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“True, but how about you do your homework anyway, just in case the world doesn’t end?”

“Fine.” I turned and went off to my room, shutting the door behind me. But I lingered next to it for a while.

“Are you really that worried about Lavinia?” Dad asked. “When we encountered her last, she did not strike me a formidable foe.”

“Never underestimate the power of a vengeful heart,” Mom replied. “Or the power of an Immortal artifact. Especially sixteen Immortal artifacts. And most especially sixteen Immortal artifacts with powers we do not truly understand. This is a volatile situation. We can’t encourage Sierra to be reckless.”

“That’s funny, coming from you,” he teased her.

“Yeah, I know. I’m reckless. Butnotwith the lives of the people I love.”

“I know. Sierra couldn’t ask for a better mother.”

There was a note of longing in his tone. And now that I knew what I knew, I recognized it for what it was. He wanted to have more children. They both wanted to have more children.

“What are you doing?”

I turned at the sound of Troy’s voice. He was balanced in a crouch inside my open window.

“I could ask you the same,” I replied. “What are you doing in my room?”

“I’m not technically in your room.” He swung his legs around and landed on my floor. “Now I am.”

“Smart-ass.” I snickered. “And you didn’t answer my question. What are you doing here?”

“Do I need a reason to visit my favorite angel?”

“Your dad’s an angel. And your brother’s an angel.”

“Your point being?”

“Shouldn’ttheybe your favorite angels?”

“Na. They’re boring. You’rewaymore interesting, Sierra.” He wrapped his arm around me.

And I peeled it off. I hit him with a hard look. “You’re bored, are you?”

“So. Very. Bored.” He fell back onto my bed.

“Get off my bed.”

“Why?”

I planted my hands on my hips. “Because if you don’t, I will set the sheets on fire all around you.”

“Hey, that’s my line.” He wiggled his eyebrows at me.

“One.”

“Oh, come on, Sierra.”

I lifted my hand. “Two.”

“Don’t tell me you’re getting boring too.”

“Three.” I rubbed my fingers together, igniting sparks.

He scrambled off the bed and away from me.