I had no desire to drink. Besides, I’d sampled plenty of grown-up drinks before my forced ascension. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but I have a pressing matter to discuss with SeraphAsher.”
Claire tilted her head to the side. “If this concerns your sinner, then speakfreely.”
I ground my stilettos into the mosaic floor. “Will heascend?”
Seraph Claire’s eyebrows pinched. “He’s a Nephilim, Leigh. Nephilim don’tascend.”
I gripped my elbows. “He’s only partNephilim.”
“His Nephilim half cancels his humanhalf.”
“Seraph Asher said his rank was dropping, which means he has asoul.”
She pursed herlips.
“Right?” My question quivered through the air like the feathers at myback.
“We do not allow Nephilim souls to beharvested.”
“They’re not soulless, Mother?” Evesputtered.
Claire fixed her emerald eyes on her daughter. “Every living creature possesses a soul, but Nephilim souls are toxic to our kind, and, thus, cannot bereaped.”
Tears pricked my eyes, turned the tree into a gnarled giant. “That’s notfair.”
“What isn’t fair? That we choose not to poison our realm with their noxious souls?” Claire’s tone was as cold as the layer of ice enveloping myskin.
“Why did you tell Jarod he was going to ascend, SeraphAsher?”
His turquoise wings tensed at his back. “I didn’t, Leigh. Jarod knows he cannot enter ourworld.”
“But he said—he said . . .”That he’d be right behind me. His promise rang through my throbbing skull, turning the pounding at my templesagonizing.
Smears of yellow and red coagulated before me. I blinked to find Eve moving closer to me. She didn’t reach out, just stood there, her arm touching mine, lending me a wisp ofsolidarity.
It was my turn to saveyou.
He’d tricked me so that I wouldn’t sacrifice mywings.
“He’s nobler than I gave him credit for,” Claireadmitted.
I swallowed, and it left a trail of fire inside my clenchingthroat.
Eve’s arm slid around my hunched shoulders. “Mother, he saved Leigh, a Verity no less. That should grant his soul access toElysium.”
“The law is the law,” Clairesaid.
Eve’s jaw clenched. “You’d be dooming a deservingsoul.”
“A deserving soul? He is aNephilim,Eve!”
“But hehasa soul, Mother. At least, bring his case up with theCouncil.”
“You may be my daughter, but this does not permit your tongue to run wild. Besides, Seraph Asher brought his case up already, and we voted. End ofstory.”
I touched Eve’s forearm, appreciating her unexpected support. “I don’t want you to get in trouble because ofme.”
Her lips pressed into a hard line. “It’s not right,” shemurmured.
