Page 12

“Actually, this hunter’s a she,” Cadence told me.

“And she’s the last remaining hunter,” Damiel added.

“Really?” I asked, feeling excited—and a bit conflicted about that excitement.

We were talking about killing someone, after all. Sure, the hunters were thieves and murderers and they’d helped a madman commit near-genocide. And they would kill my daughter if they had the chance. But still. I shouldn’t be excited about killing anyone.

“So, you’re telling me that I’ll soon have my husband back at home with me?” I added, glancing at Nero.

These last few years, we’d spent more time apart than together.

“The hunters will soon all be gone,” Nero replied, “but the Guardians are still out there. And I will find them. I will do whatever it takes to keep my family safe.” He reached out his gloved hand to me.

I took it. “We both will. Now let’s deal with this psycho, so we can get back to that family.”

Sierra would be asleep by now. Yet again, I hadn’t been there to tuck her in. I sighed.

“What’s wrong?” Nero asked.

“I just wish saving the universe wasn’t so much work.” I sighed again.

“Sierra deserves to live in a universe where she’ll be safe.”

“She also deserves to actually see her parents once in a while,” I pointed out.

“Things will get better.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I know everything,” he declared. “And I’m always right.”

I snorted.

“I’m serious, Pandora.”

“Oh, I know you are,” I chuckled. “And thanks for that.”

“For always being right?”

I rolled my eyes at him. “No, doofus.” I punched him lightly in the shoulder. “Thanks for having hope.”

“I have something far more powerful than hope.”

“Oh? And what’s that?” I asked.

He squared his shoulders, standing taller. “A battle strategy.”

“He takes after his father,” Cadence commented to Damiel, smiling.

“Yes.” Damiel stood a little taller too.

At least until Cadence added, “Or perhaps he gets it from his grandfather.”

Damiel choked out a strangled cough.

“Don’t be like that, Damiel,” Cadence said. “My father is a fantastic strategist.”

“He’s also a fantastic pain in my ass.”