“No, I’m sure you do,” Alex said, “but it’s a risk I think we’re all wary of taking. We know they have some tricks up their sleeve. Remember those Enochian stones?”
“Enochian stones?” Ashmedai asked.
Shadrach explained, “A few months back, some paladins attacked the Rink with these special stones. When struck together, they created a white light that burned us. Would’ve killed every demon in the room if Isaac hadn’t shown up and dragged the paladin wielding them outside.”
“What happened to the stones?” Ashmedai asked. If they fell into the wrong hands—again—that could be very bad.
“I sank them into the Mariana Trench,” Talon said. “The danger to us outweighed the benefit of keeping them.”
Ashmedai nodded in agreement. That was one less thing to worry about, at least.
“I understand you’re all concerned about something happening to us,” Valac said, getting them back on track, “but it’s for that reason that you must remember we’re equally concerned about you. No reward is without risk. You may heal quickly, but you can still be killed. It’s unfair to expect us to stay behind. We all have vulnerabilities.”
“Nothing you can say will make me stay behind and let you walk into this fight alone,” Talon said calmly. “We’re doing this together, as we do all things.”
Alex sighed. “I’m just worried this is some kind of trap.”
“All the more reason we should do it together,” Talon said.
“Don’t think this means you demons get to have all the fun, though,” Isaac said.
“Isaac volunteers to be first through the door, I think,” Nathan said, shooting him a teasing smile.
“Abso-fucking-lutely,” Isaac said cheerfully.
“When do we want to do this, then?” Nicolas asked. He was anxious to begin. Ashmedai could read the emotion in his eyes and felt it reflected in his own heart. They were so close to ending this, and then they could finally be together.
No one responded at first, eyes meeting as they all looked from one to another.
Chapter 23
Nicolas
The Sentinels metoutside the factory just after three AM. Nicolas thought the sky should be dark and stormy for the appropriate gravitas, but it was as clear as the city sky ever was. A handful of distant stars twinkled on the black blanket of the night, and the moon was a half-full blob.
He was so ready for this to be over. The sooner they got the kids back, the sooner he could stop pretending to be a part of the guild. He was ready to be done with this divided life. His heart and soul resided outside the guild, and he was ready to be joined with them once more.
They stood in a group, well away from the factory, around the corner of a nearby building that might have once been a mechanic’s garage. The faint scent of motor oil lingered in the air as Nicolas shifted from foot to foot. He wasn’t alone in his nervous, eager anticipation. All around him, the others jittered, checking their weapons or bobbing on the balls of their feet.
“We’ll go in first,” Nathan said. “Ira can enter last, with the demons at his back. He’ll invite them all in, and thenwe’ll storm the place.” He sighed, looking regretful for a moment before he said, “Show no mercy. They certainly won’t.”
Storm wrapped an arm around his shoulders. His white hair fairly glowed in the moonlight. “For what it’s worth, we’re all sorry it’s come to this, sunshine.”
“Not me,” Shadrach said with a grin, throwing his arm around Isaac, who shot him a reluctant smile. “They’re assholes. I’ve killed people for less.”
“We haven’t,” Nathan pointed out. “I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling like this… shouldn’t be happening this way.”
“No amount of wishing will change the way things are,” Isaac said.
Nathan scowled. “I know. Doesn’t change how I feel.”
“I get it,” Nicolas offered. “We grew up believing the paladins were the good guys. Now they’re treating us like the enemy. Does that makethemthe bad guys—or us?”
Nathan nodded despondently. “This is never what I wanted for any of us.” He looked at Storm, softening. “But I wouldn’t change a thing.”
“I don’t think any of us would,” Alex said, leaning into Talon’s side.
“We’ll do what we have to do,” Luke said brusquely. “Let’s go get our kids back.”
