Daniel sighed. “Actually, it’s always been like this. We just didn’t see it before, because we never disagreed with the guild’s direction.”
“You think so?”
Daniel nodded. “Haven’t you ever wanted to ask a question but kept it to yourself because you knew someone wouldn’t like it? Like, why are the prophets kept so separate from the rest of us? Why don’t we allow women to be paladins? Why don’t the children receive some of their schooling from the public schools nearby? Everything,everythingwe’re taught here is carefully curated by the council. They control our whole lives. Who decided that was okay?”
Julian and Nicolas looked at each other, and the latter inclined his head in agreement. “He’s not wrong.”
“What do you propose we do, then?” Julian asked. He trusted their opinions more than anyone. He and Daniel had grown up and graduated together. From preschool classes to the battlefield, they’d been thick as thieves. They’d been on Nic’s squad since their graduation four years ago. Danny and Nic were the brothers he’d never had. They were practically family.
“Like he said,” Nicolas replied, “keep our heads down. Pray. God will show us the right path.”
A bloated silence followed that statement, and Julian saw his own doubt reflected in Daniel’s honey brown eyes. Did Nicolas really believe that, or was he just repeating the party line?
Finally, Daniel said, “So, how’s about this weather we’re having?”
They all laughed, focusing on lighter topics while the food finished cooking. When the steaks and potatoes were done, Nicolas got up to toss a salad together in the kitchen, and then they sat down together at the picnic table on the deck, clinking their bottles together in cheers and digging in.
The steaks were perfectly tender, with a pink strip in the middle. The potatoes were steaming hot and melted in their mouths, the salad crisp and flavorful.
On his third beer, with his belly full and the alcohol buzzing pleasantly in his veins, Julian asked, “Do you think things are better on the other side? Do you think the traitors are happier than we are?”
“I thinkeveryoneis happier than we are,” Daniel said. Alcohol had loosened his tongue, too.
“I certainly don’t think they’re over there whipping anyone who steps out of line,” Nicolas grumbled.
“But we can’t leave,” Daniel said. “They’d never allow it. They’d kill us if we tried.”
“If we joined the traitors, sure,” Julian said dubiously. “They can’t stop us from quitting, though, right? Retiring?”
“It’s unheard of,” Nicolas said, frowning uncertainly. “You fight until you can’t anymore. That’s the way of things.”
Julian didn’t press the issue, but once the thought entered his mind, he couldn’t shake it. There was no law against simply handing in his ring. They would have no logical reason to refuse him, as long as he stayed away from the Sentinels and their demons.
He didn’thaveto stay.
Chapter 4
Valac
Valac was supposedto be on his way back to Hell to report his findings to Astaroth. Instead, he found himself lingering outside the human Julian’s home. Something about him was captivating, and Valac couldn’t resist getting one more look at him before he journeyed back to the underworld.
But what began as simple curiosity left Valac feeling uneasy. Standing in the shadows outside Julian’s abode while he and his companions discussed‘the guild,’ Valac realized how perilously close he was to involving himself in human affairs.Thishuman’s affairs. The guild he belonged to was a danger to him. It was hurting its people. People like Julian and his friends. They despaired over their powerlessness, and Valac longed to help somehow. He had never longed to involve himself with a human in his entire existence. This was unprecedented, and he couldn’t trust his own judgment. The thought of making the trek to Hell right now, when Julian was so clearly unhappy, made him gnash his teeth in frustration.
Demons like the leviathans had involved themselves in the guild’s affairs. Perhaps they could give him further insight.
Valac waited until the humans went inside with their dishes, and then he traveled through the folds of space to appear insidethe Rink. The humans and their demons were scattered around the space.
He appeared near the snack bar, directly beside Isaac, who startled away with a “fuck!” that drew everyone else’s attention.
“I thought you were making your descent already,” Talon said, leaning against the half-wall that split the room. “What brings you back?”
Nathan was on the padded training area with the teens and the prophet. Malachi and Luke were perusing paperwork by the strangely shaped table. Wolf, Shadrach, and Storm were at the glass counter, pouring drinks, with Alex nearby eating something that smelled sweet and nutty from a shiny wrapper.
“Tell me more about thisguild.”
Talon looked nonplussed, though whether by his demand or his tone, Valac couldn’t say. The humans, spread around the room, converged on them curiously.
“How much time do you have?” Nathan quipped.
