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“Well, I’m still hoping the gods decide to do away with the barbaric archangel trials and treat the level ten promotion like any other. Just give the soldier the Nectar and see if it kills him or levels up his magic.”

Which, to be honest, was also pretty barbaric. But it was far less barbaric than forcing an angel to sacrifice his loved one just to prove that duty always came first.

“I’m pretty sure it would take a total revolution on the gods’ council to get rid of the archangel trials,” Jace told me.

I feared he was right. But I was still going to hope that I was right. Because life without hope was just so damn depressing.

“Whatever happens, I want you to know we all appreciate that you warned us, that you tried to help Xerxes.” Alice’s smile was small, but genuine. “Especially considering your history with him?—”

“Yeah, he’s basically tried to destroy your life. And turn us all against you,” Jace added, and Alice winced.

Once, shortly after Jace and I had joined the Legion, he’d told me that his parents—who’d never met me—hated me. Though after meeting Alice, I was pretty sure it was only Colonel Fireswift who hated me, and he’d simply ordered the rest of the family to follow suit.

“Just give me a little more time to wear him down, and then the Colonel and I will be the best of friends,” I said cheerfully.

“Hmm.” Jace’s gaze shifted to Alice, who gave her brows a very skeptical lift. “That doesn’t sound like my father at all.”

“Yeah, well,” I said, patting him on the back, “the Angel of Chaos works outside the normal laws of the universe.”

“That I definitely believe,” he told me, breaking a smile.

“Uh, Jace?” I looked past him, to Tessa, who was standing across the room, smirking at him. “Why is my sister winking at you?”

He turned, and Tessa winked again. “Oh, that. I…uh, well, I sent her some cheese for the party, and she was very grateful.” Jace gave my sister a cautious wave.

“Yeah, I can see that.” I snorted as Tessa licked her lips at him. “Be careful.”

“Careful?” He looked perplexed.

“With my sister.”

His brows drew together. “Is that a threat?”

“No.” I laughed. “It’s a warning. For your benefit. I recognize that look in my sister’s eyes.”

“What look?”

“The look Tessa gets when she’s on the hunt,” I told him. “Like I said, be careful.”

Jace stood taller. “I am an angel, Leda,” he reminded me.

“Exactly. Tessa has a thing for angels.”

He squared his shoulders. “I can handle Tessa Pierce.”

“I wouldn’t be too sure of that,” I muttered as Tessa crossed the room to join us.

“Hey, Jace,” she said sweetly, batting her long eyelashes at him. “I’m in need of your expert assistance.” She linked her arm with his.

Jace looked at me with pleading eyes as Tessa led him away.

“I did warn him,” I said, chuckling.

“Jace is a lot like his father,” Alice said with a smile. “He’s a lot better at handling a sharp sword than a sharp woman.”

She set Troy down, and he waddled off to play with Lycus, the son of Andromeda Singh and Vanir Dragonblood. Together, the two boys declared war on Iris and Selene, the daughters of Leila and Basanti.

The girls were each a perfect blend of their mothers. Like Leila, Iris’s hair was the color of a sunset—mixed golden hues of orange, red, and pink. And her eyes were dark and dramatic, like Basanti’s. Selene’s eyes were the same turquoise as Leila’s. And her hair was Basanti’s: the color of dark chocolate.