CHAPTER TWENTY #2
“Okay, completely batshit crazy. But we’re doing it anyway.
” She links her arm through mine and starts pulling me back to the bar, where Michael and the rest are already starting to formulate a plan.
“Besides, I heard you’ve already faced down Pestilence’s Collectors and helped two prisoners escape.
This should be a piece of cake in comparison. ”
“Riiight. Cake. That’s exactly what this feels like.”
Jenna walks slightly ahead of us, her movements graceful and predatory in a way that makes my therapist brain itch with curiosity.
There’s something about her that doesn’t quite fit—hasn’t fit since we escaped.
The way she moves, the way shadows seem to cling to her, the absolute devastation I witnessed when we found Gabriel…
I’m a behavioral psychologist. I’m trained to read people, to understand motivations and trauma responses. But Jenna? She’s a complete enigma wrapped in a mystery and stuffed inside a really expensive leather jacket.
“Stop analyzing me,” Jenna says without turning around. “I can feel your therapist brain working from here.”
“Sorry. Occupational hazard.”
We’re standing at the bar, and I’m listening to these men—no, these warriors—as they spitball different plans. Each one is dismissed by one blaring problem. None of them can set foot in the Heavens. They are all Fallen Archangels, my best chance at getting Reaver back, and they can’t help.
I’m beginning to lose hope when I hear Cain’s voice from the stairs. “Well, isn’t this the sorriest bunch of fuckers this side of the Styx. Sorry I’m late. I had to convince this asshole to come.” Cain motions behind him with a flip of his horned head.
The air in the bar shifts the moment he walks in. Great power emanates from the man who steps forward. I’ve never met him, I only know what Reaver has told me.
Without a second thought, I waltz over to him. He towers over me, a wall of muscle and pure, dark energy. “You must be Hades?” I smile and ask for confirmation.
“That’s me, the one and only,” he says with a grin, and before I know it, my hand hits his face. The smack echoes over the music, and collectively, everyone stops and stares at me. Including Hades, who is now rubbing his cheek. “You must be the lovely Kennedy I’ve heard so much about.”
A slow smile spreads across Alastor’s face. “I like her. She’s got balls.” He turns back to Gabriel. “Is she always this feisty?”
“I’ve known her for approximately six hours, and yes,” Gabriel replies, and I swear I see the ghost of a smile on his lips.
“Good. We’re going to need feisty.” Alastor moves back behind the bar. “Blue Hawaiian?” Alastor asks as he shakes a glass.
“Are you fucking kidding me? No,” Hades snarls, and a moment later, a familiar woman wraps her arms around his waist.
“He’s a complete asshole, but he’s my asshole,” she says with a loving smile.
I turn my attention to the beautiful woman at Hades side.
There is only one word to describe her, and it’s ethereal.
“Aradia?” I ask, shocked to see the woman I met in my office only a few short weeks ago.
Although the woman who had come to see me was meek and afraid she was losing her mind.
But this beautiful creature radiates a warm, soothing power that is somehow at complete odds with Hades.
“How—” I stop myself mid-sentence, suddenly realizing what no one has said. I spin on my heels to look at Salem. She’ll tell me the truth. “How long have I been gone?”
Salem rushes to my side, and I can tell by looking at her that I’m not going to like what she has to say. She grabs my hands, and I pull them back. “How long?”
She searches the room for an answer, but everyone has gone stone silent. So, I repeat my questions. “Tell me how long I was missing?”
I watch as she swallows, then takes a deep breath in before she speaks, “A few months shy of a year,” she blurts out.
Shocked at her answer, I take a step back, not realizing how close I am to the edge of the top step. Thankfully, Hades has lightning-quick reflexes and catches me just before I tumble down.
“Watch that first step. It’s a doozy,” he says with a smile as he sets me right. “And don’t worry, you didn’t miss much.”
My gaze moves back to Salem. “My practice?”
“Let’s focus on one thing at a time.” She smiles, and I know she’s right. There is more at stake here than just my Boston practice.
Hades scans the room, and I watch as he sees Gabriel.
“Fucking hell’s gate, you’re back?” he jokes as he crosses the room and, instead of the masculine bear hugs the others gave, he gently takes Gabriel’s face in his hands.
“Don’t you ever disappear on us again, you hear me?
I’ve been bored out of my fucking mind without your dramatics to keep me entertained.
So, what’s the fucking plan?” he shouts as he hops over the bar and begins rummaging around.
“Oh, thank the fucking gods!” he finally shouts as he holds up an ancient-looking bottle.
