His tone shifted—quieter but edged with urgency.
“I know you’ve helped us so much already,” he added, “but do you have any suggestions?”
“He’s let me enter before, but I doubt he’d allow it now—not with Kitty involved.” I withdrew my hand from Melanie. “I don’t think she’s in danger.”
Their reactions were immediate. Eyes wide, expressions bordering on disbelief.
August was the first to recover, scoffing. “You can’t be serious. Dad said he tried to kill her.”
“That was then, this is now,” I replied.
Regardless of what the Devil thought he felt, some part of him wanted her alive. More than once, he’d intervened when her life was on the line. He didn’t like others touching what he considered his. But that didn’t mean he wouldn’t hurt her himself.
My stomach twisted with unease.
“Nothing has changed,” Sebastian muttered, voice low.
“I’m not saying you should stop trying to save her,” I said. “She needs you. All of you need each other to face what’s coming. But—”
But what?
Kitty hated the Devil, and she had every reason to. Just like the rest of the family..Still, I kept waiting for something. Kept pushing and hoping for more.
But why?
If the Devil genuinely wanted redemption—or change—he would have reached for it long ago. I needed to stop clinging to that hope. I believed so strongly that Kitty could break him—or break through to him. But the months had worn me thin. Grim was gone. The human world was dying.
And I didn’t know how much more of their pain I could stand to see.
If someone could break through to the man my brother used to be, it would take years. Years Kitty didn’t have. She might only have days. With the imbalance between worlds at its peak, the gate could open at any moment.
“Never mind,” I blurted, my voice tighter than I intended. “We need to free her. Soon.”
Sebastian lifted his arm and held it to the light. His fingers had begun to go translucent. “Yeah,” he mumbled. “We need Kitty. I don’t know who will be left to fight.”
My vision swam. I swayed before steadying myself—my heart hammering.
Sebastian’s voice cracked. “I can’t let Isabella see this again. She already won’t let me touch her when I’m mortal. She’sterrified her darkness will kill me.” His throat bobbed as he swallowed hard. “But I want to touch her. I always want to.”
I had tried. Hades, I’d tried so hard to help the Reapers. Guided them every step I could. Even so, I failed them. Fading into nothing wasn’t the fate I fell from Heaven for. I’d lost my light so they could keep theirs. That was supposed to be my destiny.
But seeing the tears in Sebastian’s eyes—his fear, his love—it lit a new fire in me.
It wasn’t over yet.
There was still time to save the world.
And maybe—just maybe—save them, too.
Chapter Nine
Kara
Itracked the edges of the wall through my peripheral view. The darkened corners held no rippling male form, but still I swore I sensed Shadow watching me. I shook my head at the absurdity. There was no way he could reach me when even my family couldn’t.
And like that, my energy felt drained.
I was hungry, but not ravenous, which meant the Devil had to be nearby. If I were right about him being the one who blocked my curse with his presence, then he was the reason I wasn’t currently screaming on the cell floor.
