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Mom shrugged. “It always worked for me.”

“Yes, but you’re one of a kind,” he said with a twinkle in his eyes, then looked at Nyx. “So the demons got all sixteen rings?”

“No. They didn’t get any.”

“We didn’t get the rings. And the demons didn’t get the rings.” His eyes drew together. “So who did?”

“No one.”

“No one?”

“Both sides brought in more specialists. Search teams and scientists and trackers,” Nyx said. “They found nothing. No rings.”

I rose to my feet. “They are there,” I insisted. “I know what I saw.”

“She was right last time,” Mom told Dad.

“We will join the search,” Dad declared.

Nyx nodded. “Glad to have you, Windstriker.”

When they moved toward the door, I followed.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Dad asked me.

“I am going with you.”

“Not this time,” he said in his First Angel voice, the one my dad always used when he was pulling rank.

I hated his First Angel voice.

My parents left with Nyx, and they left me behind. I considered following them. I did have way more magic than they did, after all, so it’s not like they would be able to stop me.

But in the end, I decided against that course of action. If I followed them, they’d send me back, and then we’d get into this big fight, which would totally distract us from the mission: finding the rings.

Well, no matter. When they failed to find the rings, they’d come to me for help. That was how I was going to play this. It would be faster. And immensely more satisfying.

In the meantime, I had another mission. I was going to pay a visit to Cadence and Damiel. They had the knowledge of the Immortals. If anyone could figure out a way to help my parents have more kids, they could.

CHAPTER 6

THE CURE

When I arrived at the Palace, Cadence greeted me with a cookie and a question. “Sierra? What are you doing back here so soon? Did you forget something?”

I took the cookie and told her all about how my parents had joined the search for the sixteen rings—and left me behind.

“It’s just as well,” she said when I was finished with my story. “You don’t want to get in the middle of a conflict between gods and demons.”

“I can take care of myself,” I said, standing taller.

“Of course you can,” she chuckled. “This isn’t about your magic or martial prowess. It’s about politics. Do you really want to stand there while the gods and demons trade insults and debate who should get the rings?”

“Not really,” I admitted. “That sounds boring.”

“Exactly.” She handed me another cookie, which I of course accepted. Cadence really was in full-out grandma mode right now.

“Is Eira around?” I asked.