Laken comes over and shakes her head. “How can he be wicked? He’s the same as Wes and Wes is not wicked. He’s an angel.”
I look to my old friend, filled with sorrow. “Don’t you know? Devils often parade around as angels of light. I think that’s what we’re seeing here–with the both of them.”
Just as Gage suggested, the very next day, Demetri zaps us straight into Shaddai—or as Sage curtly informed us upon our arrival—Eversor.
Sage looks particularly stunning, yes, stunning even though she seems to be about five in human years. Her dark hair drips in perfect glossy ringlets, and she’s wearing a navy velvet gown intricately embroidered in gold. She’s entertaining Nathan and Barron as I take in the equally stunning surroundings. Everywhere you look, this spacious castle—the size of a small country—is brimming with crimson roses, clusters and clusters of the fragrant flower, although they’re not set in your traditional vases or wreathes. These are amassed in magnificent topiaries that spiral up toward the heavenly expanse.
I’ll admit, I haven’t been here often, but it’s the first time I’ve noted there is no ceiling, at least not today. Instead, we’re met with a lavender sky bejeweled with glittering stars, clearly visible even though it’s daylight out.
There are throngs of beings cluttering up the interior. My mother and Demetri are near the opulent gold throne. To its left is where the infamous bed once stood where Gage and I were to seal our covenant, but it was Chloe he decided to make it official with. Yes, I’m right back at the scene of the crime, and it all feels far too soon. I don’t think I could ever accept anything about this hellscape, not after what I’ve been through here, not after what he did to me.
Logan leans in. “Just a word of warning. Chloe is at six o’clock with Bree and Em. Let’s just say she looks—interesting.”
I turn and find the queen of mean with her hair adorned in a wreath of roses, and her dress looks more like a tarp, bright red and beaded with every color imaginable in long, vertical stripes.
“My God, she looks like a walking circus tent.” The room dims a notch and the floor shakes beneath our feet before restoring itself to its former glory.
Marshall pops up, looking unimaginably divine.
A breath hitches in my throat at the sight of him. “My G—”
He lifts a finger. “That was your first error. There is no tolerance for taking the Lord’s name in vain. Despite popular belief, we are in rarefied holy air.”
I make a face. “I’ll contest that until the day I die.”
“Speaking of which.” He narrows those cutting crimson eyes over mine. “Once the procession begins, do refrain from stepping outside of the boundary set for those still in a coat of flesh. There will be an all-consuming fire present, and it won’t hesitate to reduce those who have little respect for it to ashes. It would be a shame to bring you back to Paragon in a jar.”
I glance back to Chloe, and ironically, she’s now standing next to the ringleader of this circus, Demetri.
“Yes. It would be a shame if someone tripped and fell into the flames.” I pick up the Eye of Refuge and sizzle it along the chain it’s attached to. “I’ll be fine. I know my boundaries.”
Ezrina and Nev crop up behind me. “Speaking of which.”
We turn and I take a quick breath at the sight of them. Ezrina has her bright red hair pulled back into a neat bun, her makeup is impeccable, and she’s head to toe in gunmetal satin. Nev looks particularly dapper in a matching suit, and little Alice is a dream in a taffeta pink dress.
“Amazing.” It’s all I can muster. Ironically, I’m speaking Ezrina’s simple language, and she acknowledges it with a quickthank you.
Nev leans in. “Your vomit is spectacular.” He kisses the tips of his fingers as if it were magnificent.
Ezrina offers a long blink my way. “It is done, Skyla. I have five Spectators that are fully restored. They’ve been in a holding pattern for longer than seventy-two hours. I’m hopeful this will last.”
“Oh my goodness! Was it the same recipe? My puke plus the soil from the Transfer?”
“Is.” Ezrina sets Alice down and her little feet make a beeline for the boys who are milling around my mother. “Holden and Serena were of little use to me. Their frames no longer mortal. Your mother has transformed them to their rightful state as feathered creatures. I’ve started human trials to hide the markers.” There’s a hint of malice in her eyes, something that says if you don’t like it, you can shove it. She’s moved on without me, and I have no choice but to live with it.
“Who?”
“Cooper and Ellis. Brody will come later.”
“Okay.” I look to Marshall. “This can’t end badly. I can’t lose either of them.”
A couple of girls I vaguely recognize from the East cheer team during my own time at West bustle on by and scream hysterically as they look to the throne.
The blonde clutches onto the brunette. “I can’t believe we’re going to see Gage Fucking Oliver!”
The brunette howls as if she were in pain. “Gage Fucking Oliver!”
All of Eversor darkens as the expansive room shakes, a crown of lightning ignites above the golden throne, and just like that, both girls up and disappear in a puff of black smoke.
