Decima, the mightiest and most ancient of all Grigori warriors, apart from her partner, Seth, strode toward me, panther-like.
I adjusted my stance, preparing for sheer brutality.
She stopped in front of me. My pulse quickened, knowing that this fight was about to hurt. A lot. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lincoln step forward; I dared to take my eyes off Decima long enough to shoot him a hard look, effectively stopping him in his tracks.
Decima tilted her head as she studied me with interest. “I am not here to challenge you. You have grown, I see. It intrigues me and I admit that I do not know if you would better me in combat, but I do not think so.”
That makes two of us.
“Go on your mission. Bring back your friend,” she instructed.
“Then why are you here?” I asked cautiously.
“Because I heard a name I have not heard for centuries. I came to tell you that if you come up against Sammael, you will not win.”
Oh, got it. You’re here for a morale boost.
“You cannot beat him in strength. Not the way I see you fight. Sammael has fought without heart for much longer than you.”
I flinched at her accusation. Was I heartless?
“If you cannot be human, you cannot defeat him,” Decima said, her ancient eyes looking through mine as if my ultimate demise were near.
I stared back at her. “I know who and what I am. I’m a weapon and I’ll be used as such. If Sammael wants a fight, I guarantee you, Decima, he will have one.”
Decima laughed, the sound like troubled wind chimes. “Still a child in so many ways. Let me keep it simple for you—sometimes one is best understood by the world when the world can first measure the value and power of one’s greatest enemy. You may not know who Sammael is, but I have no doubt you have heard of his nemesis, the angel Sammael fought and almost dragged to earth with him?”
I swallowed, a chill running down my spine. My mouth had gone suddenly dry and my eyes darted to Phoenix, who would not look at me.
“Who?” I asked.
Decima did not look happy to be the one to share this information. If anything, she looked resigned. “The Viceroy of Heaven. Commander of all the armies. The one to whom our last judgment stands. Sammael’s archenemy is the Prince of the Elect, Michael.”
My brow furrowed, processing everything she’d just said. “But I…I thought God had the final judgment. Or Jesus.”
Decima tilted her head and then gave an aloof smile. “And there are those who would believe that Michael and Jesus are one in the same.”
I shook my head, confused. “But isn’t Lucifer supposed to be Michael’s enemy?”
“Lucifer is Michael’s perfect opposite. As Michael is the Prince of Light, Lucifer is the Prince of Dark. They serve a purpose, their functions at the opposite ends of the spectrum, but they have always remained true, unlike Sammael, who believed his purpose entitled him to more than his function.” Decima pulled her hood over her head and gestured to someone to open the doors for her. “I will leave now. Seth waits.”
She began to walk down the aisle, people moving away from her as she did.
“Wait!” I called out. “What was Sammael’s purpose?”
When she reached the door, she paused, though she did not turn around. “Sammael was the angel of death.”
Splendid.
“…in Heaven and in Earth, are a double Nature; in Heaven they are unchangeable and incorruptible; but on Earth they are changeable and corruptible.”
Hermes Trismegistus
Decima’s brief appearance and inspiring speech left even fewer Academy Grigori pleased about my presence. I wanted to point out to them that while she might have stated that I couldn’t win, she didn’t suggest any of them could either, but it was probably time to keep quiet.
I waited for whatever was coming. Drenson was smiling, which meant he had more cards to play. But before he had a chance to speak, Lincoln walked toward me and stopped at my side, turning his attention back to the Assembly.
If it were possible, the tension in the room immediately went up a notch. I sent him a sideways glance. “You don’t have to do this,” I said under my breath.
He didn’t respond, but I knew he’d heard.
Lincoln was making a stand. By my side. And it felt like a knife wound to my heart. Even after I’d walked away and left him, he was still willing to stay beside me as my partner. He was loved and respected within the Academy and he was a tool of the Assembly. His support could not go unnoticed.
“I can speak for myself,” I insisted.
He sighed but only handed me a piece of paper.
I glanced down to see the list of names of the proposed team. It showed almost everyone I would have wanted, including Phoenix. I wondered why Mia’s name was missing then put it together that it must be because she was partnerless. There were also a few names I didn’t recognize.
As if reading my mind, Lincoln said, “Shadu and his partner are tech experts. You met the conductors on Santorini, and the others you don’t know are unquestionably loyal to the cause and strong fighters. They will follow you as much as me.”
I believed him.
“What about Chloe?” She had a right to go after her partner.
Lincoln smiled softly. “She’s a given, Violet.”
I nodded, absorbing this. “I have three Rogues who will meet us at the airport. They won’t answer to you and they don’t answer to me either. But they have their own set of skills and Gray will probably be able to keep them in line.”
“Probably?” he echoed, eyebrow raised.
“They’re good fighters, Lincoln.”
He nodded, taking the list from me and handing it to Josephine. “This is the lead team we will take, plus three others who will meet us at the airport. I’d also ask that those who are not assigned to other duties be ready to step in. We have planes on standby worldwide to transport Grigori at short notice once we have a pinpoint on Sammael’s whereabouts and have Spence in our possession.”
