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I left my grandparents’ castle, my mind spinning. There was a cure, the answer to my parents’ prayers. But it could mean the end of the Legion of Angels. It could mean the end to our entire way of life.

When I got home, my parents were already back. Dad was doing pushups. Mom was eating out of a tub of double chocolate chip brownie ice cream. That told me their mission had not gone well.

“You couldn’t find the rings, could you?” I said.

“No.” Dad stopped exercising. He grabbed a gym towel off the back of a chair and wiped down his face and neck. “We could not.”

“Are you sure the rings are where you said?” Mom stared into her ice cream tub, frowning when she found it empty. She set it down on the counter with a sigh.

“That old immortal book said they were there.” I closed my eyes. “And, yes, they’re there.” I opened them again. “I could go find them for you.”

“No,” both my parents said together.

I narrowed my eyes at them. “Why not?”

Mom set her hand on my shoulder. “It’s too dangerous, Sierra.”

“I’ve already fought and defeated one of the guardian beasts,” I countered. “And I was only twelve when I did. I’m stronger now. Much stronger.”

“I wasn’t talking about the guardian beasts, but, yes, those are a concern as well,” Mom said. “The danger I was referring to is Lavinia. She’s out for revenge.”

I snorted. “I think I can handle one pretty little princess. And besides, she’s not out for revenge against me. It’s you she wants, Mom. Maybeyoushould stay home. For your safety.”

“Lavinia most certainly wants revenge on me. And the best way to take revenge on me is to hurt my daughter.” Her mouth tightened. “You.”

“I am a soldier,” I declared. “It’s my duty to help.”

A smile twitched Dad’s lips.

“Don’t encourage her, Nero,” Mom sighed, then turned to me again. “You’re not a soldier yet, Sierra. You’re only sixteen years old.”

“I’m part Immortal, part god, part demon. I can handle it.”

Dad snorted.

Mom’s expression softened. She almost looked amused when she turned to Dad and asked, “Something in your throat, General?”

He quickly wiped his face blank, but he couldn’t hide the pride in his eyes as they looked upon me. “Your mother is right. You’re too young. The last time you went to recover one of those rings, a beast attacked you.”

“And I made short work of it,” I countered with a smile. “Thanks to your excellent training, Dad.”

He beamed at me.

“She’s trying to manipulate you,” Mom warned him.

Dad hit me with a proud smile. “Yes, and excelling at it too.”

“She does excel at that.” Mom’s expression was stuck somewhere between a smirk and a frown. “Sierra.” She set her hands on my shoulders. “We only want to keep you safe.”

“That’s a bit tough when everyone thinks I’m some kind of savior, so they all either want to kill me or use me.”

“Yeah, I know.” She exhaled. “It’s tough. But we’re your parents, and we love you more than anything in the universe. So we’re going to try to protect you no matter what. We’re a family, so we have to stick together. Always. Ok?”

“Ok.”

“Good, now I think it’s about time you finally finished your homework, don’t you? It’s due tomorrow, right?”

“No teacher is going to complain about late homework assignments if the world ends.”