Page 123 of Alastair

“December has two new moons this year,” she explained. “It’s kind of rare for two to fall in the same month. We refer to the second as a black moon.”

“This black moon is special?” Michael asked.

“Oh yeah.” Clara flashed an incredulous smile. “Like super freaking special. Any spells performed on the night of a black moon are more potent.”

“When does it take place?” I asked.

She checked her phone again. “The black moon will occur during the final hours of December 31st. Holy shit, you guys. This is big.” As she gushed, Sirena’s features softened—not a smile, but almost. Clara’s excitement bubbled over as she continued, flinging one hand around as she talked. “A black moon is rare in and of itself, but this one will straddle the line between this year and the next. Meaning the energy will be off the charts during this black moon.”

My mind wandered back to the vision. I saw the moonless sky, the snow-covered ground, and armies clashing. In my gut, I knew the truth.

“That’s when we’ll face Lucifer,” I said. “During the black moon.”

Lazarus dragged in a shaky breath. “That’s four days from now. Five if you consider the daylight hours leading up to then.”

Kallias placed a hand on the mantel above the hearth and stared at the dying flames of the fire. Bellamy slowly slid down the wall and rested his head against Daman’s leg.

“Were you able to see the location?” Michael asked me.

I shook my head. “The details outside of us fighting Lucifer were fuzzy. I only saw the snow and sky. Though, something about the landscape was familiar.”

“Back in Hoia Baciu?” Daman suggested. “Another attempt for him to use the nexus?”

“Could be,” I answered. I took Lazarus’ hand without even thinking about it.

Would I ever be ready to say goodbye to him?

He brought me closer. Nothing was said between us, but as I stood against his body, our hearts beating together, I felt the things he didn’t say. I hoped he felt what I didn’t say either. Things I wanted to tell him but would break me right then if I tried.

“Will you be able to perform the spell on such short notice?” Michael asked Clara. “Ingredients are needed to cast it, but we should have time to gather them before then.”

“I still haven’t agreed to help.” But even as the words left her mouth, she returned to her chair and scooted closer to the desk, opening the book. “You’re all pains in my ass.”

“Love you too, lil’ girl,” Raiden said, his smile not reaching his eyes. “Now, give us the deets. What do we need for the spell? Wolfsbane? Vampire fangs?”

“Or werewolf fur,” Gray chimed in. “Dead man’s shoes. Silver coins for the ferryman.” He made ablinknoise as he touched both of his eyes. “Our toenails.”

“Let’s see.” She browsed the ingredients before grabbing a notepad and jotting down a list. “Some of this I have in my personal supply at Ravenwood. Black sand, lilac, and dried rose petals. But I’ll also need blood from each of you.”

“What else?” I asked.

She ran a finger down the list and nodded to herself. “Nothing too extreme. Your names written on century-old paper that’s then burned over a black candle. Since Night Fall is Asa’s soul weapon, I’ll need something of his too. Hair. Blood. Eyelashes. Anything, really. Just something that will bind your energy to that of the sword’s.”

“I can acquire that for you the next time I return to the celestial realm,” Michael said, then looked at Raiden. “Perhaps you wouldn’t mind making more raspberry donuts for him as payment? Prisoner or not, I don’t fancy the idea of taking it from him by force.”

“Sure.” Raiden smiled at Lazarus. “Should I make more apple fritters while I’m at it?”

Lazarus quietly cleared his throat and subtly shifted his weight to his other foot. “Make it or don’t. It matters little to me.”

“Liar,”I projected into his head.“I’m sure you got hard as soon as he said the word apple.”

“Watch that mouth,”he responded, cutting his eyes over at me.

“Or you’ll do what?”

“Keep being sassy and you’ll find out.”

“Sassy? I’m a good boy.”