“Are you requesting an army, Lincoln? A little much, don’t you think?”
I glanced in Phoenix’s direction while Lincoln considered the question. It was clear by the intent glare Phoenix had fixed on Josephine and the hard set of his jaw that he didn’t think an army was too much at all. As I watched, he took a few sly steps closer to where the Assembly members sat.
We wanted to get into New Orleans on our own terms, which was why we weren’t taking more people, but after everything we’d just heard from Decima, I was starting to think it wouldn’t be long before reinforcements would be necessary.
“Yes, Josephine. I’m requesting that we be fully mobilized in the event that aid is needed,” Lincoln answered.
Josephine held his look for a moment, her gaze curiously drifting in Phoenix’s direction before settling on me as she responded. “If that is your standing, you have our support.”
• • •
After leaving Josephine to dish out the orders and Drenson to sulk, Lincoln and I left the hall, followed by Steph, Phoenix, Gray, and Mia.
“I’ll have to stop by Ascension and get my things,” I said.
“Let me grab my bag and I’ll go with you,” Steph said. “I want to pick up some books and talk to Dapper. I’m going to stay in Manhattan for now and see what else I can find out about Sammael. I’ll catch a later plane,” she added.
Lincoln nodded, looking at Steph briefly. “Thank you, Steph. Sal and Zoe will keep you up to date, no doubt.” He took a breath. “Feel free to contact me with any new information.”
Steph’s eyes widened.
“What?” he asked cautiously.
She bit back a smile. “Nothing. It’s just been so long since you’ve looked at me, I’d forgotten how green your eyes are.”
When Lincoln look
ed like he’d rather take a knife to himself than be stuck in that conversation, Gray saved him.
“I’ll head to the airport to meet the other Rogues and we’ll join you there. Escort me out of the building, love, so no one tries to lock me up?” he asked Steph.
Steph nodded, her eyes sparkling with humor. As soon as they turned the corner, Lincoln let out a breath, and Mia, who’d been standing by quietly with her head down, offered to show Phoenix where he could get some fresh clothes and supplies.
As they turned to leave, I grabbed Phoenix’s arm. “You influenced Josephine, didn’t you?” When he just stared at me blankly, I pushed. “When she asked about needing an army, I saw you move closer to her. What did you do to her emotions?”
His chocolate eyes bored into mine. “I gave her a touch of insight into a possible future for this world and what that would feel like.”
I swallowed, suddenly unsure. “And what was that?”
“Fear,” he said, stepping back and away from me. He gave Lincoln a curt nod before turning on his heel to follow Mia.
“He knows more than he’s saying,” Lincoln said, watching them walk around the corner.
“Yeah. But he’ll tell us when he’s ready,” I said, knowing it was true. Then, suddenly aware that Lincoln and I were now alone, I added, “I should get going too.”
Lincoln stepped into my space, and despite every intention of doing so, I failed to move away.
His thumb smudged across my cheekbone in a way that was so familiar, it made my breath hitch, and my memory plagued me with a reminder of all the other things he could do when his hands were on me.
How have I survived without his touch?
I stared at him, lost in the moment. He must have sensed my uncertainty because he inched closer, his thumb repeating the motion, then moving down to my lips. Suddenly his shoulders dropped forward, and his forehead rested against mine.
“Come back to me,” he whispered.
“I’m right here,” I said, my chest unbearably tight.
“No. You’re not.”
He was right.
“I miss you.” His fingers curled around the nape of my neck and into my hair.
I closed my eyes for one more second, drinking him in. But a second was already too much, too dangerous. “I can’t do this,” I said, stepping back and looking anywhere but into the green. “Steph will be waiting for me,” I mumbled, already hurrying down the corridor.
Lincoln didn’t follow, but I could feel his eyes on me, watching me walk away.
I crossed over one of the Academy’s walkways and turned the corner, almost bumping into Mia, who was leaving a room.
“Oh,” she said when she dodged me. “Sorry.”
“My fault,” I said. “Phoenix?”
She nodded. “I just left him to get what he needed.”
“Oh. Okay,” I said, quickly moving on.
“I was coming to look for you, actually,” she said before I’d made it two steps.
I bit my lip hard and turned around with a small smile. I guess if she was going to do this, it would be better to stake her claim on Lincoln in private rather than rip me apart in front of an audience.
“Should we get some fresh air?” she asked, gesturing to a side door.
I nodded, following her outside onto a large, covered balcony, its floor littered with potted plants and its ceiling overhung with trailing ivy. We walked to the railing and looked out over the bustling Manhattan streets.
“I’m sure you’ve heard the rumors, and I thought we should talk,” she said.
“It isn’t necessary,” I replied.
What do you want me to say? “Yes, I’ve heard you’ve grown close to my soul mate. I wish you both the best.”
“Josephine pushed us to consider being partners, but I think she knew that Lincoln would never be interested, and that I was still grieving for Hiro and not ready.”
