”

“Wait, so you’re saying that soon there won’t be any more Venom or Nectar?” I asked.

Grace folded her hands together on her lap. “Not unless we find more in the Veil.”

“But Venom and Nectar give the soldiers of the Dark Force and the Legion their power.” My mind was racing so fast, my ears were buzzing. “They create angels. They give demons and gods their power.”

“And without it, we will wither away as Regin did for all those centuries.” Frustration simmered in Grace’s eyes. “And, eventually, we will die.”

Coralia was right about one thing. This secret really could be the end of the gods and demons. And the end of the Legion of Angels too.

“This is why we need your help, Leda,” Grace told me. “Our alliance is crucial, not only to fighting the Guardians, but also to reclaiming our stolen Venom and Nectar from Regin.”

“But that is only a temporary solution,” said Faris. “We need to go into the Veil to find more Venom and Nectar. You can help us with that.”

“How?”

“You crave Nectar and Venom,” Grace reminded me. “You can sense it. And with that power, you can lead us to new, untapped sources of magic. You can save us all.”

“Save all demons and gods?” I fell back against the sofa. “Whoa, that’s a lot of pressure.”

“Surely not for the Champion of Heaven and Hell,” Grace said with a smile.

I turned my gaze to Nero. “What do you think?”

His answer was immediate. “Honestly, Pandora, you aren’t the kind of person to relax at the sidelines while the universe is in peril.”

“Yeah, I guess not,” I laughed. “But what about you? Don’t you want to retire from the madness of the recurring apocalypse?”

He set his hand over mine, his face serious. “What I want is to be with you and Sierra, wherever that is. Whatever you want, I will always support you, Leda. And I will always be by your side.”

Tears leaked from my eyes—happy, silly tears. I threw my arms around him.

“Oh for heaven’s sake, don’t make a scene,” Faris said impatiently.

But Grace was smiling. “Relax, Faris. Just because you don’t have feelings, that doesn’t mean other people don’t.”

“Feelings?” Faris grumbled. “Indeed! Next thing we know, she’ll be dragging us into some big group hug or some other nonsense.”

Grace laughed.

“Actually, Grace, Faris does have feelings. When he thought you were dead, I picked up on some very strong feelings from him,” I told her with a sly smile.

“Oh, yeah?” Grace perked up. “What kind of feelings? Relief?”

“Despair, actually.”