Those dark eyes of his steady over mine. I can smell his cloying cologne lingering in the air, and it makes me want to choke.
“Was what real, son?”
“Don’t call me that.” I take a few steps in his direction. “You were there, weren’t you? I saw you and Candace in Ahava talking about all of this crap the two of you concocted.” All of the angst, the heartache, the anger I’ve been bottling up bursts to the surface. “You did this to me.” I stagger in his direction. “You designed me, but you couldn’t program me—the Almighty doesn’t allow it. You needed to follow the rules, so free will it was. And look where that landed us. Right smack-dab in the middle of a grand delusion.”
He takes a deep breath, his chin rising, features hardening just before those smiling eyes take their haughty position.
“Gage. It sounds to me you have indeed just experienced a grand delusion—by the enemy. We knew this day would come.” He heads my way, drink in hand. “They will break your back, crush your soul, and obliterate your psyche. They will do what they must, son. It’s painful to witness our Nephilim brothers in the throes of death. But this is the only way. We need to cement this victory, Gage.” He takes another step closer, and this time it feels like a threat. “We are moments—moments, from acquiring every last Nephilim under your leadership. And when that happens, it will be impossible for Celestra or any other Faction outside of the Countenance to prosper until Kingdom come. This serum, it’s the holy grail. It’s all we need. I give it less than a week. And once we have our Nephilim family restored under your crowning glory, we will host a heavenly feast. We will show our people that they were right to side with us, with you. And all will be satisfied.”
“Especially you.” I hold his gaze hard and cold, trying to read this monster before me. “Tell me right now. Were you there in Ahava talking to Candace about deceiving me?”
He needles those dark, soulless eyes into mine as his lips curve a notch.
“No,” he says it morbidly slow, his expression growing sober along with it.
“Liar,” I roar as I knock the glass out of his hand, and it flies into the fireplace, bursting to life like a Molotov cocktail.
I’m halfway to the door before he materializes before me, fully dressed in a suit, his hair slicked back, looking every bit the demon he is.
“They’re gone.” The words come from him with his requisite calm.
“Who’s gone?”
“The mighty three. Barnabas, Belshazzar, and Micah.” He glances to the floor, and for the first time I see the shadow of defeat on his face. His eyes meet up with mine with a renewed fire, and he’s right back to being hard and angry. “Banish the thought, bastard.”
“You’re the bastard in this equation. I think we both know it.”
I push my way past him, and he appears next to the oversized front doors.
“I’ve called the Valkyrie. They’re in position for battle.” He lifts his head a notch, and there’s a threat in his eyes as if daring me to cross him.
“The Valkyrie?” They’re a military ranking among the Fems, comprised of both men and women, and my mind reels as I try to comprehend this. “Who took the mighty three?”
His chest pumps with a dull laugh. “Who do you venture to guess?”
“Shit.” I pull the door open with a start and he slaps his hand on my shoulder, darn near crushing it.
“That’s right, Gage. The enemy is desperate, and they are pulling out all the dirty stops. Don’t fall into the net they’ve set out for you. Eternity is the bounds for you and for me.” He growls out those last words with so much passion—hell, I think I believe him.
But the truth is, I don’t know what to believe.
I jump into my truck, intending to head home, but I end up at Wesley’s place instead.
I don’t do the whole bang down the door routine. He’s got the kids, and probably Kresley lurking in there. I don’t want to give them and the whole damn neighborhood a heart attack.
Instead, I shoot him a text.I’m outside. I want in.
And somehow I find those words I just sent ridiculously poignant.
I’m outside. And my God, how desperately I want in.
My heart drums against my chest, and my adrenaline is surging, ready to skyrocket me right into enemy territory.
I squeeze my eyes shut tight. How in the world did Skyla and I ever end up on enemy lines? How is this real? How is any of this real?
What I wouldn’t do to have all this turned on its ear.
The grand delusion.