I nodded, feeling terrible for her loss. “Mia, you don’t need to explain this to me.”
“But I do,” she said, her tone now adamant. “I care about Lincoln, a lot. We’ve grown close, and I think he liked that I was separate from all…your mutual friends. I think he was able to relax a bit with me.”
“I get it,” I said quickly, hoping she would stop speaking soon. Even with my emotions locked down, this was becoming too much.
“No, you don’t. I know there are rumors that we’re together. Lincoln knows too. But there has never been anything like that between us. I mean, I admit there was a time I might’ve had a bit of a crush on him, but that was years ago. Way before you came along.”
I looked up to see Mia’s sincere expression.
She shrugged. “We don’t want to be partners. Lincoln would never consider it even if I could. He already has a partner, and in his eyes, that has never changed. But he didn’t want to keep explaining to people why he made the choices he did. People watched him and doubted his strength because they only saw him as the Grigori who lost his soul mate and wouldn’t let her go.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat.
“Violet, he just figured that if people thought—”
“That you two were together, it would solve both problems,” I finished for her.
She nodded, looking relieved. “Yeah. But we never added to the rumors or did anything to start them. We just agreed not to stop them.”
I rubbed my face, exhausted. Lincoln had used a mask relationship with Mia in much the same way I had with Gray. I could understand that. It was a survival issue.
“Actually,” Mia said, sounding sheepish. “I kind of like someone else.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Anyone I know?”
“As a matter of fact, yes,” she said, biting her lip.
I thought of her reaction to finding out Spence was still alive and the careful way she had watched over everything to do with his rescue. I’d assumed it was to stick close to Lincoln, but…
“Spence?” I asked, my voice high.
She nodded, smiling. “I’d very much like to get him back soon. That’s the other reason I wanted to talk to you.”
Instantly, I knew what she wanted. Academy rules stated that partnerless Grigori were not permitted on missions. It had been the bane of Spence’s existence until I’d come along. But once Griffin knew I could heal him, Spence had been allowed to play his part.
I wondered fleetingly if Dapper had given some kind of assurance to the Assembly that he would heal Lincoln in my absence and if that was why he hadn’t been prevented from pursuing his role. I suspected, however, that it was more likely some arrangement he’d struck with Josephine.
I looked at Mia, her feelings for Spence now painted on her face. And though it was selfish, I couldn’t deny the relief I felt that they were not for Lincoln. She wanted to be there to get Spence back.
“Get your stuff together and be on the plane.”
She nodded warily. “They won’t be happy.”
I half grinned. “Story of my life. I can heal you as well as any partner can. If you’re willing to endure the pain of being healed by me, I’ll be there to do it. As far as I’m concerned, that solves the problem. I’ll see you at the airport.”
She threw her arms around me quickly before backing away, to my relief. “Thank you, Violet. And…I’m glad you’re here. For both of them.”
I looked beyond her, to the surrounding buildings. “I’m not staying,” I said, not quite sure who I was trying to convince anymore.
“Well, you should. They both love you, and so do other people here. And love is worth fighting for.”
I glanced at her briefly before heading for the door. She didn’t realize that I did fight for it. Every day. I fought myself.
But then she surprised me. “And other times…” she called out behind me, “it’s worth giving in.?
??
• • •
An hour later, Steph and I sat across from Onyx and Dapper in their apartment above Ascension. My flight was leaving soon and my bad feeling had already taken off. Everything was about to change; I just had no idea how much.
“So you just decided it would be a good idea to go marching into a universe of lost souls and pluck her out?” Onyx asked, taking a deep drink of whatever was in his crystal tumbler.
“Rainer plucked her out. I was just the taxi service,” I explained, accepting the coffee Dapper passed me.
Onyx shook his head and took another—large—sip, and I noticed how his shoulders dropped when Dapper placed a discreet hand on his back.
“Rum?” I asked, unimpressed.
“Oh, don’t even,” he snapped. “I brought you back here to get Spence, not risk his life by endangering your own.”
I flinched.
“Hey!” Steph piped up, sitting forward now. “That’s not fair and you know it.”
Onyx glared at Steph and then back at me. “Isn’t it?”
“Onyx, enough,” Dapper chided. “How is Nyla doing?” he asked me softly.
I pulled my eyes away from Onyx, who was staring daggers at me. He was such a contradiction.
“Rainer’s watching over her until she wakes up. Only time will tell.” I’d popped my head in the door quickly before leaving the Academy, but I was so conflicted about whether we’d done the right thing, I hadn’t been able to get out of there fast enough.
I tucked a few strands of hair behind my ear, keen to move on. “Dapper, do you know anything about an exile named Sammael?”
“Not much, I’m afraid. Like you’ve been told, he’s supposedly the archenemy of the angel Michael. But no one knows what he’s been doing for the past several thousand years. Some thought he’d been killed, while others claimed he’d found some kind of land and made it his own. All we know for certain is that he’s a purist.”
“In what way?” Steph asked.