Az just gave him a look.
“You can share mine,” I offered.
He peered into my mug and grimaced. “Tea?”
“Yep,” Az answered for me.
Viper sighed and headed inside, muttering, “Damn tea snobs.”
“What about Jesus?” I suddenly asked Az.
“What about him?”
“He's not a fighter, and he won't have a piece of apple to eat. Does he have a plan for when the battle begins?”
“Actually, I took him a piece of apple when I went to invite him to church. And the plan is for him to stay out of the battle but be ready in case anyone needs to be healed. If he feels that his life is in danger, he'll trace here.”
“Oh, okay. That's a good plan.”
“He's bringing the Grayel by today before the church service. Then we'll trace over together.”
That part, I knew already. We couldn't risk the Grayel being destroyed by Jerry, and Jesus couldn't ward his home from his father, not when that home was in Jerry's Heaven. So, the Holy Grail was coming to stay in Pride Palace for a little while.
“Have the apples been sent to Hell?”
“Yes, Carus, stop worrying. Dad and a few Demons will meet us at the site, invisible until the battle starts. Meanwhile, Cid and the rest of the Horde will sneak into Heaven through one of Dad's paths and search for the Archangels.”
“The Froekn will meet us there too,” Trevor said as he stepped outside with Viper.
“You warned them to take only a bite and keep the rest of their slice in case they need it?” I asked.
“Yes, Minn Elska.” He prowled over and leaned against the railing beside me, his muscles clenching and releasing in hypnotic ways. All he had on were a pair of boxer shorts. “Everyone is as prepared as possible. Have you decided if you'll be eating some apple?”
“I didn't realize that was up for debate,” Odin said as he joined us. “Vervain, you are the only one of us who has access to the Nine Great Magics. You decimated nine sacred squadrons of Angels amped up on magic apples. You could end the battle before it even begins—you alone.”
“I know, but accessing the Great Nine drains the Wild Magic rapidly. I'd have to keep taking bites of apple to use it.”
“So, don't use it,” Trevor said. “You kicked their asses without it, didn't you?”
“I used Lunacy to make them turn on each other. Technically, they kicked their own asses.”
“Vervain,” Odin said sternly. “Take a whole apple and keep taking bites if you need to. You should use every advantage you have.”
“Odin, the Trinity Star refused to shine that day. I fought it as well as destiny when I used the Great Nine Magics.”
“That wasn't the first time you altered destiny,” Viper said.
“No, that's not my point. I learned something during that battle, something I believe my star has been trying to teach me for a long time.” I stroked my sparkling stripe of starlight hair, remembering other lessons my star had taught me. “Great power should not be used unless absolutely necessary. It's a last resort. And I mean when all is lost sort of thing.”
“I still don't see the problem,” Trevor said. “Just don't use the Great Nine unless we reach that all-is-lost point.”
“That's easier said than done.” I glanced at Viper.
“Are you afraid of becoming her again?” Viper asked.
The men went still. They all knew whoshewas. The wicked version of me—Dark Star.
“Fuck no,” Re said as he came outside. “You are not risking that.”
