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What the fuck , is all can think. The words play on repeat in my mind like a broken radio.

Marcelo’s gone—no, taken. I jump out of bed, careful not to damage the summoning circle that wisped Marcelo away from me, and get dressed as quickly as possible. I’m on autopilot or . . . protect-boyfriend-pilot, as I slide one of Marcelo’s hoodies over the simple black dress, and lace-up boots over my tights, making sure to put on his rosary. On the nightstand sits his mask, knife, and car keys. I pocket them all, grab his phone abandoned on the bed, and run from the bedroom.

Diablo stayed outside when we got back home, running into the backyard of the cathedral as he hunted after a bug or a bird—but now the black feline trots up to me the moment I open the back door of the apartment. He follows me as I hurry to Marcelo’s car, and leaps into the bench the moment I open the door. The little devil is as smart as I knew him to be.

My body is still simply reacting to Marcelo’s disappearance. I haven’t thought about following him, I just simply am. I haven’t thought of where this drive will take me, I just know.

I put the car in reverse and step a little too hard on the accelerator. It has been such a long time since I’ve been behind the wheel, but I refuse to let it stop me.

As I feel the thrum of the engine roll through me, I can’t stop my mind from spiraling. Daren took Marcelo. He took him. Stole him right from my arms. I know Marcelo wanted me to be safe, to get as far away from here as possible . . . but that just wasn’t going to happen anymore. Not with him in danger. Not when I could maybe do something about it.

I speed down Belmouth roads, not even checking the speedometer. I lift Marcelo’s phone and thank God he keeps it unlocked as I call the contact already pulled up.

“ Oye, papo, qué bolá? ” a gruff but joyous voice says through the phone. Based on everything Marcelo has told me about the man, Father Rodrigo’s voice matches him perfectly.

“H—Hi,” I squeak. “I’m calling on behalf of Father Marcelo. My name is—”

“Ah, June, si? Marcelo told me about you. How can I help you, senorita ?”

I don’t know if it’s the years of being terrified of my mother but delivering bad news has never been my strong suit.

“Um,” I stutter, “this is a lot. But . . . Marcelo has been kidnapped.”

“What?” Father Rodrigo says dumbfounded.

“By a demon,” I continue.

“ Ay, Dios mío ,” he sighs, and I can practically imagine the man crossing himself. “Tell me everything.”

So I do—of course, I leave the part out that we were naked in bed, about to go to bone town, when he was abducted by the evil powers that be. I don’t think Father Rodrigo needs that part. But I do tell him of our earlier visit to Marina and Asmodeus, of everything they told us, and of my suspicions about Daren.

“You met Sister Marina?” he asks, his voice in shock.

“Yes.”

“And did she tell you? What the demon wants?”

I huff a breath. “More or less.”

“So you know you should be turning the car around right now and start driving in the opposite direction as fast as you can?”

I should. But I won’t.

“I’m going to save Marcelo. I’m going to get him out of there.”

Father Rodrigo blows out an exasperated breath.

“Figured. Can I convince you to wait?” he asks, uncertain. But if he’s asking, it already means he knows the answer. When I don’t answer, he mumbles something under his breath in Spanish. “Don’t trust anyone, mija . Only Marcelo. And . . .” The priest pauses, and I can hear hesitation in his voice. “And Asmodeus, if he returns to assist you—if any of the four appear. I know it is outlandish to hear, but the Devil and his princes are not our enemies.”

I do a quick double take at the phone before returning my eyes to the road. “You want me to . . . trust the demons?”

“Not all of them. Just the four.”

I think of the ex-nun, of her demon husband. I think of that same husband saving me from the clutches of darkness, from the terrifying imps threatening to devour us.

Nothing makes sense, but nothing has ever made sense in my life.

“Okay, I will.”

“I’ll call every contact I have in the east. Don’t lose faith, mija . It’s your strongest ally right now.”

I nod even though he can’t see through the phone and hangup, not wanting him to hear how reckless I’m being.

Because no matter how much I don’t want to admit it, I do have a plan.

It’s not a very good one.

In fact, it’s downright awful and I fully believe it won’t work.

But it’s the only thing I can do for Marcelo.

I’m going to give the demon exactly what he wants—me.