Aradia, Salem, and I stand stunned, watching his theatrics as he rips the cork out of the bottle with his teeth and hoists himself up to sit atop the bar.
“You know I’m all for going in guns blazing and taking out my Mother-in-law and that cunt Pestilence once and for all.
However, we clearly have a problem. Our cavalry can’t step foot in the Heavens, and we don’t want to go up against Pesta on her turf. ”
The room is silent for a long moment. Hades has just pointed out the obvious. We all collectively wait to see if he offers up any idea other than offing his mother-in-law.
“There’s more,” Jenna speaks up for the first time since Hades arrived. “Pestilence wants to use Reaver to help her invade the Heavens. She’s planning to overthrow Themis.”
That gets his attention.
“Fuck,” Michael breathes. “If she succeeds—”
“Then we’re looking at a war that will make the last destruction of humanity look like a playground scuffle,” Zachriel finishes grimly, and I see Gabriel visibly flinch.
“So we stop her,” Jaxon says simply. “We get Reaver back, and we stop Pesta from whatever delusional plan she’s cooked up.”
“Wow, aren’t you the brilliant one?” Hades scoffs
“And there’s the small matter of getting into Heaven,” Cain adds. “I’m assuming that’s where she’s keeping him now if she wants to use him for her invasion plan. And as you so eloquently pointed out, we’re shit outta luck.”
“I can,” I say quietly, and everyone turns to look at me again.
“You can what?” Asher asks.
“I can cross into Heaven. I’m human—I have a soul. According to everything Reaver told me, humans can cross between realms more easily than fallen angels because we’re not bound by the same laws.”
“She’s right,” Gabriel says, his voice stronger now than it has been since we found him. “Humans are… fluid. They can move between realms without triggering the same defensive measures that would trap us.”
“So, if Kennedy can go,” Salem says, “then so can I. I’m technically human, even if I’m also a vampire now.”
“And I can cross,” Jenna adds softly. “At least, I think I can.”
“Me too,” Aradia says from behind me. “And I know Themis’ palace better than anyone.”
“That’s four,” Hades says. “Who else? Who else can step into the Heavens? Hmmm, I wonder?” he adds, tapping his chin, and I feel as if I’m missing some huge reveal, “Oh, that’s right, I can. It’s one of the perks of not being cursed by the gods.”
“So, we have five who can cross into Heaven,” Alastor summarizes. “The rest of us will have to provide support from outside.”
“No,” I say firmly. All eyes turn to me again, and this time I don’t back down.
“The rest of you need to prepare for when we bring Reaver back. If Pestilence is planning an invasion, she’s not going to take losing Reaver well.
She’ll retaliate. You need to be ready to defend against whatever she throws at us. ”
“The doctor makes a good point,” Hades says, sounding impressed. “I like her. I hope we get to keep her.”
“Focus,” Zachriel snaps. “They’re going to need a plan. A real plan, not just storm the gates of Heaven and hope for the best.”
For the next two hours, we strategize. It’s chaotic, with multiple arguments breaking out over the best approach, but gradually, a plan takes shape.
Aradia will use her connections to get us close to the Heavenly gates.
Salem will provide magical support—her witch abilities combined with her vampire strength make her a formidable asset.
Jenna… well, Jenna will do whatever mysterious thing it is that she does, which everyone seems very careful not to ask about.
Hades will be the hired gun. And me? I’ll be the one to find Reaver and convince him to come home.
“There’s just one problem.” I finally voice the concern that’s been gnawing at me since we started planning. “What if he won’t leave? Reaver traded himself to Pestilence for a reason. What if he thinks leaving will put me—put us—in danger again?”
“Then you remind him,” Gabriel says quietly, “that he’s not alone anymore. That he doesn’t have to sacrifice himself to protect the people he loves. That we”—He gestures to the room full of Blood Angels—”are strong enough to face Pestilence together.”
“And if that doesn’t work?” I ask.
“Show him your tits,” Zachriel blurts out. The tension in the room breaks, and laughter ripples through the group.
“He’s not wrong.” A slow smile spreads across Gabriel’s face—the first real smile I’ve seen from him. “But if that still doesn’t work because Pesta has gouged out his eyes, then you tell him Gabriel said to stop being a melodramatic martyr and get his ass home. That should do it.”
“Alright,” Alastor says, refilling everyone’s glasses. “Let’s drink to the worst plan we’ve ever concocted and hope like hell it actually works.”
“Here, here.” Hades raises his bottle. “To terrible plans and the idiots brave enough to execute them!”
We all drink. It doesn’t calm my nerves—nothing can—but it helps.