“That didn’t end well for him.” Zayne smirked.
No, it hadn’t. “While I was waiting in the Potomac Highlands to be summoned, I always thought it was for the battle that ended all battles, but my father was just waiting for Gabriel to make his move.” Thoughts whirling, I rubbed my hands over my thighs. “It makes you wonder if there were more... Trueborns? I mean, after they all died off. If my father had...made one each generation or if others—”
“I don’t think there were more,” Zayne interrupted. “At least not from Michael. He strikes me as the type that would bring up other Trueborns as a way to either compliment or insult you.”
Pursing my lips, I nodded. “You have a point there.”
“Look at you all, putting two and two together,” Cayman said.
“Like you knew any of that,” I scoffed.
“I didn’t,” he replied. “But what I do know is that Gabriel can most likely rip the head off a Fallen.”
I slowly turned to the demon.
“What?” He lifted his hands. “I’m just being honest.”
“Yeah, they told me that I’d probably still die,” Zayne answered. “They’re real motivators. That’s why some of them want to close Heaven now, but we stand a better chance together in defeating Gabriel. Even Michael believes so.”
“You all stand a better chance if Roth’s mission is a success,” Cayman tossed out. “That’s about the only chance you stand.”
“What?” Zayne glanced between us. “What mission?”
My eyes widened. “Uh...”
“He doesn’t know yet?” The demon’s yellow eyes grew as big as saucers.
“Know what?” Zayne demanded.
“I haven’t had a chance to tell him,” I said. “We’ve all been a little busy.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever been more happy in my life to be the bearer of news.” Cayman scooted across the couch, stopping once he was mere inches from us. A slow, wicked grin spread across his face, and he did look beyond thrilled. “Roth and Layla are trying to recruit reinforcements. Well, one reinforcement in particular.”
Zayne’s brows furrowed even further. “Why do I have a feeling this is something that’s going to disturb me?”
“Weeelll.” I drew the word out.
“Roth is trying to convince the one thing that can go toe to toe with an archangel to get involved,” Cayman said, and even I could see that his eyes were glittering with glee. “Who would have no problem breaking any celestial rule. One who actually has a lot of experience in doing just that.”
Zayne didn’t speak for a moment. “Please tell me that what I’m thinking is wrong.”
The demon clapped his hands against his cheeks. “Depends on what you’re thinking.”
“There’s no way Roth is planning to get Lucifer topside. That would make no sense, right?” Zayne looked at me, and I shrunk as far as I could into the cushion. “Because wouldn’t that jump-start the biblical apocalypse and cause us to have even more problems to deal with?”
“Weeelll,” I repeated. “We’re sort of hoping that God will overlook his presence since we’re trying to save mankind and Heaven, and you know.”
“No. I do not know.” Zayne stared at me.
“What?” I threw up my hands. “We decided this when you were kind of dead.”
He blinked slowly.
“And even with you being a badass fallen angel and me being a badass Trueborn, we still need help,” I reasoned. “Look, Roth didn’t sound like he was going to be able to pull it off, anyway. So, we’ll probably have to find a different way.”
“I don’t know.” Cayman sat back, grinning. “Lucifer has one big bone to pick with Gabriel, and if he succeeds? Saves mankind and Heaven? What do you think that will do for his ego? He’ll never let it go. Pride is, after all, his favorite of all sins.”
I could think of a lot more fun sins, but whatever.
“Lucifer?” Zayne spoke his name like he’d never said it before. “What in the Hell are we supposed to do with him if he does come topside?”
“I don’t know, but he’s not staying with us,” Cayman said.
“He’s not staying with us.” I glared at him. “And you guys live in a huge mansion. You have room and you all are demons.” I paused. “Well, Layla is a half demon or whatever, but we are not demons and we live in an apartment.”
“A state isn’t enough room if you have to be sharing it with Lucifer.” Cayman rested his arm on the back of the couch. “Well, you’ll know if they’re successful. You’ll feel it.”
“What does that mean?” I asked.
Cayman shrugged. “Lucifer loves to make an entrance.”
That...sounded concerning.
“You know, this also reminds me of something I need to ask.” Zayne’s ultrabright eyes focused on the demon. “What in the Hell were you thinking letting her go out there by herself? An Upper Level demon came for her tonight. Imps and Seeker demons came for her here just two days ago. Earlier that same day? Ghouls were after her.”