I closed my eyes for Kaidan’s sake, and pretended to sleep.

Kaidan made the trip to Atlanta in seven hours, stopping once for gas. I was on edge, expecting to hear Kaidan shout, “Whisperer!” at any point, but he never did.

We stopped talking as we neared Atlanta, and Kaidan turned off the radio. When he pulled the car into a parking lot, I sat up and was surprised by our location. A Catholic church? I gave Kai a questioning look, and he signed to me, Legend says holy water does more than repel evil—it’s like poison to demons.

I raised my eyebrows. I liked this idea.

We silently entered the church, searching the skies and seeing nothing but summer clouds. Inside, it was cool, quiet, and empty. We saw the angel statue at the same time, holding a giant shell—the vessel for the holy water. Kaidan moved fast, filling an empty flask that he’d pulled from his pocket.

Someone is coming, he signed. Take out your knife. Quick.

We both pulled out our knives. I followed his lead, dunking the sharpened blade into the holy water, all the while feeling guilty for tainting the blessed liquid in such a way.

We rushed from the church just as footsteps sounded down a nearby hall. As we jumped into the car and sped from the lot, I looked back and saw a collared man with his guardian angel watching us go. In a gentle gesture, the priest made the sign of the cross in the air, as if blessing us. I lay down in the backseat and smiled.

Kaidan’s next stop was a rental car place. It was seven o’clock when we stood in the parking lot facing each other. We didn’t dare touch in case any whisperers were out. I tried to pour all my love and support for him through my eyes, and he let out a silent sigh before signing, Are you as hungry as I am?

I held back a laugh, and nodded. Now that he mentioned it, I was starved. We absolutely couldn’t eat together. It was time for us to separate until Pharzuph left. I was overcome with nervousness. Kaidan’s eyes gave the skies a last scan before he leaned forward for a quick, chaste peck on my lips.

I’ll be in touch once he’s gone, Kaidan signed.

I tried to hide my fears as I signed back, I’ll be nearby listening.

I hated the idea of him meeting with Pharzuph. What was his father planning? Did he really trust Kaidan, or was this a trap? Kaidan had his knives and the holy water, but those couldn’t contend with a gun if Pharzuph suddenly decided to shoot him, like Mammon had done to his son, Flynn, on the island.

Don’t worry, Kaidan signed.

I shook my head, slightly amused that he could read me so easily. Kaidan slowly stepped backward, and a painful pit opened in my gut. Taking his lead, I moved toward my car as well. With sad reluctance, we left each other. All I could do now was pray for the best. I’d be ready to jump into action if needed.

I grabbed dinner and then found somewhere to park in the Rowes’ old neighborhood. I stopped behind a grove of trees up the street, a place Pharzuph wouldn’t pass as he came in. I meditated, trying to calm the nerves that burned like acid. If anything happened to Kaidan . . .

No. I could not, would not, allow myself to think like that.

Deep, quiet breathing. Silence all around.

I pushed my supernatural hearing into Kaidan’s former house and searched around until I found him in his old room in the basement. I jumped at the sudden onslaught of ear-slamming music blaring from his sound system—his way of decompressing.

Through the trees spilled bright headlights coming up the street. I held my breath, and my heart rate kicked into overtime as the car pulled into the long driveway. Kai must have been listening, too, because the music’s volume went down a small fraction.

When the car’s headlights turned off, I could see nothing but the patch of trees separating me from the house. I had to rely solely on my extended hearing, which was my weakest sense, especially when I was nervous. I held the hilt in its case on my lap, ready to jump from the car and run to help Kaidan if necessary. With great concentration I kept my auditory sense surrounding Pharzuph, honing in on his footsteps.

My heart quickened again as Pharzuph began making his way down the stairs to the basement. A blast of chords and drums hit my ears when Kaidan’s door was opened. I stretched my hearing wider to encompass both of them.

“Shut this racket off,” Pharzuph demanded. As the music silenced, he muttered something about missing the days of wooing lovers with classical music and gentlemanly facades. I pictured him rubbing his temples like the drama king he was.

Apparently even demon parents suffered from the generation gap.

Kaidan’s voice sounded low and steady when he said, “Good to see you, Father. Excellent choice on your new host body.”

“Yes, it was,” Pharzuph agreed. I heard the crinkle of a folded paper opening. “You sign the estate paperwork tomorrow?”

“Yes, sir. In the morning.”

“Here is my new account information. You’ll receive your own funds from the life insurance and inheritance. Everything else needs to be transferred to me. If a penny is missing, I will know it.”

Kaidan’s voice sounded tight when he responded, “I understand.”

“Good.” It sounded like Pharzuph took a deep, sniffing breath. “Smells like old lust in here. You were always a good worker.”

My stomach turned.

A surprised pause filled the air. “Thank you, Father.”

“But things are not always as they appear, are they?” Pharzuph’s voice held a tone of challenging amusement.

Oh, crap.

“In what way?” Kaidan asked.

“Something’s not right.” Pharzuph began to move in slow, but confident, steps. It sounded like he was circling Kaidan. I could imagine him prowling, trying to intimidate his grown son. “I haven’t been able to put my finger on it. Ever since that summit when the damned angels showed up, we’ve been watching the daughter of Belial.”

Kaidan made a scoffing sound. “Her? No offense, Father, but I don’t see why an unremarkable Neph like the daughter of Belial would warrant such attention. I’ve worked with her. She’s excellent at her job, but on a personal level she’s rather . . . boring.”

Ouch.

“So you took no pleasure from your time with her?”

“Oh, I took my pleasure. I also got out of there as quickly as I could. She’s got zero personality unless she’s wasted.”

Double ouch. I knew he didn’t mean it, but the words still cut.

Pharzuph chuckled. “I know being with her was a chore, but it was necessary. She’s somehow been able to fly under the radar. Now we know for sure that she’s a threat.”

“A threat?” Kaidan laughed.

“You think this is funny?” His voice seemed to get closer to Kai. “You think I have time to joke around?”

“Of course not, but having spent a good bit of time with her, it seems preposterous. She cares about nothing except where she’ll find her next drink.”

“Then she’s fooled you well.” Pharzuph’s voice turned deadly, making goose bumps sprout on my arms. “That boring Neph who you think’s so benign was caught being affectionate with her human mother-figure this morning. We sent five Legionnaires to get more information, and the girl took out four of the spirits! She’s a mercenary of heaven.”

“Wha—? How is that possible?” Bravo, Kaidan—he sounded genuinely shocked and confused.

Pharzuph seemed to hesitate, then said with reluctance, “She’s somehow able to wield a Sword of Righteousness. Only angels of light have been able to do that.”

A beat passed before Kaidan said, “But . . . why would an angelic weapon allow her to use it? I’ve watched her lead souls astray, and I’ve banged her myself. She’s hardly angel material.”

“I . . . we don’t know.” It was the first time I’d ever heard a Duke sound less than confident. Defeated, even.

“Is it possible someone is trying to deceive all of you? Point you in the wrong direction? I mean, how do you know about the sword and the spirits she supposedly killed?”