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It’s a moment before he speaks, “I don’t know.”

I look at him and he’s wearing a gentle smile, the one he wore while looking at Calli. “I’ve seen many things in the centuries I’ve been alive—none of it compares to how she makes me feel when I’m with her.”

“I envy your honesty.” I slow my pace. “It’s almost childlike.”

“Wow, for a second I feared you were paying me a compliment.”

I glance over to him and for a moment, it’s as if I don’t despise him.

“She will die eventually. You know that.”

“And when she does, I’ll have no choice but to accept it.”

“You’re stronger than me, then.”

“I would have thought that was obvious,” he says, chuckling.

We walk the remainder of the way in silence. Karma greets us as we enter the house.

“My baby!” Kai says, picking Karma up and snuggling her. She purrs and paws at his nose.

I glare at them.

“Traitor,” I whisper, walking past.

I’ll let him stay for now… It’s not as if I could do anything to him anyway, but still. She smiled at him like she was safe. And I… I can’t take that from her, and despite everything, I believe him.

I could feel it, you didn’t want me to kill him. You knew, didn’t you? About him. About both of them. He really does love her, doesn’t he?

A warm buzzing traces over my skin and I grip hold of the pendulum.

I don’t know what to do, or if I even have a choice. I need you to guide me, please. No matter how much I believe him, I hate not knowing for sure. I hate the idea that he could betray her.

I throw myself on my bed, staring at the ceiling fan above me. The dark blue on the four walls closes me in.

“Show me.”

I close my eyes and let my head fall back, allowing whatever I am meant to see—if anything comes.

Slowly, visions of Kai with horns and glowing eyes solidify. He’s holding Calli, looking at her like she is the most precious thing in the world. The vision fades and my mind comes back to itself. I open my eyes and see the white ceiling above me, realization washing over my body.

You never cease to amaze me, the things that you’re capable of. I hate how ignorant I’ve been. Kai is right, I know nothing.

Knowing all this changes nothing, and I understand that my mission is the same. I’d like to think that I should feel relief that the God we have been running from—the God I didn’t even believe in until only a few weeks ago—was never the threat. I hate that I have to keep this from Calli, but I meant what I said: She will despise him if she knows. She hates the Covenant with every fiber of her being. They killed so many and to find out that it was all for nothing, and that the man she loves is partially responsible. Who is the catalyst for all this harm. It’s for the best she doesn’t know. I don’t want her scared right now. Her power is too unpredictable when she is, and Calli has been doing well—save the training issue.

I’ve never feared Gods, I have only feared what men are capable of, what they’re willing to do. I suppose Kai will be a powerful ally and if he’s not, if he betrays me, I will do whatever it takes and find a way to destroy him. As delusional as that is—it’s the only comfort I have.

I sit up, pulling my jacket off my shoulders, tossing it on the floor. I pull my shirt up over my head, discarding it, and unzip my pants. I kick them off my ankles as I crawl under the covers and turn off the lamp.

One less variable. If I can just take this bit by bit, break down all the unknowns, then I can find a way. I will find a way. I always have. I’ve never needed to question my instincts until recently, but now I know that I have no reason to anymore.

Not with you by my side. I feel like I could walk into any unknown as long as I know you’re with me. It doesn’t make sense, none of this does. Tonight made me see that being weak and being vulnerable aren’t the same.

The energy in the room shifts, my body warming.

My guardian angel. I know that you will be with me as you always have been. Thank you, for all the things that you have done and for all the things that you will do. I still have no idea what you’re capable of, but I have a feeling that whatever it is, that you are going to be what brings us on top in the end.

This is enough. You are enough.