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“How?”

“When Mia was fading, there was a brief window where I could see beyond the mask of the angel magic. Our familial blood link facilitated it, the reason why no one else could see it. The True Celestials who were working their will through her, prevented her from even knowing it herself. She had no idea she was with child.”

“If she had, she never would’ve unearthed that accursed dagger. It would’ve changed things.”

“I have no doubt. She wouldn’t have sacrificed another in her stead, especially not her own child.” I winced. “She’s not her father.”

“You’re different now and I know from the rush of knowledge that Draco imparted to me after his death that he corrupted a lot more than just that gift of Foresight you used to possess.”

“Well, now is our chance to rectify those mistakes, to treat Mia with the veneration and adoration that she’s long deserved, to make it up to her at long last.”

He eyed the golden energy and asked, “You used the angelic properties to try to pull her from the Valley of the Dead?”

“And the offering of my Immortal blood to acquire permission from the Celestial Plane.”

“They have a hold on her still then?”

“Yes, they have to release her before I can find her within the Valley of the Dead. I failed. Thrice.”

“Hold on, you’re telling me you tried to kill yourself to make this happen? Three fucking times?”

“A child is supposed to outlive their parent, not the other way around.”

“Cornelius.”

“No matter, it didn’t work.”

“But you wish to try again, this time, with the remainder of the angel magic that I’ve hidden from you?”

“Yes.”

“I can’t allow that.”

“This is my daughter! My granddaughter! No sacrifice is too great!”

He held up his hand. “One moment.” Then he mind-linked his army, speaking aloud so I was aware that I no longer needed to concern myself with that anymore, and that we could concentrate on the situation before us instead. “Stand down. Plans have altered irreparably. The Immortal and I have formed a truce. Take your leave of the Guardian Compound immediately.”

“Thank you.”

He nodded, then focused on the problem again, commenting, “We need to approach this from another angle. Angel magic was flooding through Mia’s veins when she perished on that battlefield. True immortality. She shouldn’t have died.”

“You’re saying you don’t believe she’s actually in the Valley of the Dead?”

“Her death was forced because of the inbuilt, automatic price of using the Wrath of Hades. It’s something the TrueCelestials instituted. Logically, it means they have the ability to override it, especially given that she was their champion.”

“They’re keeping her there.”

“Holding her hostage might be more accurate. I know from Mia and even more in depth from the knowledge bestowed upon me by Draco, that the birth of a child of Immortal blood and that of a lesser supernatural being is an affront to the Celestial Plane.” He gestured at their child. “This would be beyond that. Our baby is beyond Immortal, according to her magical signature, yes?”

“When this child was conceived, Mia had angel magic coursing through her veins and a door open to the Celestial Plane.”

“Half angel,” he breathed.

“Because she wasn’t technically birthed unto this plane, she doesn’t hold Fallen—or Immortal—status. When Mia gave herself over to the will of the True Celestials, her Fallen status due to my crimes was effectively expunged.”

“What about me? My link to the dark, to fucking Draco himself?”

“The moment of conception, the baby was enveloped in angel magic, shielded. Mostly because the Celestial Plane didn’t want Mia to know, for her pregnancy to impact what they wanted her to do with regard to Draco.”