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Pleione offered an opaline sword. Terebell took it and rose, looking down at me in a way that reinforced my human frailty. I waited, expecting her to slice through my neck.

‘You said there must be latent Rephs here,’ I said. ‘How could there be?’

Terebell did not reply.

‘Grapevine may have a presence in Italy,’ Arcturus said. ‘Its agents could have assisted the Sargas in planting our fallen here, as Cathal Bell was a collaborator in the conquest of Ireland.’

The words hit on something. In that moment, I was torn between memories of Dublin and Paris.

Compromise another of our fortified havens, and not only will we be more likely to become Emim, but those that already exist will no longer be drawn to a congregation of us, Kornephoros had told me.Our strongholds are a beacon. Without them, the Emim will scatter across your world.

‘Wait,’ I said. ‘I think I understand what’s happening. It’s an invasion from the inside. If the politicians refuse to play ball with Scion—’ My mind was racing. ‘They’ll go for the heart, like they did in Dublin. Use the Buzzers to devastate the capital, weakening it enough that the Second Inquisitorial Division can breeze right in. There would still be a ground invasion, but they’d face a hell of a lot less military resistance if the Buzzers clear a path first. It will set an example for anyone else who wants to resist Operation Ventriloquist.’

‘If you are right, it would be a significant deviation from the secrecy the Sargas have upheld for two centuries,’ Lesath said. ‘Thewhole of Rome is about to witness the might of the Netherworld. Why should they choose to reveal themselves?’

‘I don’t care about the motive right now. We have to stop this,’ I said. ‘Terebell, are you able for a fight?’

‘Yes,’ Terebell said.

‘Good. I’m going after Cade,’ I said. ‘You deal with the cold spots.’

‘We will need you in our party, Underqueen,’ Pleione said. ‘You may not be able to attack the Emim with your spirit without risking death, but the pressure from your dreamscape will keep them at bay. You can defend the rest of us.’

‘Pleione is right,’ Arcturus said. ‘We stand a greater chance of success with you, Paige.’

‘I can’t miss this opportunity to kill Cade. If he escapes—’ I thought back. ‘He did say he knew I was here, and that he was going to face me. If he wants a fight, he won’t leave yet.’ I gave them all a weary look. ‘Fine. I’ll come. You really can’t do anything without me, can you?’

Before they could answer, I left the jailhouse.

The mist had thickened while I was in there. To my surprise, President Sala was already in the plaza, marching towards me with about half of her entourage from the Quirinale, including Nick, Mistry, and a man I recognised as Gilberto Draghetti, the Minister for Defence. Maria and Verca came after them, emerging from one of the buildings.

‘Paige.’ Sala stopped in front of me. ‘Fitzours escaped the perimeter.’

‘No one could have seen that coming.’ I folded my arms. ‘What happened?’

‘He arrived in person, with Rephaim. They murdered Lorenzo,’ she said. That explained why there was blood on her face. ‘None of my guards’ bullets would stop them.’ She gripped my shoulders. ‘Can you find Fitzours again?’

‘There may be a more pressing concern.’

Nick shook his head. ‘More pressing than two Rephs murdering the Prime Minister of Italy?’

‘Yes,’ I said grimly. The six Ranthen came to stand behind me, unsettling the other humans. ‘President Sala, I think there was ahidden layer to Operation Ventriloquist. A consequence to breaking the Treaty of Orcus.’

‘Explain yourself, quickly,’ Sala said, beckoning the Minister for Defence. ‘What is it?’

‘Look, you’re not going to understand much of this, so I’ll keep it simple. You can ask questions later,’ I said, addressing the whole group. ‘There are gateways to another world opening in Rome. They’re going to spit out flesh-eating creatures called Emim, or Buzzers, which will kill every living thing in their path. You can’t reason with them.’

‘The Ranthen can assist in you in repelling the Emim, President Sala,’ Arcturus said. ‘First, we must sequester the latent Rephaim that have lured the Emim here. Once it is done, we can herd the remaining Emim back into the cold spots and seal them into the Netherworld.’

Sala stared at him. ‘Underqueen?’

‘Oh,noweveryone needs my expertise,’ I bit out. ‘Okay. The Buzzers are coming for the bodies of unconscious Rephs. They’re Rephs, by the way.’ I jabbed a thumb over my shoulder at the Ranthen. ‘We need to behead those bodies, and the only way to do that is with a certain kind of blade, of which we have two. Everybody with me so far?’

‘What are you talking about?’ one of the amaurotics demanded. ‘Are you insane?’

‘Mattia, please.’ Sala took a deep breath. ‘Never mind the specifics, Paige. What can I do?’

‘First, everyone needs to get inside and stay there. Find a way to force people off the streets,’ I said. ‘Then you can help us reach the bodies. Can your soldiers keep the Buzzers off us?’