Chapter 15

In the end, Erin asked to meet to talk. "It's important," she insisted.

I had to ask the sisters where their portals could take me, so I could agree on a location with Erin, but Abbie said they could open a portal and bring Erin here instead.

"Are you sure?" I mouthed.

She nodded.

I explained to Erin about the portal. Abbie said she just needed a picture of the place. Erin snapped a picture of Rey's office at the Blackthorn Hunters Academy, and then Abbie effortlessly opened a portal.

Erin and Rey stepped into the library and the first five minutes was of them gawking at the place, in awe. In the next five minutes, I explained to them what I was doing there and what was going to happen next.

"It sounds promising," Rey said. He was a half demon, son of one of the Princes of the Underworld, and current headmaster of the Blackthorn Hunters Academy. He was tall with dark brown hair and gray eyes.

"It sure does," Erin said. "I'm glad it's working out."

Erin was one of the best demon hunters out there, and the daughter of the previous king of the underworld. She could have ruled the underworld, but she had passed the baton to her half brother, Tanner, and half sister, Jasmin. She formed a beautiful pair with Rey, with her long black hair and golden eyes. I had heard both of them shared what was called a Soul Bond, a type of bond certain demon hunters shared with one another, and it was like a fated mate bond.

I gestured to the chairs around one of the less crowded tables. "Please, sit."

Rey and Erin sat down side by side, and I took the chair across from them. Abbie, Maggie, and Lacey remained at the other table, reading their books.

"All right, I'm getting straight to the point," Erin said. "The angels came to see us."

I almost fell off my chair. "What? Who? Why?"

"It was three archangels," Rey said. "Rhodes, Sariel, and Arien. They wanted to talk about our roles in fighting evil in the world."

I frowned. "Against evil supernaturals?"

"I think they meant all evil, even humans," Erin said.

I inhaled deeply. "And?"

"That was the extent of the conversation," Erin said. "They formally invited us to a summit. All of their best guardians will attend and they wanted us to bring our best hunters."

"According to Archangel Rhodes, angels have stepped back to allow demon hunters to do most of their work and they believe we've done a poor job of it," Rey said, annoyed about that. "Now that there are more demons roaming the Earth, they want to be more active."

"Basically, they want to discuss our roles and decide how to proceed in the future," Erin said.

I shook my head. "This doesn't feel right."

Erin nodded. "I know, that's why I wanted to talk to you."

"Do you know these archangels?" Rey asked.

"Yes," I said. "Rhodes is the one who betrayed us. He's the one who was leading the mission when he joined forces with a higher demon and killed all of my friends." I gulped. "I was the only survivor, and since then, he has been after me to silence me."

"That's what the reward is about," Erin said, her voice low, shocked.

I nodded. "I have no idea what's going on in Elysium right now. I don't think any outsider knows, but it can't be good. Inviting you to a summit to discuss your roles feels like a trap."

Rey's hands clenched into fists. "You think he'll attack us."

"I think that he'd set a trap to lure you in," I said.

Erin flinched. "That sounds extreme for an angel."

"How do you think I felt going on my first mission, just to see him side with the demon and kill his own kind?" My voice was harsher than I intended, but I couldn't help it.

"I hear you." Rey looked at Erin. "We should consider this."

"We can push back the summit several weeks," Erin said.

"And if they insist, we'll go prepared," Rey suggested.

"That's better, but I would advise you not to agree to the summit at all," I said. "Or agree but don't go. Observe from a distance, if you can, to see their reaction. That should tell you their true intentions."

"That makes sense," Rey said.

"I'm about to get my magic back," I told them. "When I do, I plan on going back to Elysium to find out what's happening. Push the summit back or cancel it until I can see what's going on with my own eyes."

Erin sighed. "I can't believe we're talking about angels here. Aren't you supposed to be kind, strong, and righteous?"

I scoffed. "I would love it if that was true, but no, not guardians, at least not most of us. We all have a streak of unwanted feelings inside us, and we're taught how to channel those feelings and use them to our advantage."

"Fuck," Rey muttered. "Since we took over the underworld, demons and evil are everywhere, and demon hunters are having a tough time fighting them all. When the angels came to us, I was relieved. I thought we could create a great alliance with them and fight together."

"I'm sorry," I said. "Maybe once I find out what's going on, we can come up with a plan together."

Erin looked at Rey, then back at me. "I'm glad we came before agreeing to the summit."

"Me too," I said. Then an idea sparked in my mind. "You don't have any other contacts with the angels, do you?"

Rey and Erin shook their heads.

"From what I know, angels stepped back a long time ago, and let demon hunters deal with almost everything on Earth," Rey said. "There hasn't been any contact since."

Erin nodded. "This is the first time in decades, maybe centuries, that the angels reached out to demon hunters. Why?"

"Just wondering if there was some way for us to find out what's going on up there sooner." And less risky than sneaking into Elysium.

"Sorry," Erin said.

"That's okay. We'll figure it out. Just don't be alone with the angels," I said, realizing my words sounded ridiculous. Angels were supposed to be the most trusted and honorable supernaturals out there. "If you must, be prepared and bring backup."

They assured me they would, and after we concluded our talk, they kept gawking at the library. Maggie asked if they wanted a short tour of the hall; Erin and Rey accepted.

Lacey tagged along as Maggie led them out of the library, and I approached Abbie, who was still reading.

"You heard, right?" I asked.

Abbie lifted her gaze to me. "The angels setting a trap for the demon hunters? That's worrying. But I think you are right. That's exactly what they are doing and the demon hunters need to delay this as much as they can."

A bout of frustration hit me hard. "I hate that I'm in the dark here. If only I could contact someone in Elysium …"

"Who?" Abbie asked. "You can't trust anyone there right now."

That couldn't be true. There were plenty of good angels up there, angels who would repel Rhodes and his plans, if they knew. Unless they had all been captured or killed by him already.

I pressed a hand to my chest, thinking about my mother and my sister.

Nothing would change between now and later, but at least later, I would have my magic back and could defend myself if things went sideways.

I hoped.

I felt restless and worried.

If Levi was here, I would have invited him to take me to my bedroom to take my mind off things, but since he wasn't …

And that hurt. What the hell? He had left without saying goodbye. Without warning me. I shook my head, pushing those thoughts away. No, I wouldn't go down that path.

He didn't owe me anything, much less an explanation for his actions.

If he wanted to leave and never talk to me again, then so be it.

Wound up, I decided to go to the gym and run. That was the only way for me to burn off this pent-up energy.

I started to tell Abbie where I was going when my phone beeped.

I looked at it and gasped.

It was a text from Kaz:

The council agreed. Let's meet.